The Dresscode Project
Donation protected
I have a long standing passion for the Hair & Beauty industry. To me, it is such a rewarding experience knowing that I’m making a difference in someone’s life. It’s a great feeling when the client looks in the mirror, transformed and happy from ear to ear. To give someone that feeling, to make them feel ready to take on the world, it’s a special part of what we in the industry do on a daily basis.
Sounds about right, yeah?
However, as a queer person, I know from my own experience that this is not everyone’s reality.
For many in my community, going to a salon and asking for a haircut that is not traditional to your gender is a scary and difficult experience. That wonderful happy transformation is less accessible. My community is wonderfully expressive and inclusive but are often restricted in this experience that comes without question for the straight community. I’ve always been passionate about creating an inclusive environment, but when I realized how widespread discrimination is in the very industry that I love and work in - I knew it had to change.
About 2 years ago I had an idea to join like-minded salons together. To form an online resource for the LGBTQ community. I called it The Dresscode Project. The word dress code reminds me of very traditional clothing for cis boys & girls. Along with the help of people closest to me with whom I shared this idea I was able to gather research, hold group sessions and become active in providing haircuts to LGBTQ youth who could not access them, financially or otherwise. I was also able to find the resources and tools I needed to make this project a reality.
Today, I have reached out to these salons and together we are creating an online directory for our network where anyone within the LGBTQ community can go to find a safe space salon closest to them. My hope is that this network will expand so it reaches as far as it can. We can provide amazing experiences for this community within our salon network around the world. The goal is for all to be able look up at themselves in that mirror and smile. I want the only salon experience they have is a positive one, so that they too can leave feeling like a million bucks.
All contributed funds will go towrds bringing the Dresscode Project education efforts to more salons around the world!!
Sounds about right, yeah?
However, as a queer person, I know from my own experience that this is not everyone’s reality.
For many in my community, going to a salon and asking for a haircut that is not traditional to your gender is a scary and difficult experience. That wonderful happy transformation is less accessible. My community is wonderfully expressive and inclusive but are often restricted in this experience that comes without question for the straight community. I’ve always been passionate about creating an inclusive environment, but when I realized how widespread discrimination is in the very industry that I love and work in - I knew it had to change.
About 2 years ago I had an idea to join like-minded salons together. To form an online resource for the LGBTQ community. I called it The Dresscode Project. The word dress code reminds me of very traditional clothing for cis boys & girls. Along with the help of people closest to me with whom I shared this idea I was able to gather research, hold group sessions and become active in providing haircuts to LGBTQ youth who could not access them, financially or otherwise. I was also able to find the resources and tools I needed to make this project a reality.
Today, I have reached out to these salons and together we are creating an online directory for our network where anyone within the LGBTQ community can go to find a safe space salon closest to them. My hope is that this network will expand so it reaches as far as it can. We can provide amazing experiences for this community within our salon network around the world. The goal is for all to be able look up at themselves in that mirror and smile. I want the only salon experience they have is a positive one, so that they too can leave feeling like a million bucks.
All contributed funds will go towrds bringing the Dresscode Project education efforts to more salons around the world!!
Organizer
Kristin Rankin
Organizer
Toronto, ON