get a mid-fade

Barber shops are charged spaces: culturally, politically, racially, and are highly gendered. Going into the barber shop as a trans person feels risky at times, and yet I keep being pleasantly surprised by the welcome that I receive when I do a little research to make sure I'm not imposing.

Don't get me wrong: it is usually awkward. It's clear that I'm doing something anomalous or non-normative. But weirdness, embodying it or having it projected onto me, is totally ok with me.

If you're masc of center, trans, enby, or identify as anything other than a cis man, I definitely recommend getting a great mid-fade from your local inclusive barber. It's half the price of a salon, and you don't have to talk the whole time; I appreciate the stillness. Test the waters, see how it feels to have a beautiful gender affirming gradient on your crown.

Here's some Opie for courage and queer community, in an image.