You're probably familiar with the red-and-white "candy cane" barbershop pole — reminiscent of the primary genders that the colors represent and a staple of the business.
For generations, haircuts have been decided by barbers and stylists, and prices have varied by sex. Women's haircuts can range from $50 to $70, with prices in high-end salons going well above $100. Men's haircuts typically cost between $20 and $40 and only include a couple of options.
The new South Seattle salon Hatch is introducing a different concept: besides not setting prices based on gender, barbers experiment with whichever styles call to them, offering cuts based on clientele preferences.
"We can really cater to more clients that are looking for more gender-affirming haircuts. You know, people that don't necessarily feel like they fit into the barbershop vibe or the salon vibe," Mickelle Yeates, the owner, told the SGN.
The unfortunate nature of the hair-cutting business is the distinct separation in styles. "It's very separated still," Yeates said. "So we're trying to create a space where people can get their hair done, whether it's more masculine or feminine. And each of our stylists have different expertise."
"Everybody that works there is Queer [or] Nonbinary of some sort," they added.
Team of unique stylists
Hatch isn't like other typical barbershops. It's just a black-and-white storefront, further challenging typical hair salon norms. The space is divided into booths, each with a different style.
Booth renters get to run their own business, set their own pricing, choose their schedule, etc. Many choose to feature local art and products at their stands. Hatch provides the space and coaching for them to thrive. Harnessing the power of social media, Yeates has collected a dream team of stylists.
"No one at Hatch is an employee," Yeates said. "Each of the six of us are our own business. I was able to find our current team through social media and word of mouth. I've been cultivating relationships with other stylists for years and was thrilled when so many of them wanted to join us when we opened."
One barber, Savannah Rosa, sang Hatch's praises. "I haven't found this creative freedom with any other salon," she said. "Micki takes care of us, gives us a week off for holiday, anything we need."
Rosa also said Yeates uses social media to support all of her barbers. "Within [a] day, our work goes out on Instagram."
Wave of the future
Yeates said the most popular haircut right now is "business in the front, party in the back."
"Definitely from my chair, I'm seeing a lot of mullets, a lot of, like, subtle mohawks," Yeates said. "We're kind of moving away from really close clipper cuts and having a little bit more hair on the sides, a little bit more texture .... Something that you can just mess up, have a little bed head, put some product on it."
Savannah agreed, though she thinks that mod haircuts are more the wave of the future.
Hatch, at 4527 Rainier Ave., is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Appointments are recommended. Visit https://www.hatchhairandcompany.com for more information.
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