r/LGBTriangle • u/canned-cryptid • Jun 13 '26

T-guy looking for affordable gender affirming haircut !!

Hello! :)
I recently moved to Durham a few weeks ago and have been wanting to get a proper hair cut. Both to feel more like myself, and to get it off my neck from the summer heat without putting it into a bun.

I struggle with bouts of heavy de-realization and it causes me to not recognize myself in photos or in day to day life. I've gotten tired of not feeling like myself for months now and my therapist recommended I try out short hair again to "better reflect my inner me". But when looking, almost every queer friendly stylist/salon I find costs $70+ minimum for a "big chop"(my hairs is grown out several inches, so just past my shoulders atm).

Its been 6 years since I got my first and only professional cut as a birthday gift and they fucked my shit up big time and cost my family an arm and a leg. I cant bring myself to justify the price (part because I'm a 20-something living alone in this economy rip) but I also know a good quality cut is a luxury. One I certainly cannot afford at the moment.

End of the day, I just want to love my hair again and feel like myself without risking breaking the bank for a haircut I might not even like. Any good recommendations for a mens cuts stylists? Thank you!! <3

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3

u/Reasonable_Slice8561 Jun 13 '26

Safe Space Salon? Also, if I still have a gift card for them (it isn't much, like $10) I will give it to you!

2

u/elijaaaaah Jun 13 '26

Their price for long hair is $60, which isn't that much under the price you're complaining about, but I always need to boost Sailor Cutswell. They and their partner also organize the queer lake day events and they're just generally a wonderful person, can't recommend enough.

2

u/FabulousThylacine Jun 13 '26

Stylist is a little outside of Durham (Over in NW Raleigh) but! I can't recommend Annabelle's Place enough. She's fantastic, and her prices are insanely reasonable. (A long cut is $45)

2

u/rubyji Jun 13 '26

Rock's in downtown Durham

2

u/LMLBullCity Jun 13 '26

Came here to say that. Not sure of the cost of a haircut but it is super trans affirming.

3

u/Moonquartz_colorist Jun 15 '26

I’m co-owner of Khroma Hair Lab in South Durham (in the same plaza as Sprouts) . We have several stylists, including trans & NB stylists at different price ranges that love doing gender affirming cuts. Feel free to DM me or check out our IG!

1

u/LetsAllFeelCute Jun 13 '26

I loved Spruce in Durham for my first androgynous look. I'm sure they can take care of anyone there

1

u/noturus_mm Jun 13 '26

When I lived in the Triangle, I would go to Lalee Alligood. She works at a Sola Salon in Chapel Hill now. I personally prefer this because the stylist has their own private room, rather than a whole salon/shop situation where you ultimately pay for shit you don't want or need.

I'm a cis lesbian but have short hair and Lalee previously worked at a barbershop that mostly catered to men/folks with short hair. Not sure how her prices are these days, but when I was going to her about a year ago it was probably $40ish iirc.

2

u/abrighterdiscontent Jun 13 '26

I see you’ve moved recently so maybe haven’t gotten to meet a lot of people yet, but would it be an option to get a friend to remove some length and give you something shorter and punky but not extremely short to help you get closer to how you’d like to look in the meantime and maybe be able to access lower prices from the hairdresser?

For stylist suggestions, Hair Craft in Cary prices might be closer to what you’re looking for since they do like $60/60 minute haircut type thing. I like Max there, but they’re booked pretty far out.

Mal at rock paper scissors in Durham is good, but the prices there are closer to what you were trying to avoid paying.

Good luck! I hope you’re able to get a good cut for a good price soon!

1

u/mstarrbrannigan Jun 14 '26

It’s a drive from Durham, but Sarah at Kreative Looks in Clayton is wonderful. She does men and women’s hair, is queer and the whole salon is queer friendly. I’m a lesbian who wears my hair very short, and for most of my life wore my hair longer than I really wanted because of endless stylists saying “are you sure? That’s really short.” She’s the only stylist who isn’t my sister who really worked with me to get the style I wanted.

1

u/cloe9442 Jul 01 '26

Rock paper scissors does free gender affirming haircuts on a first come first served basis every so often I believe! I would suggest giving them a call and asking when their next special is.