When Rufus* settled into the salon chair for a recent haircut, he did something new. He told the stylist about the anxiety that usually shadows these moments. “I just said, ‘Hey, I’m kind of a weirdo when it comes to haircuts,’” he remembers. Instead of brushing it off, she leaned in, asking gently what exactly made him uneasy. Was it the cape around his neck? The feeling of being trapped in the chair? The loss of control? Simply naming these fears helped ground him. Usually, Rufus says, he clenches his fists tight and battles silent panic, but speaking aloud made the experience almost therapeutic.

His story is far from unique. For many, a haircut can become a vulnerable encounter where closeness feels overwhelming, control slips away, or old wounds resurface. Traditional salons, with their busy days and routines, are rarely able to hold space for this complexity. But now, a growing number of stylists and salons are reshaping the experience. They’re weaving consent, conversation and trauma-informed care into their services, creating spaces where clients don’t just leave looking better, but feeling safer and more confident. 

Stylists like Jess Kramer of Philadelphia’s Professor Worm embody this vision. Kramer understands that hair carries stories, memories and meaning. Even without trauma, haircuts mark transitions – moving cities, ending relationships, beginning anew. Over time, Kramer has learned to listen closely, noticing subtle signs of trauma in conversations with clients, tuning into what’s often left unsaid. Consent is the foundation of Kramer’s work. They ask before every touch and adapt to sensory needs – draping capes differently or offering towels for those who find the cape’s weight or feel triggering. Clients often smile or laugh at first, surprised by the question, but quickly come to value the respect behind it. Kramer has moved from vague “game plan” questions to clear, direct permission, knowing that clarity breeds comfort.

While, to some people, these practices may seem unnecessary, consent to be touched extends beyond violence or sex

Kramer hopes trauma-informed care becomes the norm in salons, not the exception. It’s not complicated, they say, but some places resist change. Outside the chair, Kramer supports clients with at-home care tips and safe DIY guidance, reminding them that hair is one of the few things we can truly control, and that mistakes will grow out in time.

While, to some people, these practices may seem unnecessary, Jaycie Hricak, a survivor advocate well-versed in the nuances of trauma, says consent to be touched extends beyond violence or sex. It lives in everyday gestures – not just the gentle brush of a hand during a haircut, but adjustments in a yoga class or the uninvited touch of a stranger in a crowded room. She recognises there are unspoken rules of the salon chair where touch is expected, but there’s a difference between assumed touch and touch that’s asked for. For survivors, trauma-informed salons aren’t about avoiding connection or contact – they’re about making that contact deliberate and welcomed.

Angel Indelicato, owner of Transfiguration Studio, knows that clients surrender control the moment they sit down and understands that it can be daunting for people who are in the process of reclaiming their bodies after abuse. At Transfiguration, they slow the rhythm, inviting clients to arrive fully present and ready, rather than assuming comfort. Every moment begins with permission, whether it’s putting on the cape or touching hair. Indelicato walks clients through the process – explaining when hair will be washed, cut, dried – and encourages questions before any scissors move.

This transparency gently loosens tense shoulders and quiets nerves. It opens space for curiosity and trust, creating a bridge where clients feel safe to speak up. Indelicato draws inspiration from trauma-informed models in other creative spaces – tattoo artists who prioritise harm reduction, for example – seeing a clear path forward for healing through hair.

Healing happens not alone, but together in community

In Philadelphia, a new initiative has started offering training to equip hair professionals with the tools necessary to support their clients. The OUR HAIR (Health Access Initiative for Recovery) Program helps barbers and stylists recognise signs that a client may be struggling with a behavioural health issue – like depression, anxiety, trauma or substance use disorder, explains Chakaris (Chaka) Henderson, director of provider engagement for community behavioural health. “Barbers and stylists are trained to be mindful of language and stigma when discussing substance use and mental health concerns with clients. In turn, ensuring that individuals served feel seen, safe, and viewed holistically.” 

Henderson adds that care must also extend to stylists themselves: “Considering the support hair professionals provide their clients, they also receive strategies to avoid vicarious trauma and coping skill tools such as stress balls, stress management guides, etc. As a result of this program, hair professionals have reported that they feel much more confident in their ability to support their clients and connect them to resources when in crisis.”

This emerging movement echoes a larger truth: healing happens not alone, but together in community. Luis Burgos, director of Don’t Forget About Me (DFAM), a nonprofit offering free self-care services, says that being cared for can be deeply restorative for trauma survivors facing long-term emotional, physical and social challenges. At DFAM, haircuts, massages and manicures are offered freely in spaces designed to be safe and welcoming.

Trauma-informed salons are more than a fleeting trend. They are an evolution in care, where consent, communication and compassion transform vulnerability into confidence. In these chairs, people don’t just leave with fresh hair – they leave with resilience and a sense of being truly seen.

*Names have been changed for privacy purposes