What is the Dress Code Project?

The Dress Code Project is a not-for-profit founded by hairstylist Kristen Rankin that helps hair salon owners and stylists create gender-affirming spaces for queer and trans clients. It provides education, training, and vetting services to ensure that member salons are as safe and welcoming as possible for people who identify outside the gender binary. The project also supplies member salons with signage and resources to make their inclusive stance visible to potential clients.

How can a hair salon become a Dress Code Project member?

Salons and stylists can apply to become a Dress Code Project member salon through the organization's website. As part of the vetting process, the DCP looks for commitments like all-gender restrooms and gender-neutral service menus. Once accepted, member salons receive training, signage, and ongoing support from the Dress Code Project team.

What are the first steps a hairstylist can take to make their salon more gender-affirming?

According to Kristen Rankin, two of the most impactful starting points are removing gendered restroom signage and restructuring the service menu to eliminate men's and women's pricing categories. Adding pronouns to your Instagram profile is another quick, visible signal that your space is welcoming. Since most clients now discover stylists online, making inclusivity visible on social media and your website is essential.

How should salon pricing menus be structured to be more gender-inclusive?

Rather than listing services as 'men's cuts' and 'women's cuts,' Kristen recommends organizing pricing by hair length (short, medium to long, extra long), appointment type (initial consultation vs. maintenance), or technique complexity (standard cut vs. advanced cut for specialized methods like razor cutting). This approach removes gender from the equation entirely and bases pricing on the actual work involved.

What should a stylist do if they misgender a client?

Kristen's guidance is to acknowledge the mistake briefly, correct yourself, and move on — without making the moment excessively awkward or drawing prolonged attention to the error. Over-apologizing can make the client feel more uncomfortable. The key is to model the corrected behavior naturally and continue with the appointment.

What is the Gender Free Haircut Club?

The Gender Free Haircut Club is a Dress Code Project initiative in which participating salons offer free haircuts to members of the queer community on a designated day. Events are designed as community celebrations, often featuring drag queens, DJs, artists, and vendors. In one landmark event, 50 salons across North America participated simultaneously. Salons can sign up to host their own event through the Dress Code Project website.

How can an individual stylist create a gender-affirming experience when the rest of their salon isn't fully on board?

Kristen suggests that individual stylists can focus on making their own chair and online presence visibly inclusive — through pronouns on Instagram, inclusive language in their own service descriptions, and the way they conduct consultations. The Dress Code Project also offers resources and outreach emails to help stylists make the case to salon owners about why becoming gender-affirming is good for both clients and business.

How does Kristen Rankin approach consultations with non-binary or gender-nonconforming clients?

Kristen focuses on the technical language of haircutting — talking about line strength, length, texture, and density rather than gender labels. She also uses reference photos strategically, showing clients images and gauging their reactions to better understand how they want to present. This approach lets the conversation stay grounded in the craft while giving clients space to express their identity without pressure.

GENDER FREE HAIRCUT CLUB

Name: Gender Free Haircut Club
Uploaded: 2025-12-17
Channel: Hairstory
Description: Hairstory's Wes sits down with Kristen Rankin — hairstylist, gender-nonconforming advocate, and founder of the Dress Code Project — for a conversation about what it means to create a genuinely gender-affirming salon space. Kristen explains how the Dress Code Project trains and vets salons to serv...

Join Wes Sharpton for an inspiring conversation with Kristin Rankin, the trailblazer behind @thedresscodeproject. Kristin will share their journey as an ENBY/GNC hairstylist and explain how the Dresscode Project is creating inclusive, gender-affirming spaces for all. Don’t miss this chance to learn about the movement revolutionizing the beauty industry and how you can get involved.

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Hairstory's Wes sits down with Kristen Rankin — hairstylist, gender-nonconforming advocate, and founder of the Dress Code Project — for a conversation about what it means to create a genuinely gender-affirming salon space. Kristen explains how the Dress Code Project trains and vets salons to serve queer and trans clients, shares practical first steps stylists can take right now (including how to restructure pricing menus to remove gendered categories), and addresses common concerns like how to handle misgendering gracefully. Whether you're a salon owner, an individual stylist working within a larger space, or simply an ally in the professional beauty industry, this conversation offers concrete, actionable guidance for building a more inclusive practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Dress Code Project?

The Dress Code Project is a not-for-profit founded by hairstylist Kristen Rankin that helps hair salon owners and stylists create gender-affirming spaces for queer and trans clients. It provides education, training, and vetting services to ensure that member salons are as safe and welcoming as possible for people who identify outside the gender binary. The project also supplies member salons with signage and resources to make their inclusive stance visible to potential clients.
How can a hair salon become a Dress Code Project member?

Salons and stylists can apply to become a Dress Code Project member salon through the organization's website. As part of the vetting process, the DCP looks for commitments like all-gender restrooms and gender-neutral service menus. Once accepted, member salons receive training, signage, and ongoing support from the Dress Code Project team.
What are the first steps a hairstylist can take to make their salon more gender-affirming?

According to Kristen Rankin, two of the most impactful starting points are removing gendered restroom signage and restructuring the service menu to eliminate men's and women's pricing categories. Adding pronouns to your Instagram profile is another quick, visible signal that your space is welcoming. Since most clients now discover stylists online, making inclusivity visible on social media and your website is essential.
How should salon pricing menus be structured to be more gender-inclusive?

Rather than listing services as 'men's cuts' and 'women's cuts,' Kristen recommends organizing pricing by hair length (short, medium to long, extra long), appointment type (initial consultation vs. maintenance), or technique complexity (standard cut vs. advanced cut for specialized methods like razor cutting). This approach removes gender from the equation entirely and bases pricing on the actual work involved.
What should a stylist do if they misgender a client?

Kristen's guidance is to acknowledge the mistake briefly, correct yourself, and move on — without making the moment excessively awkward or drawing prolonged attention to the error. Over-apologizing can make the client feel more uncomfortable. The key is to model the corrected behavior naturally and continue with the appointment.
What is the Gender Free Haircut Club?

The Gender Free Haircut Club is a Dress Code Project initiative in which participating salons offer free haircuts to members of the queer community on a designated day. Events are designed as community celebrations, often featuring drag queens, DJs, artists, and vendors. In one landmark event, 50 salons across North America participated simultaneously. Salons can sign up to host their own event through the Dress Code Project website.
How can an individual stylist create a gender-affirming experience when the rest of their salon isn't fully on board?

Kristen suggests that individual stylists can focus on making their own chair and online presence visibly inclusive — through pronouns on Instagram, inclusive language in their own service descriptions, and the way they conduct consultations. The Dress Code Project also offers resources and outreach emails to help stylists make the case to salon owners about why becoming gender-affirming is good for both clients and business.
How does Kristen Rankin approach consultations with non-binary or gender-nonconforming clients?

Kristen focuses on the technical language of haircutting — talking about line strength, length, texture, and density rather than gender labels. She also uses reference photos strategically, showing clients images and gauging their reactions to better understand how they want to present. This approach lets the conversation stay grounded in the craft while giving clients space to express their identity without pressure.