BED-STUY, Brooklyn (PIX11) -- Khane Kutzwell, the owner of Camera Ready Kutz in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, believes a haircut shouldn't involve judgment.
That's precisely why she opened her barbershop with a focus on inclusivity.
"The barbershop is also black-owned, female-owned, and queer-owned," said Kutzwell. "It should just be the standard," she continued regarding providing welcoming service.
Customers like Dionne McClain-Freeney appreciate this approach.
"As a masculine-presenting queer woman," she said, "I never got the kind of gentle, affirming, safe service" she finds at Camera Ready Kutz.
Kutzwell was inspired to open the shop after hearing stories from friends who felt uncomfortable and unwelcome in traditional barbershops.
"They felt uncomfortable going into regular barbershops because they would be looked at funny, talked about, or even refused service," she explained.
This is a sentiment that resonated beyond the LGBTQ+ community.
"It's not only LGBT people I'm discovering that felt uncomfortable," said Kutzwell.
Camera Ready Kutz isn't just about haircuts. It's about creating a space where everyone feels safe to be themselves. The barbershop may not advertise itself as inclusive because, for Kutzwell, that should be the norm.
The faded rainbow flag displayed outside the shop symbolizes that commitment to safety and acceptance.
"When people see that flag," Kutzwell explained, "it's not just a symbol of the LGBTQ community. It's actually a symbol of safety in general."
Kutzwell hopes to inspire more LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and reshape the barbershop experience to be welcoming and accessible to everyone.
For more information on Camera Ready Kutz, including shop hours and their full-service menu, visit camerareadykutz.com.
English (US) ·