A Flare for Hair: Gender-Affirming Haircuts Change Queer Lives for the Better

If there’s one universal truth out there, it’s that a good hair day makes for a much, much better day. Looking in the mirror and loving the way your hair looks can truly make or break your whole mood — and this is even truer when your hair helps reflect how you see your gender.

Gender-affirming haircuts have been helping queer people see themselves more clearly forever, and it’s more important now than ever before that queer stylists like Frankie are here to provide queer cuts. So, whether you’re looking for a sexy wolf cut, a colorful buzz, an effortlessly cool shag or something else entirely, queer hair is a revolution all on its own!

That’s just what Frankie, or @freshbyfrankie on Instagram, an incredible hair stylist at Steller, provides for their clients. “Gender-affirming haircuts help us see on the outside what we’ve always seen on the inside. One of my favorite parts of my job is when I see people look in the mirror and can tell right away they love themselves a little more and smile a little bigger,” Frankie says.

Loving what you see when you look at yourself is such a crucial part of the human experience, and this is only amplified when it comes to gender-queer, trans and nonbinary experiences. Having a haircut that makes you feel like you can do wonders for your self-esteem, mindset and whole attitude about yourself!

“It can make you feel good about yourself, and that confidence boost you get from a haircut or color can give you a kickstart of motivation and change in your life,” Frankie says.

One of Frankie’s clients, Alyssa, says, “Frankie has made me feel more my nonbinary self this last year by not only encouraging me to push boundaries with my hair but also making me feel comfortable to do so.”

Frankie has worked as a hairstylist for 2 1/2 years, so they definitely know what they’re doing with their scissors! They graduated from Aveda, a top beauty school, after deciding the traditional high school-to-college pipeline wasn’t right for them.

“I’ve always been really into hair, makeup and fashion, ever since I was young. High school was really hard for me, especially realizing not all brains are meant for college,” they say.

Frankie’s hairstyling approach is very community-focused. They know how important it is to create a safe, welcoming environment for all their clients, so everyone has the best experience imaginable!

“So much vulnerability comes with a haircut. Creating a safe space to be able to share, receive and be a part of someone’s journey is a true honor,” they say.

There’s truly no doubt about it, if you sit in Frankie’s chair, you’re not only going to love the haircut you walk out with, but you’re going to have a fun, positive experience the whole time, too! Take it from another of Frankie’s clients, Elohim: “Frankie is a person I can go to and feel completely safe and comfortable the entire time. The care that they put into their work and their clients is unmatched, unrivaled by other stylists I’ve gone to.”

Creating these warm and inviting places for queer people to come and be vulnerable and feel liberated enough to fully express themselves is absolutely crucial, particularly right now.

“Especially in the state of the world right now, being around other queer people makes sure you know you’re not alone and that someone validates how you want to be seen,” Frankie says.

In a time where it feels like gender is under attack in the United States, these pockets of safety and community are more important than ever before, and fearless gender expression is an even more precious and brave act.

And the best part? This is all just the beginning of Frankie’s journey in hairstyling and creative work.

“My goals are to keep creating connections with my clients and community, grow my social accounts and be more consistent!” Frankie says. “Doing more photoshoots and editorial work, becoming more confident in what I do and moving to NYC in June 2026.”

Check out Frankie’s Instagram @freshbyfrankie and book your next haircut or color appointment at Steller in Minneapolis!

Steller Hair Company
945 Broadway St. NE, Minneapolis
(612) 619-5212
www.stellerhair.com