Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1511260
44 indie stylist Volume 4 Issue 2 Small Changes on the Local Level Even if you work for someone who controls the pricing structure, you can make a difference. "If you're allowed to have personal decor at your station, it can be really valuable to have your pronouns displayed or a pride flag displayed, especially with new clients," SophiaMarie recommends. On the flip side, if you're working in an environment that doesn't align with your values and your purpose to help your clients, DiGrazia encourages you to find a workplace that does. You can even consider going solo like DiGrazia and SophiaMarie did. For DiGrazia, starting their own salon and barbershop not only allowed them a new sense of freedom, it also allowed them to create Hair Has No Gender, an industry resource that provides other hair professionals with education and business tools (see "Put Yourself on the Map— Literally" on page 43). Reframing the Industry On the industry level, it requires completely changing the narrative. "Stop contributing to the problem and unnecessarily gendering things," DiGrazia says. "[Cosmetology] schools and bigger brands need to stop making things pink. Stop saying this is a women's razor or a men's razor." These changes trickle down to the students and consumers, directly changing how they discuss hair. This "pink tax," as it's commonly referred to, is something many states have started creating legislation around. In 1995, California banned gender bias in service pricing. 4 In 2020, New York's pink tax ban prohibited all businesses from charging goods or services based on gender. 5 DiGrazia has made it their mission to push for a gender-pricing bill in their home state of Illinois. But these legislative changes can't happen unless there's support from more people across the industry. HELP OTHERS HELP YOU Your desire to help others should be a guiding force in your career. When you remove gender-based pricing, you're helping your clients feel safe and understood. "I'm actively choosing to show up," SophiaMarie says. "I'm The idea of community is an essential part of life. If we put ourselves in a situation where we feel supported by those around us, we're immediately more at ease. jas kitterman