Barbershops Defying Gender Norms 03.07.2026

In Mexico City, a new wave of barbershops is redefining hair care by eliminating traditional gender labels such as "women's cut" or "men's cut." León Castillo, a trans barber and owner of 'Diablites Klub,' explains that his approach is based on resistance through autonomy. "It is not easy to put up a sign that says 'safe space.' You have to make it safe every single time," says Castillo, who always asks for his clients' names and pronouns before beginning. His method is influenced by his own experience as a trans man and the times others decided how his hair should be. Fer León, a client of Castillo, relates that he found in that chair a place where existing stopped being "so tiring," and that a simple haircut offered him "gender euphoria" and autonomy.














