Need a trichy haircut in NYC area, no mean girls (or guys) allowed.

March 3, 2017 9:43 AM

I have trichotillomania (like fingernail biting, only pulling out hair). It has gotten really out of hand due to unreal stress. I need a hairdresser who can give me a cut and color minus running editorial/condescending commentary, judgment, or making me feel like s/he's just waiting for me to get out the door to make me a punchline or gossip target.

Please let me know if you know a salon/individual that can handle cutting around my bald spots without micro/macro commentary or immaturity about what is clearly self-inflicted hair loss. (Yes, I've had numerous bad experiences with this.) I'd rather not spend hundreds, but if that's what it takes for my dignity to remain intact I will. NYC area please, but jesus, at this point I'd travel further than that as long as it's the east coast.

posted by anonymous to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (5 answers total)

So, I have an issue that isn't as challenging as yours, but the behavior does do weird things to my hair that are apparent to any hairstylist. My current hairstylist is MaryAnna Fitzgerald at Twigs in the East Village; she's never given me a hard time. She's sweet, and the vibe of the salon is generally very chill and relaxed. If this ask doesn't turn up a recommendation from someone who has your exact issue, I would suggest giving her a try.
posted by praemunire at 9:52 AM on March 3, 2017 [2 favorites]

They have nice, understanding staff and private salon rooms if you need/want those
posted by rmless at 10:27 AM on March 3, 2017 [2 favorites]

I attended the BFRB conference last year and met Bianca Lyder from New Horizons Hair by Bianca. She is a lovely woman with a salon that specializes in people with all sorts of hair issues.
posted by LightMayo at 6:45 PM on March 3, 2017

I don't have a location based recommendation as I live on the opposite coast, but wanted to comment to let you know you are not alone. Just seeing the word trichotyllomania typed by someone else made my heart drop.

I've dealt with it my entire adult life and never did find a hairdresser who didn't leave me feeling worse - and oh how I tried. Tried being upfront, tried pretending nothing was out of the ordinary, tried going so upscale they HAD to be nice to me (they weren't.) I'm interpreting your question to say you are a lady too? Equally debilitating disorder for the dudes I'm sure. Either way I sincerely hope this advice may help...

Just this year I stumbled into a revelation - if I was going to dread getting my hair cut and be shamed directly or indirectly throughout the process, I was at least going to stop paying a hundred plus odd dollars for the privilege goddamnit. A short coiffed gal (I've always maintained a Tilda Swinton-y pushed back style that masks the bald areas - in my mind at least), I marched into the most old school, traditional, $8 cut BARBER SHOP I could find and proceeded to receive the most attentive, thorough, kind, omg-I'm-like-a-normal-person-right-now cut of my life. I've looked forward to every cut (and subsequent shoulder massage with the vibrating thingee) from my barber Gherig ever since. His sensitivity has meant the world to me, although I often wonder if it even occurs to him. He's never mentioned it - guess he's just working around some atypical pattern baldness. Last time I was there, he enthusiastically greeted me with the news that he had done a little youtube research when he saw me on his books for the day and learned a new technique to 'soften' the back of my cut so it was more feminine. Every other dude in the shop is equally welcoming and nonchalant. There are free bottled cokes. I repeat - $8.

I feel your struggle and if you find yourself in San Diego I've got a guy. And if you don't, you should still memail me.
posted by le_salvo at 8:24 PM on March 3, 2017 [7 favorites]

Sorry this is late, anon, but Sheila Chung works with clients with trich. According to this article in Teen Vogue, last year she was working from a private room at one of the Salon Ziba locations, although it doesn't say which one. There's contact info for her on her website if you need to check.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 10:28 PM on March 7, 2017