Sponsor a Haircut for local Queers AT MAL
Queers are known for their resiliency – for that continual struggle to survive in a society that dehumanizes & devalues them based on who they love or how they identify – but to be resilient, to be able to endure is work. And Queers are tired.
While the rejection of a cis-heteronormative society is written into the very definition of Queerness, it doesn’t mean that Queers don’t have to exist within its confines or be subject to its whims. And given the recent increase in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, which has greatly escalated in 2025, this struggle to survive has only become harder.
“The overwhelming majority (90%) of LGBTQ+ young people said their well-being was negatively impacted due to recent politics.”
2024 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People
The Trevor Project
Even the simple, routine act of a haircut can be weighing - Inherent homophobia/transphobia runs rampant in salons & barbershops which means that the majority of Queers have to worry about facing rejection, discrimination, assault or opt to camouflage their Queerness to avoid conflict.. every 4 to 6 weeks. And say, if a Queer is able to make it to the salon chair unscathed, they now have to convince the stylist/barber to give them a haircut they want, rather than one prescribed by gender norms or conventional beauty standards.
Thankfully, organizations like Strands for Trans, The Dresscode Project, and Everywhere is Queer continue to make it easier for Queers to find safe, inclusive, and knowledgable salons, but that’s really only half the battle when it comes to accessibility… Queers are also predominately poorer than non-Queers.
“LGBTQ+ adults in the United States are significantly more likely to be living in poverty than their straight and cisgender counterparts.”
Understanding Poverty in the LGBTQ+ Community Resource
Human Rights Campaign
This means that receiving a haircut service can be both a luxury and a stressor so naturally, they are often just skipped entirely. While we stan an at-home haircut (it’s definitely a Queer rite-of-passage of taking agency over your person), we think Queers should be treated to the same care as everyone else; enjoying a relaxing shampoo service and a fresh cut.
That’s why we’re launching a Haircut Sponsorship Program to give struggling queers an opportunity to receive an affirming haircut in a safe space, paid by fellow Queers & supportive Allies. Pooling resources for local Queers-in-need will help make Boulder more equitable and allows us to lift the burden, if only temporarily, for this at-risk community.
Read on to find out how the program works, how to sponsor, OR how to receive a sponsored haircut.
Sponsor A Haircut
Hey, thank you!
We appreciate you supporting the Queer community. We keep all Sponsors & Sponsees anonymous. Your purchased sponsored service will be announced publicly as available within 72 hours and will be matched with a sponsee. After paying, you’ll receive an email receipt for the donated service. We will not tell you who received your sponsored service.
Select the sponsored haircut service amount you’d like to donate below.
Sign up to receive a Sponsored haircut
*only QUEER folks should apply
*Yes, we respectfully request that only individuals who identify as Queer apply. Why? Because Queers are and have been an economically disadvantaged minority, compounded if they also happen to be black or brown or transgender. Boulder is an affluent city and we want to hold space here for folks who can’t afford a haircut or would rather eat than spend it on taking care of themselves. Trans & BIPOC individuals go to the front-of-the-line.
Hey, nice to meet you -
Sponsored cuts are donation-based and may not always be available and therefore, we cannot guarantee you’ll be selected to receive a sponsored haircut within a certain time frame or at all. If you are selected as a Sponsee, we’ll contact you so you can book a MAL haircut service that has been pre-paid (i.e. sponsored) by a fellow Queer or Ally. We keep all Sponsors & Sponsees anonymous and we will not tell you who sponsored your service.
To sign up, fill out a form below to be added to our Sponsee Waiting List. Please only sign up if you are able to travel to the MAL studio, located in Boulder, Colorado.
If you are selected, we will contact you directly to let you know & coordinate your appointment. After we contact you, you must schedule your haircut appointment within 72 hours or your sponsored haircut service offer will expire and go to the next available Sponsee.
By signing up, you are agreeing to the Sponsorship Policy: Sponsored services are non-refundable & not redeemable for cash. Purchasing a Sponsored haircut service (Sponsor) or signing up to receive a sponsored haircut service (Sponsee) constitutes acceptance to our Studio Policies & TOU. Sponsees can reschedule their appointment online anytime up to 24 hours before their appointment time. Sponsees who cancel within 24 hours of their appointment time, no-show, or late-show will forfeit their sponsored haircut service. We reserve the right to pause new sponsorships or prevent new Sponsees from signing up at any time for any reason, such as for an influx of new sponsorships or if our Sponsee Waiting List is getting too long. We aim for all selected Sponsees to be able to get their sponsored haircut within a reasonable amount of time. Sponsored haircuts are rendered by Maeve at MAL QUEER HAIR STUDIO LLC in Boulder, Colorado. Sponsorship policy is subject to change.
