Finding the Path

Jules moved to Portland at 13 and, like many queer youth, found themselves navigating a world that didn’t always feel like home. But in beauty school, something clicked. “It gave me purpose. It helped me quit drinking and smoking,” they said. Their sobriety date—May 14, 2018—is etched not just in memory but in the work they do every day.Though they wouldn’t call themselves fully sober now—“I’d say I’m 98% sober,” Jules shared—they maintain a deeply mindful and moderate relationship with alcohol. That evolution is part of their healing story.

“I just want to be honest. I had to get sober, and that’s what gave me the space to build this life. I still have a glass of wine now and then, but it doesn’t define me. The work does.”

Q&A Interview

Hair For Humans isn’t just a clever name. It’s a declaration. “I wanted something that was inclusive of everyone,” Jules explained. “But especially a place where queer and trans folks could come in and know they won’t have to explain themselves.

”Whether it’s a short fade or a long layered cut, Jules’ gender-affirming approach is built on collaboration. They listen. They observe. ...They help clients find the cut that works for their face, their lifestyle—and their identity. “My only two rules for a good haircut? You should like it, and it should grow out well.”

That simple philosophy has had life-changing results. Some clients have left the chair saying, this haircut saved my life. One even received devastating news about a friend’s death during their appointment—and stayed, because Jules knew how to hold space, quietly and compassionately. “Sometimes you’re part stylist, part therapist,” Jules said. “It’s an honor.”

For Jules, the most powerful shift in their identity came in 2017, after top surgery. “Before surgery, I felt like I was managing dysphoria every day. After? It was like the volume turned down. I could just exist.”

When asked, “Who or what first made you feel seen for who you are?”—Jules paused, then answered simply and powerfully: “I think it was me.”

They went on to describe the deep personal work that made that self-recognition possible. “I’ve done a lot of somatic work around trauma, and it helped me reconnect with my body. That healing process brought me back to myself.”

Though their family has always been supportive, it was this internal reckoning—the moment of seeing themselves fully and kindly—that defined their journey. Their authenticity now radiates through every cut, every consultation, and every connection with a client.

In a moment where gender-affirming care is being politicized and, in many places, actively restricted, Jules’ work is quietly radical. Creating a space where people can explore and affirm their identity—without fear, judgment, or compromise—is an act of resistance and care. “Being present with someone in the chair is radical,” Jules said. “It can save lives.” In their studio, affirmation isn’t theoretical. It’s tactile. It grows out with you.

Jules’ work really took off after they joined a social media program for barbers in March 2024. Their consult-style videos on gender-affirming cuts gained traction quickly, proving that the world was hungry for the nuance and care they bring to hair. “It was never about going viral,” Jules said. “But it was about helping people find language for what they’re feeling.”

Jules will be teaching a class at Premier Orlando later this month, and they’re building out a longer curriculum in Portland focused on consultations and affirming cuts. They recently launched their first line of merch—shirts designed with the same care and ethos that defines their shop.

When asked what’s most important to them right now, Jules didn’t hesitate: staying connected, staying grounded, and continuing to serve. “This is more than a job,” they said. “It’s a way to love people.”

Follow Jules at @hairforhumans
For bookings, merch, and more, visit hairforhumans.com