By Addie Jones

Eight years ago, a single sign ignited nearly a decade of activism.

In September 2015, Fayetteville designed Proposition 57-81, seeking to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, specifically in the realm of housing, employment and public accommodations. Local stylist Alicia Simmons and two like-minded coworkers were renting a suite and decided to hang a sign supporting this ordinance. However, they were told they could not display this sign because not everyone shared this belief. In response, they made a powerful statement — they nailed the sign to the wall.  

“We never set out to make a name for ourselves,” Simmons said. “They terminated our lease, and that started our activism.”  

Located in Fayetteville, Salon Fix is a sanctuary of warmth, joy and acceptance. Simmons, one of the three owners, said their mission is to make people feel they should be awarded the same opportunities and experiences.  

With a diverse team, including many members of the LGBTQ+ community, the inclusivity has created a judgment-free zone where stylists will never turn clients away based on financial concerns or time restraints; they work diligently to fulfill the needs of all their customers.  

“Imagine knowing inside that you want to be the person that you know you are and never being able to accomplish that because of societal standards,” Simmons said. “Whether that be through cosmetics, hair or fashion, the vision for yourself gets to come alive.”

Salon Fix clients have many choices to take control of their experience and feel as comfortable as possible: silent appointments, food and drink, and private suites. This last offer is especially beneficial for those in the process of transitioning or those whose religion prevents them from getting their hair done in the middle of a salon.

“We will bend over backwards to make that happen for you, and we will never let you know that we are bending over backwards,” Simmons said. 

Maddie Stephens, a longtime member of the Salon Fix family, specializes in colors, men’s cuts and curly hair, focusing on gender-affirming cuts and styles. She was Salon Fix’s first intern, and after a brief hiatus at a more corporate salon where she felt unable to express her queerness openly, she returned home.

“Alicia, our owner, has always accepted me even when I was really on the fence about coming out to my family and has always been there for me,” Stephens said. “It was kind of a logical step for me.”

Simmons recounted several moments whenever clients saw themselves in the mirror for the first time after an appointment and were moved to tears, a testament to the salon’s mission and a treasured moment for both the stylist and customer.

For Stephens, her favorite memory was working with a transitioning male-to-female woman growing out her curly hair. At the appointment, Stephens gave her client a haircut, eyebrow wax and various styling techniques and tips.

“She was unsure of where to even start with her hair because her only experience had been in barber shops in the past,” Stephens said. “To keep it a surprise, I kept her facing away from the mirror. At the end of the service, I turned her around and she cried and looked at herself with so much awe. She said she had never felt more beautiful and more seen.”

For other stylists across northwest Arkansas, hair and makeup has been more than a profession; it has been a canvas for them to paint the portrait of their own identities.

Taylor Gibson, who uses they/them pronouns, is a cosmetologist by day and a drag queen by night. At On The Verge hair salon, they focus on providing gender-affirming haircuts as a means of transforming people into the best possible version of themselves. 

“Growing up, my mom knew nothing about hair and makeup, so I had to teach myself everything,” Gibson said. “I just loved it, I did it on all of my friends.”

After a year of convincing their mother that traditional school would be a waste of time, they enrolled in cosmetology school. A teacher offered them an assistant job, and shortly after, they moved to On the Verge, a salon that opened its doors at the beginning of the year.  

“I try to focus on hair that you want, not necessarily what everybody tells you want,” Gibson said. “Especially with gender-reaffirming haircuts. I have a lot of clients who just need that time and space to be comfortable to do it.”

Gibson is more than just a hairstylist; they are a confidant. Ahead of sessions, they engage clients in heartfelt conversation, allowing them the comfort of taking the first snip if they wish.

What differentiates Gibson is their seamless fusion of cosmetology and drag. People come to their website for drag and then book a hair appointment, and some clients even venture into drag after spending time in the whimsical salon.

Gibson’s journey as a queer person in Arkansas has had challenges. They said they did not discover queerness until the fifth grade, and it wasn’t until recently that they were surrounded by other people who helped them express their identity, including their non-binary store owner.

“Finding a community is such a big deal,” Gibson explained. “They always talk about your chosen family; it’s real. I wasn’t around other queer people until the end of high school.”

In Arkansas, 4% of the workforce are members of the LGBTQ+ community, with poor policy protecting them, according to Movement Advancement Projects. These statistics make community and expression more critical than ever.    

At Salon Fix, a haircut becomes more than a service. It’s a portal to begin a journey of self-discovery, changing how you present yourself to the world, with the intersection of hair and makeup helping people feel more comfortable and confident.

“There’s no reason that anyone shouldn’t be able to walk into a salon and say, ‘I feel beautiful today. I feel great. I get to express myself,’” Simmons said. “It’s hard for me to call myself an activist, because I don’t fight as much as a lot of people that I do know, but I will fight for you.”