Staff – Big Bro's Barbershop

JESSIE (owner)

Jessie Anderson (he/him) is a transsexual man who grew up in East Van, just a few blocks away from where Big Bro’s Barbershop currently stands. A graduate of London School’s Old School Barbering course, Jessie specializes in ultra-short skin fades, straight razor shaves, and enhanced masculinization for clients who may struggle with being recognized as men by the public. However, Jessie has worked and lived with a diverse mix of queer folks since 2004, and enjoys using his understanding of society’s gendered beauty expectations to help clients construct a creative aesthetic of their very own!

Jessie has experience working with:

varied hair types, lengths, and textures
folks with specific needs (neurodivergencies, disabilities, trauma, etc.)
dramatic long-to-short hair chops

Beyond his experience with hair, Jessie has been navigating BC’s trans health care system since 2007, and has spent years building a strong personal network of trans-friendly businesses, health care providers, non-profits, event organizers, and more. If you have a question about transition and/or local resources for the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, Jessie can usually dig up an answer!

Website: JessieAnderson.com

JESSIE’S PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS

LIA

Lia (they/she) is a pan, genderqueer, poly, Plural trans femme who’s been barbering since 2013, living in Vancouver since 2014, and transitioning since 2015. Lia was born, assigned male, and raised in Kamloops, BC. They wanted to transition as early at 19, but, frustrated with the lack of support structures out in the Lower Mainland, they moved out to Vancouver. They are now eager to share their experience and assist other trans people.

Lia’s has been doing ‘masculine’ short haircuts and fades for most of their career, but also enjoys working with femme hairstyles of any length, and loves tailoring overly specific detail work to people’s specifications.

LIA’S PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS

SKYLAR

Skylar Bakes (they/them) is a two-spirit, chronically ill/disabled Indigenous person. Originally from Squamish, Sky is a graduate of MC College Kelowna. Skylar received certificates for hair design, color, texture, and sculpture (a fancy way of saying “haircuts”), along with their Diploma. Skylar specializes in vivid colors, and longer hairstyles. Despite being specialized in vivids and longer hair, Skylar still loves highlights, blondes, shorter cuts and breaking out the clippers for a solid fade. Skylar also has experience combing matting out of hair.

Skylar has experience working with:

varied hair types, lengths, and textures
folks with specific needs (neurodivergencies, disabilities, trauma, etc.)
most ages (kids through seniors)
dramatic long-to-short hair chops
many, many genders

Outside of business hours, Skylar works to actively protest colonial government. Skylar is a mobility aid user. They are always down to chat about the struggle of facing multiple access barriers, and hopes our shop can help with that at least a little.

Instagram: @SkylarBakesHair

SKYLAR’S PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS

ALEX

Alex (he/they) is an autistic, white, transmasculine creative stylist and artist who works both independently and alongside Big Bros Barbershop. He graduated top of his class for Hair Art Design from the John Casablanca Institute in June 2021, and has been renting the chair in the back from his mentor Zed ever since. Alex has experience with all types and textures of hair, and will never turn anyone away for their hair condition, texture, length, etc. His main goal is to make sure that everyone, regardless of gender or presentation, leaves his chair feeling like their true selves. Alex works with all ages, with his youngest client (so far) being 3 years old!

Starting his transition around 18 years old and just finishing highschool, Alex does well with teenagers and young adults in the beginning stages of transition – especially ones that may be struggling with family acceptance and self image. During his early teen years he was diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety secondary to physical chronic ailments, and has struggled since through many ups and downs…but always made it out the other side. He has been on testosterone for 5+ years, has had keyhole top surgery with Dr. Genoway, as well as a hysterectomy + partial oviarectomy, and is more than happy to discuss and answer any questions. In his spare time Alex enjoys being an art gremlin: painting, drawing, sculpting, beading, and embroidery only begin to touch on his many hoarded hobbies, and you might even be able to find someone of his pieces around the back of the shop for sale!

Folks can also booked with Alex directly for appointments on Sundays and Mondays.

Instagram: @Coastal_Queer

ALEX’S PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS

RUI

Rui (they/them) is a non-binary neurodivergent hair stylist who grew up in Richmond BC. They were a high school emo kid that spent most of teen life frying their hair with drug store colouring products. Rui graduated from John Casablanca’s Institute in 2017 and has been working in various Japanese salons within Richmond throughout the years. Although it has helped them learn and gain more knowledge, the conservative environment has been stressful for them as a trans and neurodivergent individual. Rui now feels very passionate about using their experiences to create a safe space for queer pocs who struggle between finding a salon who can work with Asian hair types or a queer friendly salon that is white dominant.

Rui specializes in:

dramatic colour changes (black to blonde)
vivids *bonus if they’re inspired by fictional characters 😉
layered long styles (wolf cuts, shags)

Rui is also a cosplayer and have over 10+ years of experience styling wigs, so feel free to reach out for any wiggy needs. 🙂 Or just babble about anime or manga with them while getting your actual hair done!

Instagram: @DyeByRuisHands

RUI’S PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS

SEVEN SNIPS

Seven Snips (he/him) is a queer boy who has lived in vancouver for many years. In 2021, Seven started doing haircuts for friends out of his college dorm room and realized how fun doing hair could be. In early 2023, he began cutting hair out of a home studio and has since been doing what he loves. Seven is a graduate of VCC’s Hairstylist / Hair Design program (Fall 2024).

Seven offers detailed and collaborative haircuts for all textures, lengths, and genders. For Seven, doing hair is all about creating and shaping possibilities. Through personalized consultations, Seven wants to hear about the vision you have for your hair. Come with five different ideas or none at all! He loves the process of talking through the idea, putting in shapes, connecting the pieces, and ultimately creating something tailored to your vision.

He has a soft spot in his heart for texture and movement –– especially in the form of layered styles like shags and mullets. Seven specializes in custom cuts, curly hair, colour, highlights, and freehand shaved designs.

Seven has experience with: