Who is welcome at Big Bro’s? What does it mean to be a “barbershop” versus a “salon”? What hair services are/are not offered?

All types of people are welcome at Big Bro’s Barbershop! Our regular clients consist of men, women, non-binary folks, children of all ages, seniors, trans people, cis people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, straight people, all races, people with disabilities, etc. The only rule is that you can’t be intentionally transphobic or otherwise hateful, or yer outta here!

The reason the business is called “Big Bro’s Barbershop” is because the owner knew two things for certain when he opened: that he wanted to provide “big bro”-like peer support to his community, and that he was professionally trained as a barber. Thus, the shop first opened with a focus on “men’s” hair, and tended to attract a more transmasc-to-butch crowd. However, because all stylists at Big Bro’s are trained in the fundamentals of long, medium, and short hair, the shop now has a revised interpretation of the word: our Basic Barber Cuts are the no-frills experience you would expect from a barbershop: you sit down, you get your hair cut, and you leave! Meanwhile, our Luxurious Salon Cuts come with a wash, head massage, and leave time for more complicated styling after the cut itself. Both booking options are available for any length of hair and any gender presentation, though the staff members trained as barbers may have more nuanced skills and insight when it comes to masculinizing hair, and the staff members trained as stylists may have the same for feminizing hair.

Our personal staff recommendations:

Jessie: bald fades, beard trims/shaves, simple short hair maintenance
Lia: simple long or short hair maintenance, undercuts, kids
Skylar: long hair styling, bang trims, vivid colours
Alex: modern fashion cuts, kids, colour designs for buzzed hair
Rui: modern fashion cuts, straight hair, wig styling
Seven: simple long or short hair maintenance, curly hair, hair tattoos

Services that are not currently available at Big Bro’s:

What additional services does Big Bro’s provide for trans folks?

Our primary goal is to offer a physical location where trans folks know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are always welcome! As a team of people who speak to trans folks all day every day, part of our job is to share information we’ve heard from others about safe/unsafe businesses for trans patrons, gender-affirming surgery experiences, product reviews, and more. Trans-friendly practitioners – such as counsellors, physiotherapists, and more – will often promote their business to us directly, so that we can spread the word of their open trans inclusion to our clients.

Beyond the informal benefits of our gossip and general charm, we also sell a variety of gender-affirming products! See our SHOP for more information, and to browse our wares. We also have a rotating selection of previously-owned chest binders available in store, absolutely free of charge.

How do I get to your shop? Is there parking?

As of November 2024, we are now at 2375 E Broadway, at the intersection of Nanaimo St and E Broadway. We are across the street from the TD Bank and the large lot, behind the Subway. Look for the rainbow flag, and the large trans flag coloured window decal that says Big Bro’s!

Parking: We have three designated parking spots in the alleyway behind our shop. Turn into the alley and look for the Big Bro’s Barbershop signs affixed to the wall! If these spots are unavailable, there may be spots in the lot in front of the Subway, as well as a great deal of free parking on the surrounding residential streets.

Skytrain + Bus: take the Expo Line to Broadway-Commercial, and then catch the eastbound Boundary #9 or #99 bus from the station (at the southside Broadway entrance/exit, directly across the street from Shoppers Drug Mart) to Nanaimo Street. From that bus stop (in front of Ruka Coffee), cross the street west and north (toward Subway).

Alternative Skytrain + Bus: Take the Expo Line to Nanaimo Station, and take the northbound/westbound Dunbar #7 bus to E Broadway. From that bus stop (in front of the empty lot), cross the street West (toward Subway).

Skytrain + Sidewalks: Take the Expo Line to Broadway-Commercial, and walk east along E Broadway to Nanaimo Street (toward the Safeway, away from the Rio Theatre) for approximately 10 minutes. Use caution if traveling via mobility aid: the sidewalks are uneven, and often come with seasonal patches of puddles and wet leaves. Our shop will be at the alleyway just before Nanaimo Street, on the north side of E Broadway.

Bus from Dunbar, Kitsilano, Downtown, DTES, or Hastings-Sunrise: Ride the eastbound/southbound Nanaimo Station #7 bus to E Broadway. From that bus stop (in front of the TD Bank), cross the street North (toward Subway).

Bus from Boundary or East Van: Ride the westbound Alma or Granville #9 or UBC #99 to Nanaimo St. We are directly next to the bus stop – come on in!

Do I need an appointment?

Haircuts: We strongly recommend that you BOOK AN APPOINTMENT for hair services, as our availability is often limited. However, with our recent increase in staff, day-of appointments are sometimes available! If you are in the area, feel free to poke your head in and see if we have space for walk-ins. If you are travelling in from out of town, please book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Hair colour: Please BOOK AN APPOINTMENT for a Colour Consultation with one of our stylists before coming in for your first colour service at Big Bro’s. At your consult, your stylist will assess your desired hair results along with your current hair colour and density, and provide you with a quote based on the amount of time they will need to process your hair. Once a stylist has gotten to know your hair, they will be able to suggest a regular appointment duration for you to book at your own convenience!

Product purchases: You are very welcome to drop by any day 10am-6pm to purchase products! If you would like guaranteed one-on-one time to discuss products with our staff, you may want to BOOK AN APPOINTMENT for a Product Consultation. Otherwise, staff will be able to assist you between hair appointments.

Can I try on products in-store?

Please do! We have a changing stall available, and strongly recommend trying on multiple chest binders before making a purchase. Gaffs can also be tried on over underwear, to ensure the correct hip sizing. If you find a winning product and would like to wear it out, that’s absolutely fine with us: all we need to scan and charge you for your item is the tag!

For parents of shy teens who won’t leave the car, or anyone else who cannot try items on in-store for whatever reason: we do offer refunds for chest binders tried on at home.

How much are your hair services? How does the sliding scale work?

Our current pricing* is:

HAIRCUT (+$10 for a wash; +$5 for bald fade)
$40 Default / $35 Accessible / $45 Generous

BUZZ CUT (+$5 for bald fade)
$25 Default / $20 Accessible / $30 Generous

BEARD/BANG TRIM
$15 Default / $10 Accessible / $20 Generous

HOT TOWEL SHAVE
$50 Default / $40 Accessible / $60 Generous

COLOUR PER HOUR**
$50 Default / $45 Accessible / $55 Generous

*All prices include taxes. Prices do not include tips.
**Consultation with stylist is required to determine duration/price of full service.

The Default rates that we charge are, essentially, our prices – they are the amount that we think an average person should pay for our services and products. However, if paying our Default prices is financially challenging for you, we invite you to pay the Accessible rates, no questions asked! This is our equivalent to child/student/senior-type discounts – we know that many of our clients are low income, and we want to ensure that everyone is able to access our services. If you are financially stable enough to offer a helping hand, we would be very grateful if you paid the Generous rate to balance out the Accessible payments!

Will there be time for a consultation about my hair during my appointment?

You bet! We book at least an hour for our haircut appointments, and we all love a robust consultation. Tell us all about what you want from your hair in terms of gender presentation, texture/sensory stims, character/celeb inspirations, or just general vibes.

What is your cancellation policy? Is there a fee?

We charge a $10 no-show fee for folks who do not contact us at all to cancel their appointments, to be paid at your next appointment. If you cancel through our booking system, email us through our CONTACT form, or call/leave us a message, you are fully exempt from the fee, even if you do so at the last minute! Though more notice is always appreciated, as we’d like to fit someone else into your spot if you no longer need it.

What do I do if I’m dissatisfied with my haircut?

We hate to send people home not loving their hair, but it can certainly happen! If you CONTACT us within two weeks, we’re happy to bring you back in for a courtesy fixer-upper hair appointment, either with the same stylist or with someone new. If the hair is too short and needs to grow out before it can be fixed, be sure to still reach out to us! If you’re willing to give us another shot at it, we can send you a voucher so that your next appointment, whenever it may be, is on the house.

My young child is neurodiverse. Is this a good place to take them for a haircut?

We’d like to think so! While no one at Big Bro’s has formal training in youth support work, we are a predominantly neurodiverse team ourselves, and are very used to having other neurodiverse adults in our personal and professional lives. Our general approach to haircuts for children is to let the child be as autonomous as possible: we check in with about what sensations might be upsetting to them (clipper sounds, water from the spray bottle, itchiness from hair clippings) and do our best to work with them on less overstimulating alternatives. The child also reserves the right to end the haircut, as we do not wish to traumatize children early on and discourage them from getting haircuts in the future! 

Based on the youngest clients we’ve had over the past few years, autistic children who start seeing us around age 2 or 3 may cry and tap out early at their first few appointments, but by age 4 or 5, they begin trusting the space and their stylist enough to start understanding negotiations. For example, a haircut done with scissors will be quieter than one done with clippers, but it will likely take twice as long. We’re also happy to explain our process to children who just want to be more informed – some children are scared of getting cut by the clippers, and it’s easy for us to show off the mechanics of how the machine works without injuring people.

A few fidget toys are available in our reception area, though you are of course very welcome to bring your own. (And this applies to visitors of all ages, not just our wee ones!) If alternative stim toys are available to you, we would advise against chewable ones, as they will likely get covered in hair clippings.

I have concerns about COVID and/or other transmissions. What steps can be taken during my appointment to reduce these risks?

We keep masks at the shop at all times, and our staff is always happy to put one on by request, if we are not wearing one already! After our mask-mandatory policy from 2020-2023, we are quite accustomed to cutting hair around mask straps. We simply ask that you wear the kind with ear loops, versus ones that wrap all the way around the head (which we can also provide to you at Big Bro’s). 

Our new location is 1257 square feet, and usually contains around 4-6 people at a time. At our absolute busiest, we may have a capacity of up to 9 or 10 people at a time (4 staff, 4 clients, 1-2 additional friends/shoppers), plus 2 people in a separate room (1 staff with 1 client in our rental suite). However, this is an estimate for a very busy Pride season day – we’ve yet to do four simultaneous cuts! 

While we do have a significantly improved HVAC system compared to our last location, our heat pump does not offer HPA-level purification, unfortunately.

Pro-tip: though we are all generally hygenic, Skylar is our most actively COVID-conscious stylist. If you’d prefer a full-time mask wearer, they’re your guy!

I use mobility aides. Will I be able to access your shop?

Our shop is relatively accessible: we have definitely made improvements from our last space, but still have a few weak points for folks in larger chairs/scooters who cannot get up temporarily. We now have two doors that open at the front, and a perfectly flat entryway (versus our slightly-too-steep concrete ramp at the last location). There is a clear path throughout the shop of at least 3’, and all areas are accessible for folks using walkers, arm braces, canes, and perhaps smaller chairs. However, our bathroom and wall-adjacent hair stations will likely be too cumbersome for full navigation in larger chairs: we unfortunately could not update our bathroom (yet!) due to budgetary constraints, so the door opens inward, eating up the vast majority of the space required to enter the room with a chair and also close the door. 

For a full breakdown of our shop’s accessibility, check out the full accessibility audit* – courtesy of the Radical Access Mapping Project – in the footer of our website (sidebar on desktop).
*Dec 17 2024: We’re still writing out the one for our current location! Our revised RAMP audit will be done soon!

Can my organization make purchases at Big Bro’s on behalf of our client?

Absolutely – we love seeing sponsored purchases! Unless otherwise requested, organizations will be charged the Default rates for hair services. If you are unable to accompany your client to the shop, there are still many ways you can financially support them:

  • If your organization would like to pay via cheque, please CONTACT us with your order (products, hair services, or both), and we’ll email you an invoice directly. This invoice can be paid online via credit card, or through other means like a cheque. Cheques can be made out to either Big Bro’s Barbershop or Jessie Anderson.
  • Your organization can purchase products from our online SHOP for delivery or pickup. As long as the name provided is the same name mentioned to us upon pickup, we’re happy to pass off the order to either you or your client!
  • You can purchase a GIFT VOUCHER online for your client, which is a 16-digit code that can be redeemed in-store. Physical gift cards are also sold in-store. These gift vouchers/cards can be used for both hair services and products.

What donations does Big Bro’s accept?

Big Bro’s accepts used chest binders, in any condition that might be useful to the next wearer! Binders can be dropped off any day between 10am-6pm. At this time, we are not accepting underwear, packers, or surgery pillows.

If you would like to support the business financially, we would gladly accept the assistance! Currently, the best way to offer financial support is either in-store or through our GOFUNDME campaign. Please note that we are not a registered charity, and cannot offer tax-deductible receipts.

Unfortunately, we are not in a position to directly financially support external projects at this time. However, we are very happy to offer gift cards to raffles, silent auctions, or other fundraising opportunities! Please CONTACT us if you are collecting donated gifts.

Is Big Bro’s hiring? Are placements available for work experience students/apprenticeships?

We are not accepting job applications currently, and we do not currently accept apprenticeships, as we feel underqualified to provide them! However, we do have an opening for more high school level work experience, or folks looking for volunteer opportunities: we could always use someone at our front desk to greet people, and to come grab us when we’re needed! It would be perfectly fine (and encouraged) for someone to do homework or work on a personal project during this gig.

If you’d like to help us out with reception in exchange for an opportunity to co-work in a trans-centred 2SLGBTQSIA+ space, CONTACT us and let us know!

Who works at Big Bro’s? Who owns the business?

Big Bro’s Barbershop is a sole proprietorship owned by Jessie Anderson: all profits made (and debt incurred) through Big Bro’s belongs exclusively to Jessie. The staff at Big Bro’s are all paid an hourly wage, versus renting their chairs. With this model, staff have no reason to compete with one another, and a more cooperative environment can be built.

We also have a rental suite, for independently-operating stylists: the room is generally designated to ZED PAYNE’s practice, but is also used by JEN on Thursdays, and ALEX (who also works part time as a Big Bro’s employee) on Sundays and Mondays. These stylists set their own pricing, and have their own booking systems separate from the one on our website.

Is the owner available for an interview/speaking gig?

Likely a yes to press! Jessie has done plenty of interviews for Big Bro’s in the past. Off-site speaking gigs are not guaranteed, and under most circumstances must be well-paid opportunities. Please CONTACT us to tell us about your specific project! For more information about Jessie and his work, check out JESSIEANDERSON.COM.

Why did the shop relocate? How is this location different from the last one?

After over eight years, we found ourselves outgrowing our last location! Not only were we running out of space to put more stylists, but we found ourselves requiring more robust equipment that simply didn’t have a place to go: our washer blocked access to a sink, our dryer half-blocked the bathroom door, and our small towel steamer used for shaves (versus our current warming cabinet) would boil over and flood, causing swollen patches on our particle board furniture.

In contrast to the first decade of Big Bro’s Barbershop, where we slowly grew and updated our equipment over time (which is more expensive in the long run), we made an investment into a larger space that we could grow into. We’ve given up our 850 square foot space in exchange for a 1250 square foot space, now with matching furniture, durable countertops, and sinks next to our working stations! We are finally working out of a space designed to suit the needs of our work, rather than trying to work around the limitations of the lighting, plumbing, and walls installed for a previous, unrelated business.

Help, I’m having gender feelings!

Congratulations, and our condolences! We’re not a bad first stop on your journey if you’re looking to talk out some thoughts and feelings, and play around with some cosmetic options. However, for the real deep work and/or medical intervention, we would suggest finding a trans-competent therapist in your area, and getting connected to an endocrinologist who can supervise hormone blockers/replacement therapy as it relates to you, your body, and your personal process. If you’re in BC, we recommend that you get in touch with TRANS CARE BC.