A new barber shop and hair studio at Wendell Foster is offering a more accessible and comfortable experience for people with disabilities, sensory needs and anyone who may struggle in a traditional salon environment.
Inclusive Cuts is operated by licensed barber Sam Greer and her wife, hairstylist and licensed cosmetologist Ashley Greer. The appointment-only business is located in Wendell Foster’s Weedman Hall but is open to the entire community.
“Inclusive Cuts is exactly what it says — inclusion for all,” Sam Greer said. “It’s a one-on-one haircutting environment that allows the client to have control and allows us to tailor the haircut exactly to what they need.”
The idea developed after Greer was asked to cut the hair of a Wendell Foster resident who had not been receiving professional haircuts regularly. Greer, who has worked as a barber for about 9½ years, contacted staff members and began discussing how she could serve more residents.
After several months of planning, Greer began providing haircuts in a temporary space on the Wendell Foster campus. The response from residents and their families showed the organization that the service could meet a larger community need.
“We were really seeing the residents’ confidence go through the roof,” said Kara Howard, Wendell Foster’s vice president of development and community engagement. “Families were so excited because some of them had not seen their loved one with a professional haircut in a long time.”
Howard said some local families previously traveled to Evansville or Bowling Green to find barbers and stylists who could meet the needs of loved ones with autism, physical disabilities or other conditions.
A traditional salon can include bright lights, loud clippers, hair dryers, conversations and several customers receiving services at once. Inclusive Cuts provides a private setting where those conditions can be adjusted for each customer.
Greer said parents and caregivers may avoid professional services because they worry a loved one who moves, makes noise or cannot remain seated will be viewed as a disruption.
“They’re not being a burden, and they’re not being a bother,” Greer said. “My goal is to reshape how they think about those basic services we take for granted and let their loved one be who they are and get a haircut in an environment that is as friendly to them as possible.”
The studio includes quiet clippers, weighted capes, sensory items and televisions that can be prepared with a customer’s preferred program. Customers can provide information when scheduling about their comfort with clippers, scissors, hair dryers and other equipment.
Inclusive Cuts also has a station without a salon chair, allowing customers who use wheelchairs to pull directly in front of the mirror. A wheelchair-accessible shampoo bowl is available along with traditional salon and shampoo stations.
Howard said the consistent location is also important for customers who may have difficulty adjusting when a barber or stylist changes shops.
“Sam and Ashley take the time to build a relationship and understand what each person needs,” Howard said. “They give extra time when it is needed and really go the extra mile to make each person feel comfortable.”
Sam Greer offers traditional barber services, including haircuts, skin fades and beard trims. Ashley Greer offers longer hairstyles and other cosmetology services and provides nail services to some Wendell Foster residents.
The Greers hope to eventually add more services at the Wendell Foster location, including hair coloring for residents and other customers who may have difficulty receiving the service elsewhere.
Inclusive Cuts accepts customers of all ages. Greer said she has provided everything from first haircuts for young children to services for adults in their 70s and 80s.
Although the studio was designed with people with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities in mind, Greer said it is not limited to those customers. Families may schedule consecutive appointments for children, parents and siblings.
The Greers also operate Precision Studios on Triplett Street, directly across from Wendell Foster. The shop has been open for about 5½ years and includes four barbers.
Greer said partnering with Wendell Foster helped families understand that Inclusive Cuts is a place where their loved ones will be accepted.
“They know they’re welcome, and they can come in there,” Greer said. “Being able to create a space that makes them feel safe and heard was my top priority.”
Wendell Foster provides the space for Inclusive Cuts as a community service and does not receive revenue from the business. Discounted rates are available to Wendell Foster clients.
The public can tour Inclusive Cuts during an open house from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 23, at Wendell Foster, 701 E. Ninth St. The event will also showcase renovations to the organization’s day training program, where participants learn and grow through hands-on experiences and community engagement.
Light refreshments will be provided. Appointments with Inclusive Cuts can be booked online through Booksy or through the business’s Facebook page.
