There’s a moment that happens in a lot of trans people’s lives when they realize their hair needs to catch up with who they are.
Maybe you’ve been on hormones for six months and your hair is finally growing in. Maybe you just came out and have no idea where to even start. Maybe you’ve been living as yourself for years but have never found a stylist who truly got it — who understood what you were asking for without you having to over-explain, justify, or brace yourself for an awkward reaction.
That moment — that search for someone safe — is exactly why Dory is at Poza Salon.
Who Is Dory?
Dory (they/them) is one of Poza Salon’s most sought-after stylists, and within Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ community, they’ve become something of an open secret. Word travels fast when you find a stylist who genuinely understands gender-affirming hair — and for many trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming clients in Charlotte, Dory is that person.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community themselves, Dory doesn’t approach this work as an outsider trying to be sensitive. They approach it as someone who understands — personally and professionally — what it means for hair to be tied to identity, visibility, and self-recognition.
“Your hair is often one of the first things that signals to the world who you are,” Dory says. “Getting that right matters in a way that goes beyond aesthetics.”
The Consultation That Changes Everything
Meet Dory: Charlotte’s Gender-Affirming Hair Stylist at Poza Salon
Ask any of Dory’s clients what sets them apart, and the answer is almost always the same: the consultation.
Not the kind of consultation where a stylist glances at a photo and says “sure, we can do that.” Dory’s consultations are thorough, unhurried, and built entirely around where you are in your journey — because that looks completely different from person to person.
Someone who came out last month is in a completely different place than someone who transitioned five years ago. Someone growing out a short cut to achieve a more feminine silhouette needs a different roadmap than someone who wants a sharp, masculinizing undercut for the first time. Dory understands all of this, and they adjust accordingly.
If you’re just beginning your transition, Dory focuses on education and realistic roadmaps. What’s achievable now? What will take time? What styles can help you feel more like yourself in the weeks and months ahead while your hair grows or changes? There’s no pressure, no rushing. Just honest, compassionate guidance.
If you’re mid-transition, Dory helps you work with what you have — whether that’s managing growth, addressing texture changes from hormone therapy, or making the most of your current length while building toward the style you want.
If you’ve been living as yourself for years but have never had a stylist who really listened, Dory’s consultation becomes something different: a reset. A chance to finally get what you’ve always wanted, with someone who can actually deliver it.
Feminizing and Masculinizing: The Technical Side
Gender-affirming hair isn’t just about length. It’s a craft — one that requires understanding how cut, shape, texture, and hair color interact with facial features to create a particular impression.
Dory brings a trained, artistic eye to this work.
For clients feminizing their appearance, Dory considers face shape, hairline, jaw, and cheekbones when designing a style. Softness around the face, layers that add movement, strategic color placement that draws the eye — all of these are tools Dory uses intentionally to create a look that feels authentically feminine, not just “long hair.”
For clients masculinizing their appearance, Dory focuses on structure: cuts that emphasize the jaw and temples, shorter sides that create a stronger silhouette, and styles that sit with confidence rather than apology. They’re particularly skilled at the kind of gender-nonconforming cuts that live in the intentional space between — cuts that don’t ask you to pick a box.
This is where Poza’s menu of gender-nonconforming haircuts comes in. Unlike many salons that still price and categorize services by gender, Poza lists services by cut type and length — because your hair doesn’t have a gender, and neither does your appointment.
Why a Safe Salon Matters More Than You Might Think
For cisgender clients, walking into a new salon is mildly stressful at worst. For many trans and gender-nonconforming people, it can be genuinely anxiety-inducing.
Will the stylist use the right pronouns? Will they default to a “men’s” or “women’s” cut based on how they perceive me? Will I have to explain my identity before I can explain what I want for my hair? Will I feel judged?
At Poza, those questions have real answers. Pronouns are asked and respected — by every member of our team, not just Dory. Our booking system doesn’t require you to select a gendered service. And the culture of this salon, which our owners Zahava and Pooran built from day one on the principle that everyone is welcome, means the warmth you feel isn’t a performance for your benefit. It’s just how we are.
Dory is part of a team that reflects that culture — and as someone who is part of the LGBTQ+ community themselves, they bring something to this work that goes beyond professional skill. They bring genuine understanding.
What to Expect When You Book With Dory
If you’re considering booking with Dory for the first time, here’s what you can expect:
- Before your appointment, there’s no form to fill out about your identity or transition status. You don’t owe anyone your story before you walk in the door.
- When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed into a calm, inclusive space in Poza’s Myers Park location. You’ll have time to settle in before Dory begins the consultation.
- During the consultation, Dory will ask questions — but only the ones that help them understand what you want and how best to achieve it. You set the pace. You share what you want to share. Dory meets you exactly where you are.
- During your service, expect honest conversation, expert technique, and zero judgment. If Dory sees an opportunity to suggest something that might work even better for your features or your goals, they’ll mention it — but they’ll never push.
- When you leave, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to maintain your style at home, what products Dory recommends for your specific hair type, and a roadmap for what comes next if you’re working toward a longer-term goal.
Book With Dory in Charlotte
Dory is based at Poza Salon, located at 2314 Crescent Avenue in Myers Park, Charlotte, NC. We serve clients from across Charlotte — including Dilworth, Plaza Midwood, NoDa, SouthPark, and beyond — as well as those who travel specifically because finding the right stylist is worth the drive.
To book with Dory, use our online booking system or call yous at (704) 523-2333. If you have specific questions before your first appointment, you’re also welcome to email us at guestcare@pozasalon.com — we’re happy to answer anything that would help you feel more comfortable walking in.
Your hair. Your identity. Your terms.
Poza Salon is Charlotte’s LGBTQ-owned, gender-affirming hair salon in Myers Park. We specialize in trans-friendly haircuts, gender-nonconforming styles, and affirming consultations for every point in your journey. Serving Charlotte, Dilworth, Plaza Midwood, NoDa, SouthPark, and surrounding communities since 2006.