Foxycut, a Salon and Thriving Cultural Community Hub

Photography, illustration, makeup artistry, and multimedia production are just some of the careers Miguel Vigil could list on his resume, but one career has remained constant throughout his life―hairstyling. Miguel is the owner of Foxycut Salon, an LGTBQ+ and BIPOC centered space, open to everyone though they specialize in cutting hair for people who value self-expression and creativity. Miguel explains what makes Foxycut special,

“I want them [clients] to be seen. I want them to be listened to. You can get somebody the perfect haircut and if it's not what they want, they're not going to like it…I think it's important to listen in order to just connect. There's a lot of times people will have a conversation back and forth and it's a great conversation, but there wasn't actually any connection made. When you find those things that are in common…that you can grab on to, it's enough to make an impact or they make an impact on your life because of something they said. Those are the points that I kind of live for.”

Connection and community serve as foundational values for Miguel, which are also reflected in the mission of Foxycut. The salon is not just a space for hair but also a thriving cultural community hub. For example, they hold lots of free classes such as teaching mothers to cut/ braid their children’s hair, or new stylists how to cut or color curly hair. They host book clubs and Dungeons & Dragons groups and are open to hosting almost any community event. They hold monthly fundraisers where everyone comes in for a cut and all proceeds are donated to a nonprofit organization or a community member in need. They partner with organizations such as the YMCA and Orion Youth Center, whose mission is to serve unhoused youth, to provide free haircuts. They will “adopt a kid” and give them free haircuts for a year. They do all this, Miguel explains, because,

“Our mission is literally to help as many people as possible. Times are changing quickly and I think community spaces are more important now than they've ever been. Accessible. That's kind of a key word...I want people to be able to get together for good causes for as little as possible. We will host them, bring beverages. We want to make it comfortable, easy, and convenient for people to have community space.”

Miguel (right) and attendee at their Feria De Las Flores event.

In addition to all the good they do for the community, Foxycut holds quarterly parties a la NPR Tiny Desk Concerts style hosted by drag queens to support local artists. They feature dancers, poetry, performance art, musicians, DJs, and more and provide free food and drinks with all the tips going to artists. These events are important to Miguel to address the barriers many artists face. He explains,

“Seattle is not an accessible city. Spaces are not accessible. Art is not accessible because there's so much gatekeeping.”

Foxycut Salon recently left their location in the Chinatown International District because the restaurant next to them wanted to expand into their space. Their new location is in the Georgetown neighborhood in Seattle where there is a vibrant art scene with a monthly art walk. Miguel is glad for the move because the old location was a bit isolated compared to their new space, which is surrounded by artists and is bigger. This will allow them to expand their events to better support the community. Miguel explains,

“I want to expand how many and how much we can utilize the space for community events. I want to be able to do more events and raise LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices. A lot of our clientele are from different countries, from different cultures and a lot of them aren’t really seen in a majority of salon spaces right now. And those are the voices that we try to amplify.”

Foxycut in their Georgetown location.

While Foxycut received a grant to pay for shampoo bowls and chairs, the move comes with additional expenses. There is a laundry list of things they need for the space including a new water heater, paint, equipment, etc. Compounded by the fear of an upcoming recession, the move will put the business in a poor financial position in the upcoming years. While Miguel is usually the one supporting the community, he is now asking the community to support him through a fundraiser with a $5500 goal. They are hoping to cover lost wages for staff, buy furniture and signage, and move an art mural.

You can support Foxycut by donating to their GoFundMe. Watch the video below explaining their mission and why they are “a cultural anchor, a place where beauty, creativity, and community thrive together.”

Foxycut is located on 5501 Airport Way S, Seattle.  Visit their website here to learn more about the salon or to book an appointment or follow them on Instagram @foxycut.