My name is Kat So The Barber. I’m a barber in upstate NY with over two decades of experience behind the chair. I’m known as The Pull Up Barber because I bring the barbershop to the people. I provide haircuts in homes, community spaces, and organizations, meeting people where they feel most comfortable.
The Mission Behind The Project
I started The Pull Up Barber Project because I realized something: not everybody can make it to the barbershop.
Sometimes it’s a matter of time. Life is busy, and getting to a shop just doesn’t happen. But sometimes, it is much deeper than that.
Some people need less noise, more privacy, and a calmer environment. Not everyone feels comfortable walking into a crowded shop and hoping it’s the right fit.
Financial Barriers: Many people are navigating financial security. A quality haircut should never be a luxury out of reach. Financial hardship should not prevent anyone from feeling clean, confident, and cared for.
The Pull Up Barber Project is about breaking down these barriers and bringing a mindful, accessible barbershop experience directly to the people who need it most.
Making Haircuts Free for the Community
To eliminate the financial burden on individuals, The Pull Up Barber Project operates on a community-funded model. We believe in collective care and offer two ways to ensure our services remain 100% free for those in need:
1. Organizational Sponsorships
We partner with local businesses, non-profits, and community organizations. Instead of individuals paying out of pocket, we ask organizations to sponsor our visits. By funding a day of service, your organization can provide free, professional grooming directly to your clients, residents, or community members.
2. Pay-It-Forward Donations
Community members can directly support one another. Through our website, you can donate the cost of a haircut to someone who cannot afford it. Every dollar donated goes straight toward covering the service of a neighbor in need.
Trauma-Informed Grooming
While doing this work, I started to notice something deeper. For many people, being in the chair is a highly vulnerable experience. Depending on what someone has been through, that experience can either feel safe… or completely overwhelming.
This level of care is something we are not taught how to navigate in barbering school. It requires understanding:
How to recognize when someone feels anxious and how to safely navigate that.
How the physical environment, tone of voice, or personal energy impacts someone’s nervous system.
How to adapt the grooming process to honor boundaries and emotional safety.
Join The Project
My vision is to grow this initiative into a fully equipped MOBILE BARBERSHOP so I can reach more people across the Capital Region and beyond! With your help, we can make this a reality.
