Entering New Age Barbering Co. at 8 Freebody St in Newport comes with a feeling of relief that many women wish was more familiar to barbershops everywhere. Rather than walking into obnoxious chatter and intimidation, I was greeted with soft music and a cozy waiting room that immediately quelled my anxieties about entering such a stereotypically male-dominated environment. Sitting in Tiffany Aponté’s chair as she shaved off the roughly two feet of curls growing from my head, we discussed her intentions when opening the doors to her shop back in 2022. Reminiscing on her early days, Aponté described the challenges she faced as a female trying to infiltrate the hypermasculine barbering industry.
Sitting in Tiffany Aponté’s chair as she shaved off the roughly two feet of curls growing from my head, we discussed her intentions when opening the doors to her shop back in 2022. Reminiscing on her early days, Aponté described the challenges she faced as a female trying to infiltrate the hypermasculine barbering industry. “They didn’t have trust in my abilities as a woman,” she said, remembering the way many male customers would refuse her services and question her competence in the early stages of her career. For a time, she was discouraged by the industry’s undermining of her expertise, and she left barbering for several years before returning to the career with thicker skin and even more passion in 2018. After six years of honing her craft, she ventured out to reimagine the traditional barbershop and create a space that “felt safe for everyone – women, men, children, the community – everyone.” Tiffany explains that her choices when designing the space were very intentional, as she “wanted people to feel like they just walked into their living room.” As the shop has grown and continued to serve the community, Aponté has protected the safety of her space when confronted with inappropriate and misogynistic behavior from customers expecting a more cliché barbershop experience. The owner also discussed her conviction when hiring a staff of barbers equally committed to fostering a community space that provides haircuts for everyone.
“I can’t hire someone who’s just looking for a job,” she says, and it is evident from the warmth of the environment, its stylists, and the other patrons that we are all working towards the same goal of safety and comfort for all. It is certainly a refreshing experience for anyone who has grown accustomed to tolerating the unapproachable undercurrent of most other shops. Aponté also acknowledges the importance of providing a pleasant environment for the LGBTQ+ community to access barbering services as well. As of 2023, only 8% of barbers in the U.S. identified as queer, and the toxically masculine nature of the quintessential barber shop has driven away LGBTQ+ customers for decades. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community herself, Aponté is breaking barriers on several fronts, attracting both women and queer patrons from across Rhode Island to her shop for a haircut. Tiffany expressed great gratitude for her customers, remarking “I’m thankful for the people that come to me from Providence and Pawtucket for a cut. It shows that they trust me and my skills.” I can confidently say that she is achieving her goals with extraordinary success, as she talked me through my gender-affirming cut and prepared me for the journey ahead while sharpening up my hairline with focused precision. Moving forward, Aponté has a vision to expand the New Age brand with a product line and franchise locations across the New England region. Looking to support her mission? You can follow the shop on Instagram @newagebarberingco or book a service with one of their talented barbers. •
