The Creation of
a New Barbershop Experience…

Camera Ready Kutz, Inc. was established in November of 2007 by Trinidad born, Far Rockaway Queens raised Master Barber, Khane Kutzwell. Khane’s interest in barbering started after hearing stories from her friends in the LGBTQIA+ community about their terrible treatment at neighborhood barbershops. This ill-treatment included being denied service, subjected to hateful comments, purposely not being given the hairkut they asked for and straight-up fearing for their safety due to extreme hyper-masculinity combined with the above mentioned negative elements. Khane could clearly see there was a need in the barber industry for change and her entrepreneurial spirit kicked in...

At the time, Khane was also a Store Manager for a major coffee company which made for many sleepless nights juggling her managerial schedule with a full time barber student schedule, but she was determined to get through it and graduated November of 2007. Her initial goal was to cut hair for her friends as a side gig, but…”I should’ve known it would grow because I LOVE EVERYTHING about business and couldn’t help but begin advertising myself everywhere. At that time there was only Friendster & Facebook, as far as major social platforms. I created posts with pics my hairkutz making sure to include in the captions the words, Queer Barber…Safe Space…LGBTQIA+ Friendly (a term I actually don’t like using because we should just be friendly to all regardless of sexual preference, race or creed).”

When Khane graduated barber school she rented a booth (on her days off from work) at a beauty salon around the corner from where she lived in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. This lasted less than a month because although the owner and workers seemed cool with Khane, they would ask inappropriate questions after her clients would leave. They would ask about her clients’ gender expressions, their genitals, why they got a certain type of hairkut, chose the clothes they wore and would also ask questions about their sexual practices. “I don’t think they realized how rude and absolutely none of their business their line of questioning was, there was no way I could continue working there.”

While sitting in that shop one day, Khane decided to look for a barber chair to buy in the area and found a gently used one not far from where she lived. For the cost of $75 Khane bought the barber chair and began kutting from home where she would create her own (All Inclusive) barbershop environment and service experience until she was able to open a brick and mortar shop.

“My clients would often walk in with their heads low, nervous and unsure of themselves due to their past experiences at barbershops. By the time the kut was finished their whole attitude would change. They were happy, smiling from ear to ear and constantly looking at themselves in the mirror. Back then taking selfies was just becoming a popular thing to do and clients showed no shame as they clicked away, lol. This made me begin saying, you are now ‘Camera Ready’ after each kut…that’s how I came up with the name Camera Ready Kutz.”

In November of 2017 (the 10th year anniversary of Camera Ready Kutz, Inc.) a client, his girlfriend & his girlfriend’s parents came together and offered Khane a loan to help her take the next step on her journey. “Although my income was satisfactory and my business plan ready, it was hard for me to get a traditional loan because my credit needed work”. Thanks to their generosity and belief in her vision, Khane was able to finally open a brick and mortar location for Camera Ready Kutz, Inc. at 73 Utica Ave between Pacific and Dean Streets in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

********************************

Camera Ready Kutz, Inc. is a Black Owned•Female Owned•LGBTQIA+ Owned barbershop geared towards, but not exclusive to the LGBTQIA+ community. CRKutz provides a Brave Space where people of all sexual orientations and gender expressions can comfortably get groomed without worrying about being refused service, hearing derogatory comments or feeling as though they have to act in an "acceptable" manner for the sake of personal safety.