June is finally here, and you know what that means: sunshine, celebration, self-expression – and a whole lot of Pride! Pride Month isn’t just about rainbow flags and parades (though we love those too). It’s also about honoring identity, history, and community. It’s about joy as resistance. Visibility as power. Showing up as your truest, boldest self.
Hair, makeup, and style can be a powerful part of celebrating identity. Whether you’re prepping for your first Pride event or just want your everyday look to reflect a little more of who you are, this is the perfect moment to experiment and have fun. We’ve gathered some inspiration to help you do just that, for Pride and beyond.
It’s Personal: Celebrate YOUR Pride
Let’s start with this: there’s no one way to “look” Pride. For some folks, it’s full-on glitter and glam. For others, it’s just a simple statement of authenticity. More than anything else, Pride is a celebration of identity – so your style should reflect what makes you feel most you, even if that’s not what anyone else expects.
Here are a few ways to start owning your look this month (and always):
- Let your identity lead. Pride is deeply personal, so start by thinking about what makes you feel most like yourself. That might mean incorporating colors from your identity’s flag, leaning into a look that challenges gender norms, or even just embracing styles you’ve always loved but never felt “allowed” to wear.
- Never underestimate the power of a fresh cut. Honestly? Sometimes a crisp fade, a fresh bob, or a bold undercut is all you need to start feeling more like your best self.
- Rock the rainbow. Whether you go subtle or loud and proud, think about adding more color – pastel streaks, bold eyeshadow palettes, or rainbow nail art that makes you smile every time you glance down. Do something that feels personal but also playful.
And if you’re behind the chair this month, you’ve got an opportunity to help others feel truly seen. Take the time to ask what a client’s look means to them, and really listen to what they say. Whether you’re suggesting a new shade or shaping a dramatic new cut, you’re helping someone express themselves. You’re doing more than just delivering a style, and that’s the kind of work that makes this industry more inclusive and impactful.
Hair Color as Protest, Celebration, and Self-Love
Bold color has always been a big part of LGBTQIA+ culture. From lavender buzzcuts to electric green tips, hair color can be a statement about visibility and identity. It’s joy, protest, and personal power wrapped up in one fearless look.
At Tricoci, we believe learning the art of color is about more than formulas. It’s about helping people feel seen, and Pride Month is the perfect time to lean into that.
For Pride, some people want to go all-in with flag-inspired blends. Soft pink, white, and blue for trans pride, or the full ROYGBIV spectrum. Others might want more subtle “peekaboo panels” that stay hidden during work hours, but glow like crazy at a weekend celebration. Even temporary sprays or chalks can be a fun, low-commitment way to play with bold expression.
When working with clients who want Pride-inspired looks, take time to understand their why. What does the color or style mean to them? The more context you have, the better you can help them express it authentically. And don’t forget the technical side. Bold colors often require extra processing, so be sure to walk clients through what’s involved and how to keep their hair looking healthy and vibrant.
Makeup as Creative Expression and Connection
Pride Month is also a perfect time to get experimental with your makeup; to color outside the lines a little more than usual. It’s the time to try the liner look you’ve been nervous about. The time to stack lashes to the sky. To wear blue lipstick to brunch. Because why not?
Like hair color, makeup has always been a tool for expressing identity and creativity. But during Pride, it becomes even more powerful – a vehicle for visibility, confidence, and celebration. What matters most is that it feels authentic to who you are.
Some standout looks to play with this season:
- Unexpected liner shapes and shades. Winged liner in bright pink, acid green, or electric blue creates instant impact and full-on main character energy.
- Glitter as a highlight, brow accent, or statement lid. This is not about a subtle shimmer – we’re talking about sparkling with intention.
- Color-forward everything. Think bold lips and bold eyes. During Pride, more really is more.
For students, this month is a great time to refine your skills in working with vivid pigments, varied textures, and layered looks that hold up through long days (and longer nights). Practice adapting styles for different skin tones, eye shapes, and features so your work is as inclusive as it is professional.
And remember: makeup is about more than just aesthetics. For many in the LGBTQIA+ community, makeup is a form of gender expression, affirmation, and identity. That means your work can be an important part of helping clients show the world who they really are.
Nails That Tell a Story
During Pride Month, nail art can be a personal, wearable form of storytelling. Whether you’re going subtle or bold, your manicure can reflect your identity, your creativity, or just the joy of fully showing up as yourself.
A minimalist rainbow stripe can be a quiet nod. Or you can rock full-on flag designs for a loud and proud look. Even something as simple as painting each nail a different color can be a powerful statement. You could also play with clean striping tape in flag color combos or add decals with affirming phrases like “love is love” or “queer joy.”
DIYing your own Pride mani or creating one for a client, remember that it doesn’t have to be over-the-top to be meaningful. It just needs to feel like you.
Look Good. Do Good.
Style is personal, but it can also be powerful. During Pride, what you wear can be a way to show support, express identity, and stand with a community that has long shaped beauty and fashion but hasn’t always been fully recognized or represented at every level of the industry.
Whether its a flag tee and cutoffs or a head-to-toe look from a queer-owned label, your outfit can reflect your values and your vibe. And as someone entering the beauty industry, you have the
A few ways to make your wardrobe do more than just “look good”:
- Support LGBTQIA+-owned brands that prioritize representation and give back to the community. Not sure where to start? Check out this roundup of queer-owned fashion labels.
- Wear what makes you feel strong. That might be a rainbow-sequined jumpsuit or your favorite oversized button-down. The point is feeling like yourself. And if loud-and-proud isn’t your thing? That’s valid too. Pride doesn’t have a dress code.
- Let your outfit tell a story. A message tee. A patch that makes someone feel seen. A pin that sparks a conversation. Small details can have a big impact.
This is also a great time to pay even more attention to how queer designers and makers are showing up – how they lead, what they value, and how they use style as both a creative outlet and a form of advocacy. There’s a lot to learn, and even more to celebrate.
Inclusion Starts in the Chair
One of the most powerful things you can do as a stylist is create a space where every person feels seen, respected, and celebrated. But that kind of inclusive environment doesn’t just happen – it’s built with intention. For many LGBTQIA+ folks, it’s long overdue.
Salons and barbershops haven’t always felt safe for queer and trans clients. But that’s changing. And Tricoci University is proud to be training the next generation of beauty pros who are rewriting the story.
Here are a few ways to build a more inclusive beauty biz:
- Ask for pronouns (and actually use them). It’s a small step that builds a lot of trust. Consider adding preferred pronouns to intake forms and using them consistently.
- Use gender-neutral service language. Instead of “men’s cut” or “women’s cut,” try terms like “short cut,” “fade,” or “long layers.” It’s more descriptive and more inclusive.
- Educate yourself on queer and trans haircare needs. From understanding transition-related hair changes to affirming consultations, there’s always more to learn. Resources like Strands for Trans can offer great insights and tools.
Inclusivity may not be standard everywhere, but it should be. And as a beauty pro, you have the chance to create a space that feels safe, affirming, and joyful for everyone who walks through the door.
Let Pride Be a Starting Point
We love a bold Pride Month lewk but real allyship doesn’t stop with rainbow glitter. Pride is a mindset. It’s a commitment. To showing up with empathy. To creating space for self-expression. To making this industry more inclusive for everyone, every day.
As a future beauty pro, you have the power to create spaces where people feel seen, affirmed, and proud of who they are.
So this month and every month, show up bold. Show up kind. Show up as you. And if you want to train at a school that celebrates that? Learn more about enrolling at Tricoci University.