A man requesting a haircut for his son refused the services of a salon after discovering the stylist who was about to cut the boy’s hair was gay.

Russell Hughes, 49, who owns the Russell Paul Hairdressing salon in Prestatyn, Wales, was so shocked by the would-be client’s homophobia that he has put up a sign in his shop window to deter bigots.

“‘If you are racist, sexist, homophobic or an a**hole … don’t come in”, reads the sign, which is viewable from the street.

The sign in the window of the Russell Paul Hairdressing salon in Prestatyn, North Wales. Photograph: Facebook

The man, who entered the salon with his wife and a boy of about 10, questioned the sexual orientation of 23-year-old stylist and assistant manager, Richard Evans.

I’m not being funny but did you just say that lad’s going to cut my son’s hair? Homophobic father at salon

Speaking to Hughes, the man said: “I’m not being funny but did you just say that lad’s going to cut my son’s hair?”

When Hughes answered in the affirmative, the man responded that he perceived Evans to be gay and did not want him cutting his son’s hair, before asking Hughes himself to do it.

Hughes then told the man that he, too, was gay. The man and his family left the salon, after similarly refusing the services of Hughes.

Speaking to the Guardian, Evans said: “I’ve never had anything like that before, so it was just disbelief – someone saying that. I’ve not really had to deal with it [homophobia] before, apart from at school.

“I think the boy didn’t really understand what was going on. The wife looked ashamed but didn’t say a word. I would say she wasn’t in agreement – she looked embarrassed.

“We didn’t make a scene because Russell was quite shocked, and then off they went.”

The salon owner Russell Hughes, 49, was shocked by the man’s homophobia. Photograph: Facebook

After posting about the incident on the salon’s Facebook page and receiving messages of support, Hughes decided to take action by installing the sign.



Evans told the Guardian the salon had not had any racists, sexists, homophobes or assholes enter the salon since, but that the sign had received plenty of admiration.

“We’ve had a lot of people come in and say how great they think it is, how much they love it. We had a lady walk past before and ask if she could take a photo.”



“I’ve never really thought of myself as camp really”, said Evans. “But for someone to say that. I just thought: what the hell?

“If you don’t like it, that’s your problem. It’s you that has the problem, not us. We are quite happy.”