Trim app brings Uber experience to haircuts in Tampa Bay

You can now order a haircut with the same few clicks it takes to get takeout or groceries delivered to your door.

The buzz: The Trim app launched in Tampa Bay last week, allowing barbers and hair stylists to connect with customers instantly.

• Co-founders Joe Helton, based in North Carolina, and locally based Babak Keradman and Logan Morello call it "the Uber of haircuts."

Why it matters: Aside from convenience, the app also makes hair styling more accessible for neurodivergent folks who need special services or those who have trouble leaving their home.

• Trim's co-founders also want the app to empower independent barbers and stylists who have few free options to build their businesses beyond word of mouth and social media.

How it works: Customers can find a barber or stylist to make a future appointment with, or book same-day services from professionals who serve their part of Tampa Bay.

• About 150 professionals are currently available on the app. They can add availability and services offered, and link their Instagram account in their profiles.
• Customers can read reviews, ask questions and book appointments directly through the app.
• Both parties rate each other after each appointment, the same way Uber drivers and riders have ratings to prevent difficult or risky interactions.

Safety first: The app can track the professional's location during an appointment and sends alerts to each person when a job is taking longer than expected, to ask if everything is OK.

• Professionals can end an appointment at any time if they feel unsafe with no penalty from the app.
• Both customers and professionals can ban one another from the platform if someone is behaving inappropriately.

Splitting hairs: This isn't the only hair services app on the market, but it claims to be the only one that's completely free for barbers and stylists.

• Others like theCut, Booksy, Fresha, Vagaro and Squire charge business owners monthly fees and/or payment processing fees.
• Trim makes its money from charging customers a $4.99 booking fee, a $0.69-1.99 service fee and a 4% payment processing fee.

What they're saying: Morello told Axios that when he tells barbers and stylists they get to keep all the money they make off the app, they ask, "What's the catch?"

• "There is no catch. That's how we're doing it. It's just like how you order a sandwich today or something off DoorDash. It's the same model. We're just taking it and applying it to this industry."