How much for a haircut?

[fourhats]

Kind of like how not every stylist knows what to do with Black hair.

I am a woman of color. There is no one where I live and work who knows how to deal with my hair, or that I would trust. This means that I have to travel to Big City get my hair done, every 2-3 months. For cut and style I pay about $150. Add a couple of hundred more if I want to do lowlights, which look much more natural. Plus specialized products.

Some universities and colleges bring in specialized stylists every month or two so that black students (male and female) have can get their hair done by someone who knows what they're doing. Where to get their hair done is one of the first questions many black admitted students ask when deciding whether or not to attend.

[apl68]

Not surprisingly, there's plenty of online advice for women who want to go to the barber's. Here's one piece.

My barber will cut anybody's hair for under $20.  But she is a barber, not a stylist.  Styling costs more.  And understandably so, given that it's more labor-intensive, often requires chemicals, etc.

[Langue_doc]

It's the equivalent of highway robbery here.

[apl68]

Where to get their hair done is one of the first questions many black admitted students ask when deciding whether or not to attend.

I never had thought about that being an issue.  I've always lived in communities where black people and hair salons were common.  In some places it probably would be a challenge for a black student to find good hair care.

[Parasaurolophus]

Kind of like how not every stylist knows what to do with Black hair.

I am a woman of color. There is no one where I live and work who knows how to deal with my hair, or that I would trust. This means that I have to travel to Big City get my hair done, every 2-3 months. For cut and style I pay about $150. Add a couple of hundred more if I want to do lowlights, which look much more natural. Plus specialized products.

Some universities and colleges bring in specialized stylists every month or two so that black students (male and female) have can get their hair done by someone who knows what they're doing. Where to get their hair done is one of the first questions many black admitted students ask when deciding whether or not to attend.

Eep. And that's not considering the places/people who say they know how to cut Black hair, but really don't, either. Several friends have had very bad experiences on that score.

[fourhats]

I never had thought about that being an issue.  I've always lived in communities where black people and hair salons were common.  In some places it probably would be a challenge for a black student to find good hair care.

Lots of colleges and universities aren't in big cities. Even black faculty ask this question when offered positions.

There are other issues for people with this kind of hair that people don't ever consider. For instance, whenever I fly internationally, TSA agents take me aside, pull on latex gloves, and tell me they are required to go through my hair to make sure I'm not hiding anything there. They don't do this to white people with curly hair. It's awful.

https://travelnoire.com/black-women-share-how-tsa-still-messes-with-your-hair-when-going-through-security

[ab_grp]

I have mostly been cutting my own hair since I was about 13, and it takes me about 5 minutes to do so.  When I did go to my salon back home (like to prepare for dissertation defense or similar), I think it was about $60-100.  I know some people like the experience of the salon, but I find it a bit intimidating.  I don't know what to suggest for my hair, but I also don't usually care that much for what stylists choose for it.  And they always want to blow it out, which takes a ton of time and costs more.  I say just let it air dry.  I'm typically going straight home after! Plus, it's not like I am going to blow it out at home, ever.  Part of that is not really knowing how to do so.  I don't even have a hair dryer.  I usually wear it up anyway.  So mine costs $0, and I have been cutting my husband's hair and facial hair for years as well.  But I was surprised recently to see on a university parents' page on FB that some of the students are regularly spending $400! I would never have been able to afford that in college and wouldn't spend it now.  I guess if I were a celeb or someone whose livelihood were more dependent on appearance, I would invest more in hair and etc.  But as was mentioned upthread, everyone has different things they like to spend time and money on, so to each his or her own.  Plus, it's not always that easy to cut your own hair, and if getting it taken care of by an experienced professional or specialist improves your quality of life, that's important to consider.

[apl68]

I never had thought about that being an issue.  I've always lived in communities where black people and hair salons were common.  In some places it probably would be a challenge for a black student to find good hair care.

Lots of colleges and universities aren't in big cities. Even black faculty ask this question when offered positions.

There are other issues for people with this kind of hair that people don't ever consider. For instance, whenever I fly internationally, TSA agents take me aside, pull on latex gloves, and tell me they are required to go through my hair to make sure I'm not hiding anything there. They don't do this to white people with curly hair. It's awful.

https://travelnoire.com/black-women-share-how-tsa-still-messes-with-your-hair-when-going-through-security

There are small towns--even college towns--that have racially diverse populations.  In some of these places it has even been perfectly normal for decades now for black, white, and hispanic students to go to the same public schools.  Just sayin'.

The racial profiling at airport searches sounds horrible.  People who haven't had such experiences just don't think about it.  Once I was pulled out of a line because somebody else who had used my bag had accidentally left a pocket knife in it without my knowledge.  I was absolutely dumbfounded!  Nothing happened.  All I had to do was mail the knife home, and then I was able to board.  I've reflected since that had I been black or anybody even vaguely "Middle Eastern looking" I'd probably have had a lot more trouble.  Yeah, white privilege is a thing sometimes.

[Liquidambar]

There are other issues for people with this kind of hair that people don't ever consider. For instance, whenever I fly internationally, TSA agents take me aside, pull on latex gloves, and tell me they are required to go through my hair to make sure I'm not hiding anything there. They don't do this to white people with curly hair. It's awful.

https://travelnoire.com/black-women-share-how-tsa-still-messes-with-your-hair-when-going-through-security

If it makes you feel better, they always pat down my hair too, and I'm white.  They do this whether my hair is braided or down.  I haven't tried going through the scanner with my hair up, since I expect they'd make me take it down and maybe decide my hair stick is a weapon.

I think I paid $60 including tip for a trim with simple layers.  Usually Liquidspouse trims and colors my hair.  I've only been to a professional here when I wanted layers.  Maybe I could have found a cheaper place, but I didn't trust just anybody to not screw up my hip length hair.

[fourhats]

There are small towns--even college towns--that have racially diverse populations.  In some of these places it has even been perfectly normal for decades now for black, white, and hispanic students to go to the same public schools.  Just sayin'.

I never said that there weren't such towns. I've just never had a job in one. As for TSA, they don't "pat" my hair down. They put their fingers in there and rummage around. Even when it's pulled back.

[Liquidambar]

As for TSA, they don't "pat" my hair down. They put their fingers in there and rummage around. Even when it's pulled back.

Oh, ew!  I'm really sorry they do that to you.

[pigou]

$80 for the "short hair" cut, which I guess is gender-neutral. The second time I went, the stylist just asked me if I wanted the same cut as last time... I guess that's the expertise she charges for -- and I'm willing to pay for the consistency. I suspect operating costs at that location are also rather high, though, so I'm sure their effective wage isn't all that great, despite their level of expertise. The hourly wage surely looks a lot better with customers who come in for more than a haircut and who buy their products, too.

[secundem_artem]

Being mostly bald and having a full beard, I used to cut my own hair using my beard trimmer.  I eventually stopped when Mrs Artem complained that the resulting "haircut" left me looking like an escapee from a locked ward somewhere. 

So now, I go to the $12 haircut place and just tell them "Put on a #3 trimmer guard and go to town."  It's a lousy job that pays poorly so I tip them the remaining $8 and give them $20.  That was in "the before times".

Now, Mrs Artem gives me an occasional trim.  Sadly, I do not pay her $20.

[cathwen]

When I lived in RuralUtopia, I was paying $13 for a haircut.  (That was 20 years ago.). Then I moved to State Capital and was scandalized at having to pay $35–but it included a back massage, so that made it worth it.  Then I moved to Big City where a modest salon charged $75.  Now I'm in a small city not far from the big one, and I still pay $75.

I have stick-straight hair, so the slightest mistake in cutting is glaringly obvious.  So I'm happy to pay for a good cut—and besides, I enjoy chatting with my hairdresser. 

I do not dye my hair—I started going gray in my teens, but it grew in in such a way that strangers on the street would stop me and ask me where I had it "done."  And it is silver rather than gray.  I still get occasional compliments on the color from strangers. 

[kaysixteen]

I have been used to paying ten bucks a chop from my local barber here in Rusty City.   I say '2-1', which is the setting for the clippers top and sides, and it pretty much takes him ten minutes.   But the last time I was in was Feb., and he has not reopened since covid hit--- he's 88 years old, and quite frankly I doubt he'll ever be back in business.   I miss him.   I have had 2 cuts since then, both in the town my aunt lives in-- first guy is also probably 70 and did not stay back in business very long when he reopened in June.   Second guy charged $25 and is a scumbag-- every other word out of his mouth started with 'f', he had Trump propaganda posters everywhere, and a collection of dirty magazines for customers to leer at.   I am now in need of another cut, and will have to figure out where to go.   Here in Rusty City, there are loads of barbers-- there is a professional barber school here--- but owing to covid, appointments are now required, and I haven't the foggiest notion of where to try (it is also true that my local guy told me that many shops also have various illegal stuff going on, mostly sales of drugs and illegal guns).