Hey Everyone,
I enjoy listening to a few social commentary channels on YouTube, and one of the latest topics has been about barber shops. The first wave of commentary was about how some barbers are charging $100 a cut because they say their skills are worth it, with owners saying they were providing a first-rate, luxury experience at their shops.
Then came the inevitable fallout, with footage of now-empty shops. Former customers said there was no way they were paying that kind of money for a cut, and many men stated several reasons things they didn't like about "modern" barber shops.
Two things that stood out to me was when they said they didn't like having to make appointments (I guess traditional barber shops were mostly walk-in's?) As a woman, I've almost always made appointments for haircuts, unless I just stopped into a place like Supercuts on a whim. And the second thing was that some of the younger men said they didn't like barbers who talked during the entire cut. One young man said he had to listen to people yap all day, so he just wanted a barber to stay silent and cut his hair, plain and simple.
However, as the video host (a wise, middle-aged black man) pointed out, the chatter and camaraderie found at many traditional barber shops was an integral part of the whole social and cultural experience. It made sad to see this brand of community dying out.
And it also got me wondering what other people are doing about getting their hair cut.
I normally post "Let's Have a Controversial Conversation" threads in the Family Forum, and while everyone is welcome to answer this thread, I'm especially interested in what singles think about getting their hair cut.
For many of us singles, this is the only times another human being has physical contact with us. And no, I'm certainly not trying to make this into something weird or perverse, but I know for me, it can feel very strange to have someone get close enough to touch my hair -- which is why I prefer to keep going back to a hairdresser I'm comfortable with.
I always choose to go to a female hairdresser. I did go to a Supercuts-type place and was given a male hairdresser years ago, and it felt strange. Not because I somehow don't trust men and definitely not because I don't like men (some of my best friends are men!), but touching my hair feels very personal, and so I have a "regular" gal that I go to. Because I've gotten to know and trust her, I now find getting my hair washed and cut to be very relaxing.
Does anyone else feel the same way? Maybe it's just me. But does anyone else find getting their hair done a little a little bit uncomfortable, because it's close contact you're not used to?
And since haircuts have become outrageously expensive, I'm really interested in hearing what other people are doing.
* How much do you generally pay for a haircut/color/style, and how often? Do you do your hair yourself, or do you have someone else do it for free? Do you have any recommendations for bargains on haircuts? (I've always heard beauty colleges are cheap because students need someone to practice one, but have never lived near one to check it out.)
* Do you prefer to go to a male or female stylist? Any particular reason?
* Do you have to make an appointment, or do you find appointments to be a hassle?
* Do you feel uncomfortable at all with someone, especially a stranger, touching your hair?
* Do you prefer a chatty stylist, or one who won't say a word?
Getting our hair done can seem like a rather mundane part of life -- but I'm very interested in the different experiences, costs, and opinions people have about how it should go.
I enjoy listening to a few social commentary channels on YouTube, and one of the latest topics has been about barber shops. The first wave of commentary was about how some barbers are charging $100 a cut because they say their skills are worth it, with owners saying they were providing a first-rate, luxury experience at their shops.
Then came the inevitable fallout, with footage of now-empty shops. Former customers said there was no way they were paying that kind of money for a cut, and many men stated several reasons things they didn't like about "modern" barber shops.
Two things that stood out to me was when they said they didn't like having to make appointments (I guess traditional barber shops were mostly walk-in's?) As a woman, I've almost always made appointments for haircuts, unless I just stopped into a place like Supercuts on a whim. And the second thing was that some of the younger men said they didn't like barbers who talked during the entire cut. One young man said he had to listen to people yap all day, so he just wanted a barber to stay silent and cut his hair, plain and simple.
However, as the video host (a wise, middle-aged black man) pointed out, the chatter and camaraderie found at many traditional barber shops was an integral part of the whole social and cultural experience. It made sad to see this brand of community dying out.
And it also got me wondering what other people are doing about getting their hair cut.
I normally post "Let's Have a Controversial Conversation" threads in the Family Forum, and while everyone is welcome to answer this thread, I'm especially interested in what singles think about getting their hair cut.
For many of us singles, this is the only times another human being has physical contact with us. And no, I'm certainly not trying to make this into something weird or perverse, but I know for me, it can feel very strange to have someone get close enough to touch my hair -- which is why I prefer to keep going back to a hairdresser I'm comfortable with.
I always choose to go to a female hairdresser. I did go to a Supercuts-type place and was given a male hairdresser years ago, and it felt strange. Not because I somehow don't trust men and definitely not because I don't like men (some of my best friends are men!), but touching my hair feels very personal, and so I have a "regular" gal that I go to. Because I've gotten to know and trust her, I now find getting my hair washed and cut to be very relaxing.
Does anyone else feel the same way? Maybe it's just me. But does anyone else find getting their hair done a little a little bit uncomfortable, because it's close contact you're not used to?
And since haircuts have become outrageously expensive, I'm really interested in hearing what other people are doing.
* How much do you generally pay for a haircut/color/style, and how often? Do you do your hair yourself, or do you have someone else do it for free? Do you have any recommendations for bargains on haircuts? (I've always heard beauty colleges are cheap because students need someone to practice one, but have never lived near one to check it out.)
* Do you prefer to go to a male or female stylist? Any particular reason?
* Do you have to make an appointment, or do you find appointments to be a hassle?
* Do you feel uncomfortable at all with someone, especially a stranger, touching your hair?
* Do you prefer a chatty stylist, or one who won't say a word?
Getting our hair done can seem like a rather mundane part of life -- but I'm very interested in the different experiences, costs, and opinions people have about how it should go.
, and I pray He will send you another one!
