Hair salons and sexism

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I boycott hair salons. Why don't other women? I really don't get why women are so willing to put up with a blatently sexist pricing system. They get more done as well - highlights etc, so why make it costlier for women?

I've heard the argument that womens' haircare products cost more than mens'...if that's the case, then can't you choose to use mens' haircare products instead and opt for a mens' price?

Yes, womens' hair is often longer...but it's often not. What kind of an argument is that, anyway?

I can't think of any reasonable argument for it. I've spoken to hairdressers who say there's no reason for it whatsoever. So I guess the actual question I'm asking is - why do women put up with it and actually use those services? I mean, almost *every* woman.

Two basic reasons why women's hair stylists are more expensive than men's barbers:

1. Women's hair care costs more because women are willing to pay more for it -- a simple application of supply and demand.

2. Women's hair styles are complex; curls here, straightening there, a clip, a flip, and highlights to cover the grey -- this could take hours to get it perfect. Men's haircuts are simple; a little off the sides and back, and try not to make it look too thin on top -- ten, fifteen minutes tops.

1: Agreed, which annoys me.

2: There's this equality thing with car insurance now - men have more car accidents, and so why does that mean women should have to pay more to make it "equal"? Following the argument you've given - women *should* pay less car insurance because in general they don't cost the insurance companies as much money.

3: Also, some men have long hair, *and* styled hair. So why should they pay less?

Until that changes, nothing else will either.


Car insurance is mandated by law to be equal and just, based on age and driving record. Hair care is based on whatever the traffic will bear, and on a "take it or leave it" basis.


They're men.

The hair care industry is sexist and exploitative.

Use their services or learn to do it yourself.

You should open a salon and set up the pricing system you think is fair.

[Moved from Autism Politics, Activism, and Media Representation to Random]

Men generally don't have long hair the way women do, and even long haired men generally don't want nearly as much done to their hair as women do(regardless of her hair length). So ya get whatcha pay for. Given that men pay higher auto insurance premiums I don't see what the big deal is. But hey, suit urself.

Some services/styles are more time-consuming or uses more expensive products to do. But the prices should reflect what service is done rather than gender. (And they could do it quicker if they would not have a forced conversation with you while doing it)

Another area i see price differences is in dry cleaning with higher prices to clean women's garments.

I go to a beauty school within walking distance from my home.
Twelve dollars for a shampoo, cut, and blow-dry.
Open from nine in the morning till eight at night, walk-ins welcome, always busy.
Student work only, manicures, facials, pedicures, ALL hair services available.
Pricing is unisex.

Sylkat

Last edited by Sylkat on 28 Nov 2012, 4:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Mine is simpler than that. I've not visited a hair salon / barber for twenty years. The little hair I've got left is removed every few months by my wife with an electric razor at home. I've offered to return the favour for her but she always declines.

barbers spend less time on cuts and often have certain set styles that they are willing to do, hence the lower prices. many barbers are willing to cut women's hair if they have a simple cut and style. for more complex styles it makes sense to go to a salon where the stylists often receive more training. men who want fancier cuts and styles also go to more expensive salons.

I just cut mine myself and I think I'm do for a trim.

I've gotten charged more for having longer hair. And you do pay for styling, too. IE, if you're black and get braids done, you pay for it. If you want frosted tips, highlights, you pay for it. Also, as far as other styling goes, too, guys often pay extra for a shave.

Besides that, we simply NEED our hair cut more than women. From what I can tell, most guys get their hair cut every month or so. And to be acceptable looking for jobs, the max you can get away without cutting your hair is 2-3 months max. Women, on the other hand, there's no cultural need for them to cut their hair, so as long as it's not like 3 feet long, it won't impact them looking for a job or have people thinking you're a hippie or lowlife for it not being cut.

Anyway, beauty school I get my hair cut at charges the same for women and men to get a hair cut. And I've seen relatively similar pricing for men and women for just getting your hair cut.

If you're talking extra services like styling, it's not a fair comparison. It's like people who go to Starbucks, complain about prices being expensive there, when in truth Starbucks is less or the same as anywhere else for basic items like a small coffee. People simply just feel compelled to buy more at Starbucks than at Dunkin Donuts. It's not Starbuck's fault you spent $7 on a cup of coffee, it's your own.

There are some places where you are attended by hair-dressers in training.

You do not get too many fancy haircare products but theres a profesional watching over what they do who will finish the job if you have the bad luck of being attended by someone that is extremely underqualified.

This places have low prices and they are similar for males/females at least locally.

My mum/sisters have been going to them whenever they have a big thing coming up and need their hair done... with no complaints so far

Apparently in Sweden they have legislation to stop price differentiation at hairdressers, which has resulted in men's haircuts now costing as much as women's haircuts.

You mean they've raised the prices of the men's haircuts? I can imagine that would happen.

BTW - the BHS website now has the menswear on the main site rather than a seperate mens one - and now the delivery is free on a £10 spend, for everyone. I wonder if your e-mail was the cause of it all. I sent one too.