June 16, 2005

Splitting Hairs

Before my business trip next week, I need to get a haircut. My spiky hair is starting to lie down and look like crap. I brought this up to my wife, who agreed I needed to get a haircut. She however wants me to go to her “Hair Designer” (aka Hair Dresser, Beautician) to have my hair cut instead of my normal place. Her “Hair Designer” just separated from her partner and opened her own salon. My wife is worried that if she doesn’t get more customers she might go out of business. The “Hair Designer” is also pregnant, and with her being self-employed if she doesn’t work, she has no income. I understand and appreciate her loyalty to her “Hair Designer”, but I’m hesitant to go there.

I’m a guy; I have a simple cut it’s like a long military style crew cut. I don’t need a fancy “Hair Designer” to do it. Neither do I need the stigma of having to admit I went to a “Hair Designer” to have it done! I’m a guy; guys go to barbers or to a haircutting chain not a “Hair Designer” or salon! It’s not to save money, what her “Hair Designer” wants to charge is actually $2.00 cheaper then where I normally go. I have nothing against the lady, she seems nice enough. It’s that whole guy code issue. Guys don’t go to “Hair Designers” unless they have a little extra swish to their step. Well there is absolutely no swish to my step so it’s just not happening!

This morning, before work, my wife gave me a business card for her “Hair Designer” apparently; she subjected my boys to haircuts there last night. She did a good job, Clone looks like Caesar and Boopie has a buzz cut. When she was there, she told her “Hair Designer” about my proclivity to use a barber over her. Her “Hair Designer” took and crossed off her title on the business card and wrote barber on it. When my wife gave it to me this morning, she pointed out that it said barber. This started a little disagreement between us. By little, I mean there are no lawyers on the phone and be disagreement I mean she did not threaten to kick my arse.

As a compromise, I told her I would poll everyone and see what they have to say. Am I being old fashioned and chauvinistic by not using her “Hair Designer”? Am I correct in sticking to my guns and not going to her Salon? Please assist with this debate as neither one of us are going to budge in our opinions with out some outside interference.

Posted by Contagion in Family Life at June 16, 2005 12:58 PM
Comments

Dude, I shave my head to avoid situations like that. ;-)
Maybe it goes back to when my mom cut my hair, but it's OK to have your hair cut by a female "Hair Designer". By a MALE "hair designer", though, that reeks of poofter, and I'd say no.

Posted by: Wes at June 16, 2005 02:49 PM

I have never, and never will pay anything more than nine dollars for a haircut. I just got one yesterday, and well, it's short again. Pretty soon, it'll be long again, and I will need a cut again.
The only time I ever went anywhere but a cheap ass chain, or a barber school, was for my wedding, as it was the gift from the hairdresser lady. You know, her $45 haircut, looked alot like my nine dollar haircut yesterday.
In short though, if you go to a hairdresser, it is one more step to the pink side.

Posted by: littlejoe at June 16, 2005 03:53 PM

I say that if you are confident in your manhood, which apparently most of you aren't, you should have no problem with it. Especially when she does a better job for less money than a crappy "chop shop" but hey, if you like looking like you cut your own hair (all uneven and chucks missing) be my guest.

Posted by: ktreva at June 16, 2005 04:33 PM

I usually just go wherever it's cheapest - I have one of the easiest haircuts in the world, and I refuse to pay any more than I have to for it.

There was a time a while back where I was actually going to a hairstyling school for my haircuts... hey.. it was cheap, they they actually had their work double-checked - it was a good deal :P

Posted by: S at June 16, 2005 08:50 PM

I just asked my husband about this...he said "Fuck no, fuck no" "Men go to barbers" "Unless of course this hairdresser has big tits".

Posted by: ArmyWifeToddlerMom at June 16, 2005 10:53 PM

My mahood is not in question, and you have ulterior motives for making that statement ktreva, as this whole "send him to the hairdresser" thing is your devious plot.

lol

Posted by: littlejoe at June 17, 2005 12:55 AM

First, it's cheap. Cheap is good.

More importantly, I think she should get at least one whack at your 'do for having the moxie to write "barber" on your card. Shows spirit.

Posted by: Harvey at June 18, 2005 08:43 AM

Actually I'd say go because:

A) She's proven she can do male hair ok (using the boys as guinea pigs was a good idea)
B) She's cheaper than the barber, which kind of knocks her out of the same category as the expensive ass designer stylists froo-froo metrosexuals go to.
C) If she makes you look all girly I'll have a lot of fun ridiculing you.

Hell, I usually just hit Dukes & Lords (craptacular local discount haircutting chop shop)
since my hair style consists of "Shorter". Nine times out of ten it's a woman cutting my hair. If they trim the ear hairs, I add another buck to the tip (my wire cutters are getting worn out)

Posted by: Graumagus at June 18, 2005 01:10 PM

Go once. Compare, decide. The "designer" place that I use actually has Outdoor Life and Car and Driver mixed in the magazine rack and all are up to date.

Posted by: jon-hudson spencer at June 18, 2005 05:39 PM

The only reason I say go is because she frickin' cracked me up when she wrote Barber on her card. That's great.

Honestly? Who gives a shit what they call themselves... Barber? Beautician? Hair Designer? Seriously, who cares? At the Barber I take my boys to, they have a woman in the back that dyes hair and does perms. And it specificallly says "BARBER" on the shop and has one of those big poles out front. And it isn't fancy.

I think it shouldn't matter. If she gives a good cut and it's cheap, that's all that matters.

Posted by: Bou at June 18, 2005 10:07 PM

I would say that you yourself are calling your manhood into question if going to a "hair designer" has gotten your panties into a bunch.

A man secure with his manhood would have no problem with it.

Or you could do what my hubby does, I cut his hair. He's a real bad tipper though.

Posted by: Machelle at June 20, 2005 08:28 AM