Getting a haircut – A chore of vanity

Our hairstyle is part of our identity, just as important as what we wear; our hair makes up part of the picture that makes us who we are. My view is that going to the hairdressers is a chore that just has to be done just like the washing up. This post discusses the everyday inconvenience of getting a hair cut.

I visit the hairdresser every few months and get as much hair cut off as I feel comfortable with. This tactic prevents another visit for at least another four months or so until hair starts getting in my eyes again and begins to become irritating. Hair is something that I should not have to think about unnecessarily during the day. It should be out the way and not cause any issues. That said, rather unfortunately I do like the look of longer hair which obviously adds to the problem described above.

Hair salons aren’t the only way of getting rid of that unwanted hair. Paying a hairdresser for a home visit is an alternative if you run a tightly scheduled life or just don’t like getting your hair cut in public. Another option is to take the DIY approach, using an electric shaver for that classic ‘skin head’ look. Neither of which I really would consider.

Anyway back to the hairdressers… normally fronted with a big window so that passers-by can stare at your transformation. You take your seat on the operating chair. The hairdresser pushes the gas lift lifting you into place and asks “what you want doing?”

A question I never really know how to answer, the normal jist of my answer goes something like “I’m not really that fussed what you do, just make a bit shorter and make sure it doesn’t make me look hideous”. Would bringing in a picture of some guy whose hair I would like replicated on my own head solve the problem? No, as a man that just shows you’ve thought way too much about this hair cut, not an option. Whether we should be bound by social expectations is another story.

So once I’ve got though the first difficult question, I prepare myself for the possibility of many more. Is it really necessary to talk to the hairdresser while he performs the cut? Most conversations with hairdressers seem forced, nothing more than small talk. I agree that it probably makes their job more enjoyable, finding out what interesting (or not) lives their customers’ lead. I haven’t found a hairdresser yet which I have been able to really have a more in-depth conversation with.

Once it’s done, brushed down and asked if you like how it looks. If it’s shorter than you envisioned there’s not much that can be done so you just have to accept and live with the result for a few weeks. Even if it looks acceptable in the mirror, chances are that as soon as you walk outside the first gust of wind blows it out of place and it looks just as bad as before anyway.

Would life be simpler if we didn’t have hair? Just imagine it for a second, if the human race didn’t have natural hair. It may just act as another thing for bullies to steal from their victims but being able to switch hairstyles instantly seems like a fantastic ability. It wouldn’t be stigmatised like wigs are today as everyone would be in the same situation.

In the end I guess we will all have to just put up with this slight inconvenience. After all, the world has bigger issues.