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Original poster

Going to a barbers as a woman?

42 replies

l0stmummy · 03/09/2018 20:39

In May I buzzed off all my hair. My medication was making my hair very thin and brittle so I thought I'd just do it before it inevitably all snapped off. I did it myself. I hadn't touched it at all, and it was about 2 inches long all over so I decided I needed a tidy up. I just wanted a short back and sides. I had a difficult day so I asked DH to look after DD while I went and made myself feel better.

So I walk into the barbers and ask them for the generic cut they have on the board on the wall. They say no, sorry, we don't serve women. I asked why and they said they "just don't" They're a "men's barbers and cut men's hair." I told them I want a men's haircut, nothing crazy just a simple back and sides. But they still insisted not to serve me.

I'm currently sat at home all upset, because I don't understand why it was wrong to ask for a barber, who specializes in men's hairstyles, to give me a men's hairstyle. Was I being unreasonable going to a barbers? Should I have gone to a normal salon?

(There was no advertising on the building or online that this was a men's only salon)

OP posts:
ShedDevon · 03/09/2018 20:59

I’m a hairdresser and Hairdressing for women and barbering have different insurances.

I’m qualified for women and not for men.

However I’m not stupid I know how to cut men’s basic (not that good at a skin fade) so I’m offered out at my skill level by my salon.

At home without insurance I don’t do men privately.

Maybe th salon are like me, obviously concerned about the ‘where there’s blame there’s a claim’ situation happening and would rather not do a cut outside there skill/insurance level.

That said why they didn’t explain it like me o don’t know.

TeddybearBaby · 03/09/2018 20:58

He’s trained in women’s and men’s hair I mean x

Original poster
l0stmummy · 03/09/2018 20:58

Oxfordshire

OP posts:
TeddybearBaby · 03/09/2018 20:57

My DP is a barber. Cuts women’s hair in there all the time. He is a trained stylist though originally so maybe that makes a difference...... Sorry you’re feeling down. What area are you in?

curious86 · 03/09/2018 20:56

As a barber I work in a men's barbers and we have women come in and ask but we are not aloud as we are a barbers who specialise in men's hair. It is the choice of the owner.

Original poster
l0stmummy · 03/09/2018 20:54

Afterwards, I contacted the salon in the town near by but they wanted £38 when the barber was charging £16 for the same haircut! I didn't really mind if I came out looking like a man, anything is better than looking like a chia pet

OP posts:
DarkLikeVader · 03/09/2018 20:53

The barbers in my town wouldn’t entertain the idea of shaving my undercut - slightly less than half my head, grade one, nothing fancy - because I’m a woman. Instead I have to make appointments and spend quite a lot getting a ladies hairdresser to do it 😑 luckily I found a place that specialises in children’s hair who’ll do it every month but it still costs £7.

OftenHangry · 03/09/2018 20:53

@LRDtheFeministDragon that actually sounds really believable

OftenHangry · 03/09/2018 20:51

There was a court case in 2015 and barber didn't discriminate. Apparently insurance often has the "cutting men's hair" in a so it would be invalid if something went wrong cutting female hair

JynxaSmoochum · 03/09/2018 20:50

There's two barbers in the salon where I take my sons. One is a former hairdresser and gives them their longer hair cuts (not that long, still collar length) but the other one won't do them as he doesn't have the skills for that style.

There's nothing actually different about men's and women's hair other than bias of preferred hair styles.

PaddysMarket · 03/09/2018 20:49

My local barbers is owned by 2 women, one of them will only do males, she won't even give my young DD a trim.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/09/2018 20:49

It's annoying, isn't it?

A friend who's a hairdresser, and cuts for men and women, says it might be because they don't want women's hairdressers getting pissed off at women getting charged a tenner for a short haircut when women's hairdressers usually charge ridiculously more. It is irritating, though.

Ivygarden · 03/09/2018 20:48

I tried to go to one to have my short hair cut; the barber said that they weren’t insured to cut women’s hair. It annoyed me too as they’d probably have done a better job than a salon.

Grilledaubergines · 03/09/2018 20:46

*hair

Grilledaubergines · 03/09/2018 20:46

Not sure of why that would be other than barbers aren’t skilled to the same level as a air stylist - perhaps they weren’t confident in the finish.

Just try another next time.

glintandglide · 03/09/2018 20:44

Barbers don’t usually do women’s hair. They’re not trained or qualified to, even if you insist you want a mans cut they then have no defense if you do go on to complain

vanillasky1001 · 03/09/2018 20:42

They’re weird. I have short hair and am a woman and occasionally go to barbers. Not that often cos I do come out looking like a man, but they don’t seem that bothered.

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