Whenever I go to the hairdresser, I ask if they mind if I wear headphones. Podcasts are a brilliant thing for anyone who, like me, doesn’t like sitting in a chair for an hour or so and simply staring at themselves in the mirror to absolutely no avail…
You may ask – what am I talking about? But here’s what – I recently came across this video, which received no less than 12.9M views on TikTok. And its author, the user@jpalmhairdressingfrom Omaha, Nebraska, has a rather specific approach to getting started. An approach that caused a lively discussion on the internet.
More info:TikTok
Image credits:jpalmhairdressing
Image credits:Wells Chan (not the actual photo)
“Okay, is it okay if I touch it?”
“- Yeah.– Okay, cool. And what are your pronouns?– They/them.– She/they. I’m glad we exchanged those.– Yes.
Image credits:Ewien van Bergeijk – Kwant (not the actual photo)
Image credits:Adam Winger (not the actual photo)
At the very beginning of it, the hairdresser asks the client if they’re ready to be touched, and then clarifies their pronouns, while simultaneously telling them theirs. On the one hand, it looks as tactful and polite as possible, but on the other hand, if a person comes to the hairdresser, then this probably means touching, right?
By the way, many hairdressing professionals also believe that chatting with the client during the work process is not always good. “As long as we have a good chat at the beginning and both of us know exactly what’s going on with the haircut or style, I am happy for the client to sit back and relax,”Mamamia.com.au quotes three-time Australian Hairdresser of the Year Joey Scandizzo. “I’m pretty sure they are happier when they see me focused and not just there for a chat.”
As for asking the client about consent to touching, many netizens believe that this is quite unnecessary – after all, a haircut itself implies touching. “If I go to get a haircut, I expect the hair stylist to touch my hair, no?” one commenter ponders quite sarcastically.
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