Ile-de-France: hairdressers want to sweep away the inequality of prices between men and women

Thirty euros for a woman, 20 euros for a man: this is the average price of a haircut.

A study conducted in 2018 by the CLCV, a national association for the defense of consumers and users, in fact reported a price difference of 46% between men's and women's cuts.

A historic practice that a young army of hairdressers, clients and other mobilized volunteers are trying to revolutionize today.

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It was with a message published on Instagram a little over two months ago that the Hairdressing in Struggle adventure began.

That day, Laura Morandi, home hairdresser based in La Garenne-Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine), calls out to her community about these gender tariffs.

“Why should a so-called feminine cut necessarily cost more than a masculine cut?

Some women have short hair, some men have long hair, and still others who see themselves as non-binary or in transition are regularly given discriminatory tariffs.

I have received several clients who no longer dared to go to traditional salons because of bad experiences, ”she explains.

"What must matter is the time spent"

This is the case of Charlotte, long penalized in traditional salons because of her long hair.

She joined Laura's clientele a little over four years ago.

“I used to pay between 60 and 80 euros just to have my tips cut.

With Laura, for a color, a cut and a treatment, I spend an average of 70 euros, ”she explains.

Quickly contacted by other professionals in the sector, Laura Morandi decides to create the collective's Instagram page, with the long-term objective, "to identify hairdressing salons and

friendly

independent workers

(

Editor's note: friendly)

and to fight against all forms of discrimination, ”she explains.

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A post shared by hairdressing in struggle (@ coiffure.en.lutte)

At 31 years old, the one who works under the name of Victoria Coiffure, the first name of her daughter, therefore campaigns for gender-neutral tariffs that she has set up in her company, created three years ago after fourteen years in a salon. .

Then count from 25 to 35 euros for a cut on short hair, 50 euros for a cut on long hair, 30 euros for a cut of the ends.

“What must matter is the time spent,” she insists, citing the prices set by tattoo artists as an example.

“The more time you spend, the more the price increases,” she concludes.

What about frizzy, curly or frizzy hair?

An opinion shared by Christophe Doré, president of the national union of hairdressing companies (UNEC), himself a professional in Seine-Maritime, who admits "having always known this price differentiation". “I think you really have to link these prices to the time spent. Traditionally, we consider that, when we take care of fairer sex, the work is longer than for a male hairstyle, ”he tempers. He continues: “I am attentive to all these societal developments. Today, some shows have completely adapted, but we must realize that we are in the world of entrepreneurship. We cannot ask all these business leaders who have charges, rents to pay, to shake up all their prices. "

Aware of the existing shortcomings in his field, Christophe Doré also promises the implementation, probably at the start of the school year, of a new certification dedicated to textured hair - frizzy, curly, curly and others - so far "forgotten in training", Laura recognizes. A first step in trying to meet the expectations of the entire population as well as possible.