Salon Accused of 'Black Hair' Surcharge [charge black people more than whites]

Washington Post ^ | Sunday, May 29, 2005

[Asphalt]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- An Alabama woman is seeking class-action status for a lawsuit against a Dillard's Inc. hair salon for allegedly charging black women more than white women.

Debbie Deavers Sturvisant alleges that a hair salon in a Tuscaloosa, Ala., Dillard's department store charged $35 to wash and set her hair, while white women paid $20 for the same service.

Sturvisant's lawsuit could bring a whole new level of attention to the general practice across the country of charging differently for hair care based on ethnicity.

Officials in Arizona, California, Florida, Maryland and Massachusetts have already addressed race- and sex-based pricing differences at hair salons.

"The stereotype is that all black hair is the same. But that's erroneous...

[cyborg]

One too many what? :O)

[TheOtherOne]

Only (b) was wrong. I like easy questions with 3 right answers. I started with a margerita at a BBQ, but have settled into some red wine.

[TheOtherOne]

I like Bo

I would have picked him too. But then again, I like classic rock.

[cyborg]

I love classic rock so I'm a bit biased.

[cyborg]

Only b was wrong... well that explains why I got a dismal score on the SAT!

[FreedomCalls]

I think you would be upset if the store charged you more for the same thing as the next guy. In simple terms, it is an un american practice.

It happens all the time. One guy, one price -- next guy, different price. Old folks get a senior citizens discount. Are you upset over that? A lot of places give a military discount for active duty military. Is that un-American?

[cyborg]

You think it's okay for a white and a black person to be charged different prices for the same service?

[FreedomCalls]

Let me try this one more time. you would be upset if the store charged you more for the SAME IDENTICAL IN EVERY WAY thing as the next guy

No, let me try this one more time. Do you have a problem with senior citizen's discounts and/or military discounts? They get the SAME IDENTICAL IN EVERY WAY thing as you but you are charged more for it than them.

[latina4dubya]

I get charged more for a hair cut at the beauty salon than a woman with short hair. It's more work to cut and style my hair than to do someone's shorter hair.

same here... even when my hair is short i get charged more because i have so much of it... not that it's super thick or anything... i just have a lot of it... i've been told by every hairstylist i've ever gone to, "you have a lot of hair." i tend to pay more... (and i sure paid a lot more whenever i got my hair permed.)

[FreedomCalls]

You think it's okay for a white and a black person to be charged different prices for the same service?

Not if it's the same service. This person should be charged the same as this person.

And this person should be charged the same as this person.

Race has nothing to do with it. It's the amount of work needed to do the hair properly that should matter.

[cyborg]

I agree. I'm going to bed with an image of Carrot Top in my head. If I dream about making babies with Carrot Top, I have you to blame!

[staytrue]

Do you have a problem with senior citizen's discounts and/or military discounts?

The senior and military discounts apply to everyone who qualifys. That is when I get old, I will get the discount, and when I join the military, I will get the discount. A black person can not become white and get the white person's discount.

[FreedomCalls]

A black person can not become white and get the white person's discount.

But if the black person wants her hair done in this style:

She should get charged more than if she wants it in this style:

Race has nothing to do with it except for the fact that some blacks have more high-maintenance hair styles than some whites. But if a white person wants the same high-maintenance hair style they too should get charged more. Just as this guy will probably get charged more for his haircut:

Than this guy:

It's the amount of time it takes to do it.

[isom35]

from the headline, I assumed salon.com was the culprit.

[Polybius]

Tell you what, my kid just started a dog grooming business in our back yard and she'll do any breed for $5 in under 15 minutes.

Five bucks? Won't be six months before the adult dog groomers are trying to put her out of business. If you are willing to post where you are, I suspect she could pick up some bizness right here on FR.

Hmmmm.....It seems that the link for the After photo is not cooperating in the first post.

Let's try it again:

Before

After

Still interested. :-)

[Starwolf]

I fully concur with same service, same price.

My actual knowledge of the mechanics of much of this is limited to observation, i.e. I have never had my hair set, but the concept of more work = higher price seems reasonable.

It was interesting to read the posts here about different skills for different hair types. That had never occurred to me. However, that should not be an excuse to price things differently.

I brought this topic up at breakfast. The ladies validated much of what I had read here. #2 brought up an interesting point...that many black women spend much more on their hair than many realize. Her best friend does braided looks and changes them every couple of weeks. The time and cost floored me.

[cyborg]

that many black women spend much more on their hair than many realize. Her best friend does braided looks and changes them every couple of weeks. The time and cost floored me.

** It's very true. Braiding can get pretty expensive esp. with a weave added in.

[Starwolf]

None of the ladies in my life are "high maintenance" or into serious bling-bling. No perms, fancy coloring, or jewelery addictions. Still the costs of keep up what many consider basic appearances is staggering.

That said, #2 did ask about beach braids for the summer. She is life guarding and is a volunteer at the local fire station). Her mother told her to look into it. Think I may be scared the she gets a price.

[beezdotcom]

I'm going to bed with an image of Carrot Top in my head. If I dream about making babies with Carrot Top, I have you to blame!

Aw, c'mon. If you dreamed about killing Carrot Top, or Carrot Top chasing you, maybe you could blame FC. But if your subconscious leads you to LOVEMAKING with Carrot Top...well "good luck with allll THAT."

[cyborg]

I'm just glad I didn't dream about James Carville :o)