Free Republic

Democratic New York Senator Jamaal Bailey understands firsthand how challenging it is to find a hair stylist trained in his hair texture. Democratic New York Senator Jamaal Bailey understands firsthand how challenging it is to find a hair stylist trained in his hair texture. He told Allure magazine he often runs into scenarios where he’s not in his neighborhood but in need of a quick tape-up or shape-up — and left debating who around him might be qualified. “The struggle is real,” he said. This is partly why, in April, he introduced Bill S6528A, a new law in New York...

Dozens of Minnesota barbers and hairstylists received training this week to be mental health advocates in the Black community. On Monday, the participants gathered at the Sabathani Community Center in Minneapolis for training with The Confess Project, a nationwide initiative, and community partners. The project is dedicated to building a better mental health culture for Black boys and men through barber shops. Partners in Minnesota are expanding the focus to include hairstylists and their clients. “You get some of those clients that are like ‘Hey, give me a haircut and get me out of here,’ but most of the time...

Some small businesses are scrambling to figure out how to stay afloat after a high court ruling. A recent California Supreme Court decision is changing the way independent contractors are classified, and it’s already having a big impact on local shops. May fear it will hurt millions of workers and affect businesses’ bottom lines. The work doesn’t stop at Downtown Sacramento’s Bottle and Barlow, even if it became a one-man shop. “I lost my entire staff,” said owner Anthony Gianotti. He says all seven of his barbers quit after a state supreme court ruling that will change their way of work. “It doesn’t just affect...

A New York City barber was accused of violating the city’s discrimination policy because he charged women three dollars more for a hair cut than men. “I’m here for 21 years and I’ve never heard of such a thing,” said Leon Kogut, the owner of Leon’s Fantasy Cut in Brooklyn. “The guy tells me this is discrimination of a woman.” An inspector slapped the barber with three violations totaling $650 in fines. Kogut said the inspector took issue with the fact that he charged $13 for a man’s haircut and $16 for a woman’s. “A woman’s haircut requires a lot...

Western-style Barbers Get the Chop in Iran August 24, 2007 The Guardian Robert Tait in Tehran Police in Tehran have closed two dozen barber shops and hairdressers in a fortnight in the latest phase of a "morals" crackdown aimed at enforcing Islamic dress codes among young Iranians. The businesses were shut after being identified as purveyors of decadent "western" culture. Eleven women's hair-stylists were told to stop trading for offering customers' tattoos. Tattooed eyebrows - in which the hair is shaved and replaced with elaborate patterns - are popular amongst many young Iranian women. One women's salon was shut when...

DIYALA PROVINCE -- North Carolina National Guard Soldiers have had almost five months to get used to life in Iraq. One adjustment they have had to make is figuring out how to get a decent haircut. They did not have to look far. At a tiny barber shop set up outside Camp Cobra, soldiers with the 30th Heavy Separate Brigade keep their hair cut within military regulations with the help of a Mazin Ali. At a tiny barber shop set up outside Camp Cobra, soldiers with the 30th Heavy Separate Brigade keep their hair cut within military regulations with the...

They were just trying to save his hair. But what started as a desire to preserve Koran Akindele Jenkin's dreadlocks, grown during his 13-year life, ended in tragedy and changed the Berkeley boy's world forever. Koran had picked up head lice in his thick, black shoulder-length dreads during a backyard campout with a group of friends. The eighth grader had never in his life had a haircut. He loved his hair. His mother loved his hair. Koran, a member of a hip-hop group, needed the hair to complete his look. But as the critters hopped around in Koran's locks, mother...

Barber Jay Dutey is as quick as a quip as he is with his clippers.