Some women in Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have expressed concerns as to why they should pay more to have a haircut than the men.
The women made their feelings known in separate interviews on Friday today in Abuja.
Miss Agnes Okoli, a resident of Bwari, said that most barbershops she patronises have different price lists for male and female.
She said the price for women is always higher.
According to her, you will see a price list that says N700 for a female haircut and N500 for a male; or, sometimes, N1,000 for females and N700 for males.
“Sometimes, they tell you it is because most women come to cut their hair for the first time and their hair is usually fuller and longer.
“For some of us who have had low haircut for years and have maintained it, I don’t think it should be different from what the men pay.
“I really do not see the basis for the price difference. So, I view this disparity as part of discrimination against women,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs. Chinedu Cosmos, another patron of the barbershop, said the difference in price seems like the barbers are extorting their female clients, saying it’s unfair.
According to her, if, as a woman, she prefers to wear short hair, she shouldn’t be charged extra for doing so.
“We have men who braid their hair or wear earrings. I don’t think they are treated differently or are made to pay extra charges for the services,” she said.
She emphasised it is the same service rendered to the men that is also rendered to the women at the salon.
“They use the same tools, except in cases where clients ask for additional services like dyeing or tinting of hair. So, I don’t see any need for this disparity in price charges,” she said.
Cosmos appealed to barbershop owners to consider reducing or making the price equal for both male and female, adding that they should ensure better hygiene practices in their outlets.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ifeanyi Duru, a barbershop owner, said that he had no fixed price for cutting hair in his salon, as every price is negotiable, depending on the style.
Duru, however, agreed that female customers often pay more for hair services than the male.
“This is because cutting a woman’s hair takes more time than that of a man,’’ he said.
female customers often pay more for hair services than the male because cutting a woman’s hair takes more time than that of a man
He further explained that sometimes, the price is determined by the kind of treatment and products used for the hair in the process of cutting it.
He said: “Some products, like those used for colouring or chemical treatments, are expensive, and the cost may reflect in the price. Plus, most ladies like styling and dying their hair.
“So, sometimes, these are the determinants, however, for those that will just have a regular haircut, it may just be N100 higher than that of the men. Women are special, you know,” he said.
Another barbershop owner, Mr. Johnson Akeredolu, also said the value for services rendered to female clients is usually more than that of the male, hence, the difference in price.
the different prices have nothing to do with gender discrimination or extortion as some people might think, but a business strategy to offer the females better services
According to him, cutting a female hair requires a well-trained barber and an expert in the practice, in order to get the cut right.
This, he added, could influence the price, among other things such as hair treatments, which most men found unnecessary.
The barber also noted that sometimes, the price difference could mean increase in patronage by female clients.
He, however, said that the different prices have nothing to do with gender discrimination or extortion as some people might think, but a business strategy to offer the females better services. (NAN)
