$950 Haircuts Hit The Black Market

Welcome to the stealth world of the underground hair party, an exclusive girls' night that combines the pursuit of beauty with the irresistible appeal of an insider bargain. Often, private haircutting parties are born when a salon client approaches her stylist with the whispered promise of a festive atmosphere, a guaranteed number of guests and cash under the table in return for reduced rates.

Not surprisingly, salons frown on the practice, which is why stylists who work this way usually insist on anonymity to protect their day jobs. "People will call it black market haircutting sometimes," said the stylist who coiffed Ms. Zomorodi and her friends.

....Some stylists report an uptick in people asking for under-the-table deals. "I had someone call me last week," Ted Gibson, who charges $950 a cut, said recently. The potential customer was a guest at the Ritz-Carlton and wanted Mr. Gibson, who boasts a celebrity clientele and owns Ted Gibson Salon in Manhattan, to cut his girlfriend's hair. "He was trying to negotiate for me to come and do it for $650. I was like, �No, I charge double if I go out,' " Mr. Gibson said. "Needless to say, they did not book me."

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Comments

[zizyphus]

I quit going to stylists because they don't know how to comb long hair.

They start at the top of your head, and drag the comb down, jerking at the tangles, as they go. You should begin at the ends, with a wide-tooth comb, and gently remove the tangles as you move up. I have been cutting my own hair for years, as a result. Plus, it comes out the way I want it. Actually it is easy. Just takes a little practice. Saving hundreds of dollars a year.

[ChaiKat]

Unbelievable. The most I've paid for a haircut was years ago, $175. I was young and didn't know any better. Now I get just as good a cut at Hair Cuttery for less than $20.

[shirleyfeeney]

$950 for a haircut? Puh-leeze.­..

[highlyamused]

I'm thinking they must cut each individual hair.

[jashu51]

I like this part: "The potential customer was a guest at the Ritz-Carlton". And what's the going rate there? I wonder if he tried to priceline the Ritz. I seriously doubt it.

[Merckx]

For that kind of money it better include an orgasm.

[highlyamused]

Or two

[Glamorosa]

As a free lance hair stylist anyone who pays $950 - 500 is crazy. No haircut on the planet is worth that amount and the women who pay that have more money than sense.

[w00master]

Why does that picture look like the hairdresser is trying to trim that person's nose hairs?

[unclesmedley]

one word: "Flowbee"

http://www.flowbee.com/

[Mahi Joe]

LOL flowbee. Isn't that what Joe the Plumber uses?

[Pavane]

A fool and his/her money are soon parted. And, at this rate, even faster.

[MichelleDenise64]

This crazy, that's more than I pay for rent.

[bluekatz]

A $950 haircut? WTF? who in the hell pays that much money when you can get it for so much cheaper and better looking. These are nu.tjobs who are trying to make a fad out of something stupid. Hell you might as well go to Fantastic Sam's and get a cut for $12.

[thefooligan5]

At $(50 you just know that these aren't haircuts which people get 2 yearly. This is probably a monthly or bi-monthly thing. You might as well get a badass tattoo. It'll run you the same price but it last for the rest of your life.

[GlassManDan]

I charge double for reading this drivel.

[TXfemmom]

Paying anyone $950 to cut one's hair is disgusting. No hair stylist is worth that much money. Just as CEO's have a sense of entitlement, so do these hair stylists. However, many of these women own forty or fifty pairs of shoes which cost $750 to $2,000 as well.

I was reading a People magazine about these tremendously expensive shoes, purses, clothing and accessories these stars and celerities purchase and wear and I was disgusted. People are going hungry and can't afford heat, and they work HARD, and then these people have no shame.

[epitomized]

Two incorrect statements you've made:

1) Active celebrities work quite hard, too.

2) Celebrities often do not pay for the luxury goods they wear. Instead, they load their goods onto the celebrities and too many Americans are dumb and think that if celebrities are spending that dough on luxury goods then they must too.

[Weldonn]

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A WOMAN'S NEED TO PLACE MASSIVE IMPORTANCE ON HER OWN DELUDED NARCISSISM AND HER WILLINGNESS TO FOOLISHLY PAY AS MUCH AS SHE CAN FOR IT SO SHE CAN THEN TALK ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS.

TRULY PATHETIC