Salon or bust: Inside the powers and benefits of a pro haircut

More than any other gift you can give yourself, nothing is as self-indulgent as a trip to the salon. In this exclusive, I deconstruct the healing powers of a seat on the barber’s chair  and how men and women perceive the social function of their hair differently. 

 

Statement of uniqueness 

 

Women aged 18 to 21 are more willing to change looks as often as once a month. Why? See, at this age, women can afford to be more daring with their hairstyles, opting to experiment and change it up at a faster pace.   

Martha, a 19-year-old college student shared, “Most of the people I hang out with have long hair so I decided to get a pixie cut to stand out.” 

 

Women who fall under this demographic often use their hair as a means to make a statement of individuality. Peers often play a big role in decisions during this phase of life and the need to be unique is important. Thus, these women are open to more liberating styles that make them break out from the mold.

 

For men however, haircuts take on a different function. While women also rely on makeup to feel extra beautiful, most men don’t have such an option. 

 

“My haircuts are sacred,” exlcaimed Luis, a 26-year-old business owner. “I make sure they’re exactly to my liking. Other than my features, it’s the only part of my face that I can uniquely call ‘me’.” 

 

This is why men are more inclined to get their trims based on their comfort zone, knowing that they have less hair to style (compared to women, that is), most men believe that their hair is their main avenue for self-expression and would rather play it safe.

 

Settling into your cut

 

Women aged 22 to 35 get haircuts at an average of every four months. 

 

The reason for fewer visits to the salon is because most females at this age have grown into their own style and have managed to figure out what works best with their personality, profession, and lifestyle. 

 

“I used to get haircuts more often when I was younger, but now I’ve settled on my current hairstyle mainly because I have to maintain a look that’s somewhat professional and safe to wear to any occasion,” shares Ada, a 26-year-old entrepreneur. 

 

As with maturity, your own look comes with age. Thus, salon visits become more an issue of maintenance. Granted that these women come in for the usual trim, and they compensate the need for a fresh look through added services such as blow-dries and hair coloring. 

 

“I’ve come to accept what looks good on me but there are times I still want to look different. After my trim, I make sure to get my hair colored and blow-dried. It never fails to make me feel pretty again,” shares Allison, a 27-year-old product manager. 

 

Both Ada and Allison admit to hair coloring as a means to address the need for change and say that dyeing their hair is a more manageable alternative to getting a drastic cut. It's no surprise that women at the start of their career value perception and first impressions a lot. In result, they’ve adjusted their options to include easily fixable changes to their look, like a dye job.

 

Healed by scissors  

 

Then there are the rare cases where women go to the salon for therapeutic purposes, say in the case of a breakup or a severe loss. 

 

“I feel that getting a new hairstyle means starting over or a new beginning. It’s a way to keep reinventing myself. Also, I feel like I’m rubbing off bad juju from my life by getting my hair cut dramatically,” says Pauline, a 28-year-old money broker. 

 

In times of distress, many women associate an event with how they look and find that a different vision in the mirror helps jump-start a new chapter in their life. And who can blame them? People must find whatever means possible to help them turn over a new leaf. 

 

Sometimes, working on the outside paves the way for healing the inside.

 

Some great reward

 

According to Jude Hipolito and Rose Velasco, owners of JuRo Salon Exclusif, most of their clients consider their service as a reward to the self. 

 

“Our clients come to us for a gratifying experience, and we try to give them service that’s unique and special every time. They know they’re in good hands.” 

 

The interesting thing about letting an expert take responsibility for your appearance (even if it’s only for the time you’re sitting on the salon chair) is that it can be an incredibly liberating feeling.

 

One’s physical appearance is tightly knit with one’s identity and letting go of that for a short while is both a vulnerable yet freeing experience. – KDM, GMA News