# Haircuts - relaxing or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 24, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917 "2006-04-24T01:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JannaChilds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f04885/32.png) [@JannaChilds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JannaChilds)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/41 "2006-04-25T22:09:00Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] I’ve just had a haircut. As usual, I found it so relaxing and soothing that I almost fell asleep in the chair. Does anyone else find this too? I know others actually find the whole process rather irritating. [/QUOTE] Completly refreshing. ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/42 "2006-04-25T23:52:51Z")
WAG, but could it be something of a biological effect like with apes/monkeys? Some nature program I watched showed that the plucking of hair had a soothing effect and with some (baboons?) it released the good stuff chemicals. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/43 "2006-04-25T23:57:50Z")
Definitely sucks. I get a flat top and unless it’s a military barber they fuss around with it for half an hour untill I have 20,000 1 millimeter long hairs down my back. The wierd thing is , I always tell them don’t sweat it if it’s not perfect – The military guys it’s wham, bam , thank you man. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/44 "2006-04-26T01:31:59Z")
I love it, it is so refreshing. But I hate the small talk from my hairstylist, and I keep on trying to give hints every time I go, but she never picks up on them. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_Johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mrs\_Johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_Johnson)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/45 "2006-04-26T01:42:07Z")
When I was younger I’d always have my hair cut by the same girl (she cut my brother and dad’s hair also). She was very \*FAST \*and precise. She understood what I wanted and if the style I liked was high maintenance she’d offer suggestions to make it more manageable for me, then let me decide. Then she graduated college and left to pursue a “real job”. We miss Stephanie. I’ve been letting my hair grow long again after having 14 inches cut off 2 years ago. :smack: If I say “trim the split this much (about an inch)”, it ends up being 3 or 4 inches. C’mon! This takes years to grow! I need a trim but I’m dreading it. Nowadays I’m not a fan of hair cuts. I don’t like people touching me or trying to make small talk. And I don’t like having my ears combed! I LOVE scalp massages & having my hair washed and brushed, but only by Mr Johnson. It’s incredibly relaxing. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/46 "2006-04-26T01:44:26Z")
I always close my eyes while I have my hair cut. I listen to the sounds of the scissors, the chair, and just “feel it.” ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/47 "2006-04-26T02:27:06Z")
It took me nearly a year after moving to Houston to find a new barber that I liked (and trusted). Marty is the best. Shop is nothing special - just a little place in a strip type shopping center along Hwy 6. His cuts are consistent, prices are good, if you want conversation - it’s there, and yes, I’ve drifted off while he’s trimming me up. Haircut & beard trim = $17.00. ---
**Author:** ![Cockatiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cockatiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cockatiel)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/48 "2006-04-26T02:38:51Z")
When I get my hair washed, they massage by head and my neck, which feels SO good. I definitely could doze off during that. I don’t know why, but I always feel so obligated to make conversation with my when I’m getting my haircut. So I’m probably imagining that the situation is akward when it’s really not. ---
**Author:** ![Cockatiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cockatiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cockatiel)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/49 "2006-04-26T02:40:04Z")
with my…barber, that is. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/50 "2006-04-26T03:32:54Z")
[QUOTE=Burrido] WAG, but could it be something of a biological effect like with apes/monkeys? Some nature program I watched showed that the plucking of hair had a soothing effect and with some (baboons?) it released the good stuff chemicals. [/QUOTE] It definitely works for humans too. I noticed this trying to make small children sleep. Pulling gently on the hair really relaxes a body, helps make you drowsy. When my daughter was only about one and a half she figured this out and made us sleep this way. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/51 "2006-04-26T03:50:52Z")
It depends. My longtime barber retired a year ago, and I haven’t had a relaxing haircut since. That guy’s shop was like a spa day for guys. Good atmosphere, woodworking and auto-mags while you wait, then hot towels, straight-edge shave, shampoo. Then the barbering – he was so adept that just that’d put you in a trance on its own. When he finished, you’d get the vibrating massage. Now I count myself lucky if I don’t sit in the chair worrying that my haircut is going to be a mess. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/52 "2006-04-26T05:36:16Z")
I have never had a hair experience so intense as a haircut I had in Germany. The beautiful Madchen that did things so unsacred to my head. Massage and invigoration. She dyed my rat tail blonde with tips to black and a tight braid. It was a very insubstantial rattail in a small braid. My diminution on scots queue. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917/53 "2006-04-26T06:41:15Z")
I don’t find haircuts particularly relaxing. I have a great barber. The best thing is that she’s cut my hair for almost 10 years and not a word needs to be spoken when I sit in the chair. She knows exactly how I want my hair cut. She does it and I tip her well. Sometimes there is small talk, but I don’t really enjoy that. I do want to relate my most relaxing haircut. That was about a year ago in Shanghai. I was strolling and taking in the sights when I saw a sign in a barbershop: haircut for 5 yuan, which is about 62 U.S. cents! I couldn’t believe it, but all the customers were coming out with decent haircuts. So I went in. Once I sat in the chair, I decided to upgrade to include a massage for another 62 cents. Now that WAS relaxing as the gal massaged my scalp, temples, neck, shoulders, and back for the next half hour. Then I went for a wash and finally turned over to the stylist for the haircut. And it was a most excellent job. Paid the shop 20 yuan and handed the massage gal a 5 yuan tip, which delighted her. Total cost about $3. What a deal! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haircuts-relaxing-or-not/353917.md?page=2)