Salon professionals face regulations more binding than a hairnet.
CUTS NOT FARE
In Outaouais, Quebec, there are rules on the books that govern nearly all facets of hairdressing, from when hairdressers and barbers can work to the amount of money they can charge. The Joint Committee of Outaouais Hairdressers upholds these regulations, which date back to the 1930s. Hairdressers are forbidden to work on Sundays, close by five on Saturdays, and shut down during evening hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. They must also submit their monthly financial records, including business expenditures and wages paid.
If a hairdresser is found working on a holiday or any of the other banned days, he or she can face a fine of $1,000, plus $500 for every employee on the clock. With these limited hours, many Outaouais residents find it difficult to find time to schedule a trim or a shave. Many are forced to cross the Ottawa River and head into Ontario to find open salons or barbershops.
RAZORING PRICES
Hairdressers often have to go “underground,” working out of their homes after hours to avoid governmental detection. Strangely, other beauticians (such as manicurists and masseuses) are allowed to work more regular hours. This leads to complications at spas, where beauticians and hairdressers often work together to create “package” deals for clients.
The Joint Committee recently raised the minimum price of an Outaouais haircut at $17, up from the $15 that had been in place for several years. There is a great deal of opposition to the Joint Committee, both inside and outside of the hairdressing community. One hairdresser took the Committee to court—and won—when she refused to turn over her personal information.
Many residents see the overregulation as clear evidence of an out-of-touch government. They say the rules end up promoting illegal activity such as payoffs and graft. Others say the rules are simply outdated, a holdover from a bygone era, and prevent small business owners from expanding. The Committee’s defense, that they are ensuring a better standard of living for Outaouais workers, is now met with more skepticism than appreciation.
Don’t trip! Sarwan Singh of Surrey has a 2.3 m (7’ 9”) beard—longer than any other.