The patriarchy hurts men too, and capitalism screws everyone

[sabotabby]

Why is men's hair dye way more expensive than women's? That makes no sense whatsoever. If anything, you'd think it would be cheaper.

P.S. I am awesome at dyeing hair.

Comments

[troubleinchina.livejournal.com]

Less of it sells?

I'm sure you are awesome at hair dyeing. Cuz you are awesome at everything.

[sabotabby]

I guess. Supply and demand. But then, why sell it at all? It's not like there's some fundamental difference between men's and women's hair beyond average length. So you're paying more for less dye just so that you don't need to use the box with the lady on the cover?

IBTP.

[apperception.livejournal.com]

Wanna dye mine? I've got too much grey.

[sabotabby]

Personally, I think that grey is distinguished. I will probably not feel the same way when I have a lot of grey, though, so sure.

[marrythebed.livejournal.com]

Cuz they gots %25 more cash?

Oh, and up there I was trying to figure out what IBTP meant, so I looked it up, but accidentally put IBTB. Urban Dictionary said "I'll bring the beer", so I was all, ohhhhh, she'll bring the pot. And then imagined you and your friends getting high and dyeing each other's hair and was like that should be interesting. But I looked it up just in case. And boy was I wrong!

That was a fun waste of a minute!

[sabotabby]

Cuz they gots %25 more cash?

Oh, good point! Who knew that the hair dyeing industry was actually sort of progressive?*

My friends and I would never get high before dyeing each other's hair. Or, well, I wouldn't, and I wouldn't let anyone high near my hair either. No drunken dyeing either; I've made that mistake before. Hair dyeing is serious business.

* It is not. Garnier, which makes my favourite shade of red that looks amazing on me and is dirt cheap, is owned by baby-killing Nestlé.

[marnanel.livejournal.com]

"Blah blah market forces blah blah optimal price point blah blah wank wank wank."

[zingerella.livejournal.com]

Best. Answer. Ever.

[sabotabby]

It's hilarious, because it's a product that is not actually needed. But people pay more for it.

[rohmie.livejournal.com]

I have never* dyed my hair. I have amazing, silky, beautiful hair and am scared shit-less of doing anything that might aversely impact that. Plus, it's work.






* Not counting one experiment with colored hairspray in the late 1980s.

[sabotabby]

You don't have any grey yet, do you?

[mcpreacher.livejournal.com]

i am attempting to grasp the connection between male hair dye price imbalance and patriarchy, failing, and then realizing that the patriarchy in its all encompassing nature is utterly incapable of NOT affecting something like male hair dye and now i am nodding sagely and saying "touche"

[sabotabby]

Here's how I figure it. Most products, and almost all beauty-related products, must be divided into Products for Girls and Products for Boys. It is marginally okay to dress a girl baby in a blue onesie, but it is never okay to dress a boy baby in a pink onesie. The gender division continues into adulthood, when Products for Girls usually cost twice as much and come in pink.

There's no reason, as I confirmed with an experiment on a friend's hair, why men can't use women's hair dye. There are more colours, more varieties, and it's cheaper. Therefore, the only reason men would buy men's hair dye is that they feel that their masculinity would be somehow in doubt if they bought women's hair dye. Hence, patriarchy. Though I like marrythebed's theory better.

[terry-terrible.livejournal.com]

Why do we have gender-specific hair dye in the first place? Kinda like the difference between deoderent and anti-perspirent, it makes no sense.

[sabotabby]

What is the difference between deodorant and anti-perspirent anyway? All I know is that when I buy men's deodorant it usually works better but all the smells suck. So again, I pay twice as much for the pink women's one.

The patriarchy hurts men too.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

Then they really need to stop.

Re: The patriarchy hurts men too.

[sabotabby]

I tell them that but they really like the free labour.

Re: The patriarchy hurts men too.

[mcpreacher.livejournal.com]

i'm doing my best to crush the masculinity in the ones around me but one double agent can only go so far

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Surely it's because they make more money than women. Because there is less selection and with less selection the consumer is willing to pay more for a "rarity".

As for the Patriarchy hurting men... I'm sure they don't mind working longer hours, so that can pay for more sex.

[sabotabby]

I like the idea of progressive hair dye pricing.

[ebourland.livejournal.com]

You can dye my hair. Also I'd like a weave.

[sabotabby]

I don't know how to do weaves.

[thebigbadbutch.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the commercials for men's hair products? Apparently, any man that doesn't have a thick full head of blonde/brunette hair is terrible at sports, incapable of fulfilling the needs of a woman, a failure at life, and probably going to die of old age soon.

I haven't been around long enough to know men have always bought into this idea or if they buy into this idea now because of the constant bombardment by this message but its a pretty powerful message either way. No wonder men are willing to shell out the extra cash for hair dye they don't really need in the first place.

[mcpreacher.livejournal.com]

i kinda hope that if my hairline recedes i can just slightly alter my long hair style into the half-shaved kung fu braid and then glue it on my face in the shape of a fu manchu and never have a job again

Speaking of Patriachy,

[shelestel.livejournal.com]

In my motherland they are planning to ban the entrance into any educational institution of a person with identifiable goth or emo visual markers.

Re: Speaking of Patriachy,

[sabotabby]

Baahahaha. OMG. Tell me you have a link to that.

[billie0.livejournal.com]

Well, women pay more for haircuts so it evens itself out...

[sabotabby]

That is patently unfair, too. I used to have a shaved head, and then short hair for years.

[rbowspryte.livejournal.com]

Good to know.

[sabotabby]

Not my own, though. It's gotten too long.