10th arrondissement hairdressers have their own style
Afro hairdresser in the 10th arrondissement
The world of hair styling in Paris’ tenth arrondissement is a bona fide community of black African professionals whose daily routine is hugely dissimilar from high street salons such as Jazz or Tony and Guy. Traditionally speaking, the tenth arrondissement is the quartier immigré, inhabited by people of African origin. Young and sometimes middle aged crowds of French citizens from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, the Ivory Coast and Senegal fill the streets creating an atmosphere of euphoric scissor cutting hype.
Around the metro stops Chateau d’eau and Gare de l’est there are endless quantities of African hairdressers, all of which are pulsating with energy. Groups of friends and acquaintances visit the hairdressers on a mere whim to socialise with others. Native music from Africa filtrates through the doorways as vigorous groups of virile males interact with each other. As men and women proceed to extend, shave, brade, cut and dye their hair, dozens of others gather round to join in the day’s haircutting festivities.
The African hairdresser of the 10th arrondissement has become a well established lodging for people to come and enjoy the company of others, meet new friends, chat up their future partner and perhaps even restyle their hair. Although these hairdressers specialise in styling afro hair, I have always had the desire to pluck up the courage to ask for a hair cut. The atmosphere in these places is quite honestly electrifying. My usual experience of visiting the hairdressers is an awkward and tediously painful one, whereby neither customer nor hairdresser has the impetus to engage in conversation.
Strutting through the tenth arrondissement during daytime hours is a true example of how cultural vicissitudes between African and French communities continue to exist. The dissimilarity in ambience between the graceful and slow-paced coffee drinkers of the left bank and the vivacious action packed youngsters of the right bank is truly astounding.
Upon leaving Africa’s very own Parisian hairdressing paradise, I see clumps of afro hair on the floor below me. A huge group of men play games with people coming up the steps of the metro and a lonesome man sells corn on a red-hot manmade barbeque.
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
And you MUST promise me...MUST PROMISE....next time you need a hair cut...go to that Afro cutting salon, and have a ball while getting cut! Join in the amusement and fun of seeing an Anglo midst the Afro clientele!
Make sure you have a reasonable amount to cut I guess...maybe not important...however, it is releasing the sober and reserved attitude of the Englishman that you need to do, by the sounds of it!
Never chat to the barber or hairdresser??? I couldn't think of it!
I have only been forced to be quiet twice in all my years, saving for childhood; when I was always silent with authority figures as a mark of respect/knowing my place, and my hairdresser experiences ranged between the traumatic to the industrially impersonal, and I never spoke to people I didn't know anyway, but the two times I was forced into silence, from later teenage onwards was because the hairdresser was a passive aggressive moron!
So...speak up! Read a mag and find something to comment upon, the hairdresser likes to have an interesting chat....they get bored doing this all day long remember, it's like a production line...and if you get on really well, you might get a better cut!!
cheers and snips and shears!!!
fog
P.S. One other thing...ask them what style of cut they think might suit your face better....you can always disagree politely...saying you would prefer to remain conservative, but, at least you might be introduced to a new you!