Plan B Forum

France's Socialist President Pays Nearly $11,000 A Month For Haircuts



French President Francois Hollande's coif — dark, thinning on top — hasn't really been a subject of conversation, until now. He's facing a scandal after it emerged that he pays a hairdresser nearly $11,000 (9,895 euros) every month.

The scandal, which has been dubbed #CoiffeurGate, was first reported by French satirical and investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine. French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll later confirmed the story and "tried to defend his boss," according to The Associated Press.

"I can understand the questions, I can understand that there are judgements," said Le Foll, as AFP reported. "Everyone has their hair done, don't they?"

The amount Hollande pays his personal hairdresser is roughly the same as a government minister's salary, according to The New York Times. The job comes with significant responsibilities: the hairdresser is "committed to secrecy and needs to be available 24/7," France 24 reported.

"He missed the birth of his children," the hairdresser's lawyer Sarah Levy told Le Canard Enchaine, according to France 24. He's been identified only as Olivier B.

The scandal has "the French public bristling over such extravagant spending by a Socialist president," as AFP reported. He faces "persistently low" approval ratings, as the Times reported, and "has been forced to agree to a primary among left-leaning parties, including his own Socialists, to settle on a candidate for president next year — a first for a sitting president."

Hollande's former partner Valérie Trierweiler defended him in a post on Twitter. "Let's be fair: F. Hollande was not aware of the hairdresser's salary," [yeah that makes it a lot better...Here's who you want managing your country's finances; a guy who doesn't even know that he's paying 11 grand a month to his barber...] she said. "I can attest to his anger when he learned about it later."



Meanwhile, French citizens are posting pictures on Twitter of haircuts that they see as more worthy of such a handsome price tag. Here are a few suggestions:

EDWARDS: HAIR CUTS FROM $1,250 to $12.95

In 2007, U.S. Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who pledged to alleviate poverty, raised a brow or two after his campaign disclosed that he'd received two $400 haircuts.

The pricy hairdresser Joseph Torrenueva said he upped the regular price of $150 because of travel expenses involved in going to meet the silken-haired Edwards on the campaign trail. Torrenueva added that one haircut cost $1,250 as he had to fly to Atlanta and miss two days of work.

The exorbitant haircuts didn't help Edwards, with then-Senator Barack Obama winning the Democratic nomination.

In 2012, Edwards was spotted at the humble, no-appointment chain SuperCuts — where a men's snip sets you back a populist-friendly $12.95.

BILL CLINTON'S HAIR FORCE ONE

In 1993, President Bill Clinton provoked consternation when he grounded the presidential plane — Air Force One — in Los Angeles, causing two runways at the airport to close for an hour.

The reason? His hair.

Belgian-American stylist Cristophe Schatteman gave the president a $200 haircut as the giant taxpayer-funded plane sat on the tarmac with its engines running. The move delayed some flights, but some media later claimed those delays were exaggerated by Clinton's critics.

Guinevere wrote:Makes a $200 haircut look like nothing, was my thought.

I probably spend $1000 a year on my hair upkeep. Apparently I'm getting quite the bargain.

Other than the cost of the clippers ($30 some ten years ago), my haircuts have been free as I do it myself.

Do you churn your own butter and make all your own clothes too?

I prefer pure lard and going naked.
sometimes together.

oldr_n_wsr wrote:

Do you churn your own butter and make all your own clothes too?

I prefer pure lard and going naked.
sometimes together.

Down to here
Down to there
Down to there
Down to where
It stops by itself

• (Don't ever have to cut
  'Cause it stops by itself)

(Of course, I'm also balding, so that helps, too. )