new thread
It appears that braiding is starting to replace hair cutting in the hair services industry. More and more people are talking about braiding. Hair "braiding and cutting" signs appear near some hair care places that used to only offer haircuts.
I think part of society's resistance to long hair has been motivated by the money made and jobs created in the hair cutting industry. Haircut advocates fear that if people stop getting haircuts that hair care workers would lose jobs and economic output would fall, creating a recession and unemployment. That is changing.
Now braiding is being offered as an alternative to cutting. Customers will probably want to have their hair professionally braided more often; braiding once a month rather then cutting once every 6 weeks. Customers may be more likely to buy more time in getting complicated hair braiding styles, giving the hair braider more work and more opportunity to make money. Just as people buy massages, fingernail care and other services, people probably enjoy having their hair cared for by a professional.
If each person spends and average of $250 per year per head for haircuts or braiding services, I estimate that this hair services industry makes about $70 Billion in the USA and employs about 2 million people. Now, if more people grow their hair out and start having it braided, the need for hair care may increase, especially if some people pay $200 for a complicated 10 hour hair braiding job. Long hairs may also spend/buy more time having their hair braided because it takes longer to braid long hair. Maybe balding people will grow long hair and have braids weaved to cover the bald spots. On Wall Street, this growth in hair care services means more profits, jobs and economic growth. Once they see the light, the suits on Wall Street will stop getting haircuts and grow long hair and breads and get them braided.