The right-wing media is obsessed with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Like, obsessed. They refuse to leave her alone, commenting on inconsequential and tedious topics, like her lipstick, her wearing expensive clothes for a photo shoot, and now, getting her hair done at a salon. Really. I wish I was joking. Get those eye roll emojis queued up, because this story is as exhausting as it sounds.
Alert the internet: Ocasio-Cortez got her hair done at a salon with her own money.
The progressive congresswoman got her locks done at a salon in Washington, D.C., and paid around $300!!!!!!!! before tip for her services, according to the Washington Times (not to be confused with the Washington Post), a right-wing publication. $80!!! for a haircut and $180!!! for lowlights at the Last Tangle Salon in D.C. THE CAPITALISM, THE IRONY, THE ELITE NEW YORKER ATTITUDE, the Washington Times would have you believe.
Naturally, the implication is that we should all be outraged that a woman who identifies as a socialist spent $300 on her hair, when she could have visited the "government-subsidized Capitol Hill barbershop" and saved $100 (by the Times' estimation). Yes, really.
Guess what, AOC haters: THAT'S HOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR WOMEN TO GET THEIR HAIR DONE.
It's not cheap to get a haircut and high/lowlights! Nor should it be! Hairstylists train for years to become masters of their craft. They don't just perform a service, they are entrusted with your hair, which is one of the most visible parts of the body — not to mention one of the most transformative. People, especially women, have a lot of identity tied up in their hair (so to speak).
As anyone who's cut their own bangs or dyed their hair from a box can attest: Pay the professionals for a professional job. Just do it. Because when you find someone who gives you the hair of your dreams, you have to pay them what they are worth.
Honestly, $300 for a cut and lowlights isn't even that expensive.
Um, that's pretty much the going price for these two services on long hair in a big city salon. In Chicago, when I had ombré hair several years ago, I paid about the same amount of money for my dye job alone. That was not including my haircut and style, and I still felt like I got a good deal because the quality of my stylist's work was so incredible.
AOC is also frequently photographed and filmed, and people would complain if her hair wasn't perfect.
As one of the most high-profile politicians in America right now, AOC is photographed everywhere she goes. Part of her job is to look professional and well-groomed. That she takes care of her appearance shows that she respects her elected position and constituents enough to show them that she takes her job seriously.
Male politicians can get away with appearing a little unkempt (I voted for you, but I'm still looking at you, Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, my home state). But AOC getting her hair done? NOPE, BAD, MATERIALISTIC, TOTAL HYPOCRISY.
Ironically, AOC is probably spending far less on her appearance than other male politicians.
AOC spent $300 on her hair. Let's contrast that with Donald Trump's scalp reduction surgery, which can cost between $3,000 and $15,000. And that's not including the money for Trump's rumored spray-tanning habit, or whatever means he uses to get his otherworldly tangerine glow. Let's not even get into the Botox and dermal fillers used by other male politicians, the likes of which are obvious anytime you turn on C-SPAN.
Ocasio-Cortez had not responded to this manufactured controversy, nor should she.
Why should AOC apologize for or explain her decision to spend $300 on her hair? Last time I checked, she earns a salary as a member of Congress, and she should be allowed to spend that money however she wants. And like I said earlier, $300 is pretty standard market prices for the services she received.
Obviously, if she was a man, her hair would not be subject to comment in the first place. While the right-wing peanut gallery is clutching their pearls about her hair, AOC is busy working on the Green New Deal and national rent control. Hair flip emoji all the way.
