The commercial transformation following the Ukraine-Russia conflict has caused turmoil not only among real estate agents but also among male barbers (hair dressers) in Antalya, where 200,000 foreigners with a majority of Russians and Ukrainians reside.
The President of the Antalya Barbers’ Chamber, spoke to Hürriyet newspaper, stating that numerous male barbers have opened in the Konyaaltı district in the past year. He shared following; “We are in a dire situation. Our members providing services in the district even call me in the middle of the night, expressing their frustration. I go to the municipality and the police, but I can’t get results.”
DOLLAR PRICING
He emphasized that Russian and Ukrainian male barbers determined their prices in terms of Dollars and Euros, saying, “They find customers through social media and charge $43 for a haircut and beard trim. Coloring alone costs $100. They charge $6 for nose and ear hair. It’s outrageous. If my fellow barbers set such prices, they would be chased away with sticks. Some of the resident foreigners have registered with the Antalya Chamber of Commerce, but they don’t have any certification of expertise. They are operating in a risky manner.”
He stated that he had asked for help from the metropolitan and district municipalities, continuing, “This issue has turned into a hair and beard dispute. I am trying my best to keep our guild calm. Some people say, ‘They are trimming their own citizens’ hair. It doesn’t harm you.’ Can such a thing happen? If these people didn’t open shops, they would have to get haircuts from Turkish barbers. Then my registered members would earn money.”
1200 TL FOR HAIRCUT AND BEARD TRIM
“These individuals charge 1,200 TL for a haircut and beard trim. We provide services for 6 people with that amount of money. We can’t understand how this works. Furthermore, there is no need for our Ukrainian brothers to open barbershops. Our barbers are capable of providing services for them too. If the authorities don’t take our observations and calls into account, I fear that Ukrainian refugees might eventually start offering services to Turks with special rates. That’s when we will truly be finished.”
