A presence that disturbs
This article examines the different barriers faced by hairdressers descendants of immigrants from the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa, during their careers to find a place in the trade and the attempts they put in place to change their situation. This article delivers in particular the different bodily or linguistic injunctions required by the profession. To get closer to a “Caucasian ideal” sought by co-workers and employers, hairdressers are, for example, required to smooth their hair or change their name. The customer feature justifies these requirements on the part of employers. This article also shows how, in a predominantly female profession, being a man tends to mitigate this racial identity that is affixed to them. But these attempts to conform to this professional ideal do not mean acceptance of racism. Forms of resistance to this translation of those social issues appear and allow them to regain a certain self-esteem.