Doing one's hair in Cuba has become an increasingly difficult luxury for most women, amid a deep economic crisis characterized by insufficient wages, inflation, and scarcity. This is highlighted by a viral video posted on TikTok by the Cuban user @briana_matancera, where she shows how much she recently paid for a hairstyle on the Island.
In the video, the young woman explains that she hadn't taken care of her hair as she wanted for years and that in 2025 she set out to make a change in her appearance. However, she clarifies that it's not always possible to prioritize such expenses in Cuba.
“Women cannot thrive as long as all our priorities are not met, because we cannot stop eating to fix our hair,” she comments.
The content creator visited a beauty salon in Cuba to get a balayage, a highly sought-after coloring treatment, and emphasized the excellent service she received, noting everyday details such as being offered coffee, something that—according to her—“cannot be missing in a Cuban home.”
The final result was to his liking, but the price did not go unnoticed: 50 U.S. dollars, an amount that, based on the informal exchange rate, equals several monthly salaries of a state worker in Cuba. “Let me know in the comments what you thought and if you think the price was appropriate,” he asked his followers.
The video quickly generated mixed reactions. While some users believe the price is "reasonable" compared to other countries, many Cubans pointed out that it is unaffordable for most women on the Island, where the minimum wage barely covers basic necessities.
In recent years, beauty services in Cuba have experienced a significant increase in costs, driven by the de facto dollarization, the high prices of imported products, and the lack of supplies in the national market. Dyes, bleaches, and hair treatments are often purchased in dollars or at inflated prices in the informal market.
For many Cuban women, fixing their hair is no longer merely an aesthetic concern, but rather a reflection of economic inequalities and how the crisis forces them to choose between basic needs and personal care.
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