Did Obama Dye His Hair?

His Barber Denies That He Ever Did -- Or That He's Stopped In Bid To Look More Experienced!

(CBS)  There may be no better place for someone to let his hair down than the neighborhood barber shop.

So political commentator and Early Show contributor Laura Schwartz stopped by the Hyde Park Hair Salon, a few blocks from Barack Obama's home, where Obama's been a regular for more than 13 years -- including a haircut the day before the show's Tuesday visit.

He uses the same barber all the time, Zariff.

What do they talk about?

"Anything, from A-to-Z," Zariff told Schwartz. "Sports, family, community."

But not politics.

"He loves (the) Hyde Park (neighborhood), so he wants to know everything that's going on here," Zariff explained.

He says Obama himself hasn't changed much over the years, but his haircut sure has: "It's been gradual. (From) long, to what you see right now, Id say, probably over the last three years."

It was Zariff who cut Obama's hair before the Democratic convention in 2004, when his keynote address thrust him onto the national stage. "That was a lot of fun!" Zariff remembers.

Obama's cut is now "a lot shorter," Zariff pointed out. "You know, a lot closer."

And ye says that style is becoming all the rage in the shop, as customers come in an request the Obama Cut "all the time. Especially the kids. They love him. (Kids) as young as 10, 7, you know? All the way to 60!"

Then came the potentially explosive question: Are the rumors true that Obama used to have his hair dyed to try to look younger, but no longer does, in an attempt to appear more experienced?

"No controversy," Zariff responded quickly. "One hundred percent natural. No dye."

Has he ever?!

"Never has. He doesn't have time for it!"

A customer whose hair Zariff was cutting as he spoke to Schwartz, one who's also been having his hair cut at the shop for many years, said there are "exciting times for the neighborhood, Chicago and the country, as well."

The shop's owner, Ishmael Aliman, told Schwartz he plans a party Election Night, and he's definitely feeling good about Obama's chances.

That sentiment was echoed loud and clear, in unison, by the rest of the patrons and barbers in the shop when Schwartz asked whether they're excited about what could happen in a week.

[whosaid1]

%u201CWhat does matter is the fact that he is the man to lead our country in a new direction."

Posted by pegaus at 11:49 PM : Oct 28, 2008


Pegaus I''ve seen similar comments for other supporters of Obama...and at this late date, I can''t seem to get a logical explanation. Having a background in Management and leadership and having had the opportunity to see some very senior leaders developed and advanced to high positions...my observation has been that they all DEMONSTRATED leadership capability by doing some "hard jobs". Seriously, what has Obama done to make his supporters so sure that he is up to this great leadership task?? He talks well...as a matter of fact; my observation is that all his successes are related to his talking.....what has he DONE???

[raven1949-2009]

OMG!! How did the local barber and hair dye morph into terrorists, Rashid Khalidi? In the real world, real people are facing real evictions, job loss, and bankruptcy due to medical costs and probably will be cutting their own hair.

[newslink]

Maybe he did not want people to get him and McCain mixed-up. So he brought a $6.00 box of Haircolor.

[abbe91]

"The Democrats are back in charge now, so all of you just shut up. You hear?
Posted by michaelt302 at 05:38 PM : Oct 28, 2008"

Thanks to the "Patriot/Sedition act", right ?

[achangenow]

Get a life, Neederbaur! Your character attacks are old already and don''t help one bit with the country''s problems.
But for the sake of argument, McCain finished nearly last in his naval class, was in the Keating 5 Savings and Loan scandal, cheated on his first wife and doesn''t know much about economics. Are these the kind of character traits we want in our president? We already have a bumbling, stumbling idiot in the White House, why would we be dumb enough to put another one there?

[catlady1412]

There is a lot of squawking about why they report on Obama''s hair color, but what I got out of it was the neighborhood people and what they are thinking and talking about so I thought it was kind of a nice story for a change! The hair thing was silly, though. He can dye it if he wants. Remember how people asked that about Reagan? You are allowed to dye your hair in Real America!

[pegaus-2009]

It doesn''t matter what the color of his skin or hair is. What does matter is the fact that he is the man to lead our country in a new direction. Pegaus

[demwatcher]

"Sarah Palin is a communist from looking at Russia too much from her house !!

Posted by jockh at 07:44 PM : Oct 28, 2008"

And you are an idiot.

[gotravel1]

Who cares about Obama''s hair;where is the report about the Chicago radio broadcast that reveals Obama''s true intentions:search youtube-Obama/redistribution bombshell,or how about Obama''s reparations intentions.Search http://windsofchange.thruhere.net to see where Obama''s economic policies would take us,and why they''re foolish.

[ubrew12]

KristianInAL said: "Mentored by COMMUNISTS; Socializes with DOMESTIC TERRORISTS; Sat in a pew for over 20 years listening to a RACIST. OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT? "

Ask me in a week, loser.