How would it feel to live someplace where you were afraid of getting your hair cut because you might be hauled away and beheaded for violating Sharia law?

Ask an Afghan:

Quiffs, mohawks, and crew cuts were hairstyles Nader Shah was accustomed to styling for image-conscious young men in Afghanistan's third-biggest city of Herat.

But since the Taliban swept to power in mid-August, Afghans have little cash to spare and fear being punished for sporting short or fashionable cuts.

"Before, people came and asked for different hairstyles, but it's simply not like that anymore," 24-year-old Shah said at his barber's shop, with mirrors covering every wall. "Now they are heartbroken."

During the Taliban's first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, the hardliners banned flamboyant hairstyles and insisted men grow beards.

After they were ousted, being clean-shaven was often considered a sign of modernity, including in the relatively cosmopolitan western city of Herat.

"Now people come here and they only ask for simple cuts," Shah said. "They also don't shave their beards, so it's a problem now."

Here's what one barber had to say:

"Because of the Taliban situation, customers have less income and they pay us less."

And if you're wondering, yes, the Taliban are stopping men to confront them about short hair and clean-shaven faces:

"It's not like the Taliban are fashionable, but people don't shave their beards because the Taliban will stop and ask them about it," he said. "They say it's not in Sharia law, and that men should have beards and long hair."

Don't worry, though: I'm sure if the U.N. and Joe Biden continue to ask the Taliban to be "inclusive" a few more times, things will totally turn around. Fingers crossed!

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