#I think Oda mentioned Sanji would be a barber

[saltywithsarcasm]

I’m writing a compilation of the Straw Hats touching Sanji’s hair and the first Chapter is him and Usopp, bonding over hair care.

Let know who you want next.

Usopp yawns and stretches as he walks to the bathroom in the morning, still groggy from sleep. He pushes open the door and sees Sanji already at the sink, brushing his hair. Usopp blinks a few times, trying to wake up fully and gives a small nod to Sanji before starting his own morning routine.

The snipper has to take particular care of his curly hair every morning. He starts by gently detangling it with a wide-tooth comb to avoid breakage. Then, he applies a generous amount of leave-in conditioner to keep his curls hydrated and defined. After that, he uses a bit of oil to lock in the moisture and give his hair a healthy shine. It’s a meticulous process but he knows it's worth it to keep his curls looking their best.

As he starts carefully working through his own hair, he glances over to the sink where Sanji is standing. He notices the array of hair products lined up neatly beside the cook. Sanji's collection includes high-quality shampoos, conditioners and a variety of styling creams. Usopp can't help but to admire how the cook’s hair always looks so healthy and soft. Usopp feels a blush creeping up his cheeks as he watches Sanji's hair gleam under the bathroom light, feeling a bit envious of how effortlessly smooth and soft it looks. The thought of asking to touch it crosses his mind but he quickly shakes his head, embarrassed by the idea. He fidgets with his own curls, trying to push the thought away but the curiosity lingers, making him feel awkward and self-conscious.

Sanji begins to trim his facial hair with a steady hand, focusing on getting the lines just right and as he glances in the mirror, he notices Usopp's fidgeting behavior. Usopp seems unusually restless, tugging at his curls and avoiding eye contact. Sanji pauses, lowering the trimmer and turns to face Usopp.

“Hey, you alright there?” Usopp's eyes widen slightly as Sanji addresses him and he feels his face heat up.

“Y-Yeah, I'm fine.” He stammers, quickly looking down at his brush and scrambles to continue brushing his hair, his movements a bit more hurried and clumsy than before, hoping the man doesn't notice his embarrassment.

“Usopp.” Sanji raises a brow, clearly not buying his answer and leans against the sink, crossing his arms. “What's bothering you?”

“I think you have pretty hair.” Usopp admits, still fidgeting with his comb.

Sanji's eyes widen in surprise, caught off guard by the compliment then a warm smile spreads across his face.

“Well, thanks. You have pretty hair too.” Both men smile at each other, sharing a brief moment of mutual appreciation before continuing their morning routine. As Usopp busies himself with his hair, he can't shake the silent bafflement. Sanji, of all people, had just complimented him, another man. The sincerity in his words takes a moment to sink in, leaving Usopp with a surprising wave of pride he hadn't anticipated.

He still wants to touch Sanji’s hair though. Usopp's eyes dart around as he thinks quickly.

“Hey, Sanji, did you change your shampoo or something?” He asks, trying to sound nonchalant and reaches out to touch his hair, pretending to examine it closely. “It looks different today.”

“Hm?” Sanji glances at him in the mirror, noticing the hand touching his hair then back at Usopp and without a word, he returns to finish up his shaving, seemingly unbothered by the interruption. “Nami let me try some of her shampoo she picked up from the last island.”

“It looks very soft.” Usopp notices how fluffy the cook’s hair is and catches a whiff of citrus, which doesn’t surprise him because it’s Nami’s. “I’m jealous.”

“My hair isn’t as nicely maintained as yours.” Sanji muses, setting the razor down and picking up a rag to wipe his face then notices Usopp's hand still lingering in his hair, clearly fascinated by it. A slight blush creeps onto his face but he leans his head forward a bit, offering silent permission for him to continue playing with his hair. Usopp absentmindedly runs his fingers through his hair but then it hits him that he might be overstepping and quickly pulls his hands away, offering an apology. “It’s whatever, I don’t mind.”

“You can touch my hair if you want.” Usopp offers, feeling a bit awkward after pulling his hands away. “Might need help reaching the back with the oil since it’s gotten longer than I’m used to.”

Sanji pauses for a moment, knowing how much effort Usopp puts into his hair and worries he might mess it up since he has no experience with his hair type.

“Are you sure? What if I mess up?” Sanji asks hesitantly, wiping his hands off as he takes the comb from him.

“Best way to learn is from hands on experience.”

Brook walks into the bathroom some time later and finds Sanji standing over Usopp, carefully combing his hair. The blonde is deeply focused, adding oil to their friend's hair with a meticulous touch and can't help but chuckle at the sweet gesture.

“Mind doing my hair next?”