Another Haircut:师傅我想理发！

Well, hair grows really fast and it was time for a trim. Looking for an adventure, I had decided to localize the haircutting experience. Previously, I had always went to the "high" end haircut salons which cost over 40 RMB ($5.84 US). Most locals usually do not pay over 15 RMB ($2.19 US) for a haircut.

For the localizing experience, I would try the local barber shop at the Suzhou University (高教区). This place would be where the students would go for a cost effective haircut. For the 15 RMB one would get a wash, a cut, another wash, and a blow dry. Unlike the high end places, there would be no massage.

The barber shop seemed more like a production line area for haircuts. There were at least 12 different cutting stations and all were occupied with people getting their haircuts. There was also hair all over the floor. I suppose cleaning came during a dry spell with a lack of clients or when the day finishes if the shop remains full. During my time at the shop, I did not see the floor being cleaned. During mass production, there isn't much time to clean up.

I arrived at the shop and proceeded to tell one of the barbers that I wanted a haircut. First I was lead to the shampoo station. Unlike the high end haircut I previously talked about, the shampoo would be in the basin and not seated at the chair. I think this made the process much faster and the time from customer to customer shorter. There was a waiting line for cuts. After, the shampoo I was taken to the cutting station. The station consisted basically of a mirror with different combs on the little table to comb the hair. There was no disinfectant for the combs and all had hair on them. I would tell the barber that I just wanted a trim and I did not want it too short. that was as about as specific as I got. He got to work and finished up my hair quiet quickly and I must say did an excellent job. After the cut, he took me for a wash and then brought me back to blow dry my hair. The job was finished and the price was right. I would pay him for the cut and be on my way.

What makes the cost so different? Well, at the high end salons, we start with the girl that shows you the menu for the haircut. She is also the girl that runs the register when you pay. Then, their is a team of shampoo and massage specialist that start the process by washing your hair and giving you a nice back massage. The stylist or barber would follow and cut your hair to your specification. After the cut another shampoo specialist washes your hair and then the stylist will blow dry your hair. Then the shampoo specialist also cleans the hair from the shop floor.

There are two differences I noted between the two places that would drive the cost up. First at the high end salon, you are paying for a team to cut your hair. At the local barber shop, you pay a one man team for the whole process. Second, one pays for the cleanliness of the facility. I would think it would be hard for someone who is used to very clean barber shop to have their haircut at the low end facility. Combs and machines are shared between people who can be having their hair cut side by side or across the room. Also, I saw some trimmers being picked up off the floor with hair on them. Just a little quick blow to clean the hair off, and it was then on your head.

I really enjoyed the experience. Even though hygiene was not a top priority at the shop, its customers kept coming back for more haircuts. They were not at all concerned. It reminded me of an article that I read sometime ago in the US that had mentioned that we have been too preoccupied with cleanliness that we were not helping our bodies to build up our natural defenses. Hopefully, my body will get stronger from this experience. 哈哈！

Haircut

Last Monday, I went for a haircut. It is something I have done for months now in China, but it would probably be something new to people that move to China or have an extended stay and need a haircut.

When I started to get my haircut in China it was a little difficult. Why? Well, the majority of the hair stylist do not speak any English. This communication gap makes this activity fairly difficult to complete. In the beginning, I would take either my passport picture or my drivers license and use these two pictures to describe how I wanted my haircut. Luckily for me both pictures were taken recently after haircuts.

When you arrive at the salon, you have a few options for the person who will cut your hair, as well as the price. The options for a haircut are the Junior Stylist for 48 RMB ($7 US ) or the Senior Stylist for 68 RMB ($9.93 US). I usually chose the Junior Stylist. By the way, as mentioned in previous posts, you can get your hair cut for as little as 5 RMB ($0.73 US). Usually hygiene has a lot to do with the price of a haircut.

Next, one of the attendants will come and wash your hair. Very different from the salons in the United States. The attendant will use a squeeze water bottle and spray your hair at the same time shampoo is being lathered right in your seat! When the shampoo is complete and your hair washed, you are taken to the basin to rinse out the shampoo. Then you return to your seat for a short back massage. In the United States, this activity is completely done in the basin.

After the massage, the attendant is replaced by the stylist of your choice. Now, you must tell him how to cut your hair. I have learned enough Chinese to get either a trim （只修一修）or a short hair style （我要短的发型）. As far as how short we usually communicate with signs. No more photos required. Then he will cut your hair. The attendant later returns to give your hair a rinse after the cut.

With the shampoo, massage, and cut, it usually takes at least an hour for the haircut. You must have enough patience and time to relax.