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Q: How do you get your haircut done?
Question for the folks who can't speak Chinese. How do you tell the hairdresser you want a formal haircut and NOT too short?... I figured the easiest way is to show a picture. So I show them one of my old pictures and tell them "zhe ge" pointing at my head... well! no matter what I do ...everytime, I walk out of there with length couple of mm hair on the side and cute little mohawk on top.. and I end up hating the damn haircut for next two weeks...
I usually pay 30, which I think is little expensive... How much do you pay for your haircut?
Even if you can speak Chinese, chances are they will fuck it up. Remember, we have hair, not paintbrushes. But who cares, it grows back again and nobody knows it looks bad anyway. 20-40yuan is what I pay.
Karma101:
that's so true... nobody has ever said anything about my hair, and I was screwed up more than twice. But if I shave facial hair, then get a comment saying "you look young" or something of that sort. I don't know why that is...
You'll keep getting that haircut until you get into the 100-200 rmb price range, in my experience. Every time I get the 20-60 rmb haircuts they mess up the back somehow.
Karma101:
really 100-200 for a haircut? they would use scissors made of gold? I believe its waste of money for men to spend that much on something that would come back within 3 weeks...
Even if you can speak Chinese, chances are they will fuck it up. Remember, we have hair, not paintbrushes. But who cares, it grows back again and nobody knows it looks bad anyway. 20-40yuan is what I pay.
Karma101:
that's so true... nobody has ever said anything about my hair, and I was screwed up more than twice. But if I shave facial hair, then get a comment saying "you look young" or something of that sort. I don't know why that is...
Used to just show them how much I wanted cutting using my fingers. Used the same place all the time.
Now its got thinner I have a No.1 shave all the time. Bought some clippers for 200RMB and do it myself!
I've been going to a five star hotel and paying about 120RMB for a semi-decent haircut. To pay anything less, as WooMow said, will result in a mauling as I've found out time and time again. A new barbershop just opened up at a local upscale mall, so I will try that instead.
I've paid between 8 and 30 rmb for haircuts in China and it's usually decent enough though I bring my wife to explain how to do it and she will constantly critique the barber to make sure it's done her way.
Now, the barber will generally do it her way but that's not necessarily how I want it done. But oh well. Without her I guess I'd just brrng in a picture and hope for the best.
20rmb with a nice shampoo. He does it fine, or at least he's batting 90%. Granted he has given me about 8 haircuts, so he has it pretty much figured out how I like it. Yep, started by showing him a photo.
I like Barber's. Too bad that died off in favor of those 'hair salons' or whatever they call them.
You can still go to an old-fashioned barber shop in Manila. Check it out next time you're there. That is the proper way for a man to get a haircut and a shave.
Quinn68:
Yeah, the Philippines has some great old school barbers. A lot of them used to cut the US soldiers and sailors hair, so I can tell them I want a "high and tight" and they know exactly what to do.
diverdude1:
makes me wish I were there right now. 'High and Tight' ! yep, Phil definitely is the place where they still understand that a Barber Shop is a necessary component of civilized life.
royceH:
I wish I was there too. Never been to Phil. You reckon Manila is a good place? My mate told me Cebu is better.
diverdude1:
well, just a heads-up, Philippines is a real shit-hole, esp. Manila & Cebu.. I can't figure out how or why either city is better than the other, they both abound in historical importance, which is what I am into.
The real thing to see in Phil is just like in probably most other countries, you have to get out of the main metropolitan areas. The beaches and jungles for Phil.... no shortage of choices of either.... it is the country of 7,107 islands. Of course a lot of them are well off the beaten path and transport around Phil can be a bit of a challenge to say the least*.
* a few tips:
- don't get in a hurry
- get a local friend to travel with
- bring plenty of cash (ATM's aren't everywhere)
- say your prayers (you'll see what I mean when you go down some mountain in a dilapidated taxi with a lunatic driver)
Quinn68:
I don't venture into Manilia if I can help it. Once I get to the airport, I transfer to whatever terminal I need and get out of that shithole as fast as I can. I recommend Negros and Palawan if you decide to go there. Certain parts of Cebu are nice, e.g. beach resorts, but Cebu city itself is fast becoming a little Manila. As diverdude said, carry enough cash w/o having to stop at an ATM for a few days. People outside Manila are usually very friendly, but always be vigilant for potential scams. Keep your wallet secure.
royceH:
Thanks men. Not sure if I'll ever get there though as my wife is convinced Filipinos don't like Chinese. We're going to Vietnam next year.
shave the bloody lot? saves hell of lot of bother, shampoos etc, wash lot easier too.
Like Hotwater I use my fingers or say cut about 'half'. Inevitably, it doesn't matter. Your hair will have a resemblance to the "stylist's" hair, so choose wisely.
I just had a cut and a shave for 20 kuai last week with the usual mediocre results. The "stylist" didn't even use scissors on my hair, and the shave, while good on my face, left stubble on my neck which I had to go over when I got home.
I think barber shops are a good representation of China:
-There's hair all over everything because employees/owner can't be bothered to clean properly.
-Scissors, clippers, and towels are on the floor because that's the proper way to store things.
-There's crusty hair dye in a cup with a spoon that has hardened in place because they can't throw away that last little bit. It's still usable. I hope I'm the next customer!
I just say 短一点 duanyidian, and in four years never got any problem... It isn't that difficult to learn 3 words. As for the cost, still 15rmb (I think was 12kuai 3 years ago or so). Don't cut your hair on any of those "fashion boys" places.
Karma101:
Thanks professor... you see 短一点 means "shorter". Well... I don't want short as in 2mm short...
Hec:
No, my dear padawan, it's not used for a 2mm cut, but for a standard one. It literally means "a bit shorter". If you want a serious cut say "duan yixie", "duan henduo" or "hen duan" (I don't recommend the last option). Try next time and you will see. And if you want to show you're a master of Chinese you can also say haole haole when you see by yourself that the cut is short enough.
I pay 30rmb just to take the clippers to it............1-2 mm remaining... then a little shampoo and head massage and a sweet goodbye. no problem with the hair for me.
20 kuai for a shampoo, quick massage and a meticulous scissoring. The result is incidental for me.
Getting a haircut in China is one of life's small pleasures.
In my case, i have tried several methods to tell the hairdresser how I want my hair done; showing a picture or even going with some Chinese speaking friend but none of the methods worked. I'm always disappointed after the haircut. Finally I have resorted to a simple, plain cut and a clean shave.
As much as the person demands when half hair cut is done and demands to pay.
I'm a simple man with a simple dream.
Every time I went to the hairdresser, I would just say "I want a clean cut - make me bald".
They would always leave like 1 millimeter on top and only perfectly shave the sides, to make that gradient effect - you know the one - that Chinese people love.
It takes skill to screw up something as basic as this.
At least I would only pay about 20 yuan each time.
