Nirvana of Haircuts
Wow! Was I ever wrong! I admit it!
Most anyone that has been reading this blog may remember that I have been a little more than apprehensive about getting a haircut in Asia. I don’t know why I should be worried about such a thing. Hair does grow back. But I really do stress out about getting a haircut from someone that cuts very dark thick hair all day. I’m not exactly the typical local guy getting a haircut over here.
But I have now found the nirvana of haircuts…………. And I may never get a haircut anywhere else in the world! I mean it! It is fantastic.
Now I was more than a little nervous when I finally broke down one weekend and decided to risk getting my first haircut in China. What I didn’t expect was this awesome pre-haircut ritual.
To get there scares you even more. First you have to go down a rather barren street, with dogs running for their lives (literally) and junk all over, such that the cabbie has to weave and dodge his way down to the worldwide symbol of the revolving barber pole. I would have never even been in this section of town if it weren’t for a friend assuring me that this was a good place for a haircut.
At the door you are greeted by a couple of girls. For whatever reason, I think there are always at least two hostesses at every doorway in China. Another girl quickly greets me when my friend explains that I want a haircut. She leads me into the back. There in the shadows of the back room are three beds with washbasins attached on each end. She motions me to stretch out, or I should say I “scrunch in” to the space allowed (it is a little short for a guy over 6’2”), and then magic of the hour begins . And I do mean magic. It is just awesome! The girls wash and rinse your hair for an hour!! Yes! An hour!! Four times they put shampoo on the hair and gently massage it into the scalp. Their fingernails caress through the foam and hair to ease any pain in your head. A couple of taps on the head seem at first a little odd, but it feels magnificent. The light massaging of the scalp, just continues! And continues……….. and continues……… an hour! And to top it all off, they massage the shoulders, arms, and back. It’s the best! Sure other massages are more involved of the body, but there is just something special about the massaging of the scalp in warm soap and water. It is soooooo relaxing!
Finally you get escorted to the barber chair and get a haircut. The guy even shaves the excess hairs around the face with a straight razor and no cream. You feel every hair being cut from the face. Okay, now that is scary! But at this stage you’re so relaxed trance from the pre-haircut massage, that nothings gonna bother ya.
But we’re not done. Soon the hairwash girls take over again and wash and rinse one more good time. And back to the chair for final hairdry and sytyling. Unbelievable. But wait………… it’s not over………. The best is yet to come. We have to pay: 25 RMB. That’s less than $4 for two hours of massage and haircut! Now that’s a deal!!
posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 8:59 PM
Comments: 0
