Comments on: Getting a Haircut

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:45:19 +0000

I went to this barbershop on Zhongshan Lu. I got a haircut by different guys the first two times. Both times were pretty ok. The third time I got a new guy. His work was absolutely terrible. He left the back and the sides really thick and barely cut anything at the top. Being scared that trying another new place would be even worse I ventured back to the first one again and got the same guy. This time I tried to give him directions, using sign language and sound effects like: “Why do you make my head look like a kaboooom (atomic bomb mushroom cloud)”. It didn’t help. During the following weeks I went into a severe depression and a recordlong streak of not getting laid. All hope was lost. I didn’t even look myself in the mirror anymore. Then in a moment of desperation, giving up all hope I decided to shave off nearly all my hair. I went to another hairdresser. It was a woman. Somehow she inspired confidence in me and rather than cutting off all the hair I told her “half”, and formed my fingers as a sizzor running accross my hair. She got it. And she did a great job for RMB 15! I was back on track again.

By: T. Wichmann

T. Wichmann — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:49:16 +0000

I was in tears laughing, probably not the reaction you might be looking for but funny nonetheless.

My husband found a barber down an alley who cut his hair. It turned out better than he had back home and for only $1.60.

By: Toby

Toby — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:10:36 +0000

Having stumbled upon your site whilst investigating a possible move to China myself, I find myself unable to stop reading you hilarious adventures throughout the mainland.

Please keep up the good work.

By: cory

cory — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:00:44 +0000

Congratulations,you have courage to do haircut in china, i mean a foreign country to you.
I, include my colleages, we are afraid to do haircut in sweden, not only for language problem, also price and service there,i think the barbershops service is better than in sweden, maybe you are a little not used to that.

By: alvin

alvin — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:02:18 +0000

u could take a chinese friend with u

By: Ben Ross

Ben Ross — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:42:25 +0000

Great post…as the de facto expert on Chinese barbershops (I worked in one for a month) I feel a bit of a responsibility to offer some suggestions to enhance your Chinese haircut experience.

When you get your hair washed, ask for a girl. They don’t go as rough on your head, and normally they’re a little more friendly and talkative with the lao wai. And don’t worry, it’s not uncommon for guys to request to specifically have a female massage their noggin. Nobody is going to think you’re a perv or anything.

The best thing to do to describe your haircut is to bring in a head shot of a previous haircut you got. If you don’t have one, just wait until you get a good haircut, then take a bunch of pictures from different angles so you have something to show them the next time.

When choosing a barbershop, just go to the cheapest one you can find. The skill level of all the barbers is the same…essentially when the price is higher, you’re just paying for fancier wall decorations and hot tea instead of boiling water.

If you find a barber who gives you a good cut, stick with him…even get his cell number in case he switches places of employment (as the frequently do). Unlike Western barbers who typically see all kinds of hair (I mean from different ethnicities) Chinese barbers usually only see Asian hair. When you cut Asian hair all day, and then suddenly you have to cut gringo hair, it’s like a whole different animal (this is just what I was told by my colleagues, I have no experience as I was only the little bitch who squeezes your temples).

And finally, if you’re really adventurous, ask them for the face wash (洗脸)。 They don’t do this at all the barbershops, and it’s definitely an acquired taste, but after they wash your scalp, they run hot water over your face and wash it off with some special soap. I know it sounds fruity, but give it a shot before you criticize. Again, I recommend choosing an attendant of the opposite sex to give you your face wash.

By: james

james — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 07:38:44 +0000

Mr. Chewer,

Thanks for your comment. I find your technique interesting, and definitely worth further investigation.

By: Uterus Chewer

Uterus Chewer — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:50:01 +0000

You’re not alone, brother. Just about every haircut I’ve gotten in China over the past couple of years has been botched in one way or another. The last time I got a haircut, I took my Chinese girlfriend with me after having trained her (doggy style) for a full week as to what precisely should be conveyed to the barber. Suffice it to say that my new hat is really spiffy.