05.08.07
I may work in a barbershop, but I’m not a barber.
I’ve been getting a lot of comments and e-mails lately asking me what it’s like to be a barber, and why I decided to cut hair. So I wanted to take a minute to clear a few things up. I am working in a barber shop, but I am not working as a barber. The barbershop “industry” in China is quite standardized, and gives you considerable more service than you would get in the US. Here’s how it works.
A typical haircut in China costs around 10 RMB (a little more than a dollar) and it comes with two washes. When you first go into the barbershop, they wash your hair in one of those bed-sink contraptions where you lie down and dip your head in a sink. Your head is washed and massaged for about fifteen minutes, then your hair is rinsed and dried, and it’s off to the barber chair. I’ve never been exactly sure what this pre-wash is all about. Usually when I am getting my haircut I am somewhat pressed for time and I forego it. The employees look at me like I’ve ordered a happy meal but refused the toy. When I told my coworkers that I never get a pre-wash (or an after wash for that matter) when I get my haircut in the US, they were all surprised.
After your hair is dried and combed, you go over to the barber’s chair and get your haircut. It’s quite difficult to get a decent haircut as a white guy in China. Since most barbers have only cut Chinese hair before, so this is understandable. What I do get annoyed with in Chinese haircuts is that they often take forever, as long as an hour sometimes. I’m not sure if this is just because I am a foreigner or if it is typical protocol. I shall find out in the following weeks I suppose.
After the haircut, the washing process is repeated. You are washed, massaged, rinsed and dried. What this means is that in addition to the barbers, a large amount of labor is devoted to hair washing. Although there are barber schools in China, most barbers begin as “hair wash boys.” If they stick with it, they can train to become barbers, but it takes months or years for this to happen.
So this is where I stand, a hair wash boy, not a barber…at the bottom of the barbershop food chain. More reports to come soon.
dezza
said,
May 8, 2007 at 3:12 pm
I’m not sure how extensively you have traveled in china but i’ve had my hair cut in no less than 15 cities/towns of various sizes around China and each place does it differently and charges different prices.
For example, in the northeast where I’ve spent most of my time, head and body massages are rare (iv’e never seen one myself) while in places like shanghai and hangzhou getting a head/body massage with your cut and wash is second nature.
also some places in China do the ‘dry wash’ whereby you sit upright in a chair and they wash your hair with shampoo using small amounts of water to lather the shampoo in. it’s weird to see but actually quite enjoyable if the hair wash boy/girl knows what he/she is doing.
anyway all i wanted to say is that there really is no ’standard’ hair cut in china. it’s always an adventure to go into a new barbershop in china, you dont’ know what quirky stuff you will see and experience. i really wish i had the guts to get my hair cut on the side of the road for 2RMB..but i really don’t want to get somebody’s lice or other hair-related problem!
run
said,
May 8, 2007 at 5:26 pm
不错，来这里晃可以练英语。你看得懂我的话吗
Peter
said,
May 8, 2007 at 7:17 pm
A 5 min hair wash is quite normal here in Denmark too, but it costs extra. I usually get it, because of the “skull-massage” I receive at my favourite shop (not all shops do that). It always make me relax after a busy work day.
We only get one hair wash though. The price here is a bit higher though. It ranges from 100-250Dkr (20-50US$) with the wash.
Anonymous
said,
May 8, 2007 at 8:10 pm
I’m in America, and I always get a pre-wash before a hair cut. Not a fancy cut, just the standard $10.
The Humanaught
said,
May 8, 2007 at 11:07 pm
@Dez: The one thing that is standard are those stupid cut-one/leave-one scissors…
Every hairdresser I’ve been to in Dalian and Suzhou have all done the rinse/cut/rinse combo… sans massage.
WhatCouldBeFina
said,
May 8, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Hi Ben-
Another American in China, I came across your blog… somewhere Sino-related, don’t remember where… and it’s great. I’m assuming you won’t mind but wanted to let you know that you’ll soon be added to the list of favorites on my blog.
davesgonechina
said,
May 9, 2007 at 12:45 am
Dude, this is a great idea. I should try this in a some local industry here.
Hey, we’re practically neighbors. Drop a line if you ever head down to Quanzhou. We can engage in some friendly Minnan – Minbei rivalry.
ZL
said,
May 9, 2007 at 1:52 am
In Nanjing the rinse/cut/rinse combo is pretty standard, except for the one time after first arivving I mistakenly went into what I thought was a barber shop (they had several hair cutting stations, a barbershop pole outside, etc). I realized something was up when there were just a bunch of scantily clad women lounging around on couches inside.
They must have been hurting for business, as what appeared to be the pimp of the house came out, located a pair of scisors after a short search and gave me a passable rendition of a standard Chinese flat top. No rinse before or after… nor happy ending.. though I’m pretty sure that’s a service they offer.
Anonymous
said,
May 9, 2007 at 1:58 am
I live in California, and I also get the prewash whenever I have my hair cut. I thought it was fairly standard since (I’m assuming) barbers like to cut clean hair, and the water helps even out the hair before cutting. My haircuts also take about an hour or more. I’m told that since asians tend to have very straight hair, messups and any slight crookedness become very obvious after the cut. Slightly curly hair allows for mistakes to be hidden.
James Chiang
said,
May 9, 2007 at 9:51 am
I wonder how customers call you. They call you 小弟 (little brother) ?
chriswaugh_bj
said,
May 9, 2007 at 10:51 am
I’m with Mr Chiang: How do the customers react to you?
Benjamin Ross
said,
May 9, 2007 at 11:02 am
The customers are still a very much confused. I often overhear the barbers explaining to them what I am doing. Most think I am crazy. One woman told me I should find a job in a “better” place than a barbershop, like a coffee house or a Western-style restaurant. Obviously she doesn’t get it. None of them have addressed me as 小弟 yet (as I was hoping they would), but my boss frequently yells 美国朋友，打扫 (American friend, sweep up!) across the room at me.
Jeremy
said,
May 10, 2007 at 10:05 pm
lol,thats all bcuz u aint chinese…