Comments on: I may work in a barbershop, but I’m not a barber.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 10 May 2007 14:05:55 +0000

lol,thats all bcuz u aint chinese…

By: Benjamin Ross

Benjamin Ross — Wed, 09 May 2007 03:02:44 +0000

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.

By: chriswaugh_bj

chriswaugh_bj — Wed, 09 May 2007 02:51:24 +0000

I’m with Mr Chiang: How do the customers react to you?

By: James Chiang

James Chiang — Wed, 09 May 2007 01:51:54 +0000

I wonder how customers call you. They call you 小弟 (little brother) ?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 08 May 2007 17:58:36 +0000

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.

By: ZL

ZL — Tue, 08 May 2007 17:52:39 +0000

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.

By: davesgonechina

davesgonechina — Tue, 08 May 2007 16:45:27 +0000

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.

By: WhatCouldBeFina

WhatCouldBeFina — Tue, 08 May 2007 15:50:40 +0000

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.

By: The Humanaught

The Humanaught — Tue, 08 May 2007 15:07:15 +0000

@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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 08 May 2007 12:10:18 +0000

I’m in America, and I always get a pre-wash before a hair cut. Not a fancy cut, just the standard $10.