this is not Manny's Barbershop.
so we just got back from Hong Kong....what a great weekend! I was prepared to arrive in cold grey Beijing and was pleasantly surprised to find one of the clearest skies I've seen since we've been here.
smog level was only 22 today (pretty sure yesterday was at 197!)
One of the things I wondered about before heading over to China was, "what will I do about getting my hair cut?". As you know , I keep my 'fro' very short. If I go any more than 4 weeks between cuts then it starts to get a bit bushy for me. Well, it worked out perfectly that I was in Hong Kong at the 4 week mark. I'd done a quick internet search for some barbershops...but wasn't really prepared to venture out into the big city for such an obscure service...that, and it was pretty late in the day and most places had already closed. So I checked in with the concierge...and he sent me over to the K11 Mall to talk with Koko at the Hair Shop. Really. I knew that if I didn't go then, I'd probably end up waiting another 4 weeks...which would drive me crazy!
It was just a few blocks down the street from my hotel...and he'd informed me of an underground/air-conditioned short cut! Coming up from the metro tunnels, I noticed a See's Candies! Who knew?!?!? Anyway..enough about the candy...I scurried around the mall until I finally found the place....not that it was hard to find...it was quite a large salon. For men and women. And maybe it's just that I haven't been in a salon in many many years....
Koko greeted me at the front desk and then put the price list in front of my face. I could chose from the less experienced stylist for $450hk or spend as much as $1350hk for the senior stylist. I figured that I don't have enough hair to warrant a fancy stylist...so I went for the cheap guy. I mean...I normally spend $20 bucks back in LA...and that includes the tip! $450hk is almost $60us.
please notice those mysterious torture devices on the right side of the photo!
I was escorted over to a regular chair and asked to be seated by a beautiful young woman who struggled to tell me that I should put on a small robe. She wasn't into me or my foreign-ness. Then a visit from my "stylist"...who picked at my thick hair like he was horrified. He then suggested (?) that I get a wash. Well...I'm game. So he leaves.....and it seemed like he was gone for a while. Then "Harry" comes over. Harry takes me over to another room, more like a closet, to wash my hair. I'd swear that he washed my hair 3 times.
On the walk from the wash room back to the chair, you get a silly little hat.
that's Harry...
...and what do you think of my hat?!?
...then the stylist comes back. He proceeds to cut. Nothing too crazy. A bit strange to not hear the buzz of the clippers! We chat a bit, but his english isn't great. I explain to him that I wanted to wait to get my hair cut in Hong Kong...and instantly he got it. "You afraid to get hair cut in Beijing?" We laughed!!
chop....chop....
Despite the fact that this place is so close to a See's Candy, I think that the next time I'm there I'll look for a traditional barbershop! (take note...no "after" shot.)
On a side note...saw this cool little robot wandering around the mall on my way out. The kids seemed to be having fun with it.
