So I have been in China long enough for three hair cuts. The first one was not so bad. They cut off a couple inches more than I wanted, but since it looked nice I didn’t care. The second one was more of an incident than a cut. I went in for a basic trim… and came out with half my hair missing! (at least that’s what it felt like.) Not only was the stylist rude and hurtful. (yanking on my hair and earrings) he gave me a horrible cut. He cut my bangs wide and straight, cut off about 2 more inches, and thinned it out way more than enough. I was a little less than pleased.

Then today came. I was no longer able to see and figured that I had rocked the “shaggy dog” look long enough. On the spur of the moment, I walked into a stylish looking salon called Hair Code. I could tell the difference before I even saw the stylist. The woman at the front desk spoke some English, but not much. She called someone who did. Point number 1 in their favor. After I chatted on the phone with the English/Cantonese translator, I was kindly shown to a lounge chair. “Which stylist would you like?” I was handed a slip of paper with all the possible services they offered, along with the level of stylist. Junior Stylist, Senior Stylist, Specialist, etc… After I select a senior stylist, I was gently guided to the locker area, where I could store my belongings under lock and key. And here is where it got interesting.

The person I had followed, held out to me a forest green robe. I don’t know if he recognized the confusion on my face or does this normally, but he helped me into the robe and even tied it for me. The robe was worn over my whole outfit for the duration of the appointment. This wonderful man’s job for the next 20 minutes was to make me mistake his shampoo station for heaven. He succeeded. I got the hair washing of a life time. I think I even fell asleep for a minute at one point. Twenty minutes later – yes, it was a 20 minute long washing – I was guided to the other side of the salon. Once seated, I was given yet another robe. This gentleman now had the direct displeasure of combing my hair while it’s wet. Those of you that know me, know my hair is a bit…misguided. It doesn’t curl exactly, neither is it straight. What ends up normally happening is it looks like a lion’s mane. Anyone else with this hair will understand the pain and frustration that comes with brushing right after washing. It took copious amounts of detangling spray and four clips to hold it up, but it was brush smooth.
I was just settling into my chair comfortably when another man appeared on my left. I looked around, startled and confused. Apparently, the person who had washed and combed my hair was not the stylist. The stylist? So precise! He sectioned my hair into tiny sections and trimmed the ends with quick, little snips. When he thinned it out, same deal. He took tiny sections and carefully thinned it by hand with the good scissors. (those of you with thick, curly hair also know how big of a problem bad layers or a poorly done thinning can be) During the thinning, one of the funniest experiences I’ve ever had at the salon happened. These hair styling apprentices hover around their more experienced counterparts, and when called they come. Several times from the thinning on my stylist would call one of these people over. What was their job? Hold a small piece of my hair out of the stylists way. That’s it. They would hold the section of hair he had given them until he told them they could go. Folks. Before Tom, my stylist, was even finished, I knew it was going to be good. I was not disappointed. My once block-like bangs had a gentle curve at the edge that blended them perfectly with the hair framing my face. The feathering gave my hair just the right touch of volume, and I could see through my own hair!
I was se elated with the results, that I immediately recommended him to others. Such a lovely time!

side note: when you live in a foreign country, even “basic things” like getting a hair cut or buying groceries is an experience. Communication problems, stress with the unfamiliar, and so much happiness when the result is what you were hoping for. Any way, happy travels every one!