Reader Submission: To the hairdresser
This morning at the hairdresser. Had to search for a while because he had already moved for the 2nd time. A Thai saw me walking around in the street and fortunately realized that I was looking for the hairdresser. With a few hand movements he made it clear to me that the hairdresser was now a block away.
There I was greeted with a smile and a hand was immediately placed on my stomach to make it clear to me that I had changed slightly in size. Whether this was a positive or negative indication, I had to guess.
There were 2 customers before me, each customer took at least half an hour, so that was not a promising sign. This hairdresser cuts excellently, but slow, slow... It seemed as if every hair was cut separately. As soon as the blue sheet was taken off from the customer, you thought now it's going to happen and I can take a seat. But no, only the cut hairs were shaken off and the ritual continued again. Naturally, the necessary Thai news was immediately exchanged and some customers went through the process while staring at their phone screens all the time.
Finally, when the blue sheet was taken off, towels were placed over the shoulders and the scissors replaced with clippers and razors. As a final act, the customer was welcomed with a warm cloth, with which the face or neck was wiped.
Finally, 2 hours later and 2,5 euros poorer (excluding tip), I left the store with the message: “see you next year”.
Submitted by Dick Groot
Yes, I also experience it as a pleasant visit while I experience it as a necessary visit at my own hairdresser in the Netherlands.
Even if you only have 3 hairs on your head, in Thailand you spend at least 1 hour in the hairdresser's chair, isn't it wonderful, nice in the air conditioning while your haircut gets all the attention.
A cloth over the forehead to cool down, the clippers, the scissors, a warm cloth after cutting and finally a lick of wax or gel.
Usually for 100 Bath where a hefty tip is of course in order!
My regular hairdresser in the Netherlands takes about 15 minutes, also skips the cooling cloth and the warm cloth and all this at a hefty rate, haha lol…
By the time I go on holiday to Thailand again I don't look much in the mirror, I don't care how my hair is, I save everything for the hairdresser in Thailand!
My friend also had 3 hairs and went to the hairdresser.
The barber asked which side he wanted his divorce on.
At the right! But unfortunately that hair broke off, then the divorce
but left but that hair also broke off.
Then throw the whole mess back!
It costs a few cents, but then you also have something.
In the village of Taku in the Isaan I finish in 15 minutes and pay 40 baht.
Also very satisfied with the result.
You are satisfied with your haircut because it lasts longer, we can all get the clippers over it.
A hairdresser who takes the time simply cuts better.
In the Netherlands you also have hairdressers who take 20 minutes and hairdressers who take an hour (for ladies).
You really see the difference, trust me
I lost 150 baht here in Bangkok, but then they use scissors and clippers and I don't understand why, but sometimes I am already washed before and after and sometimes only after, but then 3 to 4 times.
Rinse shampoo in it and again, while I always wash my hair beforehand, kind of the same when you go to the dentist, you also brush in advance.
What struck me during my first hairdresser visits here: you had to leave your shoes outside and therefore enter barefoot. Nothing wrong with that, hygiene right? Well, no, because the cut hair on the floor was only swept up at the end of the day, so you were 'wading' through other people's hair... I know, it doesn't work like that everywhere, but it does in many hair salons.