Getting a Haircut
Last week, on my way to Germany, I had a transit in Abu Dhabi. After dealing with some banking stuff, I decided to pay my old barber a visit. This barbeshop was a Bangladeshi joint, where you are offered hot chai or Arabic coffee when you walk in. So, I sit down and get a trim. This isn’t any salon… No way. These guys are old fashioned barbers… They’ll trim any ear hairs, nose hairs, eyebrows without even thinking twice. I then ask for a shave. He wields it expertly like a Samurai, with a net effect of being closer and smoother than a baby’s bum. Scalp massage, face scrubbing with this horrid-smelling Indian balm… Total damage to the wallet of around USD 5.
When I was young and new to Chicago, I was befriended by an old black man where I worked, named “Johnny B”. Johnny was a good guy, and he taught me many things. One night, we were talking after work, and he told me, “John, you know, one of the first problems black folks run into when they move into a white neigborhood is finding a place to get a decent haircut.” I didn’t think of it much at the time, but there are differences between black hair, white hair, and asian hair… Physical differences that impact the way hair is cut. In fact, my ex-wife used to be a hair dresser at Paul Mitchell… She earned big tips from Asian women because she was the only one at her salon who could cut Asian hair. Long and straight, if you goof it up, mistakes are instantly noticeable.
When I first started to travel in Asia, getting a haircut proved challenging. For some reason, I always ended up looking like either Hitler or Moe from the 3 Stooges. In fact, my stop when I was in Abu Dhabi was to fix the terrible haircut I got in Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago at a salon. I don’t like salons. Somehow, they are emasculating. I can almost feel my testicles shrink from the moment I walk in.I like BARBERS, with a pole outside, copies of Playboy and girlie posters on the walls. It’s also a good sign if they have liquor on their breath.
I’ve had some unusual incidents, too. I had a haircut in Balikpapan, Indonesia where the barber kept pouring witch hazel on my head. I think I looked like that kid from Home Alone when he did that. I also took a leap of faith once in India and got a haircut from a blind barber. He managed to cut my hair perfectly even!
Haircuts in the Philippines are a real bargain. I have seen prices as low as 25 pesos in the provinces. I have not yet found a real barber that I like in Manila yet. I’ve gone to David’s Salon a few times, under pressure from Becky, but it’s still a salon. Last time, the bakla hairdresser kept trying to mousse up my hair and spike it. I ended up paying 750 pesos for the “experience”.
Now, when I am in Abulug, I go to Charlie the Barber. Charlie’s shop is in Ballesteros, the next town over. No water. No electricity. Posters of Luningning and the other Wowowee girls on the walls. Of course, the TV is on showing some Kung Fu movie or something the whole time. My kinda shop! Charlie used to give haircuts to US military, so he knows western hair. Only 40 pesos, but he’ll appreciate drinking a cold San Miguel with you when you are done. Quite an experience… When I’ve gone there, I usually have 5 - 10 people standing outside watching the Kano getting a haircut.I also will usually get a shave there, but that straight razor could smart a bit in the heat… No worries though. I’m just going to have to try a few more little shops in Manila… I can’t run to Ballesteros every time I need a haircut.
Amen to haircuts in barbershops by barbers and not “experiences” in salons by “stylists”! That goes for the post-haircut San Miguel, too! Even at PHP 50, the haircut is GOOD haircut at a GREAT price. At Christmas time I can pay PHP 100 (50 haircut 50 tip/gift) and have smiles all around.
Seems as though there are quite a few barbers in northern Luzon who cut hair for the US military - I usually visit one in Laoag (there’s one closer to home, but he only opens on occasion now due to age).
john
maybe you and becky can go to a spa together, a nice spa, for a little pampering. get a mani and pedi, facial, massage, and waxing if necessary. before me, my husband did not go get these “girly things” done. but now, he really likes going. its nice getting pampered together. try it. suprise becky. my husband and i don’t have any kids and this is just one of the things we discovered that we like to add to our things we do together.
Great article, John. Like you, I always go to a barber shop. Have never had a haircut at a salon before, and I don’t want to. I pay P30 for my haircut here in Davao, which includes a nice massage. It’s one of the most relaxing experiences of my week!
Hi John,You think the same as me,you cannot beat the old barbershop,they know how to cut hair properly,regards Chas.
Hi John,
Well, don’t come to Austria. Everything I have found so far is a salon, filled with girls young and older doing the hair of both sexes. I do not like it either. Sure miss the barbershops of Canada.
I never got a chance to try a barber in the Philippines, although there were lots of offers. Next time.
Guaranteed to be a lot cheaper - I pay €20 (1365 PHP) for just a cut. Ouch, and that’s a cheaper place.
Paul, Bob, and Chas: They say great minds think alike!
Maria: hmmmmmm…. Rebecca wants me to do that too. I dunno. It’s just so…. Girly. I never did see what was so great about taking a bath in oatmeal or cracking eggs on my head. Every time I’ve had a massage I feel worse than before… Like a big meatball.
John: yeah, the old barbers are disappearing in the States, too. I think Supercuts and Fantastic Sams did them in. I think if I moved back I might just shave my head and be done with it….
One of my fondest memories from the early 70’s in the Philippines were the visits to the barber shop(s) near Subic. They always did an admirable job on the hair, but the most incredible thing they did was wield the straight razor with amazing skill. The shaves I got there were unrivaled unto this day. I suppose that skill is from another day, and a dying skill that is fading into history. I’d almost rather be a long-haired hippy-type that visit the current day salons.
and this folks is exactly why I bought my own hair clippers and taught my wife to cut hair
Hi John- I think I’ve got the hair dressing cracked. In June this year my wife Marilou completed a two year barbering course at the local college in her spare time.When she started the course I was astounded as she is more an academic than a barber. She said she just wanted to do something different for a change as opposed to looking at a VDU all day every day. So over the last two years I have been a guinea pig on regular occassions along with my work colleagues (press ganged) and friends so she could gain experiance. Now here is the rub David of David Salon fame comes from the North East of England, in fact quite close to where we currently live so whatch out David you now have competition. As I said earlier I wondered why she commenced on a barbering course but I think there is method in her madness. I will have a decent haircut without having to look for a barber and I think if the truth be known she quite fancies having a little business to keep her occuppied and to earn some pin money.Anyhow its not offen you will find a barber in the province trained in Britain and with credentials to prove it well if you visit Talakag from the end of November you will.
Regards.
Jim.
last trip to cebu got a haircut in banilad, the gal was drunk, i was hung over…it was a perfect match….both of us thought it was a great haircut …till the next day….decided to stay well lube’d till i returned home and had it fixed.
Here in California I pay around $12 for a haircut with my senior discount of $2.( no appointment needed). My wife pays $40 plus tip with her Vietnamese hairdresser( with an appointment).
In Marinduque, we have home service. With haircut, pedicure, manicure and body massage ( for one hour), we pay only 500 pesos each. This same service in Manila, will cost me about 2500 pesos.
What a difference in prices. The haircut and services in Marinduque are even better that the services in Manila