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If you’re like me (and somehow I doubt many of you are in this particular case), getting a good haircut is nearly impossible. So impossible, in fact, I was forced to memorize my exact response to “how are we going to cut it today?” from eight years ago—my last successful haircut—in hopes of duplicating the results. Sadly, it hasn’t worked since. I always end up standing in front of the mirror at home wondering what went wrong.
The Washington Post recently featured a humorous article from Wayne Lionel Aponte on more worldly hairdo issues—one many long-term travelers and expats experience: the foreign haircut.
“As I stood before a rotating barber’s pole in central Tokyo and looked at myself in a mirror, a wave of fright swept over me … For months, I’d been trying to convince myself that I didn’t really need a haircut in Japan.”
Whether it’s the language barrier or the wildly different hairstyles found throughout the world, getting a haircut in a foreign country can either be a really good decision or a really bad one, depending on your prospective. If you’re traveling long term, you probably don’t have a choice either way. The experience will undoubtedly produce a good story for everyone back home. However, there’s always the chance you’ll get a horrible cut and find yourself in front of the mirror like I do. Either way, it’s only hair—it’s bound to grow back—so take a chance, have a seat, and hope he or she understands what the hell you want them to do with your hair.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any excuses—my barber speaks my language.
Check out the rest of Mr. Aponte’s article here.
October 17th, 2006 at 1:29 am
This is REALLY funny and hits at one of my greatest anxieties as a traveler. I FEAR THE HAIRDRESSER! I don’t know how to say, “Look, I’m just going to put a hat on and go hiking, so please give me something easy,” in any language but English. Oh, the horrors. The horrors. I always get my hair cut at home before I head out on a trip. ALWAYS. It’s almost the last thing I do before locking the door and heading to the airport.
October 17th, 2006 at 7:38 am
Hey Rolf!
Remember that babershop in Antigua (Guatemala) where you chose your haircut by pointing at a picture on the wall? My favorite by far was the ‘Musica’ or as we call it in the states, the mullet.
October 17th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Even with the ability to speak the language through out the US in my full time RV traveling, it was a rare time that I ended up with a “good” hair cut. Finally, in desparation, I headed to Wal-Mart and bought a hair clippers. With the 5/8 inch guard on the clippers, unfortunately all the hair is the same length. However, it looks better than some of the botched jobs for which I paid too many dollars. Since children do not run to their mothers for protection, I will continue these self done hair cuts.
The great part is that for the price of a haircut, I can get some pretty good meals.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:08 am
im 35 years old,, almost 17 years in BARBERSHOP haircut , i, want to share my my talent, i know how to DRAW a NEW HAIR STYLE