The Haircut

It goes with out saying that you proceed at your own risk whenever you get a haircut from someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you. It’s been 3 weeks since I got my haircut and I was beginning to embark on a mini afro. So, I took the plunge and went to a local salon. I felt safer going to a salon than a barbershop here. Every time I passed a local barbershop all the barbers and the patrons were older gentleman and I didn’t want an old man cut! I noticed a salon near the internet café I frequent and stepped inside. This salon does manicures and pedicures and there was one lady getting a manicure when I walked in. The hair stylist got her chair ready for me and as she began to prep me for a cut, I started to get a real uneasy feeling. She reached for some clippers and we proceeded to play a game of charades as I tried to tell her how I wanted my hair cut. She did a motion that I misunderstood as shaving it all off. I’m like “No, No”. She was actually asking if I wanted my hair the same length all over. My Spanish has improved a little, so I was able to tell her short on the sides and about half off the top. After more charades and a lookup in my Spanish/English dictionary, we agreed that she would use a 2 Guard for the sides and a 3 Guard for the top. This 5-minute exchange did not make my uneasy feeling go away. It actually had an opposite effect. But I’m in the chair and in the end, it is just hair. It will grow back.

So she proceeds to chop away. She has me facing the mirror and to avoid worrying even more, I just close my eyes so I can’t see what’s happening. However, I did sneak a peak every now and then. After cutting my hair, she proceeds to pull out a razor. I’ve never had a women pull a razor on me, but I must admit, it was sort of a turn-on! She proceeded to line me up with the razor and after she was done…she motioned me over to another lady. I’m thinking everything is done, but they had a surprise in store for me. The other lady motioned me over to a sink to wash my hair. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone wash my hair and now I’m getting even more turned on! It felt really good. So good, that I am now adding to my list of attributes for a girlfriend. Now I have two...She must be breathing and willing to wash my hair! I’m not that demanding…am I? :-)

After the lady is finished washing my hair, she sends me back to the barber's chair where she adds some finishing touches. I was cool with the results. I ask how much and to my surprise a haircut and wash was only 10,000 pesos. That's about $6 and some change. I think I will be going back, but next time, I'm going to skip the cut and go straight to the sink for a wash!