It’s been almost 2 months since I last got a haircut on the road (I usually go about once a month). I thought about toughing it out and just wear a hat all the time. Believe it or not, what changed my decision was b/c I was going through my shampoo/body wash too quickly.
Haircut, pretty standard task back at home. It’s something you can easily take care of even during a lunch break. But when you are abroad, not only do you have the time constraint you run the risk of getting a result completely not what you intended. Yeah, the barber knows you want it shorter, that’s why you’re in his shop, but how much shorter? How do you like your bangs? Leave the sideburns on?
My hair got so ridiculous I decided it didn’t matter anymore. I just need to mow down the wild pasture on my dome. Even if I came out bald that would’ve been preferable.
I knew that most businesses close on Sundays in Europe. The first time I was in Milan, I had saved some time on a Monday for laundry and other housekeeping tasks before heading to Florence. There is a street near my hostel normally would have about 10 to 12 shops within about 3 blocks. Literally did I know that the hairdressers take Mondays off as well. Most of the shops have “Lunedi Chiuso” on their doors, but they’re in Italian. It might as well had said “Free Puppies” and it still would not have drawn my attention.
I then came to the conclusion that “oh, well if they close on Mondays that must mean they stay open on Sundays instead” (stupid, right?). Which means I am faced with the exact same situation the first time around in Milan.
I did manage to find one shop that was open but it looked really fancy and they didn’t post their prices. Luckily I found another shop operated by some Asians. I tried communicate with them first in English but it was pretty clear they didn’t know any. I then asked if they speak Mandarin, in Mandarin and thank goodness they do! Quite possibly the best 8 Euros I spent on this trip.
You can always count on the Asians and the Middle Easterners for some of the most basic needs on the road in Europe. For some reason this clip from Fight Club would play in my head while I was sitting in the chair getting my haircut. “We take care of your basic needs. We do your dry cleaning. We serve your doner kebabs. We cut your hair. Do not fuck with us.”
