Shell in China

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Edward Scissorhands moved to Chengxian?



Yesterday I decided it was time for a haircut. I've been needing one for a while now and this last week with no kids has given me ample time to examine my many split-ends, so the time has come. I was putting off this excursion because it is hard enough to get a good haircut when you can explain in a fluent way what it is you want; I was worried about trying to do so with such a gigantic language barrier. Ever resourceful though, I went on the Internet (thank goodness for www!) and found a picture of something similar to what I wanted. It was a fairly simple haircut, just a few inches below the shoulders, straight across, no bangs, nothing fancy. Something that was still ponytailable (Yes, that is a word! As an English teacher, I reserve the right to make up my own words. It is an adjective if you were wondering!!) and yet shorter and requiring less time in the cold shower.

I've been scouting out salons in town for the last few weeks. There are a whole lot of little haircut places. Our town seems to have a higher than normal percentage of them so I don' t know if this means anyone with a pair of scissors can open a shop or if it is a good, steady job. Either way, I found one that looked like maybe the people in it knew what they were doing. They at least knew their way around hair color since one guy had orange/blonde hair, another had half dark, half purple hair (split down the middle) and the woman had color added to hers as well. We went in and I had my prepared "Hi, I need a haircut. Here is a picture." routine ready to go. They looked, said okay and off we went.

My haircut started with an intricate shampoo/massage. I have to say that compared to Chinese hairwashing stations, American ones could qualify as torture devices. In the States when I have my hair shampooed at the salon, I always feel like I need to build up more neck muscles before my next appointment. I get a kink in my neck and it really isn't a comfortable experience. In China, on the other hand, there is a platform to rest your head and and the chair is more of a bed that you lay back on. It's very comfortable. (Plus, they have warm water in for their shampooing, which if you've followed the blog, you are well aware that I don't have at my apartment!) The shampoo/head massage had three different substances, none of which I know, but they smelled good.

After the shampoo, it was off to a chair for hair drying. All of the volunteers that I have talked to have said that their hair was dried before cutting, which is the opposite of what usually happens at home. So, I was dried and then they pulled out the hair straightener. At this point Thad was questioning whether they knew I was there for a haircut! I told him they kept looking at the picture, so I thought they knew... A good fifteen minutes was spent making my hair stick straight before the cutting could begin.

Let the cutting commence! I felt like a scene out of Edward Scissorhands. The guy with the sissors was going crazy, cutting here and there and nothing that looked like it was straight across. He often referred back to the picture I had with me, but he must have looked at it in a "this is what I like, but do what you want" kind of way. I really started to worry when the cut that was to be a couple inches below my shoulders suddenly became long bangs around my face! What do you say though? The cut was made and bangs I had! Too late to do anything about it. I figured this guy obviously had some vision of what my hair should be and I was best off just to go with it. Hair always grows back...

Cutting completion brought out the hair dryer and straightener again, as well as a few random hair products. The overall haircut isn't too bad...I would say it is very Chinese. It looks like what many of the college-aged kids have and I think I can work with it. It is NOTHING like the picture I brought with me to the salon, but it is what it is and I will make the best of it.

The "after" picture is pretty dorky looking, but that is what I've got now!
Michelle, 6:37 PM

4 Comments:

Your haircut makes you look younger!! And your hair lighter! love, mom
mom, at 8:33 PM  
I'm glad you like it because I am not sure that I do. Grrr... I don't really ever know what to do with it. Oh well...It will grow out and then I will get an "American" haircut when I get home. :) hehe...
Michelle, at 3:17 AM  
I think that you look a lot like Matt in that picture...well, a long-haired blonde Matt anyway!
Kelsey Rose, at 7:56 PM  
Nice 'doo! Remember middle school kids would be quick to point out
what they thought whether it was nice or not. Good story.

Wendy
wendy, at 3:51 PM  

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Blog of a Peace Corps China volunteer serving as a TEFL teacher in Cheng Xian, Gansu, China.

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Name: Michelle Ross
Location: Chengxian, Gansu, CN

In America, I teach 8th grade English and reading and really enjoy spending time with middle school students. Some people think I am crazy for it, but Marsing has a great group of kids and I love being a part of their lives as they grow up! Right now I live in China and teach English and teaching methods to students who want to be teachers. I am here through Peace Corps, which I think is a fabulous experience and something that more people should look into doing! The application process can be a bit of a pain, but it is well worth the time and effort. Check out Peace Corps and give something back to the world that has given you so much!! Teaching runs in the family, as just about everyone is involved in education in one way or another. My dad is retired, but he was a teacher, counselor and principal for 30+ years, my mom is an elementary counselor, my sister and husband are both teachers and my brother will finish his teaching degree this next spring! "Those who can, do; those who can do magic, teach!"

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