A shampoo and trim

Shanghai, like most cities has many beauty and hair salons. Before we moved ME pioneered  going to these salons while she was traveling to Shanghai last Spring. She found that it is very typical to visit these salons for a shampoo and a massage. Once a week she would go after a long day in the office and get a wash and massage.

I could not figure out what the big deal was all about until a went to get my first hair cut in July. It takes over an hour and I will try to describe the process.

Once in the salon you are seated and assigned a shampoo girl. She starts by brushing and massaging your hair and scalp with a big bristle, large, flat brush. She also gently hits you on your shoulders and back with the brush.

Then you start one of two dry shampoos. While sitting in the chair, shampoo is squeezed on your head and water is added to make a thick rich lather. With the ends of her fingers she gently massages your head, upper neck and around your ears and temples. After 7/8 minutes the lather is gathered up,  removed and the process is done again. Oh - and did I mention that you are getting this wonderful gentle head message?

Next you are moved to a reclining padded chair with a rinsing sink attached to the end. Your hair is thoroughly rinsed. A hot towel is placed under your neck to raise it up just a little and conditioner is applied and the head massage continues. This time the focus is around the ears, temples, forehead. Within minutes you begin to melt away in the chair. The conditioner is rinsed off and you are asked to keep your eyes closed. Your eyes and forehead are gently flooded with water for several minutes. Once done the extra water in your eye sockets are thumbed out and the steps are repeated. She then presses on one ear as the other ear is flooded with water, this is repeated with the other ear.

Just about able to get up, you return to you original chair where your ears are cleaned with several q-tips. Did I mention a massage yet? Next up is the neck, shoulder and upper back massage. Then the arm, hand, and finger message. One of the funny things that is done is to gently beat on your neck, shoulders and back with their fists.

You are moved to the stylist chair where your hair is cut. When done you return to the rinsing chair where conditioner is applied again and rinsed. You return to the stylist for a blow dry. Done!

Most of the girls - like in any salon - are some where in their twenties, but here they stand about 5'2", all look around 16 and can give a heck of a massage. The haircut was almost an afterthought. But this is how they do it at the local salon, nothing shady, nothing weird, just a much more holistic approach - just like when men would treat themselves to a shave at the barber shop in the old days. 

After a hour+ process, I know what you are thinking to yourself, what could all this cost??? 88 RMB, in US dollars, $14.50. So when you visit, even if you do not need a hair cut then a shampoo and massage is a must.

dry shampoo

the stylist