West Salon

20 minute shampoo and head massage

10 minute blow dry

30 minute haircut

 = a heavenly hour spent at West Salon in Shanghai China

Wow... I just got home from my second hair cut in China and I want to go back already!  I arrived at West Salon, a 3 minute bike ride from our apartment, on a Sunday morning at 10:40 with no appointment.  I was taken up stairs within minutes to get a shampoo and head massage.  At West there are four to five people attending to each client at all times.  They each have a role in the haircut as well getting drinks, magazines and just watching you get your haircut.

First a lady "dry shampooed" and massaged my head as I sat up in front of the mirror and read a magazine for 10 minutes.  Then she took me to a hair washing station and continued to wash and massage my head, ears and neck.  After a 20 minute washing we headed back to the mirror where three men began to blow dry my hair.  Just as my hair was mostly dry a woman moved in with a round brush for each of the men.  After handing over the brushes she began to hold sections of hair for them as they continued to blow dry.  Yes, four people were working on my hair at this time, it is truly an art form.  Next another man moved in to do the cutting. The four others moved back and went into their "watching mode." It was a heavenly hour and I definitely need to go in more often then every 4 months.  There are many things that we will continue to do in the US, like visiting the dentist, but a haircut is something I will be sure continue to get here.
Sybil :)