A Trip to a Beauty Salon

Two days ago I had hair cut in a beauty salon owned by my friend. It was almost six months since I last had my hair cut in December. The salon was empty, meaning no other customer than me and my two companies , unfortunately my friend was not around too. So, the salon’s top hairdresser would handle my hair. He asked me what kind of hair style I wanted. I said, I was not sure, cos actually I only wanted to have my hair look more neat for my cousin’s wedding in two weeks time.


So, one of the assistant brought a magazine full with beautiful girls with all sort of hair style. I was a bit confuse. These girls were already beautiful whatever hair style they chose. Finally with the help of the stylist, I pointed the picture of a beautiful short hair girl. Okay – no problem said the stylist.. I would adjust the style with your face..


It only took 15 minutes for him to cut my hair, while I said my little prayer so the new style will not look odd in my face. At first look it was okay, but not too satisfactory. After paying to the cashier (55 thousand rupiah), I gave a tip to the stylist (only gave him 5 thousand), ten percent of the hair cut price. Anyway, I like my look better the next morning.


I remembered giving a very generous tip to the stylist in one of the branded hair salon, in one of the biggest mall in Jakarta. The hair cut price was 175 thousand at that time and I gave her tips of 20 thousand rupiah, cos I like her hair cut that time. My friend said the tips were too much, since the hair cut price was already expensive. It was 4 or 5 years ago. When I recounted that time, I was also surprised why I spent that much money only for my hair. Well I only cut my hair at maximum twice a year, so it was worth it. But now with so many other expenses coming, that lavish time was over for my hair. Expenses for my mortgage, saving commitment, house and car expenses has cut down my hair allowance to under 100 thousand.


Of course there were many who are still willing to spend hundreds of thousand rupiah for their hair cut. Hair was called woman’s crown, the most valuable treasure for her. One of my colleague didn’t want to cut her hair because her father told her not to. I heard story from a friend who had to ask permission from her husband to cut her hair. When we were at elementary school, the girls were so mad if the boys teased them by pulling their hair or put gum on their black long hair...ooohh that was disaster!!


Hair is so special for woman, that’s why beauty salon is a very prosperous and healthy industry. You can find small salon or barber shop in the small alley in a crowded residential slum, to the most convenient place at the biggest shopping mall in town.


Guinnes World Records stated the world’s most expensive hair cut was at Stuart Phillips Hair Salon in Covent Garden, London for the price of of £8,000 ($16,300) or 168 million rupiahs !!
I was stunned...this is the cost of one bed room apartment in Jakarta. Well, it’s government-subsidised apartment, but anyway..it is a hell lots of money. Stuart Phillips was the official hairstylist to The British Academy Television Awards since 2004. And of course, the record breaking haircut package includes a Champagne lunch, a head and scalp massage, a selection of personalised L’Oreal hair products and treatments, a return limousine ride from the airport, and of course, the haircutting skills of the internationally acclaimed Stuart Phillips, himself,
(Source :www.guinnessworldrecords.com/adjudications/071029_cut_above_beyond_rest.aspx).


Talking about pricey and what we consider valuable in our lives. So maybe our hair deserves that much amount of value or not, it is ours to decide. As for me hair is only a part of my whole being. As long as it fits my face, suits my personality, convenient enough for me (Jakarta is a very hot city today !), any hairdresser or salon is okay. However, on second thought..I think I still need to look for some recommendation first, as I have to live with the new look for the next six months.

Isn’t it beauty or good looking is a whole package of human being? Maybe we should also spend the same attention and care to make our inside look as beautiful as our outside look. As hair grows in time and we need to remodel it again, the same thing also happens to our heart and mind. Many new experiences happened, some are encouraging and some just bring sadness or disappointment. Bringing back beauty to our heart and mind is soul refreshing. There are many ways to do it, chatting and having coffee with old friends, do something nice for your self, do something nice for others, calling your parents, etc. As for me, the most refreshing salon time for my soul will be playing keyboard and singing my own song to my God.


So, enjoy your walk to your beauty salon today !