“You have beautiful hair.”
“Oh nice hair style.”
“I love your hair.”
Are just some of the phrases I have heard about my hairdo since I arrived in India. I’m not making this up the men LOVE my hairdo. As I walk by sometimes many will just point to it and give me a nod like awesome… others will make sure to tell me they like it. I never thought any hairdo of mine would get so much attention. I normally hate getting attention from the locals, but why lie this is attention I am loving. The only thing that worried me was that well my hair was getting rather long and knew it was almost time for a hair cut.
During our stay in Khajuraho visiting the Sex Temples, our guesthouse was near a barbershop and one day as we were walking by they yelled “50Rs for a haircut”. I thought 50Rs… that is $1, no way. So I turned and asked them if it really was 50Rs for a haircut and they said yes. I told them I was here a few days and would be coming back for sure. I am always scared to get a hair cut in a foreign country because you have to try and explain to them what you want in sign language and hope they understand with the little English they know. Oh & because in the end you never know what you are going to get.
Well I didn’t care what would happen to my hair I was not about to pass up the opportunity to get my hair cut for a $1. That would be the cheapest haircut I have ever got in my life and well not going to lie the thought of that warmed my little heart with joy. After visiting more temples all morning as we were making our way back to the hotel I thought why not go for it. So I did and I am glad Val was with me, because well I handed her my camera and asked her to please take a few photos of this epic $1 hair cut. After telling the guy that I want “same same but short” he nodded and the haircut began. Here are some of the photos she took with additional commentary by yours truly.
“What am I getting myself into???”
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“Hmmm not bad so far!!!”
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“Oh I couldn’t see this but looks cool.”
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“La la la just trimming away….”
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“Oh is that a COW passing us by???”
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“Ummm what are you getting and what are you going to do to me???”
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“Ugh I hope you are getting this right….”
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“Oh I can see Val….”
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“Wait a minute we are not done… I need you to cut more off.”
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“Oh yay now this man is cutting my hair… I love how he is standing!!!”
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“Pat that weave girl….”
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“Oh yes get on them toes… reach for my hair!!!”
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“Trim trim trim away…”
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“Um no sir I want it shorter… yes SHORTER!!!”
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“Ahh I give up that is short enough…”
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Thanks Val for taking some awesome photos. In the end my haircut didn’t turn out as bad as I thought it was going to turn out. Hello we all know you get what you pay for… but I guess in India $1 is a lot. Aside from them not cutting it as short as I wanted them too it turned out great. I hope to find another place this cheap to get another haircut before I leave. So tell me where have you got your cheapest haircut? Did you get what you wanted? Do you agree it’s always interesting getting a haircut abroad?
omg your expressions are hilarious Jaime! Like you prayed for the best but secretly expected the worst. I had a pretty cheap haircut in Chiang Mai, never thought to get one in Cusco. Next time I will.
I definitely think the experience is part of the awesomeness of getting the cut. I mean….you can’t beat 1 dollar, seriously.
My Chiang Mai hair cut was pretty uneventful. I am not sure what they took off since I am so paranoid with having it cut short so I tell them like half an inch and they always get mad.
I think I am going to get a haircut here in Australia but not till I get a job. Then I can write a post about how it was the most expensive haircut I ever had lol!!!
you are the cutest!!
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Mica you know me & my expressions…lol!!! A part of me was praying… but was excited to see what would happen. The experience of a chepa hair cut is what makes it worth it. Seriously it’s so scary yet cool. Good luck on finding a job in Australia. You know I will be picking your brain when I go down there for my year…lol!!!
I love the photos and your captions! Oh my god, I would FREAK OUT if someone started cutting my hair standing on one leg! LOL.
I’ve been too scared to get my hair cut while travelling – it’s been 9 months and it’s TERRIBLE. I’m going back to England for a week in May though and the first thing I’m going to do is head for a hairdressers!
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Thanks Lauren… jaja it was quite fun to experience. OMG you need to get your hair cut… 9 months is a long time. When I meat you if you still haven’t I am going to cut it for you. I am not kidding…lol!!!
I just love the name of the barber shop!
I think my cheapest hair cut was in Bangkok and cost 100 Baht…that’s about $3. Turned out great!
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jaja I know I loved the name too Dean. Oh & $3 is not bad… I normally pay $5 at home!
You have to give it a try when it’s only $1! 🙂 I find that people at home cut my hair shorter than I asked for, so at least you kept some!
Nice photos, Val!
I know I couldn’t pass it up at $1 Heather… I mean come on that was just amazing…lol.
I can not believe that you had an haircut just for 1$! Extremely cheap! Last time I cut my hair I was in Rome and spent around 18$ and it was one of the chepest! next time I’ll go to India at least it will be an opportunity to visit this country! Congratulations for your pics! Wonderful!
Vincent I know I loved it… $1 ah I don’t think I will ever beat that! Oh & $18 is a lot for a hair cut. I was able to find a few places in Europe where I got my hair cut for 5 Euros.
Next time get the shave too. That was fun experience. I think it was only 80R for both!
Oh no I will never get the shave again Matt. I did it in Egypt and that meant them threading… yes THREADING my forehead, eyebrows, ears and it fucking hurt like hell. So when they offer for shave I just say no…lol! I travel with my trimmer anyway so I trim it off I hate shaving.
Very cool!
I love getting my hair cut overseas. My hair is so thick that I always get comments on it when I get it did in Europe. Everyones hair is so thin there!
I had a great experience when I lived in New Zealand, I went back every 4 months like clockwork. And even when I was living in Australia, when I knew I was coming back to NZ, the first thing I did, even before I booked flights, was book my hair appointment.
Thankfully, I don’t care too much about what happens when I get it cut (hello, it’s just hair, it”grow back eventually). So much so, that I even cut my own hair, which I had never done before! But I wasn’t going to be working for at least 2 months, so I didn’t really care how it turned out, I just needed to get it off my neck.
I love every day experiences in new countries!
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Rebecca yeah its a cool experience to get your hair cut overseas. I don’t think it matters much for a guy but I hate that my hair is so damn thick… I mean its a good thing cus I will have it for a very very long time, but I always have to ask for the hair thinner at the end and if they dont have the special scissors I am screwed. Like in this case they didn’t have them… but oh well for a $1 I can’t complain. Yeah in the end it is just hair and it will grow back. I can’t imagine how expensive a hair cut is in NZ or OZ though.
This post is hilarious and some really great action photos! The worst part about getting a hair cut in a foreign country where you are not sure if they understand what you want is when they turn you away from the mirror the entire time they cut your hair. That was the most stressful haircut of my life so far. 🙂
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jaja glad you enjoyed it Christy. Oh yes I hate when they do turn you away from the mirror… that is so damn scary cus then you really have no clue. It’s a just hold on and wait to see what happens kind of deal.
$1!?! Amaaaazing! I think for a man it’s a lot easier to trust a stranger than a woman. You can just shave your head if it goes totally wrong.
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Andi I must agree with you it is much easier for a man to get a haircut from a strange because it is not that long or really that technical like it is for girls. Oh & no I would not want to shave my head…lol!!!
Love the captions! Hehe here in the Philippines, haircut rates on provinces are quite cheap. In Manila, it is a bit expensive ($1 above).
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I will def be getting a haircut in the Philippines too when ever I make it there.
I love the way the guy stands while cutting your hair! 🙂
My cheapest haircut was in Cairo for just about €3 and I can’t wait to get another one! Not it just feels nonsense to spend around €30 for a haircut in Italy! I will wait until I’m in Egypt 🙂
And maybe you can come with me! Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy 🙂
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I know I loved the way he stood too. Oh I got a cheap haircut in Dahab & it was very damn interesting. I am so down to go with you to get your haircut in Cairo. That will be fun. I will photograph it all…lol!!! Oh man I can’t wait for Egypt.
Now that’s value for money!
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Very much so Nick. Now if they could only be this cheap all over the world.
Hahaha, this is awesome! And I love the shot where the cow is walking past the hair salon. Now THAT PHOTO says “I got my hair cut in India!” 😀
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I know right that photo right there really does say “I GOT MY HAIR CUT IN INDIA”.
My cheapest was in Egypt, ofcourse 😀 never had haircuts anywhere else 😀 I have witnessed it becoming more expensive as I grow up, the number I remember was EGP 5 (less than $2 at that time) around the year 99 or 2000, now it reached EGP 20, approximately $4, which would still be alot cheaper than most of other places 😀
I won’t lie though, it IS on my bucket list to have a hair cut and also my beard cut in India; Indian style 😀 Just whenever I’m there! 😀
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Mina, I too had a very cheap haircut in Egypt too. I liked it. It was weird though that the guy also threaded my forehead, ears and eyebrows. Very interesting, but nice. I wanted to go for the shave here in India but I hate hate shaving I travel with a trimmer so always trim.
What? $1 for a haircut? I don’t think I can find a place that cheap here in Indonesia. Well, maybe in villages. I always restrain myself for not having a haircut in foreign country. Not that I don’t want to — it’s because my longest travel by far was merely one month. But I did have the idea of having my hair cut in other countries. Just never have the guts to do it! 🙂
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Yup Bama, $1 for a haircut!!! Oh you should get it cut in other countries its always fun, but scary…lol! I hope you give a try on your next trip abroad.
The photos are great, what an interesting looking barber-shop.
I got a hair cut in KL about a year ago, for $1 as well, turned out fine!
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Thanks Nate, yeah mine turned out okay too. Funny… just a $1. I want another one for that price.
Haha brillant post Jamie,
I was recommended your blog by the globe trotter girls (looking at your budget sheets for Central America!)
$1 is just mind boggling cheap…$18 is expensive?? Eep, I’m obviously doing something seriously wrong. In London (where I’m from) I usually spend about $80! Cheapest I’ve ever had was about $35, and I was really impressed with myself, haha.
Maybe flying out to Rome for the weekend would actually be cheaper 😉
Thanks Amy, oh that is awesome that the GTG recommended my blog to you. I actually just thanked them for it. They are sitting right next to me. Yes agree $1 is mind boggling… but I loved it. I am in need of another haircut now though & need it to be a bit better. Oh & yes $18 is very expensive at home I pay just $5 for my haircut. I am very cheap and well think a haircut is just a haircut and shouldn’t spend that much on it because well your hair grows back. Wow $80 is very expensive.