Hair Wash - the Taiwanese Way

I had heard the boasts by many ex-pats about the luxe hair washes in Taiwan. I had more than one  friend offer a hair wash date, so I took up the offer and went.

I am not so fond of hair cuts abroad. My hair is thick and curly and tests even the most experienced stylist. So a visit to the hair dresser without scissors in their hand, made me less anxious about my visit.

My friend took me to DMS Hair Salon where $250NT (about $8.50US) bought me 2 hours of bliss.

First, I sat in a comfy chair and had my neck and back massaged for about 10 minutes. Then, the stylist took a large paddle brush and strongly brushed my hair, concentrating more on my scalp than actual hair, for about 20 minutes. I closed my eyes and relaxed. Then, I felt a strange action on my scalp, kind of like a monkey tickling my head. When I opened my eyes I saw that the stylist was using the end of the paddle brush to make circles on my scalp - bliss.

Next, I moved on to the horizontal chair where I was covered in a blanket, and my head was laid on a little pad in a basin. A fragrant cloth was placed on my forehead, partially covering my eyes. My hair was shampooed with L'Oreal products and massaged not once, not twice, but THREE times! Conditioner was applied and then after what felt like a n hour, it was time to move back to the styling chair.

Peppermint oil was applied to the nape of my neck and my neck was massaged once more.

To finish, my hair was meticulously blow dried straight, the stylist like a orchestra conductor with nodding head and all while he dried my soft, clean hair.

What an experience! There are many women who go at least once a week for this experience. And for less than $10US who wouldn't?

This will become a fortnightly "splurge" for me and I am so looking forward to my next visit.



The salon I visited is DMS Hair Salon. I received a L'Oreal Shampoo for $250NT.
I tipped $100NT.
View Stylist Max's blog here.
A map to the DMS Hair Salon is below.

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Jeff's 100NT Haircut

Jeff had been to Uncle Bear haircuts, a barber-type shop in one of the MRT (tube) stations, but wanted something a little more. We walked around our neighborhood in search of a real barber. Not a big bear where you put your 100NT note in its stomach, receive a receipt, and then go into the store and in return for giving the barber the receipt, receive a haircut. No, Jeff wanted a REAL barber shop. Like the old ones in Morocco, where the greying barber will sit you down in an ancient ragged chair, unwrap a new blade and cut your hair in the style of every other Moroccan man.

But, our search was fruitless, and we ended up here.

Yep, a cheap 100NT hairdresser. But instead of having a giant Uncle Bear to put your money into, they had a slim lined vending machine, dispersing a receipt to be exchanged for a haircut.

Jeff sipping on iced milk tea before the haircut.

 During. No, he is not getting his haircut by a doctor or nurse, or any other person who wears a surgical mask. Here in Taiwan, if you are sick, or riding a scooter, it seems a surgical mask is a must.

And after.

We may need to search a little longer for an old style barber shop.

My first haircut... in Marrakech

Waiting for my hairstylist to finish with a client, I surprised myself and read a whole magazine article in French. Granted, I didn’t understand every word, but my reading of French is a whole lot better than my pronunciation and grammar. So when my hairstylist was ready, a quick introduction occurred. Our conversation ended as soon as my French ran out. Some global sign language ensued and then I was relaxing with my neck bent over a basin.

What a head massage! I was feeling a little apprehensive about describing my desired cut in French, but at that moment I was satisfied with the head/ neck/ face massage which was being carried out. ‘I hope this is included in the price… should I tip?’ was racing through my mind. ‘Just enjoy it!’ So I did.

With a printout of the desired haircut in tow, the snipping began. He seemed to know what he was doing. My thick, curly hair – the bane of my existence, and also the source of many compliments, was being cut into shape. With some mousse, drying and some finger work, I had an afro. Not good. My face must have said it all. I couldn’t even think of the words in French, except for malade. So with some tweaking of my own, and some extra scissor work, my mane was now complete.

I was feeling a frizzed, but cast my mind back to that head massage. I tipped the guy for his exceptional handwork – not with the scissors, but with the relaxing 20 minute massage.