Sometime over the past few years, I came to a realisation: I was getting my hair cut while on the road more often than while close to home.
Though the end result has varied widely, I still treasure getting a cut when I travel, whether it’s across the country or around the world. With just a blade and a pair of scissors, I can expect cultural immersion in its purest form - in about 30 minutes or less. Let me explain.My thick, jet-black Asian head of hair grows fast - thanks to genetics - and I’ll typically make my way to a barber every two to four weeks.
I’ve been to barbers in Iceland, Istanbul, Bangkok and Bogotá. I got my hair cut on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, received the best scalp massage of my life on the outskirts of Luang Prabang, Laos, and was the sole English speaker at a shop in Suva, Fiji, where locals played interpreter with my barber. A couple of dollars and one of the sharpest fades I’ve ever received later, I’d say those Fijians did a pretty good job.