Getting my hair done is always an ordeal.
"Do you have this type of hair in this color?"
Case and point - my hair adventures a few years ago in Malawi. (I'm still a little scarred that the bridge that I walked over to get to the middle of the local market to do my hair washed away while I was in the salon...).
This trip, although my hair still looked okay, I figured I should ease into Burundian life and try out the services here, especially if I was going to come back. I made the decision to do my hair on a whimi - Imelde had to take some time off, which put our research plans for the day on hold, so I went into centre-ville to start the adventure.
First, I needed to wash my hair. (Not a small task for someone who's hair had been in the same braids for almost 3 months). We went to one salon, then another, and then a third but thanks to having no power, those plans were temporarily thwarted.
Then, we found a pretty nice looking salon (I didn't take a picture, but the red, black, and white created a "mod look" that worked, and they even painted stripes on the ceiling!). My coiffeur was a young man who was interested in studying computer information but then took a break to work in his grandparent's salon - and voila! His assessment of my head started with a not-so-discreet "Mmmm..." but an hour (and two awesome scalp massages) later, I was feeling light as a feather and pretty darn fab!
"Do you have this type of hair in this color?"
"Can you do this particular style?"
"Is this the local price, or the 'muzungu' price?
Case and point - my hair adventures a few years ago in Malawi. (I'm still a little scarred that the bridge that I walked over to get to the middle of the local market to do my hair washed away while I was in the salon...).
This trip, although my hair still looked okay, I figured I should ease into Burundian life and try out the services here, especially if I was going to come back. I made the decision to do my hair on a whimi - Imelde had to take some time off, which put our research plans for the day on hold, so I went into centre-ville to start the adventure.
First, I needed to wash my hair. (Not a small task for someone who's hair had been in the same braids for almost 3 months). We went to one salon, then another, and then a third but thanks to having no power, those plans were temporarily thwarted.
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| Post-salon - so light and free! |
Then, we found a pretty nice looking salon (I didn't take a picture, but the red, black, and white created a "mod look" that worked, and they even painted stripes on the ceiling!). My coiffeur was a young man who was interested in studying computer information but then took a break to work in his grandparent's salon - and voila! His assessment of my head started with a not-so-discreet "Mmmm..." but an hour (and two awesome scalp massages) later, I was feeling light as a feather and pretty darn fab!
Afterward, thanks to a friend of Dedo's, I was able to make an appointment with a local salon that was usually very busy. His friend also took care of buying the hair, which although a little different from my usual style, would have to do. (I believe my description was something along the lines of "12-14 inches, curled at the ends, mixture of #4 and #30 or #33" so considering I had no idea the hair market here, she did pretty well). Despite the length of my hair, it took them about 5 hours to put dozens of some of the smallest twists I've ever had - amazing!
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| Attempting to enjoy a meal with Dedo despite the throbbing of my tender head! |
And although I didn't realize it until I did the math this morning, it cost less than $30 - a much better deal than what could have easily cost more than $200 state-side.
Overall, I feel good about this unexpected hair adventure! Now if these women would just come with me to help me take these tiny twists out...
Looks good!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
ReplyDelete