I just want a quick trim really, nothing special, nothing fancy. And I need to get in and out quickly. But the two young barbers are not going to let me off so easily. "Sir, will you have a shave?" asks one of the young men, pointing to my untidy stubble. "No. Just a hair-cut thank-you."
The young man looks disappointed.
"Sir, how about hair dyeing. You have much white hair. We will dye your hair. You will look very handsome."
I always enjoy going to the barber in India. I like sitting quietly and people-watching, I like listening to the Hindi pop music that is invariably blaring from a TV or radio in the corner, I like that the barber will often offer to order you a cup of chai, and I also enjoy the brief head massage that every Indian barber will perform to conclude the cut.
Today though I am having second thoughts. Admittedly I may be looking a little weary this morning; perhaps I stayed out a little too late at a friend's party. But I was not expecting such a thorough examination at this early hour by the man wielding the scissors and comb. I stand firm. No shave, no dyeing. Not today. The young man and his colleague are not at all perturbed.
"Sir, your face is very hard," says one of them. "I think you are needing a face massage. That will make your face very nice and soft."
My tough, hard, unshaven face cannot help but break into a smile as the barber finally agrees just to cut my greying hair. When I leave I promise him I'll think about his suggestions and that maybe I'll opt for one of them on the next visit. I also give him a tip. .
'My tough, hard, unshaven face'...Mr Buncombe you must stop believing you are Daniel Craig. I will mail the editor to remind him to add your picture to the byline so we can see how soft your skin is. Colour image please so we can judge whether dye is required.
Posted by: Michael | Wednesday, 03 December 2008 at 09:04 PM
Beautifully written. You captured the voice of the barber and the Indian art of persuasion so well! A Canadian friend of mine recently visited Delhi and was amazed at the persistence of Indian shopkeepers. After constant badgering to buy/try something (holding off until the nth plea) he'd finally cave! I'm glad to see you held your ground :)
Posted by: shivani | Thursday, 11 December 2008 at 03:33 AM
Thanks for this beauty treatment stuff.
Posted by: Acne Treatment | Thursday, 11 December 2008 at 04:39 PM
Beautifully written!? Is Shivani your missus?
Posted by: Yorkshire's No 1 | Tuesday, 17 February 2009 at 03:46 PM
That's very accommodating but irritating if you're not in good mood. And it's nice of you to give them a tip, maybe next time you'll give in with their suggestions and enjoy it.
Posted by: buy wow gold | Thursday, 16 April 2009 at 08:47 AM
This is pretty incredible, not surprised more anti aging tips have come from the Asians.
Posted by: Acai Berry Free Trials | Wednesday, 27 May 2009 at 10:26 PM
Lovely note on a quaint facet of life in India! In Britain the barber simply asks you the preferred blade number and starts wielding the clipper like a chain saw hacker. In three minutes its all over. Tip and leave. Darn!
Posted by: Roy | Monday, 24 August 2009 at 09:10 AM
Ok well I grow a unibrow and I shave it obviously. But every time I do I break out in the area I shaved. is this barbers rash? is there any way I can shave it and not break out?
Posted by: mothers day flowers | Wednesday, 09 September 2009 at 05:22 PM
I just pour olive oil into the palm of my hands and work it through my hair and then comb through it to make sure I've covered it all. I cover it with a plastic shower cap and let it sit for about an hour. I have to wash my hair twice to get the oil out.
Posted by: mothers day flowers | Wednesday, 09 September 2009 at 05:23 PM
You would need to get a Patent on this idea of yours. Your first step would be to visit the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) website and do a search to ensure its not already patented.
Posted by: mothers day flowers | Friday, 09 October 2009 at 04:49 PM
You could do it yourself if you have the knowledge, but it is a very complicated process, and if you do it wrong, then its worthless to you. And don't use one of the fly-by-night companies you see on TV that promise to patent your ideas, they are mostly scams.
Posted by: mothers day flowers | Friday, 09 October 2009 at 04:50 PM