A Haircut in Dubai
For many tourists (men and women), a Dubai haircut involves a trip to a mall and an eye watering bill!
But it needn’t be like that at all. Well. at least not for the men 🙂
We were staying with some friends in Dubai during a short stop over when my wife suggested that I needed a haircut. I pointed out that, cost wise, Dubai was the last place in the world one should have a haircut. In the über chic Dubai malls It seems to be a case of “think of a number, double it, add a few zeros”.
Then fate stepped in. A friend offered to take our host and myself for a haircut experience that would cost less than a Dubai priced cappuccino!
Really!? I was sceptical. But he assured us that his current (very acceptable & trendy) haircut had been done at the establishment he was suggesting. So we hopped into his car and made our way to the New Paradise Gents Saloon found at England Cluster, Warsan 1, Mushraif, Dubai (a block or so from Dragon Mart and tucked in behind Dragon Towers)
But Not Just a Haircut
We walked into this slightly dubious looking establishment (from the outside) and were welcomed by a friendly buzz of activity.
It was cricket world cup T20 time, and a match was in progress and being broadcast on a radio. India was playing Pakistan, a potentially volatile and emotional clash! And not only between two cricket titans, but countries very much at loggerheads with each other on the political front.
And yet it soon became obvious that there was a mixture of Indian and Pakistani barbers working here and the atmosphere was jovial. Each 4 or 6 struck, or wicket taken, was greeted with either joy or anguish. They were all thoroughly enjoying the occasion and there was not an ounce of malice in the friendly rivalry. Ordinary people enjoying a game of cricket.
As it should be.
It reminded me of the quote attributed to Marcus Tullius Cicero over 2000 years ago:
“Politicians are not born, they are excreted”! Sadly still so true today across the world.
Back to the Haircut, Dubai Style
So there I am, reclining in a barber’s chair. Friendly banter and cricket rivalry induced jibes are flowing thick and fast.
And then my barber hauls out a cut throat razor!
So now my haircut has evolved into a haircut and shave. Fine by me as long as the cricket doesn’t prove too distracting!
Then to complicate things further, the friend who had driven us to the barber offers tea all round. Money changes hands. Someone heads out the door.
Five minutes later my barber is giving me a shave with a cut throat razor while taking sips of tea between urging his cricket team on!
It was great fun! Even despite all the potential distractions, the shave and cut was as good as you will get anywhere.
But wait, there’s more!
Somewhere along the way, between my wife suggesting a haircut and our arrival on site, I had apparently agreed to the full works. Little did I know……
So after a bloodless cut throat blade shave, a bit of a skull massage and a great haircut, I was ready to exit the chair and pay my money.
But no, the chair was reclined a bit further. Within seconds, I found myself reclining with hot wax and two earbuds stuck up my nose! I was beginning to regret my agreement to this little trip.
Anyway, too late. So I settled back and tried unsuccessfully to block out the anticipation of the pain and anguish that had to follow when the wax solidified and the ear buds were removed.
Would there be blood? What about my brain and eyeballs – would they resist the suction force that would be created as the ear buds were yanked out?
In the end, as with many things in life, the anticipation of the event was far worse than the event itself. With a deft flick of the wrist, out came the earbuds, the wax and a few nasal hairs and all was right with the world.
And that was us done.
Total cost: 15 AED.
Depending on the day, the markets, who is winning or losing which war etc that equates to roughly 4 Euros/US dollars.
And at least 5 AED cheaper than a cappuccino anywhere in Dubai.
That is value for money!
So if you are in Dubai and need a haircut, and an experience, pop by The New Paradise Gents Saloon in Mushraif.
The guys there would love to see you.
PS – you can compare this with my New Zealand Haircut experience 🙂
