I now realize how long it’s been since my last posting, my hair has been able to grow long enough to warrant a haircut. I’m sure I’ve already lost a few readers because I’ve already posted about a haircut and a haircut is just a haircut. Well, yes, in an English speaking country it’s just a hair cut, but for me in Thailand, it’s an experience. After my last awkward debacle, you’d think I’d steer clear from that same salon, but nooo, I went right back for more. This time I went right after a shower, and left my hair sopping wet. An unsubtle hint that I did not need my hair washed. I sat down in the chair, now realizing I didn’t know how to explain how I wanted my hair cut. I motioned for a magazine to peruse through trendy Asian hairstyles. I do have to say, they ALL looked gay (not that there is anything wrong with that). I finally settled on the most hetero style and the woman formerly known as a man began to cut my hair. She cut and cut, trimmed and trimmed. It was almost as if she was cutting each hair individually. This haircut was taking a painstakingly long time to finish. There were several times when I thought it was all over. She’d occasionally brush off my neck and check my hair in the mirror. Each time she proceeded with the haircut, gently grazing my tips with the scissors. I didn’t even think she was cutting my hair anymore (until I saw the hair on my protective bib). Finally she began the application of hair gel. Normally a quick 10 second task signifies the end of the haircut. This person applied hair gel, reapplied, styled, restyled again and again. She went through at least a dozen different hairstyles before settling on this surprisingly handsome, loosely spiked look. Then she brought out the blow dryer. Instead of blowing off excess hair on my neck, she dried every single square inch of my skull, right down to the scalp! I have never been in so much pain when getting my haircut (this includes the time in 1st grade when my Dad sliced my ear lobe and I was bleeding down my neck. Instead of succumbing to the blinding pain I courageously insisted he finish the haircut). I didn’t understand why she was excessively drying my hair. I am not joking when I say she dried my hair, my freshly cut, I don’t have a lot of it anymore hair, for 40 minutes!!!!!! After this tortuous process was finished, she brought out an even bigger tub of gel and began the gel process again! When I finally got out of the chair, I looked at my watch and realized I had been getting my haircut for exactly 90 minutes!!!! I think I received six haircuts in all of 2006 and those only totaled 90 minutes combined! I do have to say, this was damn good haircut and I will probably subject myself to another 90 min ordeal to get the same haircut.