How Haircuts Became My Travel Ritual
Ever thought a haircut could be an adventure? For me, it is. Whenever I travel abroad, I like to get a haircut. I can’t recall exactly when this habit started, but I do remember one of the first times I did it.
It was back in 2018 when I traveled to Vietnam with two friends. We planned to travel for a month, and since I usually get a haircut every 2-3 weeks, I knew I’d end up with a mess on my head if I didn't do something about it. Given the lower cost of living in Vietnam compared to my hometown, I decided to go for it.
I searched Google Maps for the best barber near our hostel, tried and failed to book an appointment in English, so I just showed up and asked for a haircut. I showed the barber a picture of me with a nice, clean look from before the trip, hoping he could make me look somewhat close to that. To my surprise, it worked out well, and I was happy with the result as the trip went on.
Getting a haircut from a different barber can be nerve-wracking, let alone from a barber in a different country. But I found it quite exciting. Sure, there was a chance it could turn out horribly, but after reading reviews and looking at photos of other clients’ results, I felt I had minimized the risk.
That experience got me thinking—why not do this every time I travel?
So I did, again and again. Each time, I was really happy with the experience. When I tried to figure out what made it so enjoyable, I came up with three main reasons:
It's an adventure: Traveling, for me, is all about adventures—experiencing things you don’t get to experience in your daily life, meeting new people, and immersing yourself in different cultures. Getting a haircut can definitely be one of those adventures. You get to interact with a local, try out new hairstyles that may not be popular in your own country, and whatever happens, you can always go back to your regular barber when you get home.
I’m more comfortable with spending money when I’m traveling: Vacations are big expenses. Especially when traveling far, costs add up quickly—flights, hotels, food. My goal is to not think about money when I’m on vacation. So I save up and plan a budget that includes a buffer for random expenses. This mindset allows me to enjoy new, possibly pricier experiences, like getting a pricier haircut at a fancy place or extending it with a beard trim or a face mask. I wouldn’t usually do these kinds of things back home, but as part of the whole trip budget, I’m more comfortable spending a bit more than I normally would.
Getting a haircut makes me feel good, and I want that feeling on my vacation: Walking out of the barber shop always leaves me feeling fresh and clean, like I’m on top of everything in my life. It’s a great feeling, and why not have that on vacation too?
So, will you consider getting a haircut on your next trip?