5 Adventurous Reasons to Get Your Hair Cut Abroad

If you never thought of getting your haircut abroad, let me tell you - it's an experience! From language barriers to uncertain outcomes, it's a fun addition to any trip overseas. Here's why.

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Getting Your Hair Cut Abroad is Cheaper

Ya'll, I'm not lying when I say I get my hair washed, cut and colored in Spain for 19 euros. 19 EUROS!!

Is it the world's most amazing salon? No. Is it well located, friendly, and reliable? Sure enough!

It's only 9 euros for the cut and the two hours spent in the chair chatting and itching my dyed head costs less than a box kit at home in Florida.

I don't even make an appointment. These places are fine for walk-ins. (But if you are unsure, always check by calling). Learn how to make calls abroad here.

If for no other reason than to save yourself some cash while you are traveling, get your haircut abroad.

It's a Memorable Cultural Experience

Now let me tell you, at least in Spain, there's no English spoken in these salons. You're doing what the locals do.

It's a whole vibe.

My kid gets her nails done (painted for five Euros!) while my husband chats on the phone outside the shop (always nearby in case my Spanish language skills fail me horribly).

I'm babbling away in Spanish that a four year old would use, and snapping selfies during the whole process.

It's one of those experiences that's like a Helen Keller thing...

haircuts abroad are "either a daring adventure or nothing"

It could be a monumentally amazing time, or it could just be another haircut.

But, either way you are immersing yourself in a rich cultural and local experience.

It's a Great Time Filler When You're Toured Out

Not everyone travels for 2-3 weeks at a time like I do, which means you have less time to see a destination and you are probably always on the go.

But even if your whole day is dominated by shopping, eating and touring, there is always good reason to take a break.

In Spain, where I usually get my hair done, stores close after lunch for several hours to siesta. This is a great time to get your hair done, while you are still feeling boozy from your overextended Spanish lunch and feeling like you can either nap forever or plow through until tapas time.

I think I've already illustrated that it can be a quite memorable experience, so what makes this any different than taking that cultural 'inside the life of' style tour? This is first hand local stuff.

And yes, I'm still a tourist so I'm going to whip out my phone and take a selfie just like if it were the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

In this photo below from Mexico, I was given a nice head massage, a soda, and had a great chat with the lady doing my hair in Spanish. (More on that below).

And how did I get there? How did I choose the salon?

This one was in Oaxaca outside the city center in a local neighborhood I would have never discovered on my own. I had arranged the appointment sitting down to dinner with my AirBnB hosts the night before.

Sitting at a table downing mezcal like it was beer, I casually asked where I could get a haircut (again, all in Spanish - go me!), and sure enough one of the daughters at the table was a hairdresser. Bingo!

The appointment was made but she was nowhere in sight when I arrived. Hesitant, I proceeded and had a great experience. She couldn't work that day but made the appointment for me anyway.

In the photo below, it memorializes my first visit to the salon in my part-time holiday hometown of Zaragoza, Spain. I've been visiting this salon for years since.

The joy of the experience was so wonderfully adventurous, and that haircut was one of my favorites!

You Can Celebrate a New 'Do and New You

When I do visit this salon, just about every 3-6 months, I never really know what is going to happen. I've been to a number of different girls there, all with different wop and chops from Justin Bieber specials to "algo mas Española" (something more Spanish), as I direct them.

I call it "Spanish haircut roulette". You never really know how it is going to turn out, but it's always an adventure.

And the best part of this lack of knowing what is happening? You get to try a new hairstyle that you'd maybe never have considered otherwise.

I always wondered what a full on pixie would look like on me. Welp, well I found out one day! And it turns out, I didn't hate it! (It also turns out, this is my signature post-haircut selfie pose in Spain).

Sometimes getting a new 'do really makes me beam with confidence. My whole trip I'll feel more exotic, more well-traveled, and more local. I add it to the list of happy vibes I get living abroad (even part-time), where I'm just a better person all around.

And it all started here (below), with my early pregnancy haircut - the one I needed so much to boost my confidence.

It's amazing how much a haircut can do for the soul.

You Get to Practice and Overcome Language Barriers

Lastly, and I think one of my favorite (not so favorite) parts is overcoming the language barriers.

I've only gotten haircuts in Mexico and Spain, both Spanish speaking countries obviously, so I came in with a decent rudimentary base for conversation.

I could get by with a strong understanding from both parties on the style of cut I am looking for, and I'd throw in a "flequillo" (bangs) here and a "mas corto" (cut more?) there and we got the point across.

Where it really gets interesting is the conversation. Honestly, when I am home in the States I abhor going to the Hair Cuttery because I hate making small talk at the salon. Cut my hair and get me out the door, that's it.

But abroad, getting my haircut is a whole new style of immersive experience. I'm exchanging thoughts, ideas, family stories and discussing life abroad with these hairdressers, and they are eagerly interested to learn more.

They are so curious what I'm doing living in Spain, and want to know everything about America. It's like going to the bar to chat up a stranger, but they're cutting my hair. It's really fun (and a little intimidating!).

And that's ok. I'm ok admitting when I "no entiendo" (don't understand) things.

I get flustered sometimes trying to find the words to make me sound less like a babbling toddler, but they are so patient with me.

It's an experience worth having, for sure.

My parents have their own stories on this experience together - my mom now gets her haircut in Spain, and my dad has gotten many wilder haircuts abroad in Vietnam and in Turkey.

I'm talking roadside cut on stools where the cutter suddenly runs away, or where they burn your ear hair out as part of your service.

This is my dad in Kusadasi. Not sure what's going on with the pink stuff, but that's part of the adventure!

His more exotic haircut stories totally blow away the cultural immersion experiences I'm talking about, but you'd never have that story if you never bravely (and adventurously) signed up for it in the first place.

So go ahead and try something new - get your haircut abroad!

Want to learn more about moving abroad? Visit InternationalLiving.com.