My First Haircut While Traveling: The Funniest Travel Experience I Didn’t Expect

Getting a haircut while traveling in Malaysia turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my six-month backpacking trip through Asia. What I expected to be a quick trim became one of my favorite travel stories.

One month into backpacking through Asia, I realized I had a problem: my pre-trip haircut had grown out. I figured getting a trim in Kuala Lumpur would take 20 minutes. Instead, I got a shoulder massage, argued with a stylist over whether my hair should be “spikey spikey,” and walked away with one of my favorite travel memories.

You wouldn’t think that something as simple as a haircut would be worth telling a story about. However, when you’re traveling, even a haircut can be an adventure!

I typically get a fresh cut right before leaving. That allows me to look my best in the countless photos and selfies I’ll be taking while traveling.

However, when you’re on an extended backpacking trip, your fresh cut won’t last.

My Haircut while traveling in Malaysia

After a month of travel, it was time for my first time getting a haircut abroad. I was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city, and the pouring rain altered my initial plans.  The receptionist sat me down at a chair and handed me a card to choose the services I wanted, and the level of experience of the hair stylist. Interesting approach. There were different charges based on how much experience the hair stylist had. Have you ever seen anything like that? I hadn’t.

I’m lucky to have relatively simple hair. I could do my own if I was motivated enough. But let’s let the newly professional go for it.

For some reason, I was expecting a similar experience to how it works at home. I was in for quite the surprise.

A Shampoo Massage?

A girl in a very mini-skirt and stiletto heels came over and introduced herself. She was dressed to go straight to the clubs afterward. I appreciated the effort.

She said she’d be washing my hair.  I started getting up, assuming it would be at a sink. It wasn’t. She tied up her shirt to expose her midriff, and said she’d begin. I sat in the chair while she sprayed my hair with water – and herself. She then started massaging the shampoo into my hair. She was rhythmically dancing to the music as she lathered. 

This isn’t a complaint – the head massage felt great. Shampoo and a head massage? Love it!

The massage moved down to my neck, and then shoulders.  What the?  Surprise!  

After a long day of hiking it actually felt outstanding. I had been thinking of going to get a massage after the haircut. Now I had one during the haircut. I had this experience before the actually hair cutting would begin.

Is that normal for everyone’s haircuts in KL? I was regretting not getting more haircuts while traveling.

Spikey Spikey!

After the shampoo massage (!), she said she’d track down the stylist.

I told the guy how I wanted my haircut. He looked perplexed and gave a counter offer. Interesting. He said for me hair, “we do spikey spikey.”  

I thought it was a miscommunication so I clarified what I wanted. He explained his vision for my hair.  Yes, he had a vision for what we’ll do with my hair.  I didn’t realize this was a negotiation.

I was direct and specific. Then I tried again, but spoke slower and tried to enunciate, since English certainly wasn’t his first language. Communicating can be challenging! I gave much more detailed instruction. But he didn’t want instruction and didn’t seem open to taking orders. We had two more back and forth exchanges

He tried to close the conversation with — ok “I show you spikey spikey and you show me how much you like it.” This back and forth ended with him agreeing (verbally) to do it my way.

But halfway through it didn’t look like he was cutting the way we discussed. I had to remind him that I didn’t want “spikey spikey” – he agreed again. At this point, I certainly wasn’t confident that I would get what I asked. Always an adventure!

This particular story has a happy ending (no, not that kind!). I had my haircut while traveling and it came out fine. Feel free to disagree – I took hundreds of photos throughout Malaysia, so you can be the judge.

How Much Does a Haircut Cost in Malaysia?

Prices vary depending on the city, salon, and level of stylist you choose. One thing that surprised me was that the salon charged different prices based on the stylist’s experience level, something I had never encountered back home.

Even if prices have changed since my visit, I found getting a haircut in Kuala Lumpur to be affordable compared with what I was used to paying in North America. If you’re traveling for several weeks or months, getting a haircut abroad can be an easy way to save a little money while experiencing local culture.

Get a Haircut while Traveling

Individual results may very, but this was so different and so interesting. Now I’d like to try getting haircuts in other countries too! This has been my most interesting haircut while traveling so far. It was all quite the experience!

Have you been to Malaysia? If you’re wondering how to travel more often, there’s lots of travel tips to save money here. I put that together here.

Looking back, the haircut itself wasn’t what made the experience memorable. It was stepping outside my comfort zone for something completely ordinary. Travel isn’t only about famous landmarks. Sometimes it’s the everyday experiences—ordering lunch, riding public transit, or getting a haircut—that teach you the most about another culture.

Would I Get Another Haircut Abroad?

Absolutely.

Before this experience, I assumed getting a haircut overseas would simply be another errand to cross off my list. Instead, it became one of the travel stories I still tell years later.

Looking back, I barely remember the haircut itself. What I remember is trying to communicate despite a language barrier, discovering a completely different salon experience, and realizing that ordinary moments often become the most memorable parts of traveling.

The next time I’m traveling for an extended period, I won’t hesitate to get another haircut abroad.

FAQ for Haircuts while Traveling in a Foreign Country

Here are some answers to questions I’ve received after sharing this story.

Is it safe to get a haircut while traveling?

Yes. Choose a clean, busy salon with good reviews if possible. Bringing a reference photo and keeping your expectations flexible can help ensure a positive experience.

Should I get a haircut before or during a long trip?

If you’re traveling for several weeks or months, you’ll probably need a haircut eventually. Getting one abroad can save time later and become part of the travel experience.

Do barbers in other countries cut hair differently?

Sometimes. Techniques, styling preferences, and communication can all differ by country, which is part of what makes the experience interesting.