Monday, March 7, 2011

Haircuts


My boys' hair was getting shaggy - I'd put off finding a place to get haircuts long enough. One mom said her friend cut her kids' hair, but recommended a cheap place if I didn't mind it not being very fancy. I called, and Henrik's cut would have been $40 (280 crowns), and Lucas' $50 (340 crowns).

When I told people here, they all agreed: haircuts are expensive in Sweden. (Random side-note: college education, aside from books and lodging, is free.)

I asked another mom, and she said her mom cuts her son's hair. I was seeing why people had friends or family cut their kid's hair. But she said there was a cheap place ($20) by the train station. I Googled "hår tåg Lund" (hair, train, Lund), but couldn't find it - I'm not very good at searching the internet in Swedish yet. But I found a place that, when I called, said kids' haircuts were $30, so I made an appointment, same-day.


The place was nice, but seemed more oriented towards older women compared to the kid's haircut place back home with the plastic castle and toys everywhere. Neither boy wanted to go first, so I told them they'd have a treat at home.


Lucas finally went, but Henrik hid under the antique chair saying, "I don't want a haircut!" Eventually I persuaded him, and he sat on my lap. We shared the black cape that's supposed to catch the hair, so we looked like a two-headed blob.

The woman looked at me and said with an accent, "At last, we're done. That wasn't easy." I agreed. I realized I didn't know if I needed to tip. I asked, and she said it was included, no need to pay more. I appreciated her honesty, and then gave the boys five crowns (80 cents) each to give her, just in case.

I'd like to learn how to cut my boys' hair - it can't be that hard, right? But then again, I found out a woman's cut and highlight is cheaper here (by at least $50) than at home. So I guess it all equals out.

5 comments:

pernilla said...

Hi Kristy, hope you are all fine in this somewhat shaky spring... When was Henrics pre-school start, wasn't it april??

Anyway, to the point! I got the tip from friends with a one-year-old boy, the cut his hair at: http://www.lisaco.se/hairdresser-in-lund.html, close to Sparta so at the right side of town for you.
(once so far but they were very satisfied).

All the best,
Pernilla

pernilla said...

Oh, and are you busy this weekend? Would you like to come here for some waffles (Swedish style) and garden-play? It's supposed to be nice weather so maybe we can fika on the deck!

The ready-made waffle mixture contains eggs and milk, what is it Henric can't eat? Is it lactose or milk protein or something else?

Unknown said...

Dear Kristy,
I Just found your blog... I'm coming to Lund for studying in august and will stay until january - and I did worry about going to barber :D I heard it's very expensive in sweden?

Can you give me some tips where to go? I just need some blonde highlights every two months...

Can you tell me something about Lund? It was difficult to find a flat?

best regards from germany :) ,

Julia

Kristy Lund said...

Hi Julia,

I'm currently researching places to get my own hair cut and highlights. Do you have kids? If so, I can give you the into I've gotten so far on kids' cuts.

Feel free to e-mail me and I can tell you more!

Kristy

Kristy Lund said...

Oops, my e-mail is kristy(dot)lund(at)gmail(dot)com