The growth system comes at the age of 30

Chapter 273 Regret Cutting It Too Cool (5.2K)

February, a short month, passed by uneventfully.

On the first day of March, which was the second day of the second lunar month, also known as the Dragon Head Raising Festival, and it was also a Sunday, Chen Jingle was dragged by Li Beixing to get a haircut.

Originally, there was no custom of getting a haircut on the second day of the second lunar month in Jiangbei. However, with the spread of information on the Internet in recent years, more and more people like to get a haircut on this day to bring good luck.

Since they became a couple, Teacher Li has taken care of most of Chen Jingle's affairs, big and small.

Including hair.

It seems that every girl has a deep obsession with her boyfriend's hair, fearing that if she accidentally cuts it badly, she won't be able to take him out in public.

Teacher Li was no exception.

Chen Jingle's hairstyle is by no means ugly; on the contrary, it is quite handsome.

His aesthetic sense is on point. Even if the haircut isn't perfect, he can correct it later using tools like hair clay, spray, and straighteners to create the style he wants.

Besides, with his face, he can pull off basically any hairstyle.

As long as you don't cut his hair into a mess like a dog chewing a pot lid or leave him bald, it's fine.

Therefore, Chen Jingle has always been casual about getting haircuts, and most of the time he goes to the hair salon run by an older woman in the nearby vegetable market, where a single haircut only costs 8 yuan.

8 yuan!

Where else, except in the countryside, can you find this price?
The key point is that the haircut done by that lady was pretty good, much better than the single haircut that cost 2 or 30 yuan and the wash and blow-dry that cost 5 or 60 yuan back in the provincial capital.

Each time, he only needed to say a few simple requests, and the older sister could basically understand what he meant, thus making Chen Jingle walk out of the barbershop with a smile.

"This is the kind of barber the people need!"

Just being able to walk out of the barbershop with a smile is enough.

It's not that haircuts have to be cheap, but can't be priced high.

The hairdressing industry is a technical profession; people make a living through their skills and expertise, and that cannot be denied.

The key is that you charge reasonable fees.

Customers spend tens of dollars to get a haircut, and you assign them an apprentice assistant to cut it, only to end up with a messy haircut. Doesn't this happen all the time?
Or, if you spend hundreds of dollars on perming and dyeing your hair, it might look worse than if you did it yourself at home, making you look like a landlady or a nerdy young man. How can you expect customers to willingly pay in such a situation?
So every haircut felt like a gamble.

Even if you say the same thing to every barber, such as "shave the sides and thin the top", the results will not necessarily be the same.

If you win the bet, everything is fine; if you lose, things can change drastically.

Many hairdressers, even though they keep saying "okay, okay" while you're communicating with them, the moment you see the result after the haircut, you really want to cry but can't.

What the hell does this have to do with what I was saying?!
The key point is that the other party thinks the cut is good, and is even a senior design director, and then asks you if you are satisfied.

I'm not satisfied at all!

At this point, it's not just that they don't want to pay; they practically want the other party to pay them back!
If you know a hairdresser who can understand human speech, it feels like finding a restaurant you love. You want to go there every time, afraid that the restaurant will go out of business or run away.

……

The barbershop that Li Beixing took Chen Jingle to today was one he had never been to before or even heard of.

Even the location on the map navigation is a bit off.

"Is it the kind of upscale barbershop that caters to high-end customers, offers a variety of premium services, and has a full range of snacks, fruits, and drinks?"

Chen Jingle asked curiously.

Li Beixing rolled his eyes speechlessly: "Jiangbei is just a small city, how high-end can it be?"

"It's hard to say. Don't underestimate Jiangbei just because it's a fifth-tier city. Some of the costs of living there are just as high as in the provincial capital."

Chen Jingle muttered, "What's the exact price? How much would it cost for someone like me who just wants a haircut?"

Li Beixing tilted her head to look at him: "No perm, no dye, just a wash, cut and blow-dry, it's pretty cheap, around 100 yuan. They don't expect to make money off men."

Chen Jingle understood.

The prices are indeed slightly higher than those of mainstream hair salons, but they are still reasonable, considering that the target audience is different.

Normally, someone like him would never step inside.

Another point is that women's money is indeed easy to earn.

A typical hair treatment at a public barbershop costs several hundred yuan, and perms and dyes are even more expensive.

Chen Jingle, however, is not in the hairdressing industry and doesn't really understand how much of this is just hype.

He asked, "Why is it so expensive for you girls to get your hair done?"

Of course, this price is relative to men.

In his memory, even the top hair salons in the provincial capital, such as 080, Suhao, and A380, which usually cater to celebrities and wealthy people, were not particularly expensive.

Compared to other first-tier cities, it can be considered affordable and accessible.

Those high-end hair salons that charge thousands of yuan for a single haircut have no place to exist outside of Shenzhen and other parts of Lingnan.

Considering that Shenzhen is now half the capital of southern Hunan province, it's understandable.

It feels like excessive marketing.

Li Beixing thought for a moment: "It takes a long time. The hairdresser's skills are crucial, as are emotional value and so on."

Chen Jingle asked curiously, "How skilled is the owner of this shop?"

"In Jiangbei, he should be considered one of the top ones, otherwise I wouldn't always go there to get my hair cut," Li Beixing said casually.

Chen Jingle nodded slightly.

He is not opposed to high-priced consumption, provided that people feel it is worthwhile.

Nobody wants to be ripped off, spending thousands or even tens of thousands on a haircut, only to end up with the same result as a 20-yuan haircut from a street vendor.

Especially for someone from Lingnan who brings their own tissues when going out to eat, if you brag to others that you spent four or five figures on a haircut, it's not showing off, it's pure idiocy, and you'll just be laughed at.

It seems that many guys have a misconception that once they get a perm at the hair salon, it will stay in that shape forever and won't need any maintenance.

Actually not.

Those hairstyles that look great are actually done at home by the person before going out. It's not like you can wash and dry your hair and suddenly look like you did at the hair salon. You still have to do it yourself.

At a normal hair growth rate of two centimeters per month, the effects of a perm will usually be gone after one month.

Even the cheap ones, after you wash them two or three times, the effect will be gone and you'll go back to normal.

The best way is to find a hairstyle that suits your face shape, learn specific hairstyle tutorials online, and then use tools such as hot flat irons, hair clay, and hairspray to create a look as good as a celebrity.

You need to learn to take care of your hair regularly!
Chen Jingle usually uses this method when going out, and then adjusts the style according to the different stages of hair length.

Finally, many people forget that hairstyle is just a bonus; the key is still the character model!
Instead of spending thousands on a haircut, it's better to spend money on skincare and cosmetic procedures, and improve your core equipment first.

……

The car stopped in front of the hair salon.

After getting out of the car, Chen Jingle glanced inside. The glass of the door was not completely transparent, so he could only see a rough outline.

"It's quite discreet."

I initially thought it would be a luxurious, high-end clubhouse style, but it turned out not to be.

Instead, there's just a small sign outside, which looks quite artistic.

Pushing open the door, the interior decoration is simple, but it's clear that it has been designed, leaning towards a modern, minimalist, and natural wood style.

One crucial point is that it looks very clean, cleaner than many barbershops.

There were other customers in the shop, but not many, just two girls. One of them had already finished, and the other seemed to be almost done as well.

There were only two people in charge of doing the hair, a man and a woman, who looked to be in their early 40s. I wonder if they were a married couple.

When Li Beixing and Chen Jingle pushed open the door and entered, everyone's eyes immediately turned to them.

The combination of such a good-looking couple is truly eye-catching.

"Miss Li, you've arrived! Please have a seat and wait a moment. It won't be long."

The man was probably the boss; he had a somewhat artistic air about him, wore a dark brown fisherman's hat, and greeted everyone with a warm smile.

Li Beixing nodded: "Okay."

Actually, they arrived at the store five minutes early, so normally there would be no need to wait.

"Are there only two employees in the store?" Chen Jingle asked quietly after sitting down on the sofa in the nearby area.

Li Beixing nodded: "That's right, it's just the boss and his wife. They operate on a membership reservation system and only do business with regular customers."

This is a customized service, which distinguishes it from the general public's haircut experience.

Chen Jingle will not make any comments before he has actually experienced it.

After the two girls finished styling their hair, when they swiped their cards to pay, their eyes unconsciously drifted towards Chen Jingle's direction, clearly attracted by his handsome face.

Aside from a few popular cities, handsome men are a scarce resource in most cities, even scarcer than beautiful women, let alone in a small place like Jiangbei.

What people usually see most are middle-aged and elderly men in T-shirts, shorts, and slippers, or primary and secondary school students with fuzzy beards.

Teacher Li gave a soft hum and placed Chen Jingle's hand in her own.

Declare sovereignty!

The two girls exchanged a glance, pouted, reluctantly looked away, and quickly left.

The boss approached Chen Jingle and her companion, smiling broadly, and asked, "Miss Li, what would you like to do today? The usual?"

When he said this, his gaze was actually directed at Chen Jingle.

It was clear that although Chen Jingle came with Li Beixing, Chen Jingle was the one in charge between the two.

For a seasoned hairdresser, reading between the lines is an incredibly simple skill. Li Beixing nodded: "Yes, for me, the usual. But today's focus is on him. Could you please give my boyfriend a nice haircut, Brother Ma?"

The boss, nicknamed Brother Ma, chuckled: "Easy, with a face like yours, any hairstyle will look good. What do you think, handsome guy?"

Chen Jingle looked at Li Beixing: "What do you think?"

Li Beixing smiled and said, "How about we try a different style?"

"What style should we change to?"

"How about the cushion foundation with Panax notoginseng?"

Chen Jingle usually sports a side-swept hairstyle, which is easy to manage, doesn't require a specific face shape or good looks, but adds a lot to his appearance. It's a style that many male celebrities share.

The cushion foundation is about the same, but it has a stronger youthful feel, more pronounced texture, and a more Korean style, making it more feminine.

Chen Jingle mentally simulated the situation and, finding it acceptable, asked the shop owner, "Can I get a 3/7 cushion foundation without perming or dyeing?"

"Yes, it's fine. It'll be easier to manage if you've had it permed. But if you know how to manage it yourself, it's okay if you don't have it permed," said Brother Ma.

"Then let's go with this one!" Chen Jingle agreed.

There's an element of gambling involved here. Although the chances of his face turning out badly are small, it's still possible.

I hope it won't be translated.

As is customary, people wash first, but the washing area is separated for men and women, which is another good example of privacy.

"What's your name, handsome guy?"

"My name is Chen Jingle."

"Mr. Chen, is this a proper way to address you?" Boss Ma's voice always had a calm and unhurried quality, and he wore a smile.

"can."

The boss prepared a hot eye mask and a hot towel for him, but Chen Jingle refused the eye mask.

The hot water temperature was just right, and the owner's technique was indeed excellent; I experienced no discomfort whatsoever.

Brother Ma laughed and said, "Someone as good-looking as you is rare, even in my many years in the industry. Many celebrities aren't as handsome or beautiful in real life as they appear on screen."

Chen Jingle asked in surprise, "You've done hair for celebrities?"

"Yes, quite a few. I've met people from the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. I used to work at a top-tier hair salon, but I quit and came back to Jiangbei to open this small shop."

What attracts you to Jiangbei?

"Personally, I think smaller cities are more comfortable than big cities. It's like getting a haircut; you don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money to get a good result. What suits you best is the best."

"That's the truth."

The reason Chen Jingle returned to his hometown to relax was because he felt that life there was more comfortable.

He then asked, "Are all the people who come here to get their hair cut rich?"

Ma replied, "I can only say that most of them are high-net-worth clients, who usually prefer to pursue better services. A small portion are middle-class people brought by friends who want to experience the services of our small shop, and the vast majority of them will also choose to become our members."

"How many customers can you expect in a day?"

“Normally, it’s around 20. We operate on an appointment system, and we need to ensure a good customer experience. Plus, there are only my wife and I in the store, so we can’t manage too many customers.”

"Most of them are female customers?"

"In terms of numbers, there are indeed more female customers."

Chen Jingle calculated in his mind that if each female customer spent an average of 500 yuan, a store like this could easily make a monthly turnover of around 300,000 yuan.

That's a bit of an exaggeration.

Even after deducting costs such as rent and utilities, it is still a very high income level.

He couldn't help but ask, "What I'm more curious about is how one can go from being an ordinary barber to a highly skilled and well-paid barber?"

Brother Ma laughed and said, "Technique is only one aspect. I think for hairdressers or many industries, the platform is more important than the individual. The platform can help you attract more high-quality customers, which is much better than going it alone. Then there's the level of dedication. Treat hairdressing as a career, not just a job to make a living. You have to learn to read people's expressions and communicate effectively with customers. The rest is technique."

Chen Jingle gradually understood why this type of barbershop was so expensive.

Boss Ma has a high EQ; talking to him is a very relaxed and pleasant experience.

They are more focused on providing emotional support to their customers.

Time flew by as we chatted.

Chen Jingle's relatively normal Q&A is fine, but it's conceivable that some customers will complain about various problems they encounter in life or work. At this time, the hairdresser will have to act as a psychological counselor.

If you get your hair cut at that lady's shop next to the market, who knows who will complain to whom?

This feeling is even more pronounced after washing your hair and during the haircutting process.

Most of the time, the owner uses scissors to help trim the hair, rather than clippers, giving the impression that he is trimming it with great care.

Chen Jingle wondered if he could sell braised pork rice for 88 yuan a serving if he made sure it gave people a feeling of dedication.

If this happened in Jiangbei or Lingnan, people would probably yell at you, "Are you out of your mind?"

But in the Shanghai area, it should have a large audience.

This confirms what Brother Ma just said: "The platform is very important."

Jiangbei is definitely not comparable to Shanghai, and it's even a bit inferior to the provincial capital.

"I'll try to open a branch in Shanghai before I die," Chen Jingle thought to himself.

……

It took about an hour for Chen Jingle's hair to be finally cut.

After washing and drying, Ma Ge carefully used hair clay and hairspray to create a 3/7 parted hairstyle with a cushion effect.

There was definitely no rollover.

Brother Ma has excellent taste and superb hairdressing skills. Combined with Chen Jingle's outstanding looks, both parties were very satisfied with the final result.

The Chen Jingle in the mirror looks more like a pretty boy than before; there's a big difference in his demeanor.

She looks even younger.

Although he already looked quite young.

If I had to pinpoint a difference, it would be between a second-year graduate student and a second-year undergraduate.

"How is it? Is it acceptable?" Brother Ma asked with a smile.

“Really good!”

Chen Jingle looked at it from all angles and gave it a positive review.

It's a completely new experience, and I can do this hairstyle at home myself later.

Li Beixing was sitting on the chair next to Chen Jingle, getting her hair done. Her gaze towards Chen Jingle was a mixture of surprise and delight.

After all, it was her choice of style, and since it didn't backfire and achieved the effect she envisioned, it was naturally excellent.

This face is so beautiful, you can never get tired of looking at it. Who would believe that this is the face of a 31-year-old?

That's really outrageous!

I'm starting to regret whether I cut it too cool.

Li Beixing was a little worried at this moment. In a few more years, he would look old, but he would still look the same.

I suddenly felt a bit anxious about my appearance.

I need to take better care of my skin from now on.

She certainly didn't want to one day go shopping with Chen Jingle and be asked, "Is this your son?"

Wouldn't it crack on the spot?

After Li Beixing finished getting her hair done, Chen Jingle carefully examined her hair a few times. To be honest, she didn't feel there was much difference compared to before, maybe just minor changes in the details. But she definitely couldn't say that out loud, otherwise it would ruin Teacher Li's mood.

"How about it?"

Li Beixing twirled in front of him and asked with a smile.

Chen Jingle nodded: "The skincare effect is quite good, it looks smoother and more naturally shiny."

"It's not bad, I'm glad you like it."

Li Beixing smiled, took his arm, paid the bill, and left.

The total cost was 1298.

Chen Jingle is one of the 98s.

Whether it was just his imagination or not, the 1200 yuan felt really nice to the touch. Chen Jingle held it in his hand and played with it; it was very smooth.

Let's style Teacher Li's hair again and put on some hairpins. It looks beautiful!
……

The next day.

Chen Jingle went to Hongqi.

March is the last month of the first quarter, and the company's strategic plan needs to be adjusted based on the development of the first two months.

The Awakening of Insects is just around the corner.

However, in most areas north of the Yangtze River and even throughout Lingnan, not a drop of rain fell.

After communicating with Li Qiguang, Chen Jingle decided to take his technical team to the townships to ensure that there would be no large-scale reduction in the production of vegetables and fruits this year.

(End of this chapter)