THAILAND: HAIRDRESSING STUDENTS OFFER FREE HAIRCUTS TO LOCALS AT THEIR MOBILE KARAOKE HAIR SALON IN NAKHON RATCHASIMA.

Record ID: 859340

  • Title: THAILAND: HAIRDRESSING STUDENTS OFFER FREE HAIRCUTS TO LOCALS AT THEIR MOBILE KARAOKE HAIR SALON IN NAKHON RATCHASIMA.
  • Date: 15th March 2005
  • Summary: MORE OF KARAOKE SINGING LITTLE BOY HAVING HIS HAIR CUT WIDE OF MOBILE HAIRDRESSERS (3.00)
  • Embargoed: 30th March 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NAKHON RATCHASIMA, THAILAND
  • City:
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Entertainment,Industry,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAWA8POSZY5DTV4AKLW7EI9J4H
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Designer styles come with a song at a free karaoke hair salon in Thailand.
    Wash, cut, blow dry and karaoke - customers are flocking to a Thai sing-a-long hair salon where they have the chance to have a go at their favourite hits while getting a trim.
    Three times a week, hair dressing students from the Nakhon Ratchasima polytechnic college hit the streets to offer free haircuts to locals. As well as taking along scissors, shampoos and hairspray, they never forget their stereo.
    For ten years, students have been getting the chance to hone their skills, while locals play out their pop star fantasies on the free karaoke machine.
    Organisers say that the service attracts over a hundred people each day - largely thanks to the loud music which lets everyone know the salon is open for business.
    When the service first started in 1995, students would play music to attract customers and soon found people would turn up just to sing along, which gave them the idea to use a free karaoke service to attract the public.
    Customers like Learn Srisaturamus, who prefer to sit back and listen, say the music keeps everyone on their toes.
    "It's good entertainment and makes sure the students don't get bored. When they're students working outside, giving haircuts here, the songs can keep them lively," he said.
    Most crooning customers prefer to sing local country hits, particularly the love songs-- but western classics like 'My Way', 'Country Road' and 'Desperado' are also available for any travelling tourists who fancy a try.
    But they'll have to be brave enough to sing through speakers blaring their voices across the town.
    Customer Thong Tongsuntia said it could get nerve-wracking.
    "You have to sing a little bit well, so it will be beautiful for passers-by, or even if the singing isn't that good, it should be from the heart," he said after belting out a soulful love ballad.
    The mobile salon moves around the town, spending one day in the local park and others in front of the town monument or in a busy market.
    Amarin Supamit has been studying at the college for four months, and said he always looks forward to their musical practice sessions.
    "It doesn't interrupt me, it entertains me. When I'm giving a customer a haircut, we both enjoy it. Sometimes it makes my customers move a bit, so I have to concentrate, but it's good entertainment," he said.
    Although the service is free, customers are encouraged to leave a donation to cover basic costs such as electricity and water. Students say all donations collected now are being donated to tsunami relief efforts.
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