This is actually an overdue post which I intend to publish months ago. I didn’t want to publish it until my next trip to Kojimaya where I can show you the before and after hair-cut pictures. However, I wanted to keep my hair long so I don’t think I would be going for a hair-cut any time soon unless I just need a hair trim.
You may have read about the positive reviews of this no-frills hair salon on Google and wonder if it is really that fantastic. I am just like one of you. That was why I decided to have a hair cut at Kojimaya months ago. There’s only one outlet in Singapore and it is located at the basement level of The Central, Clarke Quay.
I’ve been to both high-end hair salons and no-frills hair salon like QB House. So how did Kojimaya fare?
Pay before the haircut
I went there on a weekday afternoon. There was no queue at all. So I simply walked in and their staff ushered me to this self-payment machine. This machine only accepts cash in exact amounts. That means that they do not have change for it and they do not accept credit card or NETTs payment. At this day and age, I wish they would go cashless soon so that it is more convenient for everyone. So, you must ensure that you have both a 2-dollar note and a 10-dollar note with you. Yep, they are that precise.
Snipping off those tresses
I was assigned to this female hairstylist who looks rather experienced. I told the hairstyle I was going for and even showed her some pictures for reference. She took the time to explain to me how she would hair and style my hair so that I could achieve my desired hairstyle. I just wanted a shoulder-length bob hair cut – nothing too complicated.
Unlike other no-frills hair salons which I’ve been too, their hairstylist really took their time to snip my tresses. I am not knowledgeable enough to assess her skills or check if she has executed proper haircutting techniques. However, everything turned out the way I wanted. It took her about 15 minutes to complete my hair cut.
From the quick chat I had with the hairstylist, I got to learn that the salon was actually owned by a Japanese. Thus, the salon layout and practices are similar to any no-frills Japanese hair salons like QB House.
The Cleaning Up
After I am happy with the haircut, she used this vacuum device on my hair to remove any loose hair strands. I was a little surprised at first because I thought the vacuum was meant to clean up the floor.
To tidy the floor, they rely on this traditional broom hung right at the corner. Everything was swept away to keep the area looking spick and span.
So, is it really good?
I would say for 12 bucks, why not? The hairstylists here are probably more patient than those working at K-Cuts or EC House since they are often pressed for time due to the queues. Overall, the haircut was decent and for 12 bucks, I could not ask for more. It is really value for money if you just needed a simple trim or haircut. And I would definitely come back here again if I needed a proper haircut.
In conclusion, I wouldn’t say it’s fantastic or way superb unless they have other value-added services that make them stand out from the other no-frills hair salon. There could be a few excellent hairstylists but I am not too sure if you can request the same hairstylist everything you are there.
So instead of a Google rating of 4.7 stars, I would give it a 4.2 out of 5 stars.
Where do you usually have your hair cut? Let me know in the comment box below!
