Chinese men were no longer required to wear the queue after collapse of the Qing Dynasty. Later, as the Chinese were gradually liberated from traditional customs, hairdressing became fashionable among the more open-minded women.
When the technique of perming hair was introduced in Shanghai, the city's hairdressing trade flourished. After World War II, many Shanghainese barbers settled in Hong Kong and established Shanghainese-style barber shops.
Besides cutting hair, they offered shaving and even massage services. Apart from Shanghainese barber shops there were some ramshackle roadside stalls and travelling barbers patronised mostly by men and children.
To attract more consumers, these barbers provided comic books for free reading. This was most popular with children.
Credit : History Museum of HK.
No comments:
Post a Comment