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If you think you can only get tattoos on skin, prepare to be surprised. Some skilled hairstylists in town can actually design and trim a pattern or image on your hair as you desire. Dubbed as “hair tattoos”, this is an excellent way for you to up your personal hairstyle game, in case regular haircutting was getting too routine and dull. And it’s not just for the dudes; ladies can also tattoo their hair in a feminine and badass style. Akin to skin-based tattoo, hair tattoos depend vastly on the craft and technique of the artists. Whatever styled hair tats you’re planning on getting next, make sure you find the right artist to take care of your hair. Here are the best three places to get a hair tattoo in Hong Kong.
Tucked away in the labyrinth of tiny boutiques, massage parlours, and eateries in Dragon Centre (which makes finding the place quite an adventure), Hair Factory is an underground and independent salon solely owned and run by Jacky Chiu. Chiu is an experienced hairstylist who’s been designing and carving hair tattoos for clients for fifteen years. Having studied hairdressing in Pivot Point Hair Design School International in Melbourne in 1995, he combines hairstyling with visual design to satisfy any kind of provocative and quirky tattoo you may have in mind. Think intricate spider web pattern, subtle geometric shapes, and tattoo fonts (as in, you can ask for particular English words to be crafted on your hair). But make sure you book through Whatsapp or phone in beforehand, as his schedule is usually cramped with clients coming in droves for innovative hair tattoos.
Hair Factory, Shop 5K219, 5/F, Apple Mall, Dragon Centre, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon | (+852) 9012 6624
How much: Depends on the complexity of the hair tattoo and the time it takes; around $500–$600 for 2 hours
Ja’s Hair is a trendy hairstyling spot located in the less-explored neighbourhood of Shau Kei Wan. Considering that hair tattoo is a niche discipline in hairdressing, Brian Ho—one of the senior barbers in Ja’s Hair—self-taught his skills through online tutorials and training on his own. Having practised hair tattoos for three years now, he felt the need to promote the art of hair tattoos to a wider audience in the industry, leading to various successful workshops held in the past. Albeit being an autodidactic hair tattoo artist, Ho is an expert in traditional Chinese calligraphy tattoos, as well as star-spangled shapes, floral engraving, and portrait on hair—perfect for those of you who’d like some edgy variations to your hairstyles.
Ja’s Hair, Shop 15, Nam On Street, Shau Kei Wan | (+852) 6280 5477
How much: Depends on the complexity of the hair tattoo; around $150–$500 on top of the basic haircut fee of $228
Hidden in an industrial building in Kwun Tong, Fendi Barber Shop aims to attract the younger male market, providing a one-stop service of shaving, styling, and haircutting for men in a vintage setting. The moment you arrive, it’s almost as if you’ve travelled back in time to a New York barbershop in the 1940s. While the atmosphere is one of the highlights, the artistic hairstylist team there enjoy merging old-school style with fun freehand hair tattoos, such as an undercut of stripes against slicked back hair or some bold lines on a short back and sides. So, if you’re looking for some hip, chic hairstyles, this is the place to go.
Fendi Barber Shop HK, Flat E, 13/F, King Win Factory Building, 65–67 King Yip Street, Kwun Tong | (+852) 6650 1446
How much: Depends on the complexity of the hair tattoo; on top of the basic haircut fee of $280
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