Ok, simple scenario...

Walked into hairdresser for simple electric cut. In the UK, I'd order a "6 on top, 3 on the sides".

Imagine my surprise when the first run of the electric razor removed a not inconsiderable strip of hair over the top.

A semi-heated discussion in broken english reveals that instead of using a *grade* for the razor guide as they use in the UK, the Swiss take "6 by 3" statement to mean the measurement in *millimeters*.

oh well...on the upside, it does mean I got value for money, if "removal of hair volume" is the criteria.

Are you a woman or a man?

Lol, and how much did this cultural lesson in hairdressery cost you?

You're lucky. If I was your hair-dresser I would have interpreted those measurements as inches! Though I'm generally clumsy and should be kept away from sharp objects anyways.

You were warned ..

Anyone recommend a barber in Saint Louis?

Luckily I'm a guy...

Thanks ECB - truth be told, I didn't bother looking. I mean...it's only a haircut - nothing can go wrong there, can it...? A haircut is a haircut...doh.

The princely sum of 30 CHF, which, in terms of hair volume removed, is a bargain.

For most women an haircut ain't just an haircut... Huge dramas can be done over it!

I have developed a stupid habit of always having a cheap hair cut when I go on a foreign holiday: my thinking being if it is terrible I have another 10 days to get over it. The last time in Turkey, and without any warning, the barber lit a wax taper and singed the hairs in my ears. It was all done very quickly, no pain, just a little smell.

Lately I visited a Turkish barber in Bern (Near here http://map.search.ch/d/mrmymjkmm ) and as I sat down I noted there were no wax tapers on view. ( I can highly recommend this shop, I've had 2 good haircuts there each Fr 25,-- ) BUT, at the appropriate moment the barber reaches into his pocket and without warning singes the ear hairs painlessly with a cigarette lighter! You have been warned!

Well, you got off lightly I must say. There are ample hairdressing stories on the EF, which revolved around the 80Chf mark.

yep thats true, here the grades are all in MM. i used to go to a places by the SBB where a simple bit of shaver action is 20chf. I just bought my own for about 40 and its lasted a few years and take me 5 mins to do.

Ahh, ear and nose hair. Not the great equalizer as far as women's vs. men's grooming issues, but it evens it out a tiny bit!

Hadi ya... Nothing will equalized a Brazilian wax. Keep looking!

Of course you are correct!

There will never be any equalization, not even close (that would be a whole other thread, don't you know! ), but a grooming issue that is almost exclusively a man's to deal with (and apparently causes them a smidgen of pain to handle) makes me smile just a bit!

(Sorry, guys)

Hehe, I doubt that the SB&C* is any better for men ;-)

*Sack, back and crack, fyi

You win.

Even if the Brazilian wax for a woman involves the same amount of pain and discomfort, the guys get the point strictly on the basis of their procedure having the name "Sack, Back, and Crack."

I gotta ask - Have you actually had one?

Knowing the lack of tolerance of pain in men, I agree...

There is no contest, you win.

Simple answer is you asked for the hair to be cut to 6mm in total remaining length. If you asked them to use a number 6 then you asked them to get the cutter that has a 6mm written on it so you got good value and won't need another cut for a while.

You also got exactly what you asked for a number 6 on the top and I expect the number 3 is too small to have a cutter that size.

In effect you were not switzerlanded you were just being educated that what you asked for is not what you planned to ask for! You probably now know better. By the way 30CHF is good value I only once paid that since then I always got it cut in germany for 5-10Euro and now cut it myself standing in the garden with a cutter

Nope, I don't win - I'm a whimp of course - only got there 2 thirds of the way due to a dare..

What will be next? Buying a car and complain that the steering wheel is on a different side compared to the UK?