My adventure with scissors

Today I did something a little more adventurous in Korea. Something that required me to communicate to a Korean person beyond saying annyong hasseyo or kamsa hamnida (hello and thank you). Yes - I went to get my hair cut, and not just a minor trim but actually change the entire style. I hadn't thought about how I was going to talk to the stylist or tell her what I wanted and I didn't really have a plan. I kept hoping that I would think of something or magically know the korean word when I go there. I was a little stressed about it because I had heard horror stories from other people about bad hair cuts but I knew someone who had gone the week before so I decide that I should go to the same place.
I head out on the bus early in the morning because I figure if I wait to late I may lose my courage. It was a beautiful morning and a great time for a new, shorter and stylish hair do. The place where I have to change buses is beside a park and suddenly all these kids come out of a building and start playing in the park. Normally this wouldn't be unusual but they were all dressed in traditional Korean costumes. I don't know what that was about but I couldn't resist a picture. Anyway back to my story. I arrive at my stop and I locate the hair place. It called CharlesLee hair (the owner I am assuming). I go through the door and into a small room with a couple of barber chairs ,a few sinks, a desk and some wine bottles (?), but no people. At the end of the room there is an elevator door. It was very strange. I stand there for a few minutes not really sure what to do but thinking maybe someone will come out. Of course no one does. So I leave. Maybe they are just on a break. I come back in a few minutes but still no one. I leave again and wander outside, peeking in the door every few minutes to see if someone is there. Finally I go back inside, take a deep breath and push the button for the elevator not really sure where it will take me, or what to expect. The door opens and in I go. There are buttons for 2 floors, both labelled in Korean, but one of them also said the word hair beside it, so I took my chances and pressed that floor.
When the elevator opened I was in a whole other world. There was a woman standing at the door waiting for me. She ushered me over to these comfy chairs, took my coat and purse and offered me drinks. I felt like I was at some 5 star spa. Another girl came over and took me to the sink and washed my hair and gave me a scalp massage, it was amazing. Finally I was taken over to my stylist and I start trying to explain to her what I want done. She's looking at me with this blank expression on her face, probably thinking what the hell is this woman talking about. I'm starting to panic because this woman does not understand me and I don't know what kind of hair I will end up with. Suddenly another stylist walks by with the exact hair that I want so I turn around and say "her". I want my hair to look like her. The hairdresser's face lights up and she says "nay, nay, I understand.
As she's cutting my hair there's a man in a full black suit walking around making sure everyone is happy. He reminds me of a pit boss at casino making sure everyone is doing their jobs. The woman next to me has some wierd contraption attached to her head. She had rollers in her hair and this machine came out of the ceiling and 2 people came over and started hooking all these wires onto her head. It looked like something from a sci fi movie where they are trying to read her brain waves. Finally my hair is done. I put on my glasses and look in the mirror with some trepidation but then breathe a sigh of relief. She did a fabulous job and I love it.
Now it's time to pay and I'm wondering how much is this going to cost. A place of this caliber at home would cost $50-60 at least. She says 12,000w which is about $12. My jaw drops. I don't know anywhere that you can get a $12 hair cut at home, not to mention a shampoo and style as well. On top of that if I come back 5 more times I get a free hair cut. I know where I'm going next time.