Two mullets from Medellin (© Stefan Ruiz)

The mullet – ‘business in the front, party in the back’. I don’t know why but I have always had a fascination for that haircut. Hence, I was excited to realize that the mullet is a perfectly socially acceptable hairstyle in Colombia. Without a doubt Medellin is the mullet capital here. You just can’t miss them. The interesting thing is that this is not a short-lived trend of some sort. Medellin and mullets have been inseparable for a long time.
I did not any take any mullet photos during the few days I spent in Medellin but the Green Soccer Journal has a whole photo series here. Check it out.

La Peluqueria in Bogotá

Towards the end of my five weeks in Colombia it was time for me to get a new haircut. I didn’t really want a mullet on my own head but I wanted a haircut estilo colombiano. Some time ago I read about a particular hair salon in this article in the Guardian. The article describes a salon, La Peluqueria, where haircuts are free on Wednesdays but you don’t get a say in how they will cut it. That sounded exciting, so one Wednesday my travel mate Wolle (for moral support) and me went there. Thankfully English was spoken but there aren’t any free haircuts on Wednesdays any more. Doesn’t matter… When we entered the salon a young customer was leaving, he had very short hair with some detailed pattern in the back. Interesting. Before they get started with your hair, you have to fill out a questionaire. When was your last haircut, how did you like it, what type of person are you?

Wolle is waiting

I told the girl that I don’t have any particular instructions. She can do whatever she likes as long as she thinks it will suit me and make me look 10 years younger. So, she got started… At La Peluqueriathere are no mirrors for the customers to follow what’s happening on hour head. You are pretty much left in the dark until it’s all over. Apparently, the girl who cut my hair was either a little cautious with me or thought that some extended pattern would not suit me. However, she left a very small ‘tiger-stripe’ pattern on the lower right hand side in the back (I don’t have a photo of this). I was very happy with the final result and the overall experience. I love getting haircuts in other countries (perhaps with the exception of the haircuts I got at Walmart in Tennessee…). You never know what you get.

My new haircut. I like it