Jing Hair & Beauty Salon

I found out about this place through my mom’s friends. Ever since last year, this has been my 4^th visit to date. Here’s the dealio: it is squished between the other small salons on the block, all with similar names and facades, thereby making it easy to miss.
I used to spend upwards of a few hundred bucks getting my hair done. This might make you think that I’m high maintenance when I am, in fact, pretty low-​key about upkeep. The only reason why I used to spend so much was because I left my hair in such a state of disarray to the point of hopeless knots, and awkward/judgy[sic] stares from friends. Hence why, when I did go, I went the whole nine yards. Mind you, I wasn’t getting better service or amazing cuts at other salons; they were just charging astronomical prices.
Jing’s is a place on the opposite end of the spectrum: when you walk in, you’ll notice all the stylists chatting away loudly in a Chinese dialect. The space isn’t the cleanest or modern by any standards. Upon first glance, it looks like a place you wouldn’t bother with; at second glance, you’re pretty sure you might not want to enter. But if you step in, and keep an open mind, it might work for you.
As most people can attest to, other salons in Manhattan’s Chinatown tend to go slack on the hair washing. At Jing’s they’ll put you in an upright, dingy chair and lather you up. Your hair will be washed thoroughly as they really put muscle into it. They will then proceed to give you a head massage. This is where the oohs and aahs begin. When it’s time for your rinse, you will finally get to lie back in a more familiar position and be rinsed off. Once seated at one of the stations, they will then ask if you want a massage. Your answer should always be yes.
I once received a half hour massage because I had been waiting quite some time for the head stylist aka the owner. She’s easy to spot as the tallest lady in the salon. Make sure you ask for her because she has a real eye for cutting. If possible, bring a picture of the style you want as she doesn’t speak much English at all, and has a limited understanding for Cantonese. Back to the massage, oh yes, it typically lasts for 10 minutes or longer– if they’re too busy and forget, ask and you’ll get one at the end of your cut.
Before tonight, this place might have received 4 stars from me. I mean, where else could I get such a quality bob cut for $ 14(long hair rate)? But today, I was stuck with the youngest lady who beat the $hit out of me– literally. Her massage was so painful that I even howled like Bieber for Selena. After the first pound, I informed her that it was too hard, she apologized and adjusted her strength for 2 minutes. And then she went back to karate-​chopping, limb-​pulling, throttling, & SLAPPING THE SOUL out of me.
I’m seriously no longer going to heaven. Some people might say that the flames were already licking my heels; to those people, [I cast my infamous dirty glare].