Jingjok
The salon script, and why the barber is shut on Wednesday
dtàt-pǒm
Neighbourhood barbers and salons are cheap and quick, and the script is short. First question: ตัดผมหรือสระ 'cut or wash?'. Then เอาทรงไหน 'which style?'. The surest answer is a photo on your phone plus a few words: ข้างสั้น 'short sides', ไม่สั้นมาก 'not too short', and fingers to show length. Salon washes are a treat: you lie back and often get a head massage. One surprise: many traditional barbers close on Wednesday. An old belief says cutting hair on a Wednesday is unlucky, and plenty of shops still take that day off. Check before you go, or ask the night before: พรุ่งนี้เปิดไหม.
Try this today
Save a photo of the haircut you want and practise saying ข้างสั้น ไม่สั้นมาก.
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Body, gym, massage, beauty” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.