KALABURAGI: This hair dresser never thought he would have to work by candlelight until power went off one day six years ago. It is called candle-cutting and it literally involves using the flame to cut hair.
Dasharath (28), a BA graduate, runs Raj Hair Cutting Salon at Shahabad town, about 30 km from here. But he joined the traditional business 13 years ago when he was just 15.
The candle flame on that dark day inspired him to hit upon this ‘cutting-edge’ technique of trimming hair. What Dasharath does is burn your hair literally. The mere thought could make your hair stand on end. But he promises not to harm a hair on your head.
His technique: He runs the candle flame along the hair like a pair of scissors to cut the hair to the desired length.
Initially people laughed at him and no one came forward to try this method for fear that it would singe their hair.
But after a few months, Dasharath got his first customer who was ready to give this technique a try.
Dasharath told Express, “I use only a candle flame and comb for burning the hair. It takes half an hour to burn the hair to the desired length. I trim the hair as neatly as I would with a pair of scissors.”
Every month, two-three customers come asking for the candle-cutting method, and Dasharath charges Rs 75 per hair trim.
Snehal, a customer who prefers this method, told Express that he gets his hair cut twice a year this way.
“It is quite a different experience. I feel light-headed after the sitting. An advantage is that the trimmed hair doesn’t fall on the ground due to candle-cutting,” he said. Snehal said some of his friends too were opting for the candle-cutting method.