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Phoenix Hair Salon

 

A men’s hair cut is $15 and a women’s hair cut is $40.

 
 

Old hair magazines dated back to 2002.

 
 

A customer getting his hair cut and dyed while on a business trip in America. He and his wife flew from Shanghai and had just visited their daughter who attends college in Los Angeles.

 
 
 
 
 
 

I have been getting my haircut at Shanghai Phoenix Beauty Salon in San Gabriel. San Gabriel has become one of the largest Chinese immigrant communities along with Monterey Park, Rowland Heights, and Orange County.

 

The Chinese immigrant community grew rapidly, expanding to San Gabriel Valley from Monterey Park in the 1970s. The strip malls were adapted to Chinese architecture to retain memories of the homeland. Mar Plaza, 2022.

 
 

Most of the customers are local families living in the area. The salon is very packed during the weekends and does not accept appointments. Customers are taken on a first come first served basis.

 

Old school Sony stereo CD players playing Mandopop music from the 90s.

 
 

The business partners immigrated to America in the 90s and opened this traditional salon. From the decor to the haircutting tools, it felt as if time had stopped in the 90s.

 
 
 
 
 
 

An elderly lady getting ready for her birthday dinner party.

 
 

Phoenix Salon owner Aaron, from Shanghai, China.

 

Phoenix Salon owner Wendy, from Chao Zhou, China.

 
 
 
 
 

Five boiled eggs for their quick lunch between customers.

Chinese newspapers published in America are not censored.

 
 
 
 

Just like the plaza adapting the flavors from the homeland, the nostalgic essence in the hair salon is a generational thing, a way to live in the memory.