QB HOUSE TOKYO — Local services in New York

So here I go. This was my first cut at QB, and it will be my last.

The hair dresser (Japanese woman) who cut my hair took less than 15 mins to finish the job. I am not kidding when I say that men who were getting their hair cut when I; walked in, waited, talked to the dresser, and finally walked out after my hair cut along with a weird altercation at the register, were still getting their hair finished. I am highlighting this to illustrate the absolute lack of care I received at this place.

I asked the hair dresser if I could use the restroom after my hair was done. She politely but firmly said I need to pay first. Mind you, I really had to use the bathroom. I am a decently dressed New Yorker but for some reason she profiled me as a criminal who would dash off after my $30 cut. So, holding my pee, I pay with the card. I ask if I can add the tip to the card. She again, with this sarcastic attitude, slams the venmo QR code on the table and says, “cash or Venmo” only. The way she said it rubbed me the wrong way. I tell her I don’t have Venmo so gave her $100 to change so that I can tip her. There was a $5 note with singles in the change she was supposed to give me back. I take out my remaining $3 out of my wallet and tell her to take $3 from the change she was giving me. I tell her I don’t want singles. When I went to pick up the remaining of my change. She pulled it back while grabbing my $100 bill which was on the table. She would not let go of my money. I am guessing she thought I was cheating her. Not really sure how I would but in her paranoid brain, she had made the assumption that I was going to dash off, again. It was surreal. What the hell was going on in her head is beyond me. I am a non white and a non Japanese Asian. If I can be treated like this by this woman, this treatment awaits any other darker skin person of color. At this point, my bladder is about to burst. I explain basic math to this woman and take the remaining change and dash towards the bathroom. She screams behind me, “so you are giving me $6 tip?” I guess she was not happy with the tip. I remember our Japanese server getting offended in Tokyo when I offered a tip for the excellent service we received. I guess her manners took a hike. To which, I said, “yes, that’s a 20% tip.” I have been to Japan, and found the country and its people to be incredible polite. She is by far the rudest Japanese I have EVER encountered in my entire life. I guess my Asian browness qualified me as a thief right off the bat. Truly disgusting. I wanted to say something right there but the place was packed with customers so I bit my tongue. This was a horrible experience. Blatant appearance based discrimination....

This is my infuriating experience with this barbershop. I dropped off my son right next to the barbershop so he could get his hair cut. When I arrived, the shop was packed, with every single waiting seat taken. However, I noticed that someone was almost done with their haircut, which meant a seat would soon become available as they moved on to the next customer. If I hadn't seen this, I would never have left my son there.

Anyway, my son entered the shop, signed in, and waited outside until the person currently getting their hair cut finished and another person from the waiting area took their place. This meant there was an empty seat for my son to sit in. But when he went inside to claim the seat, he discovered that one of the individuals sitting there had deliberately spread their legs, blocking him from sitting down. Frustrated, my son stood next to the waiting couch.

That's when a barber, in all their wisdom, had the audacity to tell my son that he had to either continue waiting outside (even though he had been enduring the scorching 100-degree weather) or sit on the filthy floor. Can you believe it? This barbershop, which is already cramped, had the nerve to suggest that my son sit on the floor. It's absolutely ridiculous! No sane person would ever ask someone to sit on the dirty, hairy floor of a barbershop. This just goes to show that nobody takes kids seriously. We should not have this unwelcoming business in our...

Update - 7/6/24: I can't believe it's been two years since I returned to the QB House Tokyo at their Flatiron location. I've been going to QB House Tokyo for years and I was thrilled to see that Joy was on the schedule for today. I left, once again, with a beautiful haircut. She really understands my hair which is thick, curly, wavy, etc and manages to work wonders! She is truly an artist when it comes to cutting hair. Years ago, I saw her cutting another customer's hair and requested her just because I knew she was loaded with talent! I highly recommend the QB House Tokyo - you can't beat their prices and their stylists are all super talented and professional. The place is spotless too. Update - 3/14/22: Came back to this location today and got another fabulous haircut - this time by Joy. I've been going to various QB Tokyo House salons in the city and they do not disappoint! I'll be back! I've been to this QB House location a number of times and have gotten fabulous haircuts each time. The place is clean, the stylists are fantastic and you can't beat the price. I highly recommend! Special shout outs to Sue and Shige at this location. They...