I Got Scammed Getting Braids from Street Vendors in China, Here's What Happened
Bad hair day in China? Read this before you succumb to temptation (like I did).
If you're tempted by the shiny bling of ribbons in your hair, maybe even a fan of the tinsel hair trend, you'll face lots of opportunities in China. I succumbed on a bad hair day, and I walked away with colourful braids, a lighter wallet, and a story worth sharing.
Also read: Honest Review of Chongqing: Is it Worth It? [Singaporean POV]
How It Started
A vendor approached me with a laminated collage of designs and pointed to a price of 20 yuan (roughly S$3.70). I did not ask any questions. I just sat down.
That was my first mistake.
The 'Scam'
The 20 yuan was not for the whole thing. It was per braid. So if you pick a design with multiple braids, the total climbs quickly. Mine came to 100 yuan by the end. I managed to negotiate it down to 70 for fewer braids (about 12) because it was way out of my budget.
It gets a little more layered than that, too. The vendors will often steer you towards simpler designs with more individual braids, because they charge per braid and can turn over sessions faster that way. By the time I worked out what was happening, they already had my hair in their hands. Walking away at that point felt genuinely awkward, and I think that is part of the dynamic. It is not aggressive, but it is calculated.
Where to Find Them
These vendors set up wherever the tourists go. I did mine at Liziba Train Station (李子坝轻轨站), which already draws huge crowds for its rail-through-building photo moment. I also spotted braids street vendors in China operating near Yangtze Cableway Station (长江索道站) and Hongyadong (洪崖洞). If you are visiting any of Chongqing's major landmarks, you will almost certainly cross paths with one.
What the Experience Is Actually Like
Once you are seated, it moves fast. Mine took around 10 to 15 minutes, as a couple of extra vendors joined in partway through to speed things up. The finished braids are colourful, neat, and honestly make for great travel photos (and recognising in a crowd). I do not regret doing it. I just regret not asking the right questions first.
How Comfortable Were They to Wear?
Honestly, I forgot they were even in my hair. They did not feel tight or irritating against the scalp, which I was a little worried about going in. The one thing worth noting is that the ribbons and threads feel slightly rough to the touch. The ends bothered me at a few points during the day when I momentarily forgot I had them in.
As for durability, they held up remarkably well. I wore mine for a full 12 hours, and that included an abseiling session. A few braids did start to unravel slightly by the end of the day, but given the activity level, that felt fair. For a more relaxed day of sightseeing, they would likely stay neat from morning to night without much fuss.
Care Instructions
They're pretty low-maintenance. Here's what the vendors shared:
You can wash your hair with them in.
They should last a couple of days with normal wear
To remove them, simply detangle. No scissors needed, just gently work the thread loose from the braid. Took me about half an hour for 20 strands.
Final Verdict
Would I do it again? Yes...but as long as I sort out the price before sitting down this time.
The lesson here is: before you sit down, ask for the total cost of your chosen design, not just the rate per braid. Knowing this would have saved me a lot of the shock during the session. This is the one thing I would tell anyone curious about braids from street vendors in China before they commit. The price is also negotiable, so do your best.
Quick Tips Before You Sit Down
Browse the collage and decide what you want before sitting.
Confirm total price of your chosen design upfront, not the per-braid rate.
Remember that the price is negotiable, discuss it before committing.
Budget around 100-200 yuan for a multi-braid design
Vendors can be found near popular tourist attractions like Hongyadong (洪崖洞) and Yangtze Cableway Station (长江索道站)
Image credits: Dex Quek
About Author
Her motto is "experience everything at least once". An adrenaline junkie at heart, she is always down for spontaneous adventure, especially to exotic destinations. She finds the most meaningful aspect of travel is cultural immersion, and talking to locals is an underrated travel hack.