Susanna and her eccentric hairstyle
The owner of a fruit shop near Sheung Wan’s Western Market for 19 years, Susanna is something of a local character in the community, thanks to her eccentric hairstyle—a foot-tall ponytail that rises straight off the top of her head. She talks to June Ng about her unique style and the meaning of true beauty.
HK Magazine: How long have you been wearing the vertical ponytail hairstyle?
Susanna: I’ve worn this style for 15 years. You know, running a fruit shop is a really exhausting process, and you don’t have much personal time. Even if I tied a regular ponytail, it would still get messy. So with this style, my hair stands straight up and it won’t stick to my face no matter how much I move.
HK: How do you keep it standing up?
S: This is the most frequently asked question. It is really simple. I just use two towel-texture headbands. I don’t have to use any hair products to make it stand up, and the whole process takes less than five minutes.
HK: It seems quite tight. Does it give you a headache?
S: No, not at all. The headbands are pretty soft already so they don’t snag my hair. And when I’m not working I’ll put my hair down. But it mostly depends on the outfit I choose that day.
HK: How often do you cut your hair?
S: I go to a hair salon for a trim every three months and I have a dye job every six months. I’m already 50-something, so I need to do something about my white hair.
HK: Are you well-recognized in the neighborhood?
S: Yes! Everyone who walks by is so curious about my hair; they all wonder how I do it. Actually, people never remember my shop’s name, but they remember me! Kids and babies in particular love me. When they see me, they laugh and look happy. A lot of people, tourists included, like to take pictures of me. Some ask politely, but some just try to secretly take photos of me. But I can’t really help that.
HK: Does your husband like your hairdo?
S: Yes he does, but when I first met him, I hadn’t started wearing it like this yet. We’ve been married more than 30 years, and we both work really hard to support the family. So for us it’s all about respect, gratefulness and appreciation, not fashion.