Most barbershops in the Philippines are definitely 3rd world. It is completely different than the kind of hair cuts I get in America or even in Korea. For starters, they don't use Barbicide to disinfect combs and scissors. Instead, they brush some kind of powder on your head. I actually don't know what the powder is and nobody I asked has ever told me. Filipinos can be quite shy and just shrug when I ask them. I'm assuming it's to protect people from mites but that's just a guess. One of the great benefits of using a barber is that a hair cut only costs between 25 to 50 pesos depending on the shop and the barbers take their time and try to do a good job while they cut your hair. A barbershop in a mall will cost about 150 pesos for a basic haircut.

Salons tend to cost more than barbershops. Basic haircuts range from 50 to 150 pesos. Salons in the malls are more expensive. The benefit of the salon is that they provide services barbers don't, such as women's hairstyling, curling and straightening, hair coloring, manicures and pedicures, foot massages, etc.

Not all hair stylists in the Philippines are homosexual yet it does seem that way sometimes. A very high percentage of barbers are gay. There may not be many gays in the country you're from, but while you're in the Philippines this is a cultural phenomenon you'll have to accept; especially if you plan to get your hair cut in a salon while you're here. Being gay in the Philippines is an accepted part of the society and many gays choose to become hair dressers.