Words by

Ellen de Jong

Getting a haircut has always been a difficult thing for me. All these choices you need to make: Which salon? What style? What colour? Why aren’t we just born with a haircut to last a lifetime? But after one month in Reykjavík I really needed to get my hair done.
Mojo is a hair salon in the centre of town for the young, fashionable women of Reykjavík. Although I don’t belong to that category, I get the chance to get my hair cut by one of the owners, Baldur Rafn Gylfason. I found out I was very lucky indeed, because he is usually booked for months in advance. In fact, it is almost impossible to get him to work on your hair before Christmas.
The salon is situated in a basement—which, personally, added a degree of comfort. I was happy not to be completely on display as happens at other hair salons. I don’t feel comfortable in these places where you’re almost sitting in the window. Especially because I look like a toddler getting his morning cereal with that plastic poncho on.
First Baldur takes the time to talk to me, to look at my hair and to hear what I would like. Yes, I would like a real Icelandic haircut! Feeling I’m in capable hands, I give him carte blanche to let him to do his thing. But first, my hair is washed and I get the perfect scalp massage. Sooo relaxing.
Apparently, when you have your hair cut in Iceland you’re supposed to get a magazine and show no interest in what’s going on scissor-wise. But I decide to talk and look in the mirror. Baldur is a good source of information; he knows what’s going on in hair fashion and states that highlights are indeed very last season. The new thing – hope you read this, you hip ladies – is the Hollywood look. A bit messy and with the colour gold. No matter how long hair is, you can have that style.
Meanwhile, my metamorphosis is underway. Baldur cuts and cuts and I feel happier by the minute. Yes, this man can take the pressure of being reviewed. And he should, after taking care of the hair of the Icelandic celebs. Unfortunately, he is too discreet to let me in on all their secrets.
After the haircut, Baldur seems to get all the mousse and gel that he can find in the salon to put on my hair. So how can I copy that after I washed it? Never put on any gel before you completely let it dissolve on your hands, he tells me. He also shows me how to use the blow dryer to style it. After that, he uses enough hairspray to put an elephant to sleep, but it makes me feel reborn. Yes, this is a very good hair day.
When I leave the salon, I feel summer is back in Iceland. Sunshine and a clear blue sky. Reykjavík men, I want to flirt with you all!
The haircut costs 5200 ISK and that includes the scalp massage.
Mojo. Templarasund 3, 101 Reykjavík. Phone: 562-5252.