
Chinese man spends US$600,000 at hair salon for detox treatments, feels pain, denied refund
Advertisement
The ordeal began in April 2023, when the man, surnamed Cheng, from Hefei in northern China's Anhui province, met a salon manager, surnamed Chen, at a local hair salon.
The manager invited Cheng to the opening of a new branch, where another manager, surnamed Zhou, persuaded him to go upstairs to 'experience a beautician's massage.'
It was during this visit that Cheng was pressured into purchasing beauty services in the form of an account top-up.
Cheng asserted that during subsequent visits, he faced continual coercion to add more funds to his account.
Many netizens were shocked and questioned whether a hair salon is qualified to offer detox treatments, let alone at such high costs. Photo: Shutterstock
'They were all young boys and girls, kneeling and saying they were poor and couldn't even afford rent, relying on customers to help support their parents. Older beauticians nearby would consistently urge customers to top up, stating that the staff earned commissions based on performance,' Cheng recalled.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Chinese widow, 23, vows not to remarry, triggers mixed reaction, loyalty discourse
A 23-year-old woman in China who vowed she would never remarry after the sudden death of her husband has triggered a heated discussion on mainland social media. Wu Tiexin, 36, who lived in Shuangyashan in Heilongjiang province, in northeastern China, died of heart problems caused by diabetes on July 12, according to Jimu News. 'You married me and brought me home on November 5, 2023. I sent you away to decorate our home in the next life on July 13, 2025. Do not have any illness and be healthy in your afterlife,' Wu's wife, surnamed Lu, wrote on social media in the wake of his death. Wu was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 10. Loyal widow Lu said she wants her late husband to 'decorate our home in the next life'. Photo: Weibo He was hospitalised for suffering from an acute serious heatstroke in mid-June after high temperatures hit the northeastern regions of China, including his hometown.


South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Silence is deadly for Hong Kong men as suicide rate worsens over past decade
Hongkonger Alan Chan Hei-lun, 43, has been struggling silently with his mental health for the past eight years. His world was shattered in 2017 when a sudden stroke while playing football left his left side paralysed, driving him to attempt to end his life in hospital. Discharged into a harsh new reality, his fight continued as he lost his customer service job at the airport during the Covid-19 pandemic and entered a cycle of being let go by almost every employer during probation as a disabled man. His wife, overwhelmed by the care duties, also filed for divorce last year, taking custody of their 11-year-old son. Chan's self-esteem plummeted; he struggled to sleep and suffered a serious flare-up of eczema. He was also diagnosed with anxiety and depression but had to wait months for each consultation with a psychologist. Suicidal thoughts became a constant companion amid the emotional and financial stress, but he rarely told others about his feelings. 'It is difficult to show one's weakness as a man in Hong Kong … In Chinese society, men are always expected to carry all the weight and swallow their feelings,' Chan said.


South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
What is ‘fibermaxxing'? 5 health benefits of the new nutrition trend
Called the new gut-health glow-up, 'fibermaxxing' is a nutrition trend based on boosting your daily fibre intake to help with weight loss or weight management, optimise digestion, and lower the risk of chronic diseases. The TikTok hashtag #fibermaxxing has been used over 157 million times – according to video generator platform SendShort – and has been getting lots of attention on Instagram and YouTube. While experts often criticise social media wellness trends, this one has won many health professionals' seal of approval. Below, two experts explain why and how to tap into this trend for its many benefits. Fibre is a type of complex carbohydrate found in plant foods that does not get digested or absorbed in our small intestine. 'Common sources include whole grains , like brown rice, oats, quinoa and barley; legumes, like chickpeas, beans and lentils; fresh and dried fruit; vegetables; and nuts and seeds,' says Denise Tam, a Hong Kong-based holistic nutritionist. Seaweed and air-popped popcorn are good sources, too, she adds, though these are less commonly thought of.