Chinese man spends US$600,000 at hair salon for detox, feels pain, denied refund

A Chinese man has surprised many by revealing he spent over 4.3 million yuan (US$600,000) at a hair salon over two years on unlicensed detox and wellness treatments – including enemas and acupuncture – which resulted in severe health issues and a denied refund.

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.

“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.