Chew Ming Hui, Author at Goody Feed

A few days back, several news outlets reported on hair salons in the Geylang area offering "extra services". However, one of the hair salons along the Geylang stretch wasn't too happy with these news reports. In response, the hair salon has posted a series of TikToks riding on the "free" publicity wave. Here's what you need to know about it. TLDR: Reports of Hair Salons in Geylang Offering Extra Services To understand what exactly the hair salon in question was responding to, you have to know what the news reports said about the Geylang hair salons in the first place. On Sunday (1 December), Shin Min Daily News reported that more than ten new hair salons had sprung in Geylang in the past few months, with several of these salons offering full-body massage services. Image: Shin Min Daily News For context, hair salons generally aren't supposed to offer massage services. Under section 5 of the Massage Establishments Act, only those with a massage establishment license are allowed to offer such services. But that's not all the news reports there are. On Sunday (1 December), a reporter from the Straits Times also reported visiting one of these Geylang hair salons to have a hair wash, only to be propositioned with additional massage services. One of the women in the hair salon also allegedly took the reporter's hand and "placed it on her bosom". The ST reporter added that a few other women in the hair salon also started touching his arms and legs. The reporter was also asked by another woman at the hair salon whether he would like an hour of company in a more private area, and was told by the woman that she could do "whatever you like" during that hour. Geylang Hair Salon Denies Claims Made By News Reports Of course, these news reports went viral, which isn't great publicity for the hair salons in Geylang. However, one particular hair salon in Geylang was determined not to be beat down by the news reports. In response, it did its own version of a "clap back," although it's not in the way you'd expect. On Monday (2 December), merely one day after the news reports were released, the hair salon posted a TikTok video responding directly to the news reports. The salon wrote in the video: "Some offer more than Hair cut? I think u must come try everyday So that u can know what we Are doing here." Image: TikTok In the caption to the TikTok, the hair salon further added: "Come everyday i free wash hair for u 1 month#to see". In the comments section to the same TikTok post, the hair salon also questioned whether the news reports were racially motivated, gven that the hair salon business was operated by Vietnamese nationals. Image: TikTok And if you thought that was all that the hair salon had to say, you're wrong. There's a lot more to come. The hair salon also posted a TikTok about how it was impossible for the hair salon to have offered services based on whatever the customer wanted, contrary to what the ST article had reported. Image: TikTok On Tuesday (3 December), the hair salon also posted a TikTok showing the interior of the hair salon, and wrote in the video: "Hello welcome all Reporter news..channel... Come come." Image: TikTok The hair salon also ploughed through the comments on ST's Facebook post, and responded to one of them — a netizen had shared that they've been reporting the hair salon in question to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for "the longest time," adding that one of the women at the hair salon had even challenged the viewer to report the hair salon. The hair salon then released a TikTok responding to the comment. Image: TikTok But here's the kicker. The hair salon even posted TikToks offering $20,000 to anyone who has received such "extra services" from the hair salon. Image: TikTok Image: TikTok Well, that's one way to defend yourself lah. TikToks Uploaded By Hair Salon Show Various Massage Services Being Offered While there aren't any statements from the authorities as to whether the hair salon is indeed being used as a front for vice activities, one thing that's certain is that the hair salon is indeed offering massage services. Offering massage services could be an issue for the hair salon if it does not have a massage establishment license. As mentioned earlier, massage services may not be provided unless the person carrying on the business of providing massage services possesses the requisite license. It is unclear whether the hair salon has a massage establishment license. However, it should be noted that hair salons generally are not classified as massage establishments under the Massage Establishment Act. In July this year, the hair salon uploaded a TikTok showcasing the "12 hands massage" it offers. In the TikTok, six women could be seen massaging a man who was lying down on what looks to be a massage bed. Image: TikTok Another TikTok uploaded in May shows another type of massage offered by the hair salon — a foot massage. But it's not just any foot massage, it's a $490 foot massage where you'll be massaged by 14 hands. Image: TikTok Also in May this year, a TikTok was uploaded by the hair salon promoting the "step body" massage. Image: TikTok Under the Massage Establishment Act, those operating unlicensed massage establishments could be liable to a fine of up to $10,000, be jailed for up to two years, or both. Repeat offenders could face a fine up to $20,000, be jailed for up to five years, or both. Well, as one of the hair salon's own TikToks state lah: "Say liao, Dun play with sg law." Image: TikTok