In the 1980s, the "fire tongs perm" was a popular hairdressing technique in barbershops across China. Before styling a customer's hair, the barber would first heat a duck-bill-shaped pair of iron tongs over a stove until they glowed red-hot. The tongs were then immediately dipped into water to cool them down. Once cooled to the right temperature, the barber skillfully used the tongs in one hand and a comb in the other, rolling the hair expertly. As the hair was styled, wisps of white smoke and a faint burnt smell would occasionally rise.
This technique required exceptional skill and precision. If the tongs were too hot or the barber's movements too slow, the hair could burn and break. On the other hand, if the tongs were not hot enough, the desired hairstyle couldn't be achieved.
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