Savages Barber Academy, Taichung

Another location correction: Savages is a Taichung-based barber chain with five branches in the city and one in Changhua, not Taipei. Its academy runs three courses at very different levels, and the gap between them is stark.

Two single-day courses are affordable and specific. The introductory day costs 3,600 New Taiwan dollars and covers hair fundamentals, men’s hair contours and tool maintenance. The advanced day costs 4,000 and covers technique refinement, fades adapted to Asian head shapes, cutting efficiency and styling design. Group discounts bring both down substantially.

The third is a complete beginner-to-professional programme at 180,000 dollars, by a wide margin the most expensive course in this directory anywhere. It covers basic through advanced technique with a customised progression plan and a bundled professional tool set including shears, thinning shears and clippers. The hours are not published, which at that price is something you should establish in writing before committing. No national technician certification is prepared for.