Yang Wei – Yang Wei, 22, Lang Man Kong Jian (Romantic Space Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yang Wei)

Yang Wei’s interior – Yang Wei’s Gold fish aquarium. Wei will become a father in a few months. He lives wiht his wife in a well-maintained apartment on the fourth floor of a small building with no elevator.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yang Wei’s interior)

Lu Chao – Lu Chao, 20, Ru Yi Mei Fa Dian (Lucky Hair Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Lu Chao)

Lu Chao’s and Chen Yi’s interior – One bed for two. Chao and Yi sleep in the entrance hall of the apartment belonging to the owner of the Lucky Hair Salon. The place is huge but every room is rented out. Overwhelmed with work, they only had a few minutes to show us the place.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Lu Chao’s and Chen Yi’s interior)

Chen Yi – Chen Yi, 21, Ru Yi Mei Fa Dian (Lucky Hair Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Chen Yi)

Yang Hao – Yang Hao, 17, Jue Shi Ge Diao (Duke Stylish Salon). Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yang Hao)

Yang Hao’s interior – The owner of the Duke Stylish Salon lives with his employees in an apartment in the suburbs of Chengdu. Hao has is own room with a balcony. He only travels home to see his family once a year, but he sends them money regularly.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yang Hao’s interior)

Jia Yue – Jia Yue, 17, Yi Du Fa Yi (Metropolitan Art Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Jia Yue)

Jia Yue – Yue just started working a the Metropolitain Art Salon. Her main job is washing hair. Her employee does not want us to visit the dormitory where Yue lives, not far from the salon. She points out this pink-tiled building.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Jia Yue)

Chuan Xin Zeng – Chuan Xin Zeng, 18, Hua Man Xing Xiang She Ji (Flower Vine Image Design Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Chuan Xin Zeng)

Chuan Xin Zeng’s rooftop – View from the rooftop. A few months were enough to convince Xin Zeng that he did not like his new job. He left the Flower Vine Image Design Salon to work nights as a waiter in a Chengdu gay bar.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Chuan Xin Zeng’s rooftop)

Wang Haijun – Wang Haijun, 18, Ling Dian (Place Zero Salon), Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – China –

Wang Yuan Meng – Wang Yuan Meng, 20, Xiao Wu (Small Wizard Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Wang Yuan Meng)

Wang Yuan Meng’s interior – A steep staircase leads to a tiny space just above the hair salon. Meng shares with eight other employees this blind room in which a kitchen has been installed.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Wang Yuan Meng’s interior)

Zhang Chao – Zhang Chao, 24, JK Gan Jian (JK Dry Cut salon), Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Zhang Chao)

Deng Haibo – Deng Haibo, 21, Mei Shi Mei Ke (Beautiful Moment Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Deng Haibo)

Deng Haibo’s interior – Two other employees share the room with Haibo. Newspapers cover the windows to create a little shade and privacy for the room, which is on one of the city’s liveliest streets. Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Deng Haibo’s interior)

Yi Bo – Yi Bo, 19, Hua Man Xing Xiang She Ji (Flower Shape Design Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yi Bo)

Yi Bo’s building – Like his colleague Xin Zeng, Bo made the decision to change his job. He left Chengdu to return to his birthplace, a hundred of kilometres north of the capital city.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yi Bo’s building)

Zhang Liang – Zhang Liang, 23, Fa Xiang Tian Xia (Best Hairdo Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Zhang Liang)

Zhang Liang’s alley – Liang is renting a small apartment with his sister in a popular area. Access is via an entrance portal closely monitored by a concierge. Constituting the core of large blocks, these neighborhoods are often invisible at first glance.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Zhang Liang’s alley)

Hu Qilin – Hu Qilin, 21, My Bobo Salon.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Hu Qilin)

Hu Qilin’s interior – Qilin is living with his girlfriend in a small room. It is located in the basement of an appartment rented by a family. A plastic vine is deorating the ceiling.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Hu Qilin’s interior)

Yu Yan – Yu Yan, 28, Wei Mei Jin Jian (Only Beauty Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yu Yan)

Yu Yan’s interior – Yan has been working in Chengdu for four years. He rents a room in the apartment shared by employees of the Only Beauty salon. A dozen of his colleagues share three other rooms arranged in dormitory-style.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yu Yan’s interior)

Liao Yang – Liao Yang, 26, Xin Ming Ming (New Dawn Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Liao Yang)

Liao Yang’s interior – Yang lives with many other colleagues in a large apartment with kitchen, dining room, dormitories, bathroom and balcony.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Liao Yang’s interior)

Chen Feng – Chen Feng, 20, Shi Shang Biao Bang (Fashion Representation Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Chen Feng)

Chen Feng,’s interior – Feng knows several words of English. The salon where he works is in the middle of a renovation. Awaiting completion, he spends his time in a small room which he rents from his employer. Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Chen Feng,’s interior)

Zhang Yu – Zhang Yu, 22, Pin Fa Xuan (Fancy Hair Salon), Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Zhang Yu)

Entrance – Entrance of a building at night. A sign indicates a tea salon. Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Entrance)

Jin Shan – Jin Shan, 18, Xin Ming Ming (New Dawn Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Jin Shan)

Jin Shan’s interior – After three years working in a salon in Beijing, Shan decided to return to Sichuan to be closer to her family.
This experience will enable her to reach a position of responsibility in “New Dawn Salon”.
She shares the dormitory with her colleagues: they envy her position.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Jin Shan’s interior)

Yu Yong Qiang – Yu Yong Qiang, 23, Fa Min Jia (Hair Premium).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yu Yong Qiang)

Yu Yong Qiang’s interior – A dormitory, personal belongings lying here and there. Little private space for Qiang who is sharing this room with five other colleagues.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yu Yong Qiang’s interior)

Luo Hai – Luo Hai, 22, Fa Min Jia (Hair Premium Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Luo Hai)

Luo Hai’s interior – Hai is sharing the dormitory with five other colleagues. Occupying the upper bench of a bunk bed, he stuck posters of his basketball idols to the ceiling.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Luo Hai’s interior)

Yang Jiawei – Yang Jiawei, 17, Mei Shi Mei Ke (Good Time, Good Moment Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yang Jiawei)

Yang Jiawei’s interior – Yang Jiawei’s interior. Two other employees share the room with him.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Yang Jiawei’s interior)

Xia Wei – Xia Wei, 22, Chao Fan Zao Xing (Excellent Stylish Salon), Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Xia Wei)

Interior – Flowers in pots decorate the handrail of this balcony.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map Interior)

He Xiao Bing – He Xiao Bing, 17, Piao Liang Fa Xing (Beautiful Hairstyle Salon).
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map He Xiao Bing)

He Xiao Bing’s interior – Bing wanted to show us his dormitory but the door was locked. He doesn’t have his own key.
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, April 2012. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Chengdu – Sichuan Province – China – (Map He Xiao Bing’s interior)