Traditional skill on the verge of vanishing - tongs perm

Wang Weimei, left, uses tongs at his barbershop in Mianyang, Southwest China's Sichuan province, Mar 7, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

Wang, 72, has kept the tradition of giving perm look to hair with tongs going for decades. Perm with tongs used to be popular in China before it was replaced by modern technology in 1980s, according to Wang, who started learning the skill at the age of 17 along with his elder brother. The tong method is not preferred by modern customers and people capable of the skill are rare.

Wang and his brother each ran a barbershop since the 80s. His brother died in 2013, leaving Wang's the only barbershop in the town.

Since not many people use tongs these days and special tongs are rarely on sale, Wang worries that the skill may completely die.