Rubuy Knows How to Pack Life Full!
Xu Yu-Shu, whose Truku name is Rubuy, is the owner of the tribal hair salon aptly named “Rubuy.” With a laugh, Rubuy shares, “My dad is an easygoing and cheerful person. He’s the one who gave me the name Rubuy (meaning a bag in Truku language)—he must have thought I’m good at ‘packing things up’ and filling life to the brim!”
Women Love Beautiful Things
Speaking of family, Rubuy explains that her father is now retired, and she has two older sisters. Her second sister worked in the hairdressing industry before getting married, which influenced Rubuy to follow a similar path. She chose a vocational school to study hairdressing and spent her three years in high school refining her skills. During her free time and school holidays, she took on internships and part-time jobs to gain practical experience.
There are several reasons why Rubuy decided to open her own salon. One was the influence of her second sister’s career. Another was her introverted personality, which made her prefer one-on-one interactions. But most importantly, it’s her love for beauty. Rubuy explains,
“How can women not love beauty? Even when we take photos or videos, we check and double-check every angle!”
After graduating from high school, Rubuy joined the military due to financial considerations. She vividly recalls a conversation with a superior who told her, “The military has its own rules and systems. With your personality, this lifestyle might not suit you, and you won’t be able to do the things you love.”
Taking these words to heart, Rubuy decided to leave the military after six years and returned to her tribe to open her own hair salon.
Hello, I’m Rubuy!
The reason for naming the salon “Rubuy” is simple—it’s her way of staying connected to the local community. Although Rubuy grew up in the tribe, she became less involved after entering high school due to her busy academic and work schedule. Over time, she spent less time with her family and became less known among the tribal members. To make it easy for people to remember her and to introduce herself, she decided to name the salon “Rubuy.”
He Says, She Says, I Say
Rubuy opened her salon with basic hairdressing services and affordable prices. Most of her customers are locals, family, friends, and students.
Her service hours are from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM daily, with full-day service on Wednesdays. Besides interacting with clients during appointments, Rubuy also actively shares updates about her salon, daily life, and customer feedback on LINE groups. Seeing positive affirmations from her clients gives her great motivation. Through word of mouth and good reviews, she’s steadily attracted more customers—and her regular clients keep coming back!
A Serendipitous Connection
Although Rubuy built a solid foundation in hairdressing through three years of classes, internships, and part-time jobs during high school, her six years in the military created a gap between her and the work she loved. To refine her skills while running her own salon, Rubuy also works and learns at Ming Xuan Hair Salon in Fenglin Township.
Before joining Ming Xuan, Rubuy worked in Hualien City, which required a 40-minute commute. Over time, the long trips became exhausting and costlier than she expected, prompting her to search for work closer to home. She submitted resumes to nearby salons and, after a period of waiting, finally received a call for an interview. Rubuy laughed as she recalled the experience:
“The boss’s wife injured her hand and couldn’t wash clients’ hair, so during the interview, she just handed the task to me while standing right beside me! After I finished, she asked me when I could start working.”
As Rubuy got to know the boss, she discovered an interesting connection: her father and the boss’s father-in-law used to work together. Today, Rubuy considers the boss her most cherished mentor and is deeply grateful for her guidance.
Six Months of Growth and Fulfillment
For Rubuy, opening a salon wasn’t the hardest part—she had the support of her family, a great workspace, and an incredible mentor. However, returning to her tribe, a place both familiar and unfamiliar, brought a sense of uncertainty. She shared, “If you don’t build a good reputation or create a positive image, who would trust you with their hair?”
Initially, there weren’t many customers. Most of the visitors to her salon were family members or close friends, including her father. But Rubuy quickly shifted her mindset, viewing this as a valuable training phase and an opportunity to market her business through LINE. She started creating short videos showcasing her salon’s daily activities, her learning journey, and more. In just six months, she cultivated not only her skills but also new connections.
To further enhance her expertise and gain experience, Rubuy attends additional courses, works at Ming Xuan Hair Salon, and participates in various markets to sell crafts and creative goods. These experiences help her meet new people and spread the word about her salon.
Her busy schedule even prompted her father to jokingly say, “You’re running a salon and setting up stalls—do you love money that much?”
Keep Spreading Beauty!
Currently, Rubuy is focused on honing her skills and building a strong foundation. She shared, “I won’t limit the direction of my learning. If I gain enough experience and my skills reach a peak, I’d love to explore beauty treatments or nail art in the future.”
The salon, though only six months old, is a space born out of Rubuy’s imagination—a place that’s dreamy yet versatile. None of this distracts her from her ultimate goal: creating a spot in Ciyakang where people can relax, chat, and leave feeling more beautiful. This is the vision she’s most excited to bring to life.
Interviewed by: Huang Hsin-Tzu
Written by: Huang Hsin-Tzu
Interview Date: July 28, 2024
