Insider Today: Hair transplants in Istanbul

In Saturday's edition of Insider Today, we're following one writer's journey to Istanbul to get hair transplants.

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Happy Saturday! If you're heading out this weekend, here are 11 things a bartender wishes people would stop doing — including asking them to play your favorite song.

On the agenda today:

• Soak in the mountain views at the Taj Cape Town.
• A man's hair transplant pulled him out of a dark place.
• Chris Pine didn't even want to be an actor.
• A Wall Street finance bro's guide to summer outfits.

But first: Where did Mother's Day brunch come from?

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This week's dispatch

Mother's Day brunch

It's Mother's Day tomorrow — a holiday that can be joyful for many, but also difficult and emotional for others.

For those celebrating the holiday, I have a feeling you might be doing something that just feels synonymous with Mother's Day: brunching. I asked Business Insider lifestyle correspondent Anneta Konstantinides for her thoughts — and whether she has any brunch tips.

Anneta, how did brunch become synonymous with Mother's Day?

My very first memory of Mother's Day was my dad informing me it was time to make mom breakfast in bed. It's a holiday I associate with the simple pleasures of morning — fresh coffee, a stack of pancakes, and fluffy eggs.

I think it's just a perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day. There's no need for a massive feast à la Thanksgiving or Christmas — the point, after all, is to make sure mom doesn't have to do anything.

If you want to celebrate mom but don't want to leave the house, are there recipes to ensure she has a good meal at home?

Ina Garten's Greek orzo salad will help you transition from breakfast to lunch, and her blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake is a must. I made it for my own mom last Mother's Day, and she gave it a 10/10.

And every mom deserves a great cocktail, so why not celebrate the day with Garten's famous cosmopolitan — with a summer-ready watermelon twist?

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Mountain views and masala chai

A writer spent $317 a night to stay at the Taj Cape Town in South Africa. She could see Table Mountain from her room, one of the city's major landmarks.

The hotel's food was also a highlight of the author's trip — from fresh masala chai at the breakfast buffet, to afternoon tea, to hand-delivered slices of cake.

See inside the Taj Cape Town.

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A quick trip to "Hairstanbul"

In the United States, hair transplants range from $10,000 to $20,000. But in Istanbul, one doctor charges about $3,500 — a fee that includes a consultation, the operation, some aftercare, three nights in a four-star hotel, and transport from the airport, the hotel, and the clinic.

After seeing one of his friends successfully regain his hair after a trip to "Hairstanbul," the author decided to make the journey himself.

Here's what the process is like.

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Chris Pine's rise through the ranks

In an interview with BI, Pine said he never wanted to be a movie star. A third-generation actor, he first avoided going into the family business, hoping to become a professional baseball player instead.

That's not how it shook out. With leading roles in rom-coms and IP-fueled blockbusters, Pine has risen through Hollywood's ranks. He described his ascent to BI — including what he learned from Denzel Washington.

Get inside Chris Pine's mind.

Also read:

• John Leguizamo turned himself into a leading man

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What not to wear: Finance bro edition

The weather is heating up, which can only mean one thing: It's time to put the Patagonia vest in storage and slip into something a little cooler, literally and metaphorically.

Reginald Ferguson, a men's fashion consultant, told BI he wanted his clients to remain "modern, yet classic" this summer. That means skipping the athleisure and grabbing upscale items from brands like Zegna and Kiton.

A finance bro's guide to summer fashion.

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What we're watching this weekend

• "Interview with the Vampire": The second season of the AMC drama, based on Anne Rice's novels, returns on Sunday.
• "Mother of the Bride": Netflix's latest rom-com stars Brooke Shields as a woman who learns her daughter is spontaneously marrying the son of the man who broke her heart years ago.
• "The Iron Claw": The acclaimed 2023 film about the tragic Von Erich wrestling dynasty is now available to stream.

See the full list

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More of this week's top reads:

• I moved to Montana after getting priced out of California.
• "Baby Reindeer" viewers tracked down "the real Martha Scott."
• These four types of ultra-processed foods were linked to death in a study.
• A reporter followed Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel's morning routine for a week.
• I took a 20-minute ferry ride from Europe to Asia for $1.
• Miss USA and Miss Teen USA stepped down. Here's a timeline of the drama.
• Ten fat-loss lessons from a woman who lost 55 pounds.
• Five Caribbean islands to visit and two to skip, according to a frequent traveler.
• Emily Oster says parents should focus on raising independent kids.
• The benefits of an AmEx card — despite its hefty annual fees.

• How to live a long, healthy life without Equinox's new $40,000 membership.

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  The Insider Today team: Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor-in-chief, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York.