Early in my sophomore year of college, I got the bright idea to buy some hair clippers so I could cut my own hair and save $12 a month. $12 a month would buy you three Pizza Shuttle pizzas in Lawrence, KS, so that was a serious savings. I pulled out the clippers, put what I thought was the longest guard on them, and started “trimming” in the center of my head. Big mistake. The hair was shorn down to almost my scalp, leaving a massive hole in the center of my ‘do. I ended up buzzing it all off and wore a hat for a month while it grew back (My hair grows very fast; I’m lucky).
What’s that story have to do with anything? Well, for a year I’ve been thinking about going short again with my hair. I’ve worn it long enough to let the waves and curls do their magic for over ten years now. I went through my Charlie on the Bachelor phase where I grew it out even longer because people told me I looked like the TV sap. Between the current humidity making it difficult to keep under control, M.’s love of grabbing it and messing it up, and an overall desire to simplify life, I decided to take the plunge this week. I warned my wife, who seemed to think it was kind of a bizarre idea, and my sister-in-law who’s occupying a guest room currently, who thought it was a decent idea, and disappeared upstairs yesterday afternoon. I emerged with hair that is shorter than short, and this time it was no mistake. Think of how Brad Pitt has worn his hair in his last couple movies, and then take a little more off of that. I only had a #2 guard, so that was my only option. If it turns out I’d like it to be a little longer, I’ll invest in a #3 or #4 and stick with that length.
It was immediately, noticeably comfortable. S. seemed to like it. The three other people that have seen it so far like it as well. I think it makes me look older; both S. and her sister said it makes me look younger. So there you have it, I guess! It’s still kind of weird looking in the mirror, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it soon enough. Oddly enough, my fitted-Red Sox hat no longer fits, or at least it makes me look like a six-year-old wearing his t-ball hat, and some old adjustable hats that haven’t fit since I let my hair get longer two years ago now perch nicely on my cranium. I’ll try to get a picture up at some point. Oh, and M. didn’t seem to notice at all, although she does still enjoy rubbing against it. Much more comfortable for me compared to her old practice of grabbing handfuls and pulling as she squealed with delight.
I want to thank Mr. Pitt, Mr. Beckham, and all the other fancy boys that have made short hair ok for the non-skinheads over the past few years. Without their trailblazing, I’d never be able to take the plunge.
I guess I’ve got another $16 to spend at the iTunes Music Store each month, now.
Now Playing: <strong>Never Running Out</strong> from the album “Wires” by <a href=”http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Athlete%22″>Athlete</a>