#2 Is Too Long by PC

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True Story

I started working outside recently and needed something
cooler for warm Florida. My hair was cut to #3 on the sides/back
with about 3-4 inches on top.

About a month ago, I started my tour of barber shops by visiting
someone else, a one man shop and asked for #2 on the sides/back
with top cut to 2-3 inches on top; I really wanted to go short but
did not have the guts to ask. So, the next day feeling more courageous,
I drove to a different barber and asked for #1 on the sides/back with
some cut off the top. This time I had a female barber(which I prefer)
who spun me away from the mirror which I enjoyed to heighten
the nerves of uncertainity.

When she spun me back, my hair was shorter but still I wanted short--subconsciously I wanted a flat-top but chickened out.
While driving home, I was rubbing my head but disappointed with
the top still looking a little long.

When I got home, I bit the bullet and did the cut I wanted myself
by using my own clippers I use to keep the back of my neck trim.
I took a comb and liftedmy hair up while buzzing my hair off from
front to back, creating a very neatflat-top. The job looked very
professional and impressed myself but my hair is fine and requires
gel and hair drying in the morning to keep my hair lying
like a flat-top.

After a week of using the brush,gel,and hairdryer I gave up and let my hair
do its natural thing; which is lay forward like a long caesar cut. After a day
of this, I got in the car again for another tour. I kept telling myself:
crewcut,crewcut,crewcut. I drove for hours with each shop busy. I didn`t want
to wait for fear of backing out. Finally, I found a shop with (happily) a woman
barber finishing up a flat top as I was walking in. She dusted off the guy
and hailed my over. My legs were shaking but kept telling myself: crewcut,crewcut,crewcut. I settled into the chair and asked for #1 on the sides/back with #4 on top.

I figured she would make a comment or try to talk me out of it, instead, she
just fired up the #4 on plowed them down the middle. Personally, I wanted to
be away from the mirror but I started getting into the cut while watching. She
finished the top but looked long when she started on the sides.

I figured with only a week`s growth, #1 would take much off but I guess
her #1 was shorter than my previous barber the week earlier. She was finishing
the back, when my thoughts started to take flight. My head looked top heavy
with #4 and #1. I asked her how much shorter is #3, she said you`ll barely
notice and basically talked me into this. I liked her style, she kept one hand
firmly on my head while also firmly buzzing my head. After she finished with
#3, she asked if I wanted to go shorter to #2.

I declined(I thought) and said maybe next time. She dusted my off and shaved
my neck with a straight razor. I really enjoyed this haircut especially with
just her and me in the shop. I paid for the cut and starting driving home catching my reflection in the rear view mirror. I liked the feel of the back/sides but unsure about the top; Now my mind was working fast, I was at the
end of the parking lot when courageous took over. I drove back to the barber
and asked if she didn`t mind going shorter on the top: #2. Funny, the week
before, I didn`t have the guts for a flat top and now I was a different person.

She looked at me like I was crazy but didn`t decline my request. I was back in the chair and the clippers were going again. I loved the look, the #2 blended
perfect to the #2. Within a minute or two, she was done but before I walked out
she said I still could look good with #1 1/2 on top but we both agreed to wait
for next time.

On the way home, I couldn`t stop rubbing my head but felt very naked going
to the store for groceries. I challenged myself by just walking in without a
hat and guess what nobody cared either way.

Now its 3 weeks later and I visited my new barber for a trim, it was raining
hard and happy to see she had no customers. The barber asked what were doing
maybe #3 on top with trim on sides. I asked her how short #1 1/2 would be on the top. She said to let her show me on the sides with one pass on the side with #1 1/2. It looked short but said let`s do it: #1 on the sides/back with
#1 1/2 on top. Again the barber wasted no time or didn`t talk me out of it.
She smartly just took the #1 1/2 down the middle.

I`m amazed how much growth I experienced in 3 weeks because the path of #1 1/2
was dramatic. In no time she was done. I really,really loved the cut and
making jokes on no more hairdryer or need to shampoo. Interestingly, before I
left, my female barber made a comment about wishing to go as short as me and
also saying if more women worn their hair short that my cut would be acceptable
for women too. I agreed( but secretly wished she asked me to cut her hair... maybe next time) and paid for my cut. Before I left, I asked her if she shaves
guys bald, nonchallently, said yes but no straight razor, instead uses a bic.

When I got home, I really, really, really loved the cut but wondered what a #1
on top looked like. So, with all the courage I had, I plugged in the clippers
but could not look at myself while I cut my hair. I turned away from the mirror
and put the #1 to my forehead, pushing them back--I saw hair collecting on the
floor. After 9-10 passes, I needed to see the results. I hate it, for some
reason my forehead looks too white compared to the sides. With #1 1/2 on top,
I had a good contrast to the sides.

For now, I`ll let it grow for a month but now I know what I like when I return:
crewcut with #1 1/2 on top and #1 on the sides/back. Amazingly, last month a flat top was too short on top but now #2 is too long.

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