Summer's Hair Dilemma by KF_NDN

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It was an unusually hot day in May when Felix wandered through the narrow streets of a Czech town. The 20-year-old German exchange student had been trying to ignore the tropical temperatures over the past few weeks, but that day he realized that his unruly mop of hair had become his worst enemy. The thought of waiting another four weeks until his return to Germany was unbearable. "I really need a haircut," Felix muttered to himself as he brushed his sweaty hair out of his forehead.

Finding a barber was no easy task. Felix only spoke German and English, and many of the small salons looked traditional and uninviting. After what felt like an eternity, he stumbled upon a small, modern barbershop. Large windows let in the daylight, and the minimalist furniture exuded cleanliness. It was exactly the kind of place that inspired trust.

Felix took a deep breath and stepped into the salon. A young man in tight blue jeans a perfectly white shirt and white sneakers stood behind the counter. He couldn't have been much older than Felix and had a charming smile that instantly brought a sense of relief. "Hi! How can I help you?" the barber asked in clear English.

"Uh, yeah, hi. It’s really hot these days, and I was wondering if you could, uh, cut my hair a bit shorter?" Felix felt a bit uncertain, but the young barber nodded enthusiastically. "Sure, have a seat!" He pointed to the black barber chair.

The student sat down and watched as the barber prepared the clippers. As Felix notices that the young barber took the clippers instead of scissors, he asked not going to short. "I only use the clippers. It's quicker and perfect for giving a good shape," the barber explained with a wide smile. Felix shrugged. "Sounds good to me."

The clippers hummed softly as the barber began to trim the sides. He liked the feeling of the clippers starting. He loved the feeling of the clippers as they were applied to the back of his neck and felt them eating their way upwards. He had the feeling that the barber was cutting the hair at the back of his head just as short as at the bottom of his neck. It suddenly felt cold on his scalp and mountains of curls gathered on his cape. Felix noticed that the young man had a talent for casual conversation. "So, what brings you to the Czech Republic?" he asked while working. Felix talked about his exchange semester, the exciting lectures, and the impressive landscapes, losing track of time as he spoke.

But as the clippers moved higher along the back of his head, Felix feels again a cool breeze on his skin. He never had this kind of feeling while getting a haircut before. The loose strands of hair that had once covered his neck fell in a cascade onto the cape in front of him. "Uh, how short are we going?" he asked cautiously. The barber gave a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry, not too short. Trust me, I know what I do."

Felix started shifting nervously in the chair as more and more hair fell. With every pass of the clippers, the cool air on his scalp became more intense, and the reflection in the mirror made his anxiety grow. The cape was now covered in a thick layer of hair, and Felix felt a rising sense of panic. "Wait, isn’t that… really short?" he stammered.

The barber grinned and triumphantly held up the clippers. "It’s not just short—it’s perfect." With this he ran the machine over the top of Felix's head. Felix noticed there was no attachment on the clippers any longer. The hair was completely gone, and for the first time, Felix felt fresh air directly on his scalp. He hesitantly raised his hand and stroked the smooth surface of his head. It felt unfamiliar but also incredibly freeing.

"Wow… I didn’t expect this," Felix said, staring at himself in the mirror. The barber patted him on the shoulder. "You’ll thank me later. And hey, this one’s on the house."

Felix was just getting up and running his hand again over the unfamiliar smoothness of his scalp when the barber suddenly let out an enthusiastic exclamation. "You know what?" he shouted, spinning around excitedly. "I think I’ll try it too!" He looked at himself in the mirror and thoughtfully ran his hand through his thick hair. His eyes sparkled with anticipation, and Felix, still overwhelmed by his own unexpected haircut, could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"Wait… you’re going to shave your head? Now?" Felix asked, his voice slightly shaky. The barber grinned broadly. "Why not? Look, it’s hot, it’s trendy, and look at you—you look fantastic! I’ll join the club."

Without hesitation, the barber grabbed the clippers, removed the guard, and stood in front of the mirror. Felix sat speechless in the chair, watching the scene, a mixture of fascination and slight apprehension. The barber positioned himself, turned on the clippers, and the familiar buzzing filled the room once more.

With a quick motion, the barber began at the front of his head, right at the hairline. Felix watched as thick strands of hair fell to the ground, forming a small hair landscape around the barber's feet. "Wow, this feels amazing!" the barber called out enthusiastically, continuing to guide the clippers over the top of his head.

Felix couldn't help but follow the process with bated breath. The clipper strokes were precise, and with each movement, more of the barber's scalp became visible, shiny and flawless. The young barber paid special attention to the sides, tilting his head slightly to ensure he didn’t miss a spot. He worked so diligently that Felix wondered if he had done this before.

"Man, this is liberating," the barber said as he removed the last hairs on his neck and finished by running the clippers over his entire scalp to eliminate all tiny stubble. When he was done, he set the clippers aside and stroked his hand over his bald head. His face beamed with excitement, and he turned to Felix. "What do you think? We match now!"

Felix was overwhelmed. The sight of the freshly bald barber, combined with his enthusiasm, made him almost forget his own surprise. "I… I think you’re really brave," he finally said, as he ran his hand over his own scalp again, enjoying the unexpectedly pleasant sensation.

The barber turned back to the mirror and examined himself closely. "I feel reborn," he murmured before collecting the hair around him and laughing as he said, "Guess it’s time for a cleanup. But man, this summer is going to be amazing."

Felix left the barbershop with a feeling of connection and a small smile. This was definitely the most surprising visit to the hairdresser of his life.

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