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Mr Lambs - Part 3 - My first haircut by buzztob

Mr Lambs �" Part 3 - My first haircut
by
buzztob

I looked at Jim and he said OK, first thing is to tape and cape the customer. Done. Now pick up a comb and run it through the hair. You are checking for a few things. Does the customer have head lice, if so, you cannot cut his hair. The second is looking for blemishes, scabs or infections; again you might not be able to cut the hair. The third is to ensure there are no tangles and lastly you ask the customer how they want it cut. If you are happy with everything, you can start the haircut.

With dad, he likes no guard up to here, then blended into the crown and side parting and, the top trimmed up slightly. Right, pick up the clippers, brush them off and with the comb in one hand and clippers in the other, start to cut the hair. I was really nervous and my hands were shaking but Jim put his hand over mine and showed me how high to take the clippers. I ran the clippers all around Mr Lambs head and once Jim was satisfied, he told me to put a guard on the clippers and starting at where I had created a line, run them up a few centimetres. It was then just a case of changing the guards and using the lever on the side of the clippers, blending all the sides and back together. The top was a different story. I was all fingers and thumbs trying to run the comb through the hair, grasping the hair between my fingers and then using the scissors to remove the hair. It really was not as easy as Mr Lamb and Jim made it look. Jim said that I needed to practice this and he would get hold of a dummy head so I could get used to the action required. In the meantime, he thought it would be best if he finished off this haircut. I readily agreed and handed the scissors and comb to him. Watching Jim work with the scissors and comb, gave me a whole new respect for the people who cut hair.

It didn’t take Jim long to finish cutting the hair and, with the approval of Mr Lamb, he was brushed down and the cape was removed. Mr Lamb asked me what I had thought about cutting someone’s hair. I admitted that I was nervous initially, but in the end was thoroughly enjoying myself. He said to think about making a career of it as people will always require a haircut. The three of use cleaned the shop, put the towels and capes into the washing machine, mopped the floor and, turning the lights off, locked the door. We said our goodbyes and they said they looked forward to seeing me the following Friday after school.

When I got home, I couldn’t wait to tell my father what had happened and the proposal about being a barber. All father said was, to stick in at school and make sure I obtained some decent qualifications, then I would be able to decide on my future.
Returning to school on the Monday, I couldn’t wait to tell my friends about my new job. They were all quite enthusiastic and complimented me on my shorter haircut. It was during break, that I was approached by the two lads who had been in the shop on the Saturday. They said that they were really happy with their haircuts. Their parents and all their friends had said how grown up they looked and that the hairstyles suited them. I told them that I was going to start cutting hair once I had mastered a few aspects. They said that quite a few of their friends would be visiting the shop and that they were quite happy for me to practice on them. I told them that I would need to speak Mr Lamb and Jim first before I said yes.

I couldn’t wait for the bell to sound on the Friday. Once out of school, I raced down to the shop. Mr Lamb and Jim were both busy cutting hair and there were already a number of people waiting. They both said hello when I entered. Putting my bag in the back room, I returned and stood beside Jim. He asked me how it had gone at school and I told him of all the positive comments I received regarding my haircut. I mentioned about the two lads who had been in last Saturday and they loved their haircuts and had said that they were quite happy for me to cut their hair. Jim looked at me, and I quickly added, that’s once I get used to handling the scissors and comb combination and, of course, your agreement. Jim chuckled and, out loud said to his dad, you hear that, Billy is already recruiting people so he can cut their hair. Mr Lamb just smiled and said, as long as he doesn’t want a pay rise to go with it.

It was then, one of the customers sitting on the sofa said, he can cut my hair. It’s easy enough, just clippers all over and it would get me out of the shop sooner. Jim looked at me and said, how do you feel about that? I told him that I was keen to do it, as long as the man was ok. Jim told me to use the third chair and open the cupboard to the side. Inside I found a box. When I opened the box, it contained a load of equipment; big clippers, guards, smaller clippers, combs and scissors. Jim said they had bought the stuff for me and were going to give it to me when the shop closed that evening. There is also a dummy head in there for you to practice on. Dad has already levelled the heads on the clippers, oiled them and charged them up a bit, so they are ready for you to start. If you look at the clippers, you’ll notice there are a number of indentations where the lever is. This will allow you to control the length you cut, ensuring a controlled graduation as you open and close the lever. I laid the equipment out on the shelf in front of the chair, which already had some equipment on it including a hairdryer. Took a deep breath, and invited the man to the chair.

Once the man was seated, I taped and caped him, picked up a comb and started to run it through his hair. Remembering what Jim had said, I looked at the man’s scalp as I ran the comb through and once satisfied, asked him what he wanted. He said that he wanted a number 2 guard all over with the back and sides tapered. I picked up the clippers, placed the guard on, and with comb in my other hand, started at the front of the man’s head. Running the clippers through the hair, felt different today, I was not as nervous as my previous experience using the clippers, and started to enjoy myself. Whilst I proceeded to reduce the hair on the man’s head, he asked me my name and how long had I been working here. I told him Billy, and slightly blushing, told him that I had started the previous Saturday. I would be in the shop on Friday after school and all-day Saturday.

By this time, I had finished running the clippers all over his head. Whist brushing him down, Jim told me to attach a number 1 guard to the clippers, open the lever and take it half way up the man’s head and flick the clippers out, once completed, close the lever and again run the clippers up but not as high. Then to repeat the process without the guard. He would then check it. I carried out the procedure and asked Jim to check it. He came over, looked around the man’s head and said there is one spot there where you haven’t quite blended it in, but apart from that, it’s fine. Sort the blend out, then go around the edges with the smaller clippers and show the gentleman the result. Showing the man his finished haircut, he said that it was great and, when he got home, he would be sending his boys over for me to cut their hair. The man walked over to the cash register. I looked at Jim and asked how to operate the register. Jim came over said that you enter the amount, press sub-total, then enter your number �" you will be 3, then press total and the drawer will open. Jim looked at the man and said that as Billy had cut his hair, it would be half price. The man said no, it was a good haircut and he wanted to pay full price and it was still a lot cheaper than he previously paid. He said that he would also pay for his 2 sons, as he would be sending them over as soon as he got home. With payment complete, I thanked the man for allowing me to cut his hair. He extended his hand and said he would be back.

Returning to my chair, I started to sweep up and went around the other two chairs. I asked Mr Lamb if he would like a cup of tea; silly question really. Upon returning with his tea, a young man in the waiting area asked if I could cut his hair. He was being picked up soon and, looking at the number of people before him, he might have to leave before getting a haircut. I told him that I really couldn’t cut hair, apart from clipper cuts. He said that would be fine. Looking at Jim, he said, get him sorted, that’s what you are here for.

Pumping my chest out, I invited the young man to my chair. Once seated, taped and caped, I ran the comb through his hair, checking as I went. The man then said can I have a number 1 on top and the back and sides tapered short. I was a little surprised as the man had a really nice head of hair, something similar to how mine had previously been. I asked him if he was sure as that would be quite a change. He said he was fine with his decision. He wanted a change. As I was picking up the clippers and placing the number 1 guard on them, he complimented me on my haircut. I said thanks, Jim cut it last week. With clippers in hand, I soon had all of his hair removed. Looking in the mirror, I saw a big smile on the man’s face. Jim told me to put the half guard on the clippers and open them half way. That should enable you to blend the sides and back into the top. Then close the lever and repeat all around just below your last cut. Remove the guard, open half way, repeat, then close the lever and remove the remaining hair. The process complete, I trimmed around his head with the smaller clippers and showed him the back in the hand mirror. Jim came over, checked it, and asked the man if he was happy with the cut. The man said that it was great and would be telling all his mates about the shop. I dusted him down and removed the cape. The man paid and left.

No sooner had I returned to the chair to clear up, the door opened and in walked two young lads. The bigger of the two said that his dad had sent them, and they were to ask for Billy, for their haircut. Mr Lamb looked over his shoulder and said to Jim, if this keeps up, I could be out of a job soon. They both just laughed.

I introduced myself to the boys and asked who was first. The older of the two pushed the young one forward and said he’s first. Jim told me to put a booster cushion on my chair so that I wouldn’t have to lean over as much. Once the lad was in the chair, taped and caped, I ran the comb through his hair. I asked him how he wanted it cut but, the older one responded with, number 2 all over; that’s what their dad had told him to say. Once again, clippers in hand, the process of removing the hair commenced. It was a little frustrating, as the lad would not sit still, but eventually, the haircut was complete. Dusting the lad down, I showed him the back of his head in the hand mirror. He said that it was great, thank you. His brother replaced him in the chair and once sorted, he announced that he wanted a number 4 all over. I picked up the clippers, attached the number 4 guard and was just about to start when the younger brother said that he was told to get a number 2 as well by his father. I asked the lad in the chair if that was correct and, a little redder in the face, said that it was. I said that we had better give him what his father asked for, as we didn’t want any trouble. With the correct guard attached I started to remove the hair. Part way through, I asked the lad if he wanted it cut the same as his father. He seemed to like that idea. So, once I had removed all of his hair with the number 2, I started the process of taking the sides and back shorter and blending it into the top. Once completed, I asked Jim to check it over. He said that it was good and that I was improving with each haircut. Showing the lad, the back of his head, and receiving a nod, I dusted him down, removed the cape and said that I hoped to see them again.

By now the shop was quiet; Mr Lamb and Jim were finishing off the last two customers. I picked up the brush and started to clean around the shop. I was really pumped at the number of haircuts I had done and how quickly the time had gone by. When the last two customers left the shop, Mr Lamb locked the door. They asked me how it felt, to be cutting peoples hair. I couldn’t take the smile off my face and said I had thoroughly enjoyed it. Jim asked if I could come in an hour earlier tomorrow. He would set up the dummy head and show me how to practice using the comb, fingers and scissors. Not a problem.

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