The Shave of Resolve Part -1 by Sid Mehra

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Aryan was a 24-year-old energetic and confident student. He stood tall with a sculpted frame, shaped by regular gym workouts and weekend cricket matches. His hair—thick, jet-black, and perfectly dense—had always been his pride. Friends envied his natural volume, and he often ran his fingers through his silky locks unconsciously. They completed his charismatic presence.

But over the past week, something changed. A strange itching crept in, mild at first but quickly turning unbearable. As he scratched in frustration, he noticed tufts of his prized hair falling out. Panic set in. He tried every home remedy—oil massages, neem rinses, even over-the-counter antifungal shampoos. But nothing worked. Instead, the itching worsened, and he began noticing patchy flakes and redness on his scalp.

Unable to bear it, Aryan visited a dermatologist. After examining his scalp under light and magnification, the doctor sighed.
"You have developed a severe fungal infection. Possibly seborrheic dermatitis combined with folliculitis. The best course is this: shave your head clean, apply this medicated lotion daily, and let your scalp breathe. No caps, no sweat buildup. Minimum two months."

Aryan stared in disbelief. "Shave… my head?"

"Yes," the doctor said firmly. "A clean shave will allow your scalp to recover faster. And no covering your scalp—air and sunlight will help too."

That evening, Aryan sat in his room silently, turning the prescription paper over in his hand. Emotions swirled—shock, anxiety, sadness, even embarrassment. His mirror felt like a stranger's reflection. His hair had been his identity. The thought of a bald scalp made his stomach churn.

But by morning, he had made up his mind. Health came first. He wrapped a scarf around his head and walked to the nearby barber shop with hesitant steps.

The small salon had only one customer inside—a young guy, perhaps in his twenties like Aryan. The barber, who was cleaning the blade, greeted Aryan with a warm smile.
"Head shave, bhaiya?" he asked.

Aryan hesitated. "Yes… doctor advised. Severe scalp issue."

The barber nodded understandingly. "No problem. You’ll feel fresh after this. And don’t worry—look at me, I shaved mine last week. Too much heat!"

Aryan looked at the guy in the chair. His clean-shaven head gleamed slightly under the light. Surprisingly, he looked stylish and confident—strong jawline visible, facial features highlighted. It eased Aryan’s nerves just a bit.

The Process Begins

The buzzing sound broke the silence. The barber started with the front, placing his hand firmly on Aryan’s crown.
Bzzzrrr — the clippers glided smoothly through the thick hair. Chunk after chunk fell to the white apron like tufts of black wool. Aryan stared at his reflection as his forehead lengthened with every pass.

Side to side, the clippers moved with practiced grace. First the right, clearing behind the ear, then the left. The nape of the neck came last. With each stroke, Aryan felt strangely lighter. The barber smiled, "So thick, yaar! You had a real mane."

After the buzzing, came a warm water massage. He tilted Aryan’s head forward, soaking it gently with a sponge, careful not to irritate the red patches. Then came the soft hot towel—wrapped snugly around the scalp to soften the remaining hair stubble and open the pores.

Then, the creamy lather. Thick shaving cream was applied generously—front, back, and sides, the fingers massaging the scalp. The coolness of the cream soothed the inflamed skin.

Next came the straight razor—gleaming silver under the lights. The first pass was from front to crown, firm and clean. The barber tilted Aryan’s head gently and shaved from temple to ear in long smooth strokes. He repeated the same on the other side.

Then the back—upward strokes, then downward, ensuring every patch was smooth. The reverse shave came last, a careful process to remove any micro-stubble and dead fungal skin. Aryan felt the cool razor glide over the scalp with a strange satisfaction.

Once finished, the barber applied an antiseptic balm—minty and cool—and massaged it in gently. Another hot towel was applied for a minute before being removed with a soft pat.

Aftermath

Aryan looked in the mirror. He was speechless. His scalp was gleaming, slightly pink, and spotless. Though unfamiliar, the look wasn’t terrible. His jawline and cheekbones stood out more. His eyes looked sharper. Even the barber smiled, "You carry it well. Honestly, you look badass."

Aryan chuckled nervously. "Let’s see how people react."

He walked back home, head uncovered for the first time in years. Some heads turned, but no one laughed. That evening, a few friends pinged him with surprise—but also compliments. "You look bold, bro!" "Looks sharp!"

The itching had already begun to settle a little, and the balm gave a cool, soothing relief. That first shave had been intense, unfamiliar, and humbling—but oddly refreshing too.

As he lay in bed that night, feeling the smoothness of his bare scalp against the pillow, Aryan realized this was just the beginning. The dermatologist had said at least two months—and he would be back at the barber’s chair again in a few days.

This was only the first experience. Part One of a new journey. And Aryan was ready for the next.

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