The Beauty and the Barber

by MK Douma
(Ottawa)

Beauty and the Barber

I hate going to hairdressers. Sitting in the chair as they pull that black cape around your neck, wielding their sharp pair of scissors so close to your ears that you're terrified they might shear a body part off along with a lock of hair. And then they try to make friendly conversation with you. "How's school?" "What are your favorite subjects?" "What music do you like?" Then you have to reply to them with a polite yes or no, great or not-so-great, English and Art, rock and techno. And all of this is happening while you've got your fingers crossed that they don't accidentally slit your jugular with a straight razor.

I really do hate going to hairdressers.

But back in grade nine, back when I had long hair, back when my self-esteem was just about as low as it could possibly be -- I came across a revelation.
Hair is the only part of your body that can be, to some extent, changed quickly and easily to suit your mood. For me, having boring long hair that showed off a high forehead and acne was equal to me being really, really depressed. So I conquered my fear of the hairdresser (at least momentarily) and got my hair cut short.
It was somewhat of a movie moment when I finally opened my eyes and put my coke-bottle glasses back on: I gaped at the mirror and my nice Chinese hairdresser blanched with fear. Maybe she'd overdone it? Would her customer jump up and demand a refund? What would her boss think?
"You like?" she asked nervously in her clipped accent, and for a moment I wasn't even sure how to answer.
"I--it's--totally awesome. Wow," I said finally, staring at this brand-new face and brand-new haircut. The middle part was gone, replaced with gorgeous sculpted bangs. The poofy clumps of wispy hair that fell down in front of my ears had turned into close-cropped shadows. The waist-length, split-ended blonde cape that had concealed my spine had receded into my skull until it was only a half-inch long. I loved it.
I went to school the next day and was pleasantly -no, completely and utterly -surprised by the reaction and complements my new 'do received.
And three years later, I look back at the pictures of me with long hair and have to keep myself from laughing my head off.

Short Hair Styles for Back-To-School