Hair Styles

While driving today, I was musing about the fact that other than during their times in the military, my grandfather and my father both had the same hair style throughout their lives: relatively short, just long enough to have a very slight curl and to be parted and combed to the side. Even their ancient childhood photographs show them that same way.

I, on the other hand, have had a variety of styles. In childhood I had a butch haircut or flattop; then in high school, hair long enough to be slicked straight back or to be parted and greased back somewhat on the sides, at times to a ducktail. In college in the 60s I was a little wilder, with longer curly hair parted in the middle and a full beard, and by the 70s I was out of control and flying a freak flag, hair down to my shoulders and at times tied into a ponytail. Once I went back to medical school in the 80s and for the next couple decades, I felt the need to be more "professional" and had medium length parted and combed hair and a mustache. Finally, since retiring, caring more about comfort and laziness than style, I've had a buzz cut - but still a mustache.

My son, meanwhile, now approaching age 40, has had a buzz cut for as long as I can remember - and a number of tattoos, which I and my forefathers never had. My grandson, just over two months old, so far just has regular baby hair.

So when I mentioned this to my wife, she said that she would still love me if my bucket list included having a ponytail again... but not if I got tattoos on my shoulders saying "Hey" and "Babe."

Sadly, I have few options these days as most of it has fallen out.

While driving today, I was musing about the fact that other than during their times in the military, my grandfather and my father both had the same hair style throughout their lives: relatively short, just long enough to have a very slight curl and to be parted and combed to the side.  Even their ancient childhood photographs show them that same way.

I, on the other hand, have had a variety of styles.  In childhood I had a butch haircut or flattop; then in high school, hair long enough to be slicked straight back or to be parted and greased back somewhat on the sides, at times to a ducktail.  In college in the 60s I was a little wilder, with longer curly hair parted in the middle and a full beard, and by the 70s I was out of control and flying a freak flag, hair down to my shoulders and at times tied into a ponytail.  Once I went back to medical school in the 80s and for the next couple decades, I felt the need to be more "professional" and had medium length parted and combed hair and a mustache.  Finally, since retiring, caring more about comfort and laziness than style, I've had a buzz cut - but still a mustache.

My son, meanwhile, now approaching age 40, has had a buzz cut for as long as I can remember - and a number of tattoos, which I and my forefathers never had.  My grandson, just over two months old, so far just has regular baby hair.

So when I mentioned this to my wife, she said that she would still love me if my bucket list included having a ponytail again... but not if I got tattoos on my shoulders saying "Hey" and "Babe."

Aren't those the tattoos that Rapid Roy that Stock car boy has on his arms?  Sorry but I figured you'd get the Jim Croce reference for sure - that guy was all 70s for sure.  The fact remains that you have always been a buzzer guy and you just strayed for a bit but came back to it when you settled down.  I'm a buzzer guy but the 70s did involve some longer hair.  I never got as far as the pony tail though.  I've had only 2 barbers in my life and I don't count the "stylists" during the 70s long hair era.  The first guy, Italian of course, gave me met first pro haircut at age 5 until 13 and then the break and he then went from age 22 or so to 39 (buzzer).  He got old and the ratio of good haircuts to bad ones fell so when he retired I found another Italian barber who I've been with from 39 to 57 (present)(still buzzer).  He's starting to show signs of age too (I notice a trend)I told him the last week that when he packs it in I'm done with barbers.  I'm going to start shaving my head or otherwise cutting my own hair.  How hard is a #3 anyway.  Have you noticed that when someone tells you they cut their own hair, somehow you already knew.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLlA4uJ7oxk

Aren't those the tattoos that Rapid Roy that Stock car boy has on his arms?  Sorry but I figured you'd get the Jim Croce reference for sure - that guy was all 70s for sure.

Yes indeed, that's where I originally got the idea - which now has been vetoed by two different wives. My wife now buzzes my hair with an Andis shaver, which has been well worth its cost.

As a child my mom would buzz cut my hair for the summer. The rest of the year it was the typical haircut of the 60/70s, short on the sides, parted on the side and a comb able length. Then came the military and my rebellion. I followed the reg's but to do so I would dippity doo my hair under my cap. Then back as a civilian I had longer layered hair for a few years, then returned to the 60/70s haircut for quite some time. For the last 20 years I'v come full circle and buzz cut my own hair. I could grow a full head of hair if I wanted to but a buzzcut is so much easier. It's complete in less time than it would take me to drive to a barber, the clipper cost me <$25 20 years ago, and the maintenance of the hair is super easy. Once in awhile I'll shave my head, but that generally doesn't last very long because I need to do that every few days and it's more maintenance than I care for.

As a child my mom would buzz cut my hair for the summer. The rest of the year it was the typical haircut of the 60/70s, short on the sides, parted on the side and a comb able length. Then came the military and my rebellion. I followed the reg's but to do so I would dippity doo my hair under my cap. Then back as a civilian I had longer layered hair for a few years, then returned to the 60/70s haircut for quite some time. For the last 20 years I'v come full circle and buzz cut my own hair. I could grow a full head of hair if I wanted to but a buzzcut is so much easier. It's complete in less time than it would take me to drive to a barber, the clipper cost me <$25 20 years ago, and the maintenance of the hair is super easy. Once in awhile I'll shave my head, but that generally doesn't last very long because I need to do that every few days and it's more maintenance than I care for.

I know what you mean, low maintenance is great. Both my mother and my wife ask me why I keep my hair so short because they like it longer. I tell them that I like it that way and thats enough.

My wife now buzzes my hair with an Andis shaver, which has been well worth its cost.

I’ve been cutting my own hair for over 20 years now, using mainly Philips hair clippers. I never just buzz my hair, though — after the experience from cutting it for so many years, I like the challenge of occasionally trying some (slightly) new style.

Also, I have a certain sense of pride in spending the same amount on clippers every five years that most other people spend for one or two visits to a barber or hairdresser. (But then I turn around and spend as much money on shaving in a year as someone else would in a decade…)

As a teen and young adult, though, I had a fairly massive cloud of long, curly hair. Friends would sometimes joke that if something was ever lost, it was probably somewhere within my head of hair…