The Razor’s Edge: What Comes Next?

**Note from the author** Greetings all! This is a commissioned work that serves as a continuation of one of my previous stories “The Razor’s Edge: The Day After” following the haircuts of Rhonda and her daughter Jennifer. Sorry for the lengthy absence. I hope you all enjoy.

We stood there for a moment in the bathroom admiring ourselves in the mirror. Moments earlier, my daughter Jennifer had an almost-full head of hair. While cleaning up her side-shave, we both reached the decision that she needed to sport a smooth head shave like mine.

“I think we eventually need to leave the bathroom.” Jenn shared as she continued to run her hands over her smooth pate.

“We may need to clean up this mess though.” I said referring to her discarded hair all over the floor.

“True.” She replied picking up a handful of her waist-length blonde hair before she unceremoniously dropped it into the trashcan. “Right where this belongs.”

We got onto our knees together and scooped up all of her hair to stuff it into the little can.

“Thank you mom.” Jennifer said with a smile. “This definitely wasn’t my plan for this morning, but I’m glad that you helped me shave my head.”

“You’re welcome dear.” I said, kissing her bald head. “This should make for an interesting conversation when your father gets home.

“I’m sure he’ll do a double-take, but I don’t think he’ll get mad.” She replied with a smile. “I just wanted to look as beautiful as my mom.”

“School may be a different story.” I said as I took a handful of lotion and began rubbing it into my scalp. “Maybe we should get you a suitable wig.”

“No way mom.” She said as she took her own handful of lotion to massage her scalp as well. “I should be allowed to be bald if I want. You’re not going to wear a wig, are you?”

“Well, no.” I said as we emerged from the bathroom. “You’re father was my biggest hurdle, and he didn’t seem to mind me shedding the mom bob.”

“Besides, if anyone asks, I’ll tell them I have alopecia and that my old hair had been a wig this whole time.” She said with a wink.

“And what are you going to do when it starts growing back Sherlock?” I replied, running my hand over her head.

“I’d first have to let it grow back.” She said with a smile. “Seeing all of that hair on the ground helped me to realize how much I really don’t like hair. If I can stay bald forever, I would.”

“Oh, honey.” I said while placing my hand on her smooth scalp. “You’re young. This is fun for now, but I’m sure you’ll want your hair back eventually.”

“I don’t know about that mom. This feels heavenly. Besides, what about you? Are you going to grow yours back out anytime soon?”

“Not at the moment.” I replied with a smile. “But I’m not subject to teenage torment in the school system.”

“Who care what they say?” My daughter said defiantly. “It’s my hair, or lack there of.”

With that, we both exited the bathroom and went on with our day. Bill was shocked by Jennifer’s sudden shedding but wasn’t mad at all. In fact, throughout most of the weekend, he couldn’t keep his hands off of me which was a nice change of pace. On Sunday night, we sat up in bed talking about the week ahead of us as he petted my head.

“How do you think tomorrow is going to go for her?” I said as Bill dug his fingertips into my scalp. “I don’t want people making fun of her.”

“She’ll be fine.” Bill replied with a chuckle. “You know her. She doesn’t let popular opinion get in her way most days. She seems happy bald as a cueball. So let her enjoy this.”

“Maybe you’re right. I just remember how High School can be sometimes.”

“Speaking of cueball.” Bill said touching a spot on my head. “You’re feeling a little rough in a few spots.”

“That is probably the most annoying part of going for a bald and beautiful look.” I replied half annoyed. “I just shaved a few hours ago, and it doesn’t stay smooth for very long.”

“Well, you have two options.” He replied while continuing to massage my scalp. “Let is grow back, or keep fighting nature and shaving it smooth.”

“Oh yeah?” I said in a playful tone. “And which option would my darling husband prefer?”

“Bald.”

“Wow. No hesitation there.” I said planting a kiss on his lips

“I never knew I liked it until you came home without hair. But the more I see it, the more I like it.”

“Well then maybe I should stop complaining about the struggles of keeping it smooth.” I said while kissing him again. “But how long is this experiment going to last before you beg me to grow it out again?”

“Let’s put it this way.” Bill said as he kissed me deeply. “Is forever too long for you? Besides, you could always wear a wig if you felt like having hair.”

“Sounds like you’re put some thought into this.” I said kissing him back.

With that, Bill treated me to a passionate night of love-making before we eventually slipped off to sleep.

I spent much of the morning helping Jenn with a fresh shave per her request.

“It’s got to look, perfect mom.” She said. “As smooth as it can get.”

“I’m trying not to rush here honey.” I replied, clearly frazzled by the amount of time we were spending. “A nick would be the last thing you’d want today.”

“I hate how fast hair grows.”

“I know dear.” I replied while wiping the remaining shaving lotion from her scalp. “Come on, lets get you to school.”

I quickly tied a thin scarf around my head before ushering Jenn into the car. Even with traffic, we made record time and managed to get Jenn to school before the tardy bell.

“Call me if you have any problems baby.” I said with a look of concern in my eyes.

“I’ll be fine mom.” She reassured me with a smile. “Oh. Remember to buy more of that shampoo I like while you’re at the store.”

“My little comedian.” I smiled back. “Have a great day Jenny!”

On my way home I decided to stop by the store and found myself roaming the hair care aisle looking for options to extend our shaving efforts. I found a few products that promised growth reduction after so many months of use, but nothing that really struck me as worthwhile. I received a text from Beckah while reading the back of one of the bottles.

“How’s that noggin of yours?”

“A little cold ;). But otherwise good.”

“Hubby approved?”

“And then some, lol.”

“Good! Always makes me happy when my work is appreciated by others.”

“Appreciated is a good word for this weekend.”

“Feeling scruffy yet?”

“A little.”

“I had a cancellation, so I’m free if you’d like me to clean you up.”

“Sure. I’ll be by in a minute.”

“See you then :).”

I put back the bottle onto the shelf before making my way out of the store. After a short trip across town, I found myself in the parking lot of the Razor’s Edge where my mom bob was unceremoniously shaved from my head. As I walked in, there were two young girls who looked to be in their twenties sitting in the waiting area. They both had gorgeous red hair cut to their shoulders and looked nervous as they sat there waiting for their appointment. I walked up to the counter and told Laura about Beckah calling me in for a cancellation.

“She’s finishing up her last client and then she’ll be all yours.” Laura said with a smile. “Can I get you anything to drink while you wait?”

“No thanks.” I replied as I made my way over to the waiting area.

I sat down and I noticed that the two red-headed girls started looking at my headscarf.

“That’s a pretty scarf.” One of them said.

“Thank you.” I replied while flipping through a magazine. “I don’t think it’s meant for heads but it works when you’re in a rush.”

“Are you here for a haircut?” The other one asked.

“Kind of.” I said with a smirk as I removed my scarf. “Just getting cleaned up a bit.”

“You look beautiful.” They both said in unison.

“Thank you.” I replied. “So do you. I absolutely love your red hair. Very pretty”

Beckah walked into the waiting area wearing her wig.

“I’m ready for you beautiful.” Beckah said as I stood up to hug her. “I see you two are loving her haircut. Remember that when April calls you back to the chair. There’s nothing like a sexy head shave to bring out someone’s beauty.”

With that, she led back back to her chair.

“I think you may have convinced those two to shed all of that red hair of theirs.” I said with a smile as I sat on her leather salon chair.

“Me?” She asked smiling back and caping me. “That was all you. You’re like the best walking billboard for bald women.”

“You really think so?” I said as she swiveled me toward the mirror.

“I do.” She replied as she ran her fingers over my stubble. “In fact, if they leave here with any hair on their heads, I would be shocked.”

“I guess we’ll see.” I said back as she continued to massage my scalp.

“So just a shave then?” Beckah asked as she prepared her tools.

“Yeah. It’d be nice to not have to do it myself for a change.”

“How many times did you have to do it over the weekend?” She asked

“Just three.” I replied. “It never seems to last long before I think I need to shave it again.”

I looked in the mirror as Beckah pealed her wig from her head and placed it onto her crystal mannequin bust.

“Thinking about keeping it smooth for a while?” She asked with her perfectly smooth scalp absolutely beaming under the lights of the salon.

“What’s your secret.” I asked staring at her. “Because I don’t think I have the energy to shave my head twice a day to be as smooth as you.”

“I haven’t shaved in years.” She said running her fingers over her scalp. “Still smooth as a baby’s bottom.”

“How?”

“It depends on how much you like this look.” Beckah said as she rummaged through her cabinet. “I can make it so that you won’t have to shave for a few months. Or I can make it so that you never have to shave again.”

“I find that a little hard to believe.” I said with a smirk. “Forever, is never forever.”

“Well, let me ask you. How long would you like to stay bald for?” Beckah asked as I stared at the back of her perfect head while she continued to dig through her cabinet.

“If you ask Bill, he’d tell you forever.” I replied

“But I’m not asking Bill. I’m asking you.”

“I like being bald.” I replied

“But for how long?” Beckah asked as she emerged from her cabinet with a handheld device.

“I guess for as long as you could make me bald.”

“So if I could make you bald for life, you’d sign up for that?”

“Well yeah, but you can’t really do that.” I said in disbelief. “Can you?”

“Wait right here.” Beckah said as she scurried away from her station.

She returned a moment later with a jar of bright blue gel. She gloved up her hands and unscrewed the top.

“This is going to feel uncomfortably cold dear.” She said as she scooped a handful of the gel into her gloved hand. “Brace yourself.”

I flinched as the gel made contact with my scalp. It felt as if she was rubbing ice cream all over my head. Once she had completely covered my scalp, she took her handheld tool and plugged it into the wall.

“We need to let the gel set up for a bit before continuing. Can I get you something to drink?”

“No thank you.” I replied. “What is this stuff?

“It’s a conductive gel. Beckah said as she busied herself with her cell phone. “Right now it is working int’s ways into your pores and adhering to your hair follicles.”

“Kind of like a wax?” I said while flinching. “I didn’t realize you were going full Brazilian on my head. Not sure how I feel about that.”

“It’s not what you think.” She reassured me. “There will be a little pressure, but no pain. Trust me.”

After a while Beckah took her handheld device and began running it over the hardened gel. She took her time in each area of my head, and each time she move to a new spot, I felt an intense tingling sensation that quickly dissipated. As she worked her way around my scalp, I noticed that the blue gel turned an opaque color. Eventually, she finished and set her device to the counter.

“Are you ready for the moment of truth?” She asked as she found the seem of the gel at my forehead.”

“I guess ready as I’ll ever be.” I said with apprehension.

Beckah worked slowly as pealing the gel from my head. As she pulled, I felt the pressure she spoke of, which didn’t last for long as she continued to pull the gel away. Eventually, I felt the last of the gel release from the back of my head before Beckah handed me the gel cap. Stuck to the inside of the cap were millions of tiny hairs stuck to the gel. I was in disbelief as I stared at what was left of my former hair.

“Feel it.” Beckah said from behind me.

I reached up and felt my scalp. It was so soft and smooth. In the mirror it also looked noticeably red.

“The redness will fade.” She said as she spread an unknown lotion on my scalp. “It’ll also be very sensitive for the next few days since I just killed and ripped all of the hair on your head.”

“It really won’t grow back?” I asked as I continued to stare at myself in the mirror.

“Well, yes and no.” Beckah said as she continued to rub my head. “Your body will try to grow it all back at first, but you can stop it by using a growth inhibitor daily after you shower. It’s full of natural ingredients that send your follicles into a dormant state like male pattern baldness and block them from absorbing nutrients.”

“And if they don’t get nutrients, they won’t grow back?” I said

“Precisely.” Beckah replied. “I used the growth inhibitor for about a year just to make sure my follicles stayed dormant. I haven’t had any problems since.”

“I have to say, I didn’t think this was going to happen today when I came in for you to ‘clean me up.’” I said with a smirk. “You’re not joking though, my scalp is super tender.”

“That just means I did a bang-up job.” She smiled back. “You happy?”

“Still in a state of shock.” I replied. “Jennifer is going to go crazy when she finds out.”

“She still enjoying her haircut?” Beckah said as she uncaped me.

“Yes and no.” I said before I stood up. “I kind of shaved her head.”

“Wow, and here I thought Ramona was going to get her to do the deed during her next appointment.” Beckah said with a smile.

“She wanted to be bald.” I said running my hands over my soft pate. “Probably more so than me, if you can believe that.”

“So why is she going to go nuts when she finds out that mommy might be bald for a while longer?” Beckah asked as she handed me a large bottle of growth inhibitor.

“Because she would take this option in a heartbeat.” I said as I turned the bottle in my hands.

“Wonderful.” Beckah replied. “We can help her with that.”

“I just don’t want her to make a decision that she may regret.” I said back.

“Do you regret what we just did?” Beckah asked with a look of concern in her eyes.

“No. I think being bald for the rest of my life sounds exciting.” I replied. “But she is so young.”

“You’re a great mom Rhonda.” Beckah said as she leaned over to kiss my scalp. “But listen to your daughter. Kids know more than we like to give them credit for.”

“You would really let my kid denude her head?” I asked with a smile.

“In a heartbeat.” She smiled back. “Remember to use that stuff every time you shower, and be generous with it. You want to get it into all of your pores for maximum effect. Don’t miss any spots.”

On my way out of the salon, I decided to make a follow up appointment for Jennifer at the desk.

“Just a trim?” Laura asked. “Or something more?”

“Something more.” I replied.

Laura handed me a small card with a date for Friday evening on it for Jennifer. Before I left, I looked over to the stations at the other end of the salon and saw the two women from earlier sitting in salon chairs with two huge piles of discarded red hair underneath them.

“You look gorgeous!” I yelled out from the reception desk.

The two girls smiled back as their stylists lathered them up for a fresh shave.

I tied my scarf back around my sensitive head to protect it before stepping out into the windy afternoon. At home, I peeled my clothes off and hopped into the shower. The warm water felt different in my head, but still enjoyable. After stepping out of the shower, I quickly picked up my growth inhibitor and applied a generous amount to my hands before massaging it into every inch of my scalp. I could feel my scalp becoming tighter as the inhibitor was absorbed. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was certainly noticeable. I stood there in the bathroom, staring at my newly bald self in the mirror. Was I ready for a lifetime of this? Was Jennifer?

To be Continued.