wozziewoo
Most of the team is away for spring break, but let;s also not forget about the team members who didn’t go away.
If you need a quick refresher be sure to check out part one:
So, now the conclusion:
A NEW PROPOSAL
Melissa sat at the kitchen table sulking. She was miserable and no longer trying to hide it. Her foot and arm were taking longer to heel than she liked. Although she was disappointed by her injury, she had tried to remain in good spirits and positive throughout. While the rest of the team continued to practice and soldier on, Melissa supported them in every way she could. She didn’t blame anyone for her fall and chalked it up to the fact that accidents happen. But that was several months ago. Now the Cheer season was over. It was Spring Break and she was getting antsy. It didn’t help that most of the team had gone away together while she stayed behind.
“Alright, it’s been a couple of days now… You keeping this up all week?” Kathy entered the kitchen with a pizza box, which she placed on the table. She grabbed two plates from the cabinet and handed one to Melissa, then she sat down, opened the box, and grabbed a slice. “Go on, eat.”
“Not hungry,” Melissa pouted. She attempted to cross her arms, but her sling got in the way. “GRRRR… I’m so done with this!” Melissa declared, on the verge of tears.
“Ok, ok.” Kathy got up and walked over to Melissa. She squatted next to her and tried to comfort her. “What’s really going on?”
“Kathy, I’m miserable.” Melissa turned towards her friend. “I really thought that I’d be healed by now.” She sniffed back tears. “Even if I wasn’t at 100%, I at least figured I’d be better than this. I’m missing SPRING BREAK!”
“Is that why you’re dressed that way?” Kathy finally made note of the tiny string bikini Melissa had on.
“If I wasn’t here, I’d be with the rest of the team. I guarantee you every single one of them is dressed like this.” She reached her hand up and rubbed her head, which sported a few days of growth. “Plus, I’d be with Heather and wouldn’t have to deal with this.”
“You really have no desire to have even the slightest bit of hair on your head, do you?” Kathy smirked.
Melissa stared at Kathy, not sure if she was trying to make a joke or was being serious. She just rolled her eyes. “Ugh.”
“Ok, well, good news.” Kathy stood up and smiled. “I can help with that.”
“What? How?” Melissa asked.
“Do you trust me?” Kathy grinned as she sat back down and continued to eat her pizza. She glanced at Melissa and darted her eyes towards the pizza box.
“Why?” Melissa eyed Kathy suspiciously as she reached for a slice of pizza and took a bite.
“Well, if you really want your head bare and didn’t want to wait for Heather to come back,” Kathy paused for emphasis, “I, um, I could always do it for you.”
Melissa’s eyes grew wide as her jaw dropped. “Really?”
“Sure, I mean how difficult could it be? I’ve seen Heather do it enough times…” Kathy hesitated as the next words stuck in her throat a bit. “And then you can do mine.”
“I knew you’d come around.” Melissa squealed. “I’m so happy for you!” She paused for a moment as she thought, “I don’t know that I can do it though. I’ve never –”
Kathy put up her hand, cutting her off. “And I have?! Melissa, I’m doing this for YOU, but there are conditions. Also, I haven’t ‘come around’ on anything. I still miss my hair and won’t stay bald forever.” Kathy exhaled, “But I did make a commitment to you, and I will admit that it hasn’t been nearly as bad this time around.”
“Conditions? Now there are conditions?” Melissa started to pout again.
“Relax, they’re easy. I WANT this for you so it’s nothing hard.” Kathy explained. “First, I’ll shave you any time you want, just ask. You’ll be my exclusive client. You can still go to Heather or anyone else, but I’ll always be available for you.” She looked directly at Melissa to make sure she understood this next part. “BUT no more pouting. No more negativity. I want the fun, positive, energetic Melissa back. Yeah, you got dealt a horrible blow. It sucks. And I know it’s taking longer to get better than you hoped. But stay focused, stay positive. This whole team supports you. You know that.”
Melissa nodded in understanding. “I can do that!” Melissa reached for another slice of pizza. “Can we do it now?”
Kathy laughed. “After lunch. We’ll go find Coach and see if she can let us into the barbershop. Plus, it will give you time to change.”
“Why? What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Melissa looked down, then looked at Kathy and smiled. “You want me happy right? This makes me happy.” Then she got serious. “So, what about your head? Is that after lunch? Are there conditions attached with that as well?”
“Yes, but it’s one that I’m sure will easily keep me bald ‘til the end of the semester.” Kathy sighed, “Only if you do it.”
“Do what? Shave my head?” Melissa sat up, smiling. “You’re right, that is easy!”
“No. You shave MINE.” Kathy answered bluntly. “Any time, after I shave you, we can switch spots and you can shave mine. You certainly don’t have to, and I would probably appreciate it if it wasn’t all the time, but that will be your call. But it’s only when you do it.”
Melissa’s eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped. She was already thinking about all the fun things they could do together.
“Now, I see that look on your face. Before things get too carried away, let’s be clear. This isn’t forever. Not by a long shot. I’m already committing to this look longer than I expected. This offer lasts for the rest of the semester, but that’s it.” Kathy spoke clearly and firmly. She wanted to make sure there was no mistake about how she felt. “I already don’t know how I’ll explain this to my parents. Not because they’ll care, but because I made such a big deal about this a year ago.”
Melissa smiled. She’d take what she could get. She was excited about everything that Kathy had just said, and it was all reasonable. She struggled to get up but managed to make her way over to her best friend and gave her a giant hug.
Kathy’s long hair days were officially over. She wanted hair. She’d grow it out again, hopefully over the summer, but she knew it would never be as long as it once was, and she was okay with that. She wasn’t sure how long or short it would be, but it no longer mattered to her.
MOVING ON
Heather was nothing if not resilient. She took the breakup hard but was determined not to let it ruin her fun. Tabitha reinforced her friend status and really stepped up. She joined Heather for their usual morning run. Heather seemingly found another gear and pushed herself even harder than usual. Tabitha even decided to forgo her tan session for the day and joined Heather in the pool along with Anna and Janie. Betty, for her part, was not seen as a pariah in any way. She was still friendly with the entire team, and they rallied around her as well. By lunchtime everyone had settled, and they all tried to enjoy their last full day.
It was early afternoon when Madison approached Heather. She was ready for the next step and wanted it done before they went out for dinner later that night. Plus, she figured it might help Heather get her mind off other things.
“Hey Heather, I think it’s time.” Madison, clad in a bandeau top and boy shorts bikini bottoms, with her long, nearly waist length hair down, walked over to Heather.
“Time for what?” Heather looked up from the pool at her teammate.
“Time for my hair to match.” Madison sat down at the pool edge, her feet dangling in the water. “All over teal.” She smiled. “Assuming you can, of course. I don’t know how much you have with you.”
“Of course.” Heather smiled back. “I came prepared. I thought this might happen. Any other color may have been an issue, but I’ve got your teal with me.” Heather paused for a minute. “Give me maybe ten more minutes and I’ll meet you inside?”
Madison grinned. “That’s great.” Madison stayed by the pool side another couple of minutes, she gently splashed the others with her feet before she got up to get ready. Heather swam around and played with her teammates for a few more minutes before she got out of the pool herself and headed inside.
“You ok?” Tabitha asked from the pool.
“I’m good.” Heather replied back.
“You sure you don’t need any help or assistance?”
“I should be ok.” Heather answered as she made her way back inside.
Tabitha splashed Anna and Janie one more time, then retreated out of the pool and headed towards one of the empty loungers and took advantage of the afternoon sun.
TEAL TIME
Madison couldn’t believe how long her hair had gotten. She was still relatively new to long hair but she absolutely treasured it. She had always scoffed at all the other girls who put so much time and effort into their hair. The care they had baffled her. She finally got it. She understood. Now, she was one of those girls. The ultimate irony was that her hair was now longer than most of those girls that she couldn’t understand from high school, and it was only getting longer. She was a long-haired gal now and loved it. Now it was time to finish the job. Her natural jet-black hair was a thing of the past. Team spirit led her to have hair that was half teal and half icy blonde. Soon it would all be teal. And then it would stay that way.
“I’m so excited for this!” Madison squealed from her chair as Heather entered the room. “I can’t believe how much I’m looking forward to this.”
“It certainly has been a process.” Heather agreed as she approached Madison. “I had a feeling we might be doing this today.”
“It all started here, so it seemed right to finish it here.” Madison confirmed. “Then I can show Chloe when we go out to dinner tonight.”
“And Amber as well.” Heather started to brush out Madison’s hair.
“Yeah, whatever. I guess, her too.” Madison dismissed Heather’s comment. “I’m not really a huge fan of hers.”
“Aww, that’s too bad. I think she’s great.” Heather began to mix the color solution. “She played a huge part in getting me started on all of this.”
“I know.” Madison really didn’t want to talk about it anymore and hoped Heather wouldn’t either.
“I think we should do your whole head.” Heather stated as she examined Madison a bit closer.
“Oh… Um, ok.” Madison agreed. “Whatever you think is best.”
“Well, I could just do half your head. But we haven’t done much to this other side recently. So, your whole hair will be teal, which is what we want, but the actual color on the two sides may just slightly be off, by like a shade or two.” Heather explained. “So, if I color your whole head, there’s a better chance it all matches. Then we just keep it up going forward.”
“That makes a lot of sense.” Madison admitted. “Um, how often do you think we’ll need to do this?”
“That depends. I’m not entirely sure, but it seems like your hair holds the color well. So, we’ll see how bright and vibrant you want it. Let’s plan definitely at least once more before you go home at the end of the semester. Though we could schedule more if you want it. I’ll take care of you as soon as you get back, but getting through the summer may be a challenge. The biggest issue will be your roots. As your hair grows, your natural color will poke through, so we’ll have to keep on top of that. It’s a commitment, but I’ll do what I can as long as you want.”
“I’m committed!” Madison had never felt more dedicated to anything in her life and was excited to go home and show off her new hair to all her friends. “Thank you so much for doing this.”
“It’s not a problem.” Heather began to paint the dye onto Madison’s hair. “I’m looking forward to going on this journey with you. So many of my clients have short and no hair… You’re one of the few exceptions.”
“That’s so funny,” Madison giggled, “because my hair always used to be so short. Not short like you and most of the team, but short compared with everyone else.”
“Well, your hair definitely isn’t short anymore.”
“I know!” Madison exclaimed. “It’s so different from what I’m used to. I love it though. I’m definitely a long hair girl now and I never thought I’d say that.”
“Mmhmm,” Heather nodded in agreement, just as she finished applying all the dye to Madison’s hair. “Now, we wait.” Heather started to clean up, as Madison sat there impatiently waiting for the dye to process.
“How – how long?”
“Oh, it shouldn’t be too bad. Half your hair is already teal, and the other half has been bleached out and is light enough. We’ve already determined that your hair takes the chemicals really well. I guess we’ll have to see how vivid you want the color to be.” Heather paced anxiously. She hated being idle.
“It’s ok, you can go.” Madison reassured Heather. “I’ll just sit here and wait. Go enjoy yourself. I’ll be here when you get back.”
After insisting it was okay and assuring Heather that Madison would feel bad if she stayed inside, Heather didn’t put up much of a fight. She bounded outside and promised Madison she’d be back well before the hair was done. Heather also wanted Madison to think if there was any special style or look that she wanted to introduce with her new look.
A CHANGE OF PLANS/HEART/EXPECTATIONS
It didn’t prove to be difficult to find Coach Emma at the cottage, and once she heard the plan, she gave her full support. She asked if the girls needed any help with anything, but they were good.
“Technically, the barbershop is closed this week, and you really should be in uniform if you’ll be working here, but the team is the exception, so I guess it can slide.” Emma stated.
“No, no, we should do it right.” Melissa declared. She turned to Kathy, “You don’t mind, do you?” She smiled sweetly.
“Which uniform are we talking about? Cause I never got one for here and the cheer uniform –”
“How about just a bikini? Like I have, then we can really match!” Melissa looked at Emma and Kathy.
Coach Emma shrugged at Kathy, indicating it was her call. Kathy looked back at Emma then looked at Melissa, who was all smiles and batting her eyes. Kathy turned back to Emma before she finally ran off in a huff. She left Emma and Melissa to chat while she went to change.
Kathy’s and Melissa’s relationship had evolved quite a bit in the short time they knew each other. They started off as bitter rivals from opposing schools. After a brief time, when Melissa discovered the harsh bullying Kathy was subject to, they became friendly acquaintances. When Kathy transferred schools and they were on the same team together, they became even better friends. Fast friends. Best friends. Their bond had only grown stronger as the year went on. Melissa saved Kathy from a bad situation. Kathy was indebted to her, but they had grown very close. Kathy would do anything for Melissa. It’s why she was bald and why she was okay with staying that way a bit longer. It’s why she was currently on her way back to the cheer house to change.
“So, Emma, do you really think you’ll stay bald?” Melissa inquired.
“I could ask you the same question.” Emma chuckled, as she rubbed her completely smooth shiny head. “Honestly, Melissa. I fell in love with this look instantly. I wasn’t sure it would be ‘forever,’ but I knew it’d be a good long while.” She paused a moment, reflecting. “It’s been about a year and a half now. I don’t see a scenario that will cause me to WANT to grow my hair again.”
“I feel the same way.” Melissa grinned. “Even this feels like to much hair.” Melissa scratched at her stubbly few days of growth. “Your head always looks so amazing though. I wish my head looked that good. What’s your secret? Heather’s not –”
“Heather definitely played an important part. I think if it wasn’t for her when I first did this, it may not have stuck. But I’ve adapted and I’ve done my research. I care for my head and treat it. It’s more than just daily shaves.” Emma winked at Melissa and smirked. “Sometimes more than daily.”
“How?” Melissa’s jaw dropped. She wanted everything Emma just said.
“Do you care for your head outside of Heather’s, and I guess now Kathy’s, shaves? Do you regularly moisturize and oil you head?” Emma asked.
Melissa shook her head.
“I still rely on Heather and visit with her as often as I can, but as you know, she’s also quite busy. Last Christmas, she got me an electric skull razor. At the time, I was thankful, but I was still reliant on her daily shaves and didn’t want them to stop.” Emma confessed. “But that razor… ah, that razor,” Emma smiled broadly as she casually passed her hand over her head. “It’s a lifesaver.”
Just then the door to the barbershop opened and Kathy returned. She was wearing a tiny string bikini top that emphasized every curve and left nothing to the imagination. Her shorts could barely be called that. Emma and Melissa turned to look and were surprised, since they were not used to seeing Kathy reveal so much of her body.
“You said you wanted to match. Is this more what you had in mind?” Kathy remarked as she approached Melissa and closed the door behind her. “I don’t normally wear this. I tend to save it for when I’m feeling a certain way and on the prowl for a guy, but hey, anything for you, bestie.” Kathy smiled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Do you want me to take these shorts off, too? I’ve got my thong on underneath.”
Melissa looked down at her chest. As thrilled as she was about Kathy, and as amazing as she looked, it served as another reminder of what she lacked. Yet it was her own fault for insisting Kathy should wear a bikini and match her. “You look great, Kathy! And you’ll look even better, once I get to that hair on your head.” She smiled back with anticipation.
“I’ll let the two of you do what you came here to do. Good luck.” Emma started to leave, then turned back, “Oh, and Kathy, I’ll make sure we get you a barbershop uniform for the future.” Then Emma disappeared before either girl could reply.
“Alright, let’s get started.” Kathy stood behind Melissa, “I guess I’ll just grab the shaving cream and rub it on your head.” Kathy made her way to the counter in front of them and grabbed the canister.
“Are you asking me or telling me?” Melissa questioned nervously.
“I’m telling you, but I’ve still never done this before, so feel free to chime in.” Kathy sprayed the foam on Melissa’s head. “I assume we’ll be doing this daily.” She paused a moment as she started to rub Melissa’s head. “And I’m guessing you’ll be wanting me in that chair just as much.” She sighed.
“Probably!” Melissa sat back as she enjoyed the massage Kathy was currently giving her head. Still, she couldn’t help thinking about the conversation she had just had with Emma.
“Ok, so now, I guess I’ll take the razor and start to scrape the foam away.” Kathy rinsed her hands and reached for a razor. She took a deep breath. “It’s just like shaving my legs, it’s just like shaving my legs…” She mumbled to herself.
“What was that?” Melissa inquired.
“What was what?”
“You said something.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Kathy carefully placed the razor at Melissa’s forehead. Then slowly pulled it back, across the top of Melissa’s head, leaving a bare path of skin in its wake. Kathy giggled upon completion and Melissa smiled. Kathy quickly wiped off the razor, then repeated the action a bit quicker and more confident this time.
Melissa thoroughly enjoyed her headshaves. There was something about the way Heather did them that relaxed her. It is probably why Melissa took to it so quickly. Her decision to never desire hair ever again was greatly influenced by the care Heather took. Kathy was not Heather, yet she was equally pleased with the process. She enjoyed the act of the shave almost as much, if not more, than actually being bald. It was why some upcoming decisions would be so difficult. But she took Emma’s words to heart and knew she’d need to take better care of her head going forward.
“Second pass, right?” Kathy was really into it now. She found herself enjoying the process more than she expected.
“You’d better.” Melissa scolded.
“Relax, I was going to anyway.” Kathy was glad that Melissa was as enthusiastic as she was. She’d even offer a third pass and hoped Melissa was okay, even though she’s never been one to turn it down. “I’ll even do a third, if you want.” Kathy smiled at Melissa through the mirror, trying to disguise how into it she had become.
“OKAY!” Melissa grinned. A third pass was a rare treat that only happened occasionally. It was never needed but Melissa enjoyed the process and always wanted it to last as long as possible.
“Then, it’s my turn.” In that moment, Kathy decided it was what she wanted. Really for the first time. She had agreed to it, she had suggested it, and been okay with it, but it was never something she willingly chose for herself. Until now. She still wanted her hair, eventually, but was no longer in any hurry to grow it back out. She still wasn’t sure how she’d feel about it every day, but she definitely knew it would happen today.
Melissa smiled. Kathy had become her best friend. After the traumatic experience that happened to her last year when she first had her head shaved, Melissa promised she’d never push or mention the idea of Kathy doing it again. And she didn’t. But Kathy did. If Kathy mentioned it, of course Melissa would encourage and support the idea. It was her great hope that the person who had become her closest friend would share a similar enthusiasm for their bald heads. Melissa wasn’t sure exactly how Kathy felt, but it seemed like she was getting closer.
Kathy quickly finished up her second pass. As she started to prepare for the third go round, she felt a twang of regret that she had so quickly offered it up. Not because she didn’t want to do it. That couldn’t be further from the truth, but she was delaying her own headshave, which had suddenly become an overwhelming urge she couldn’t ignore. Which gave her an idea. As she sprayed the shaving cream into her hands, she reached up and started to rub it on her own head, laughing as she did.
“Wait, what’s going on? That was only two!” Melissa pouted.
“Hey now, it’s coming I promise.” Kathy sat down in the other chair. “But Mel, I want my head shaved too. Like really, really, and I DON’T want to wait any longer.” Melissa gasped, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Kathy nodded to confirm as her smile grew wider. “This wasn’t planned by the way.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Melissa asked.
“Well, the plan WAS exactly what I told you. I was going to shave your head just like I was doing, then I’d let you shave mine… if you wanted. That was the way it would be and any time for the rest of the semester. I’d still be available to you after that, but I wasn’t sure about my head.” Kathy reaffirmed. “That’s basically all true… and I did just shave yours as promised.” She sighed, “But there’s one difference, one huge difference. I’m no longer LETTING you shave my head.”
“But—” Melissa started to protest, totally confused.
Kathy held up her hand and shook her head. “I’m not letting you, because I WANT you to. Mel, I can’t explain it, so don’t ask, but I really, truly, WANT this. Honestly, for the first time. It’s for ME. Originally, I lost a bet. I was terrified and I hated it. Lately, I’ve been shaving it and it’s gone better. I didn’t mind, maybe even enjoyed it, but it’s been for YOU. I support YOU. I care about YOU.” Kathy paused. She wanted to make sure Melissa still followed her. She wanted to make sure SHE was still on board. But the truth was she was never more sure of anything in her life. “So, here’s the deal. I’m not leaving here without my head completely shaved. Smooth, Cue Ball. Shiny and reflective.”
“That’s what I want, too!” Melissa was almost giddy. “We really can be like twins! Aren’t you glad you changed?”
“First off, it’s what you already HAVE. You’re welcome for that, by the way. Second, there are several other things that prevent us from being twins, but sure if it makes you happy.” Kathy retorted. “Now, enough talk, are you shaving my head or not? This cream isn’t removing itself.”
Melissa started to laugh. She couldn’t believe her friend. She loved it, but she still couldn’t believe it.
“Melissa! Stop laughing! I want my head shaved! I want you to do it, but if you don’t then I guess I’m doing it myself…” Kathy was done talking and let it all out. “Of course, if that happens then no more shaves for you, from me. Our deal is done!” Kathy hated what she just said. She didn’t forget that this whole thing started as a way cheer up Melissa and make her feel better. But at that moment, she didn’t care. She wanted to be bald and nothing else mattered. This would either destroy their friendship or bring them closer than ever. There was no in between. She desperately hoped for the latter. “Isn’t this what you’ve been hoping for since the day we met?”
Melissa suddenly forgot about her own bald head and the pain of her own injuries. She wanted to make sure her friend had the best and most positive experience possible. If Kathy felt the same way she did, it could be amazing. But one step at a time. Melissa wasn’t sure how long this would last, but she would enjoy it for as long as it did and planned to take full advantage of it. She slowly got up out of her chair, wincing in pain and made her way towards Kathy.
Kathy handed Melissa the razor, as she turned to face the mirror. Kathy looked straight ahead, the excitement plastered all over her face. She was about to be bald, and it thrilled her. It was maybe a bit surprising. She had been bald before, in fact she had had very little hair at all the past few months, so it wasn’t exactly a new experience, and yet somehow this time felt different. She looked at the smile on Melissa’s face, she saw the reflection of two bikinied babes and admitted they’d never looked hotter. This felt right.
Melissa placed the razor at Kathy’s forehead and slowly and carefully dragged it across the top of Kathy’s head. Melissa laughed. This was a new experience for her. She had seen Heather do it on her own head countless times, but she had never done it herself. It was fun. She quickly swiped across Kathy’s head again. “Wow, Kathy, this is so great! I’m so glad you’re doing this!”
“Me too!” Kathy genuinely meant it. She never could have imagined it, but maybe Melissa was on to something.
Melissa continued to scrape away at Kathy’s head. Melissa loved being bald, she loved the process of having her head shaved. Now she discovered that she enjoyed shaving others’ heads just as much. Especially those that were as enthusiastic about it as Kathy seemed to be. Melissa quickly made the last few scrapes across Kathy’s head. She looked at Kathy through the mirror. “Wow, Kathy, you’re really stunning.”
“I know.” Kathy smirked. She admired herself in the mirror, “I really am, aren’t I?” The second time, she really studied her reflection in the mirror. She was partially in shock. Then, after another moment, “But you’re not done, though. Come on, second pass.” She grinned, as she reached for the shaving cream canister and squirted it into her hands. While she originally thought she was helping Melissa out of her funk, it turned out that she would end up needing to thank Melissa. But she knew Melissa was still hurting and she could help her out a little. She could only imagine how Melissa felt all the time.
“Coming right up!” Melissa was happy. Happier than she had been in a long time. She was happy for Kathy as well. She touched the razor to Kathy’s head and began to remove the foam. This time was even better than the first time and she greatly enjoyed the first time.
“Ok, so here’s the deal. I gave you two passes, and this is my second one. I owe you a third, but then I want one too.” Kathy’s mind was working overtime. The headshaves were no longer a bargain with Melissa, but a mutually beneficial arrangement they could both look forward to. “So, how ‘bout this… When you’re done, do it again. In fact, you can do it as many times as you want. Then, we’ll switch spots and I’ll equal whatever the number is.”
“No limit?” Melissa asked.
“As many times as you want.” Kathy answered, hoping Melissa was game. Kathy was so into it and really didn’t want it to stop.
“Every day?” Melissa was excited. She finished the second pass and took a moment to playfully rub Kathy’s head.
“Oh God…” Kathy moaned. In that moment, Melissa probably could have gotten her to agree on just about anything and the truth was Kathy seriously considered it. She took a moment, reached for the shaving cream and started to apply it to her head. She chuckled. “Perhaps…” She coyly nodded her head. “Let’s discuss it later.”
If her body language was to be believed, it was already a done deal. Her voice tried to provide some wiggle room, and time. Kathy saw Melissa in a new light and understood everything she had advocated for. She was committed. If she still felt the same a day later, she’d be all in. Her gut told her there wouldn’t be the slightest shadow of hair on her head for the rest of the semester. And she was okay with that. It was also just as likely to be her own doing or desire as it was Melissa’s.
For the first time Kathy wondered whether Melissa could be right, and that maybe she’d prefer this look and not want any hair at all anymore. It surprised her, but it didn’t freak her out or terrify her. She would need more time, but the fact that it was even a consideration said a lot. Especially since it was only a few hours earlier, when she finally gave up on wanting long hair anymore. Kathy sat back and enjoyed herself. It would take a lot to bring her down from this high.
SETTING THE TONE
Heather made her way back inside just moments before the timer went off. Madison had been mindlessly scrolling through her phone and looked up upon Heather’s arrival.
“Hey Heather!” Madison greeted her teammate. “I think I know how I want to style my hair!” Madison swiped through her phone looking for the picture she had bookmarked earlier. Once she found it, she smiled as she showed Heather. “What do you think of something like this?”
Heather took the phone from Madison and looked at the picture she had bookmarked. She raised an eyebrow and looked back at Madison, then back at the picture. “Are you sure? That’s a lot of work.”
“I know.” Madison looked at Heather. “I’m a long-haired gal now, I’m about to have this epic, amazing, vibrant teal hair. I need a style to match. Growing up, I’d always see all these girls with their long, limp, dull hair. It was like long for the sake of being long.” She opened her mouth and pointed her finger at her mouth, making a gagging sound. “If I’m going to do this, I want it to serve a purpose. I want it to be worth it. I’ll put in the work. I’ll be the girl who spends an hour on her hair, before going anywhere just to make it perfect.”
“Ok,” Heather nodded. “I guess you want this for tonight?” Heather helped Madison up from the chair as they made their way over to the sink.
Madison leaned her head back as Heather started to rinse her massive volume of hair. “If you can.”
“And you’re okay with losing some length?” Heather confirmed. “It’s the most hair I’ll have ever taken from you.”
“So far.” Madison winked. “When I originally decided to grow my hair, I had no goal, no purpose. It was just to grow it. Since then, I’ve figured it out. I want my hair to be long, but I want it to have style, to have purpose. This will do that. I’m hopeful to keep it up for a while and it will only continue to get longer. So, I don’t mind sacrificing a bit of the length to make it look fabulous.”
“OK.” Heather finished the rinse and began to dry Madison’s hair. Then they both went back over to the chair where Madison sat down and Heather got to work. She began to comb out Madison’s hair. “You’ve really got an amazing head of hair. This color turned out fabulous.”
“Good.” Madison smiled widely. “That makes me excited.” Madison sat still as Heather continued to comb out and prep her hair. “I’m so glad I came here. I’m so happy to be doing this… If I had gone elsewhere, no doubt my hair would still be long, but so would everyone else’s. I’d just blend in. I can almost guarantee my hair would still be its natural color and boring. I’d hate it and it would reinforce everything I used to hate about long hair.”
“My long hair overwhelmed me. I never would have admitted it then, since I was a bit obsessed and very attached to it.” Heather reached for her scissors as she started to cut. “Never would have believed under any circumstances my hair would have been above my waist, not willingly at least.” She chuckled as she quickly rubbed her head. “If my former self saw me now, she’d probably die of shock.” She quickly glanced down, at the tiny bikini she was wearing, “not to mention my preferred style of clothing, “
“Do you miss it at all? Any regrets?” If Madison hadn’t already committed herself to growing out her hair before she got to college and showed up with her usual hair, there’s no doubt in her mind that she’d currently be bald or have some sort of shaved/extremely short style. She’d probably love it and be just as happy. But she was proud of herself and her long hair. Even more so because of how everyone else on the team wore theirs.
“Nope. None.” Heather chuckled, “The irony is back then, I would have still considered your hair short. But no, I won’t go back. I’ve come alive. I’ve discovered my true self. This is who I am. This is who I’m meant to be. I don’t think I’d know what to do any more if I had long hair again. That person is a virtual stranger now.”
“Wow…” Madison knew exactly what Heather meant. She never saw herself with long hair. She never thought she’d embrace it the way she has, to the point where she was actually afraid to cut it, even to her shoulders. That had always been her line, the point where she felt her hair got too long. Now, when she thought of her hair at shoulder length, it actually terrified her.
With the baseline of the cut finished, Heather began to style Madison’s hair. Heather always traveled with a complement of her basic supplies but didn’t always have full access to everything. So occasionally she needed to improvise.
“I don’t know that I’ve got everything I need. So, it won’t be exactly like the picture. But when we get back, and I have my full arsenal, I’ll finish it properly.” Heather apologized. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know exactly what I’d need.”
“Oh, Heather, it’s fine. I trust you. Just use that picture for inspo. I’m sure whatever you come up with will be amazing.” Madison assured. “This is already the most thought, and effort, that I’ve ever put into my hair.”
AN EVENING OUT
As the late afternoon turned to evening, the sun started to set. The cheerleaders turned their attention to the nighttime activity. They were headed for a night out on the town and dinner at the restaurant where Amber and Choe worked, and where they were treated like royalty. For half the group it was a repeat of their previous visit, but it was a new experience for the other half of the group.
It was a rare time when the team would get dressed up so they all took full advantage of the opportunity. However, the tension between Betty and Heather was high. While both had been in good spirits for most of the day and they both insisted that they were still friends, the rest of the team did their best to minimize the awkwardness. They were careful not to take sides or place blame, so the team navigated the situation with caution. A quick switch-up of the car arrangements found Betty with Madison, Jenny, and Jessie, while Heather and Tabitha rode with Anna and Janie.
Betty pulled into the parking lot and parked. She and her passengers spilled out of the car. Jenny stunned in a short, plunging, red, sparkly cocktail dress and heels. Dressed all in black, Jessie’s freshly shaved bald head glistened in the moonlight, but otherwise matched her sister in a rare moment. Betty wore a sleeveless, strapless catsuit, that fit tight and showed off her newly svelte body.
Then, of course, there was Madison, who made a debut of sorts. Madison thought ahead for this moment. She knew she would debut her new teal hair, and she wanted to showcase it the best way possible. She wore a midriff-baring short one shoulder crop top with a matching sarong. Her heels were almost uncomfortably high. But it was the hair that was the showcase. Now entirely a bright vibrant teal color. Her heavily layered, voluminous hair now fell just a few inches below her bustline at its longest, with about an inch of skin between the bottom of her top and the end of her hair. Her normally stick straight hair, was now very wavy. Just about every aspect of her hair was now totally different from anything that Madison had been used to… and she loved it.
Right behind them, Anna’s car pulled up and parked right next to the other car. Tabitha wore a light gold beaded strapless minidress that perfectly matched her hair color. Janie broke out the Little Black Dress, since she didn’t have any hair color that she needed to match, with comfortable dress sandals and big hoop earrings. Anna wore an olive-green crisscross backless halter top and miniskirt.
Of course, Heather always turned heads. Her natural beauty didn’t have to do anything to attract attention. She had come a long way since she first walked this path, when all the extra attention needed to be explained to her. Now, not only did she welcome the cat calls, but she actively sought them out. So, when she actually put the effort in, no one stood a chance. Her bandeau top barely covered her chest while her miniskirt did the same with her butt. She’d never admit that her look had anything to do with her recent break up with Betty, but the coincidence did not go unnoticed by the team.
As they entered the restaurant. It was crowded. “It’ll be at least 45 minutes, probably closer to an hour before we can seat you all…” The hostess commented before she looked up. “Oh! Never mind that. I’ll be right with you.” She quickly dashed off before she returned a few minutes later. “Come right with me, I’m so sorry to have kept you all waiting so long.” The hostess continued to apologize as she guided the cheerleaders to their tables.
“It’s quite alright, honest.” Betty responded. “We don’t mind waiting.”
“Nonsense.” A familiar voice from behind retorted. “Ya’all don’t wait… EVER! Not even fer a few minutes.”
“Amber.” Betty turned to confront the waitress. “We really appreciate it, but it’s not fair to everyone else.”
“Oh, Betty.” Anna stepped in. “Thank you, Amber. We know it’s all Heather’s doing.” She turned towards Amber, “and I’ll make sure she keeps coming.” Then she directed everyone to their seats.
“Ah, this one. She knows her meal ticket.” Amber grinned, “I’ll giv ya’all a few minutes ta look ova the menus, then I’ll be back fer ya orders.”
Not five minutes later, Amber returned. The team was seated at two tables. They were in the same arrangements as they were in the cars, which meant Betty and Heather were at different tables. This did not go unnoticed by Amber.
“Alright, whatcha want, Betty?” After quickly jotting down her order, she went to the next person. “Madison? Ya ain’t Heather.” Amber looked across the table and noted Jenny and Jessie. She took a quick glance at the other table. “Everything ok?”
“Everything’s as good as can be,” Betty had hoped not to get into the breakup, at least not at that moment.
“Alright, Madison, what can I git ya?” Amber knew something was up, but decided it wasn’t the best time to push further. After she made note of her order, she gushed, “Seriously, Madison, ya look amazing. That hair is epic. Now, if ya play up the titties a bit…” She gives a chef’s kiss before she turned towards Jenny and Jessie to get their orders.
She then headed to the other table and got their orders. She started with Anna but also voiced her other concern. “Heather, what’s up with yer and Betty? She said it’s all fine, but I don’t believe her.”
“They broke up.” Janie answered before anyone else could say anything. “They say they’ll still be friends, but they’ve kept their distance all day.”
“NO!” Amber slammed her hand down on the table in surprise. “No way! Ya were perfect tagether…” She glanced over at the other table and cast a disappointed glance at Betty.
Amber took the rest of the orders and swore she’d be back soon, but the restaurant was slammed and she needed to tend to the other guests. A few minutes later Chloe stopped by with their first course. She was mostly in the standard uniform. She wore a short black skirt, fishnet stockings and heels. Her black T shirt had the sleeves rolled up, and the bottom was lifted slightly and tied in a knot to the side. There was the slightest gap between her shirt and the skirt. Her curly hair was piled on top of her head, fully exposing her undercut. She had just enough time to say hi before she needed to run off to another table.
Amber and Chloe stopped by whenever they could, but the restaurant was busy. They were encouraged to stay as long as they wished, but the team didn’t want to take away two tables for service. So, they finished their meal and left a hefty tip but promised to return closer to close so they could visit for a bit.
When they returned to the restaurant a few hours later, they sat down at the same tables as before. Amber popped over with a round of beers for Betty’s table and a few pitchers of pop for the other. She said she just needed few more minutes to finish up, but to get started and she’d be right over. Then Chloe came by with a plate of Mozzarella sticks and a plate of wings for each table. Madison headed to the other table as Chloe sat down in her spot. Amber joined the group a minute later.
“Ok, Betty… You and Heather, spill.” Amber demanded, almost before she sat down, as she reached for a bottle of beer.
“Just didn’t work out.” Betty was going to regret coming back if this was what she was in for but knew the rest of team wanted to be there.
“Yeah, I don’t buy it.” Amber sat back and took a swig of her beer. She sensed Betty didn’t want to discuss it, but at least she got confirmation.
The group hung around for about another hour. It would have been longer, but it was already very late. There was a bit of musical chairs as everyone switched around so they could chat with everyone else. Finally, as the night wound down the goodbyes started.
“Madison, I really have to say, your hair looks amazing. You look amazing.” Chloe mentioned as she offered a goodbye hug.
“Thanks,” Madison blushed slightly. “I really like it.”
“I think if I looked like that, I would have been a lot more resistant to cutting my hair, too.” Chloe continued.
“Chlo, if you looked that good, I wouldn’t have insisted on anything.” Amber confirmed, winking at Madison. She turned to Heather, “Heather, we’ll see you again soon.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yeah, I might want you to take the rest of this off.” Chloe took her hair down as it fluffed out around her.
“I’ll do what I can.” Heather hoped to be back soon but was at the mercy of whoever could take her.
Everyone headed for their cars, with Amber and Chloe headed for home and the cheerleaders went back to the rental house. When they got back to the house Heather enjoyed a late-night swim, where she was joined by Tabitha and Janie. Soon, the house was quiet, and everyone had gone to bed.
The next day was the final day of the trip, but they weren’t leaving until much later in the day. The morning was spent by the pool. After a quick lunch, the early afternoon was spent outside as well. Eventually, as it got later, they all headed in to pack and clean. Then all too soon, they headed back to the cheer house.
THE NEW DYNAMIC
Anna’s car reached the house first. Everyone was tired and the consensus was that they would just unload the car and head for bed.
“I wish I could,” Heather stifled a yawn. “But I imagine I’ll be making a trip to the shop first.”
“Just tell Melissa you’re exhausted and you’ll get to her in the morning.” Tabitha offered.
“Have you met Melissa? I’m a little surprised I didn’t hear from her already. I half expected her to be waiting outside for us to pull up.” Heather grabbed her bag as they headed up the steps. “Plus, Kathy might join her. I’ll be okay, though. See you in a few hours?”
“For our run? You bet!” Tabitha now looked forward to her early morning runs and enjoyed Heather’s company. She felt even closer to her over the past couple of days, as she kept her distracted and her mind off Betty. As they entered the house, Tabitha quickly made her way upstairs, followed right behind by Anna and Janie.
“Okay, I’m back!” Heather announced. She had no idea where anyone was, but she was only giving them a few minutes before she headed to bed herself. The living room was as good a place as any to wait, and she didn’t have to wait long.
“Hey Heather! Welcome back.” Melissa was lounging on the couch. She was in a tiny bandeau bikini top and short cut off jean shorts. There wasn’t a speck of hair anywhere on her head. It was totally shiny and smooth and glistened under the light. This was not an unusual sight but was also not the several days of growth that Heather expected to see. Heather stepped into the room, but before she had the chance to say anything else. “Hey Kathy, Heather’s back.” She smiled.
“I know. I heard.” Kathy walked in behind Heather. She had come from the kitchen and had a bottle of water in her hand, which she tossed to Melissa as she got closer. Then she carefully lifted Melissa’s legs as she sat back down and rested Melissa’s legs on hers. “Hi Heather, hope you had a good time.”
Before Heather had the chance to say anything, there was some noise and commotion as the rest of the group entered the house and made their way upstairs.
“Oh, that must be Anna’s car.” Melissa said.
“Actually, it’s Betty’s.” Heather replied.
Kathy and Melissa both looked at each other, then back at Heather.
“You didn’t come home with Betty?” Kathy asked.
“We, um, we actually broke up…” She sat down in a nearby chair.
“Really? Oh my God, Heather, I’m so sorry.” Melissa had genuine concern. “Are you ok?”
“Yeah. I mean, I will be. We agreed to stay friends.” Heather answered softly. She was silent for a minute. “I’m going to go up to bed. I only came looking for you, because I figured you’d be begging me for a shave.” She looked at Melissa and Kathy. “It looks like you’ve got that covered though.” She started to get up and headed towards the stairs.
“Oh, yeah.” Melissa smiled as she grazed her hand over her bald head. “Kathy took care of it.”
“And then Melissa did mine.” Kathy added, as she smiled at her friend and at Heather.
“Well, you can find me in the morning, then I guess.” Heather yawned as she left the room and went upstairs to her room.
“That’s okay, we’ve got it covered!” Melissa and Kathy giggled as they rubbed each other’s heads.
The next day the barbershop remained closed. Nikki stopped by and took Heather out. They had a day of fun, and it proved to be a great distraction. Among other things, they did Heather’s favorite thing. They hit the gym and they hit it hard. Heather pushed herself like she never had before. The day ended back at the barbershop, with Nikki in the chair. She had been living with the same hairstyle for almost a year, which previously was no big deal, back when she went by Nicole and her long blonde virgin hair fell nearly to her waist. But ever since it was cut short, it has changed frequently. Nikki loved her multicolored liberty spikes and Heather kept the sides shaved smooth almost daily. It had become her favorite look, but she fancied a change.
“You know, Heather, nothing helps get over heartbreak like a giant makeover.”
“A makeover? I’ve already had one.” Heather paused as she studied herself in the mirror, “What’s wrong with my look?” Heather was in a sports bra and gym shorts, which was her typical look when she wasn’t in one of her uniforms. The only reason she wasn’t currently in the barbershop uniform was because technically the shop was closed and it was just her and Nikki.
“Not you, silly. Me!” Nikki smiled at her friend, showing off her flawless teeth.
“But you look great too, Nikki.” Heather complimented her. “I love your look. I love your style. I love everything about you.”
Nikki desperately wanted to respond to that comment but today was not the day. Today was about Heather and making her feel better. That was all that mattered. That was all that ever mattered.
ANTICIPATION
The following day was business as usual. It was still Spring Break, but many of the student body had returned and the barbershop was open for business. Heather had a relatively full schedule, but she liked it that way. There was a mix of some of her regulars and some new students who wanted a cleanup before classes resumed but hadn’t bothered to take care of their hair before returning to campus or hadn’t gone anywhere and waited for it to reopen. The other cheerleaders were busy as well. It was one of those rare days when an extra chair would have been useful. It had taken awhile but the barbershop was officially a hit.
When the semester started, Helen was a shy freshman with wavy brunette hair that fell halfway down her back. It had always been long her entire life. How much things can change in a relatively short time. She was still poor. She was still more shy than not, but she was working on it. Her hair was totally different. When the semester started Helen was in desperate need of a haircut, only she couldn’t really afford one. So, when she found out about the barbershop’s free haircut promotion she jumped at the chance. Her hair got chopped, but it had style and life for the first time. Helen loved it so much that she went back and did it again. She sacrificed the length of her hair but left satisfied every time.
Right before she went home for spring break, she had her latest visit with Heather. She ended up with some kind of weird version of a bowl cut. It was also dark green. To say her family was shocked when they saw her would be an understatement. It definitely wasn’t her favorite look, but she still preferred it over her previously long hair. She knew she wouldn’t hold onto this look for long, but she also knew her hair would never be long again. If it even approached her shoulders, she’d be shocked. So, she couldn’t praise her hair enough, but at the same time, she wanted to go back to the barbershop. She wanted to see Heather again. She wanted to know what was next.
So, Helen ended up coming back from break early. Her first stop after she dropped her stuff off in her room was the barbershop. She didn’t have an appointment, but she hoped Heather would be able to fit her in. She had nothing else going on and was willing to wait all day if needed. Helen lacked the ability to make decisions. She had turned to a life of chance and relied on the flip of a coin or roll of a die to lead her life. But there was no debate on this. Whatever happened once she got to the barbershop was out of her control, but she knew it was where she needed to be.
“Hi, Nikki.” Helen entered the shop and greeted the receptionist that she had become familiar with. “I don’t have an appointment, but I hoped Heather might be able to fit me in. I don’t mind waiting as long as it takes.”
“I don’t know, Helen. She’s got a pretty full schedule today. I can’t guarantee anything.” Nikki looked at the schedule hopelessly. “I wish I could offer you better news. You might have better luck with someone else, but as you can see, we’ve gotten quite busy.”
Helen looked around and saw a full waiting area. She wasn’t used to seeing so many people. She really wanted her hair cut. By Heather. “It’s okay. I’ll just wait and hope something opens up. If not, I guess I’ll have to just try again tomorrow…” Helen headed over to the waiting area and tried to find a seat.
Jessie and Janie were working the chairs. They were just as bald and freshly shaved as they were the first time she met them. She was a little intimidated and freaked out by them then. Now, she viewed them with admiration and aspiration. One day that would be her. Probably not today, but at the rate she was going it seemed likely before the semester was out. She smiled as she brushed her hand through her hair. She was ready.
DECISION MADE
Madison knew she needed to go see Heather soon so she could put the finishing touches on her hair. She knew Heather was extremely busy, but she was in no hurry. She was greatly enjoying the amazing style she currently had. Her goal was to wear it down as much as possible. It shouldn’t be that hard. She liked her hair now. No, she LOVED it. It did take a lot of effort and work, but she was up for whatever it took.
“Madison, your hair is phenomenal. I’m so happy you’ve kept it.” Melissa hobbled her way into the living room where Madison was relaxing. “Heather did such a good job.”
“Thanks, I’m really happy with it.” Madison replied, as she slid over to make room for Melissa to sit. “That really means a lot, especially coming from you.”
“You’ve come such a long way since you showed up on your first day. You couldn’t do much more than a ponytail and even that was questionable.” Melissa stroked Madison’s hair. “And it was never down. The old me would be jealous.”
“The old you?” Madison asked.
“Before I did this.” Melissa smiled as she rubbed her bare head. “When my hair was still long, I would have been very envious of this. I always wanted the best hair on the team.” She paused, as she admired Madison’s hair. “I wouldn’t have held a candle to this.”
“But now?”
“Enjoy it.” Melissa continued to stroke Madison’s hair. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” Madison leaned a little towards Melissa. “So, do you miss it at all?”
“Oh, Madison.” Melissa laughed. “As great as your hair is, as great as my hair WAS, that’s all in the past.” Melissa stopped stroking Madison’s hair and pulled back slightly. “This is me now. Bald is beautiful, and I’ll never want it any other way.”
“Well, I’ve never seen you with hair, but you’ve certainly got the beautiful part.” Madison noticed.
“Doesn’t she though?” Kathy entered the room and smiled at Melissa and Madison. She sat down next to Melissa and wrapped her arm around her, rubbing her head and smiling. “Madison, your hair has never looked better.”
“Thanks, Kathy. It’s nice to hear you say that.” Madison turned to Kathy. “I always thought you hated me and was jealous of my hair.”
“Well, hate is a strong word, but I definitely was jealous.” Kathy continued to gently run her fingers over Melissa’s head. Melissa purred in delight.
“I take it you’re not anymore…” Madison made note of the extra closeness Melissa and Kathy seemed to have, plus the positivity Kathy displayed.
“Nope.” Kathy smiled as Melissa and Kathy turned toward each other and giggled. “What do I have to be jealous of?”
“So, I take it you’re staying bald, too?”
“For now.” Kathy affirmed, which was the honest truth, even though ‘now’ had no end date.
THE WAITING GAME
Helen never considered herself a people watcher. But as she waited for Heather to be available, she found herself paying more attention to her surroundings and what was happening around her than anything else she could do to entertain herself. The vast majority of people waiting were guys, which wasn’t really surprising. The few women who showed up were there for Heather. They would come in, wait a few minutes, and then head back to Heather soon after the previous customer left.
Jessie and Janie were amazing. Helen had seen them a few times as she waited for Heather, but there weren’t always a lot of customers around. This was the first time she really got to see them work. She watched as they cleaned off the chair in between each client. As each guy sat in the chair, they would talk with them for a few minutes, then got out the clippers and made quick work of their hair. Then they sent them on their way and called the next person. They were fast and efficient. They would flirt and didn’t mind the occasional hug but drew the line at a kiss. After all, they worked for tips, and it usually paid off well.
What really got Helen’s attention, though, was their heads. As she waited, she really had time to study them. What impressed her the most was probably how natural it seemed to be. How relaxed and normal they were. She felt her own head, and her own hair. She wondered what would be left of it, and what would soon be on the floor. The life of a poor college student got her there, but she chose to keep coming back.
A few hours passed but really only felt like a few minutes. Helen was so engrossed in everything that happened around her that she missed it as Nikki called her. Jessie stopped and walked over to her. Helen got up and headed to the reception desk.
“Heather had a cancellation.” Nikki looked up from her desk. “That almost never happens. You must be destined to get your hair cut today.” Nikki looked at Helen. “So, I moved a few things around and switched her break. You’re next as soon as she’s done with her current client.”
“Thank you so much!” Helen exclaimed with delight. She wanted to hug Nikki but wasn’t sure if it was appropriate.
“You’re welcome. Seriously, though, you have no idea how rare this is. No one ever cancels on Heather. In all the time I’ve worked with her I think this is only the second time it’s ever happened. First time since we’ve been here.”
Helen turned around, headed back to her seat, and waited as happy as she could be.
THERE’S A BUZZ IN THE AIR
Helen was comfortable in the all too familiar leather barber chair. She looked at herself in the mirror, took in a final glance of her current look, and tried to imagine how she’d look the next time she saw herself.
“I didn’t expect you back so soon.” Heather observed. “Not that it’s a bad thing. So, what’s the plan for today?”
“You tell me.” Helen smiled back. “You run the show. I’m just here in the chair. You do whatever.”
“Well, I believe last time I told you to prepare for a buzzcut. I could get out the bowl, but frankly, there wouldn’t be very many options left.” Heather paused for a minute, as if deep thought. “Alright, let’s do this right. Here’s the deal. You still need to roll the dice. Three of them. Two for the length and one for the color.”
Helen nodded. It didn’t matter how many dice she rolled or what they represented. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know, but she listened intently anyway.
“So, there are attachments that get added to the clippers to determine length. This is a #4, it’s a half inch.” She held up a #4 guard for Helen to see. “This is the longest option we’ll use. They go down an eighth of an inch at a time. So, these are the #3, #2, and #1. Three eighths, one quarter, and one eighth.” Heather showed each of the guards to Helen. “We’ll reverse the numbers. So, the lower the number you roll, the longer the attachment I use. If you roll a five, that’s no guard. A six would be razor shave. The other die will determine your color. A five or six won’t get color, but anything 1 through 4 will.”
It was a lot to absorb. Helen wasn’t entirely sure she understood all of it, but it didn’t matter. Whatever Heather wanted would be fine. She just wanted it done. She nodded. “That all sounds great and I’ll happily roll the dice, but I’m gonna close my eyes. I don’t want to know what I rolled.”
Heather handed Helen the dice. She went over to the mirror and pulled the curtain over it. She walked back towards Helen. Helen closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and rolled the dice. They clanged on the floor, and Heather scooped them up. She went over to the counter and picked up her clippers. As she headed back towards Helen, she told her she could open her eyes. But also, that she should relax and enjoy the experience.
Helen opened her eyes and sat back. She was filled with anticipation. She didn’t know much and she didn’t want to know. What she did know, was that no matter what she wouldn’t have more than a ½ inch of hair left anywhere on her head. At most it was likely to be much shorter than that. She could also end up completely bald. Like Heather. Or like Jessie and Janie, whom she had recently come to admire. She felt that it was unlikely, but still the possibility existed. She was excited. No matter what she ended up with, it would be a major change. One she desperately wanted. One she craved. Such was the life of a poor college student. Helen may have lost her ability to make any decisions, but knew one thing for certain. She WANTED this and there was likely no going back.
Heather stood behind Helen, clippers in hand. Heather had an interesting decision to make, and it was hers to make. There was no need to discuss it with Helen, as she would just defer back to Heather anyway. Helen had rolled a 1, a 4, and a 5. Heather already knew the five was for the bottom of her head. She had already buzzed Helen’s hair down to a half inch last time, and there really hadn’t been much growth since. This seemed like the next logical step. That meant the hair on top of Helen’s head would either be a half inch or an eighth inch.
Heather turned the clippers on. She placed them at the base of Helen’s head and thrust them up the back of Helen’s head, taking any hair in its path with it. Heather moved fast and quickly followed with another swipe up Helen’s neck. It wasn’t long before the bottom of Helen’s head was reduced to not much more than stubble. There was a faint shadow where hair used to be. She paused for just a moment, as she turned off the clippers and attached the #1 guard. There was no fooling around. If this is what Helen really wanted, then Heather was happy to oblige. Given how quickly she returned, it seemed reasonable that she did.
Helen instantly had two thoughts. Her head felt noticeably lighter. She also felt the air on her head. She enjoyed it, not to mention the gentle tone of the clippers and the feel of the blades on her head. It was fantastic, almost like a massage. All of this led to her next thought. It was something that would have absolutely terrified her, not that long ago. A thought so crazy, it’s not even something that would have entered her mind, before she came here. She might end up bald. Correction. She WILL end up bald, now it was just a matter of when. That was no longer a question in her mind. It was the end game to this whole thing, she just didn’t know exactly when. It could be today, before she even left the barbershop. Or it could happen on her next visit. Or the one after that. But it would happen. Eventually. She had no idea what would happen after that but that was a question for another time.
With the haircut all but done, Heather went back to the counter to mix the color. As if Helen’s new style wasn’t bold enough, her new color would really make her pop. She would stand out. Heather hoped Helen was ready for it. Helen had put her trust in her and had been through a lot. It was a responsibility Heather took very seriously. So, as Heather began to paint the new color onto Helen’s hair, Heather needed to decide if Helen would need a warning or just wait until the reveal. Helen had handled everything so well, and seemed prepared for what would happen to her, so Heather figured she could wait.
“Okay, we just need to let the color process a bit. It won’t take long. There’s not much hair left. Just sit here and I’ll be right back in a few minutes to rinse you and finish up.” Heather explained. Helen nodded and Heather disappeared into the main room. Heather left Helen alone with her own thoughts.
Well, she wasn’t bald. Heather just applied color. So, there must be some hair on her head to apply it to. She might as well be, though. She could tell there wasn’t much left, but she already knew that’d be the case. A few months ago, she would have considered herself bald. She now knew the difference. She couldn’t wait to see what she looked like, even if it would only be temporary.
“Alright, let’s get you over to the sink.” Heather announced as she returned.
Helen hopped out of the chair and eagerly made her way over to the sink. Heather met her there and began to rinse the dye out of Helen’s hair. After a quick towel dry, Helen’s hair was already dry by the time they made it back to the chair. It wouldn’t take much, but Heather wanted to present Heem with the best look she could. So, she went over to the counter and squirted some gel into her hands. Then she ran her fingers through Helen’s hair.
“You’ve got a total wash and go style. No effort needed. I just gave you a bit of product. Don’t feel a need to use it on an ongoing basis…” Heather explained, “Or at all.”
Heather rinsed her hands as Helen stood up. Helen walked towards the mirror, as Heather headed towards the covered mirror. Heather pulled back the curtain. Helen smiled broadly at the stranger who looked back at her. She loved the image she saw before her. She reached her hand up and felt the bristle of her hair. Her hand slid a bit further down her head. She couldn’t help but giggle as she felt the nearly bare skin.
“I hope you like standing out and drawing attention, because there will be no hiding once you leave here.”
“Not really, but I guess I’ll learn.” Helen couldn’t stop feeling her head. Heather was right. It was a huge change for her, but it would be worth it. “Why do I feel like this involves more then just changing my hair?”
“That’s entirely up to you.” Heather suddenly looked at Helen a bit closer. Something wasn’t quite right. “Do you trust me?” Heather headed towards the counter without waiting for an answer. She grabbed the clippers and headed back towards Helen. “Sit.”
Helen had no idea what Heather was up to but sat down anyway. It didn’t matter what Heather had planned. Helen trusted her with her life. Heather carefully placed the clippers above Helen’s ear near the temple. She quickly swiped the clippers back. She repeated this action twice more, then did the same on the other side. It took less than a minute, but the impact was immeasurable.
“Wow!” Helen bolted out of the chair and ran to the mirror. She turned her head back and forth, stunned by the new addition. She squealed in excitement and turned back towards Heather. “This is amazing!”
“I’m glad you approve.” Heather smiled back. “Racing stripes. You rolled a one, a four and a five. So, the five was –”
“Well, obviously. It was already pretty short.” Helen interrupted, as she rubbed the back of her head. “The top is obviously the four, well one, I mean… I figured you would take me as short as possible.”
“I wasn’t sure at first… I didn’t want to do too much, but also figured if you were back so quick, so it must have been something you wanted.” Heather confirmed.
“You made the right call. I love this color, too. It’s like a bright, fire-engine red. I love that it’s a red color but not a ‘natural’ tone in any way.”
“Well, if it wasn’t that it would have been a longer deep dark blue.”
Helen was in awe. She couldn’t stop turning her head and admiring her reflection. She reached up and felt the racing stripes on the side of her head and giggled. “I never would have guessed or thought this could make sure a difference.”
“You didn’t need it.” Heather explained, “but seeing you, it just seemed to add that little extra.”
“Oh, Heather it’s my favorite thing ever!” Helen gushed. “I love this so much!” She continued to rub her head and smiled. “Upkeep?”
“Day to day? Not much. Nothing really. You can just add a bit of product to it like now or just leave it alone and let it fall naturally. And as you saw it takes seconds to dry.”
“And, um…”
“Ideally? Every two weeks. Depends on how sharp you want it. Your hair will continue to grow, if you like it as it is you’ll want to prevent that.”
Helen continued to survey her head. She couldn’t stop rubbing her head. She couldn’t stop staring at herself. “How much?” Money was always tight for Helen. She was determined to make this work, though. Even if she had to sell an organ. “I guess, I can’t really roll the die anymore.”
“We’ll figure something out.” Heather had grown quite fond of Helen. Plus, she seemed really enthusiastic about the change, and she didn’t want to damper that. “You’ve really only got one other option left, at this point.”
“Bald.” It was blunt. It was direct. Helen’s voice held steady. It was firm. It was confident. Her viewpoint had completely shifted. Helen’s hair wasn’t long anymore. She doubted it would be again. What she viewed as short and long had changed too. It took barely half a second. Helen stopped. She looked directly at Heather. “I’ve come this far.” She was clear and concise. It wasn’t a decision and it wasn’t a desire, but it was an acceptance. It was inevitable. She no longer feared it. She embraced it.
“Somehow, I had a feeling you might say that.” Heather smiled.
Helen walked out of the back room with new confidence. She was all smiles. The waiting area was still crowded, and Jessie and Janie were still there. They both complimented Helen on her new look. She thanked them and said she’d try theirs out next. They both admitted that was a huge step from when they first met her. Helen agreed, but it was out of her control. She then headed over to Nikki. She knew she wanted to get in at least one follow up appointment with Heather before the semester ended, but she just wasn’t exactly sure when.
