wozziewoo
As it gets closer to the end of the semester, there are projects that are reaching their end as well. The barbershop has a growing list of steady clients, but new ones are showing up all the time.
The last chapter:
Our newest installment:
SETTING THE SCENE
Candice had developed a reputation around campus. Previously, she was happy to just blend into a crowd, but that was no longer an option for her. After all, there weren’t many girls on campus with a mohawk. Not that there were many guys with a mohawk either. She loved it though. She took the time each morning to style it. She used gel and special products to make it stay just so and meticulously had her sides shaved daily, so it always looked sharp. It was unique and she cared more about her hair now than she ever did previously.
“When we first met that first day in freshman year, did you ever think you’d be bald, and I’d have a mohawk?” Candice sat back in the plush leather chair she had become quite comfortable in the past few months, as her best friend Jenny shaved the sides of her head. It was a routine they had both become accustomed to.
“And that I’d be the one shaving you.” Jenny added, as she started to apply the shaving cream.
“It’s amazing we’re even friends.” Candice pointed out. “The Theater major and the Cheerleader. In high school those two groups hated each other.”
“Crazy.”
“She still hasn’t done it yet, you know…” Candice quickly changed the subject.
“Sorry, who hasn’t done what?” Jeanny inquired.
“Amanda.” Candice clarified, “She hasn’t cut her hair yet, or done anything with it.”
“Who’s Amanda and why is she cutting her hair?” Jenny really thought she was missing something. “Sorry, Candi, I’m not following.”
“It’s alright, Amanda is — wait, what did you say?” Candice suddenly perked up.
“Who’s Amanda and why is she cutting her hair?” Jenny repeated.
“No, after that.”
“I’m just not following?”
“What did you call me?”
“Candice? Your name?” Jenny was utterly confused at this point.
“No, you didn’t…” Candice paused for a moment, then smiled. “You called me Candi.”
“Oh! I’m sorry. Total slip –”
“NO! No, don’t apologize.” Candice interrupted. “I like it.” She took another moment, then laughed. “Jenny, meet Candi.” She stretched out her hand to shake.
“Alright then. Hello, Candi.” Jenny grinned, “Very pleased to meet you.” Jenny laughed. “This may take some getting used to.”
“For you and me both.” Candi admitted. “But I’m dead serious. I’m Candi now.” She looked at herself in the mirror. “I think I can pull it off. It suits me.” She smiled confidently.
“I’ll definitely help spread the word.” Jenny reached for the razor as she started the shaving process. “So, Amanda…”
“Right. Amanda’s the girl who got my role.” Candi explained. “Well, the role I auditioned for.”
Jenny nodded in understanding.
“So, she’s got this role and she’s amazing in it, but her hair…”
“She has some.” Jenny mentioned.
Candi laughed, “Well, yeah. I guess that’s a way to put it.”
“The play’s still a few weeks away though, isn’t it?” Jenny responded.
“Yeah, and I know Thanksgiving is at the end of the week. There’s really no reason for her to do anything before then anyway.” Candi reasoned. “But like it hasn’t even come up, like there’s been zero indication it’s even on her radar. The director mentioned something about a bald cap… But that’s gonna look so fake and I’ll personally be really annoyed if they go that route.”
“Because you legit shaved your head.”
“Yeah.” Candi confirmed. “And no regrets by the way. I LOVE this look, but I can’t believe the path it took to get here.”
“I get it.” Jenny nodded.
THE TIME IS NOW
Heather wasn’t used to waiting around. She had a tight schedule and never wanted to feel like she had to rush. Thankfully, she had her mini gym to keep her occupied in moments like this. She liked the pull up bar and often challenged herself with how many reps she could do in a certain amount of time.
“I’m so, so sorry. I got stuck at a meeting and then traffic was horrendous.” Jacqueline hurriedly busted through the entryway. “Not an excuse, though.”
“Just give me another minute.” Heather wasn’t happy, but at least Jacqueline was there. “Let me finish this set.” Heather’s legs hung over the bar, and she was upside down. Then she flipped over to finish her last set.
“No problem.” Jacqueline replied. “I made you wait. Take your time.” She stood for a moment to admire the hard work and dedication that Heather put in. “I must say, Heather… That’s very impressive.”
Another couple of minutes passed and Heather jumped down from the bar. She toweled off and made her way over towards the chair. “Thanks, I really enjoy it. This was one of the perks I asked for when they redesigned the cottage. It helps fill time when I have a few minutes here and there.” Heather indicated that Jacqueline should sit down. “Nice to see you again. I hoped you’d show up soon.”
“I know! I’m horrible, but hey, at least it wasn’t six months this time.” Jacqueline explained. “Seriously, this is probably the shortest time between haircuts that I’ve ever had in my life. Hopefully, that shows my commitment and dedication?”
“I suppose.” Heather conceded. “You’re actually okay, timewise, but it does depend on what your ultimate goal is.”
Jacqueline exhaled. “My hair is actually annoying me.” She reached up and started to play with it, then she looked at Heather. “I think it’s too long.” She smiled. “That’s actually why I came in. I couldn’t stand it any longer. I think this is my limit.”
“So, what are we thinking?” Heather asked. “Are we going back to lip length bob, or do you want something else?”
“I don’t know. That’s what I have you for.” Jacqueline admitted. “I know two things. I love the bangs. I’d like the bangs to stay, and if possible, I’d like to keep some kind of bang going forward.”
“Okay. That’s not a problem. What else?”
“I’d like to leave with some kind of color.”
“All over or highlights? Any particular color?”
“That I’ll leave up to you.” Jacqueline confirmed.
“So, ANY style?”
“Heather, I trust you. And with the way I’ve felt, if you suggested that I shave it all off, it would get some serious thought. But please not yet.” Jacqueline laughed. “But I’m gonna have to come here more often. I’ve discovered how quickly my hair gets so unruly when it’s this short.”
“So, no shaving it off… Got it.” Heather grinned, “I wasn’t going to anyway. Is that all?”
“If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking…” Jacqueline paused. “You know last time I was here we left things a bit to chance with the help of the team. Had the pixie been chosen, I’d be leaving here with one.”
“But it wasn’t.” Heather confirmed. “Mainly because I cast the tie breaker vote.”
“So, are you trying to say that I should thank you?”
“I guess that depends on how you feel.”
“Heather, I actually want the pixie.” Jacqueline laughed. “Not today, but I can officially confirm it is what I want and it’s happening soon.”
“That’s great!” Heather exclaimed. “So, what’s the plan?”
“I want to experiment with color. I’m not sure what color, but I want it to be natural and different from what I currently have.” Jacqueline explained. “For now, just a bit. I want to test some ideas while I still have a bit of length, and don’t really care about my hair anymore.” She paused on that last line. “Eventually, I want to completely shift to whatever the new color is. Then cut off all this extra length and I’ll be your pixie gal.” She combed her fingers through what little hair she had, emphasizing how ready she was for it to be gone.
“Okay, I understand that.” Heather nodded, as she began mixing a color solution, so she could apply it to Jacqueline’s head.
“The best part is that I’m ready and motivated. I know this is what I want. So, no more waiting around. I’ll be here a lot without delays.”
“Well, I guess that’s good to hear. Nikki does my schedule, so I guess you can discuss it with her.”
“For now, let’s get this cleaned up and ready for the holidays. Most of my family doesn’t even know about this. Last I saw most of them I still had my lob. Before long it will be a pixie… then who knows?”
“So how long are you thinking?” Heather inquired.
Jacqueline laughed, “Ambitiously? End of the year.” She sighed, “Realistically? Probably a couple months into the new year.” She smiled, “Let’s say that no matter what, definitely by your competition.”
“If it’s not, the team will gather around you and shave you completely.” Heather informed.
“Deal.” Jacqueline agreed without hesitation. “If I don’t have a pixie by the start of the competition, I’ll be bald by the end of it.” She was actually a fan of this idea, because even though Jacqueline had no desire to shave her head, she really did want a pixie. She’d have no problem honoring this arrangement. In fact, she expected to have refreshed it several times by then. Just the thought made her smile. She couldn’t believe how much her viewpoint had shifted, but she also knew she no longer had a desire for her hair to ever be long again. She ran her fingers through her hair, it already felt way too long.
“So, ‘pixie’ is a nice catchall name that doesn’t really say much.” Heather was quick to mention, “There are still tons of options of styles that could be considered a ‘pixie.’ Do you have any further idea of what style you’re looking for?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” Jacqueline was proud of herself that she could answer positively for that question. This was a really big deal. But she knew it was the right call for her and that she was so sure it was what she wanted. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I’ve been saving ideas for a couple weeks.”
“Wow, that’s great you’ve really put thought into this. So, let’s see what you’ve got.” Heather enthused, as she started to paint Jacqueline’s hair with the color solution.
“Heather, I’ve had a feeling this would happen since the night in your hotel room at the competition. I just didn’t think it would happen this quickly or that I’d be so into it. But we’re not going to discuss them now, that’s a discussion for next week!”
“Next week?” Heather repeated, “What happens next week? I didn’t realize it’d be that quick.”
“Sorry, I meant next visit.” Jacqueline chuckled, “I mean it COULD be next week. Hell, it could be tomorrow. But no, that was a slip of the tongue. I doubt you could fit me in THAT quick…”
“Well, like I said, you’d have to talk with Nikki, since she does my schedule. But if you were really that serious and that desperate, I’d find a way to get you in.”
“Holy shit, Heather! Really?” Suddenly, Jacqueline’s heart started to beat faster as things just got a bit more real.
“Well, how ambitious are you?” Heather called Jacqueline out.
THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS
“Alright, wish me luck.” Candi sat in her chair while Jenny stood behind her.
“Good Luck?”
“I’m headed home for break, after this.” Candi explained. “My family knows about my hair, but they haven’t actually SEEN it.”
“Ah… Yeah, I’ve been there.” Jenny nodded knowingly. “Last year Jessie and I were both completely bald when we went home between semesters. It was quite the shock to say the least, but at least it was both of us, so we still had a bit of a twin thing going on.”
“Well, I think if I just don’t give my grandma a heart attack, I’ll consider it a win.” Candi declared.
“Plus, there’s the whole name change.” Jenny reminded her.
“Yeah, but I have to pick my battles. I’ll definitely mention it, and I’ll remind them on occasion, but it’s more important they adjust to my look.” Candi pointed out. “Afterall, this is me now. My hair isn’t long anymore, and I don’t see it ever getting long again. In fact, if I have my way, this mohawk isn’t going anywhere. They can either accept it or not, but I’ve never been happier.”
“So, what color are we sending you home with?” Jenny had the head shaves down cold at this point. Other than Heather, Jenny was the best on the team, mostly thanks to Candi. And recently, Jenny had been helping out the rest of the team with their shaves as well. However, she was still getting the hang of the hair coloring. At first, she just had Heather do it. But since Heather is always busy, Jenny learned with her help and had Heather supervise a couple times. Now, she’d be on her own.
“Blonde.” Candi said confidently and without any hesitation or doubt.
“Wow, it sounds like you’ve given this thought. I’m not used to you being so decisive.
“Well, that was Candice. Candi knows exactly what she wants.”
“Okay.” Jenny nodded approvingly. “I’m liking this Candi.”
“Well, that’s good.” Candi grinned, “Cause she ain’t going anywhere!”
GIVING THANKS
For the second year in a row, the Cheer Squad stayed on campus during the Thanksgiving break. This time the football team had a home game. It was an even bigger deal this year, since the success of the football team and popularity of the cheerleaders meant the game would be televised. And with the “uniqueness” of the cheer squad, the network wanted to do a feature on them also. Anna also wanted to take the opportunity to promote the barbershop and emphasize that it was open to all, even those not on campus. And despite being called a barbershop, it catered to all and offered a full complement of services.
With all the extra attention, the college gifted them a fully catered feast for Thanksgiving. Jenny and Jessie were extra happy about this as they got to spend a little extra time with their boyfriends, Tim and Tate, whose football commitments had kept them extra busy. Anna felt extra pressure to come up with a stellar routine that showcased each girl’s strength. Coach Emma stepped in and took on ever more than usual to help ease the burden on Anna.
While nothing was forced on the team, every single member who had previously participated in the headshave fundraiser agreed to continue with the look. So, there were fresh headshaves done the morning of the game. Madison had her teal streak redone, which made it brighter and more prominent.
Everyone stepped up and it paid off. After another decisive victory and the football team was a perfect 10 – 0. None of the games were particularly close, with only one game still undecided at halftime. With only two games left in the season, a win next week would all but guarantee the team to be in the post season.
As the weekend came to a close, it also signaled the end of the semester. Classes entered their final weeks, preparation for finals began, and semester long projects came due.
POSITIVE REVIEW
“This is the longest I’ve gone without having the sides of my head shaved since I started having them shaved.” Candi made the barbershop her first stop upon returning to campus.
“So how did the family react?” Jenny asked.
“Surprising well. My mom had a bit of a rough time and my dad mourned ‘the loss of his little girl’ but they accepted it, and it was otherwise positive.”
“So, no grandma heart attack.” Jenny confirmed.
Candi laughed, “Actually, she had the best reaction of all. She told me she thought it was bad ass and was proud of me for ‘breaking social norms’ and hoped that I stuck with it for a long time.” Candi smiled, “After that, no one was allowed to say anything negative about it.”
“That’s awesome! I love your grandma. I don’t know her, but I love her.”
“Me too. She’s amazing.” Candi acknowledged. “So, obviously the mohawk isn’t going anywhere. Not that it was anyway, but now I’m even more committed to it than ever.” She paused for a moment, then as if remembering, “Oh, and I forgot the best part!”
“That wasn’t the best part?”
“Well, that was pretty good, but everyone adapted to ‘Candi’ pretty quickly. There were a few corrections the first day, and honestly, I’m still adjusting a bit myself, but after that… When I left my parents, they told me they think Candi really suits me and how proud they are of me. My mom said she’ll miss ‘Candice’ but loves ‘Candi’ just as much and that she’ll get used to my hair.” Candi grinned widely. “Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a much better weekend.”
PERMISSION TO GO OUT
Anna had come back from her weekend away refreshed and revitalized. She also had a new outlook and attitude. The team was very important to her, and she took her captaincy very seriously, but it was important not to neglect everything else.
“I’m just saying, if you want to set something up for this week or next week, I’m good with it.” Anna mentioned offhandedly, while she was lying down on Janie’s bed.
“Wha- Set what up?”
“The double date?” Anna deadpanned. “Assuming that’s still what you want…?”
“Of course it is!” Janie couldn’t contain her excitement, “What changed?”
“Nothing changed.” Anna sat up, “Janie, I said I’d go. I just wasn’t feeling great THEN, but I’m better now. So, if you want to set up the double date, I’m in. Just tell me when and where.”
“REALLY?” Janie couldn’t hold in her happiness.
“Yes, Janie.” Anna smiled back. “You can do a lot worse than Scott, and Doug’s not so bad either.”
“That’s, um, that’s kind of a weird compliment…” Janie had a confused look on her face, which she quickly brushed away. “Whatever, I’ll just go with it.” She got up and quickly exited out of her room. Anna shortly followed.
MINOR HICCUP
“So, Amanda tried on the bald cap yesterday… It’s not gonna work.” Candi informed as she sat down in her chair.
“What’s wrong with it?” Jenny asked.
“You mean besides that it looks atrocious?” Candi laughed, “Exactly as I predicted. No, apparently, she got some kind of allergy or something as well. Amanda had it on for like five minutes while they were fitting it and trying to make it look good, and then she started to break out in hives. Her face turned beet-red and after a few more minutes, her eyes began to tear up. They took it off her, but the director said no more bald cap.”
“Wow, so what happens now?” Jenny began to lather the shaving cream on Candi’s head.
“Not 100% sure…” Candi confessed, “I think she probably has to shave it. I heard something about having ‘til the end of the week. Oh my God, Jenny! I saw tears, like real legit tears. I don’t know anything for sure, so this is all speculation, but I really don’t know what other option there is.”
“Obviously, it’s what you’d advocate for.”
“Obviously.” Candi agreed, “But Amanda might not want to. Her hair is gorgeous, and I know she’s really attached to it… so I don’t know.”
“So, there’s a chance she doesn’t shave her head? What happens then?” Jenny was intrigued. “Candi, is there a chance you get the role after all?”
“Anything is possible. I’d gladly step in if I had to, but I kinda hope I don’t.”
“Wow, I’m surprised.” Jenny continued to scrape the left side of Candi’s head.
“Well, then I’d have to shave MY head.”
“You mean the very thing I’m doing to you right now?” Jenny stopped, as she held the razor in her hand.
“It’s not the same.” Candi looked at Jenny in the mirror. “Yeah, I know, and this was always the plan. It was all fun and games these past few months and then I’d shave it all off this week anyway. That’s what I signed up for, that’s what I wanted.”
Jenny nodded in confusion.
“Things changed. I didn’t realize how attached I’d get to this look when I didn’t get the role, so I didn’t need to worry about it. At first, shaving my head was nothing. I had no attachment to my hair, and it was an easy decision. But now? This will be harder… And believe it or not I’m more committed to this then I ever was before.”
“But –”
“Obviously, for the play, I’ll do it. I’ll do anything I need to do for it to be a success. I just won’t be happy about it.”
SEX OR SOMETHING LIKE IT
Melissa would do anything for her boyfriend. In many ways she already had. The best thing to happen to her since getting together with Franklin was her embrace of her bald head. She used to be very attached to her long bleached blonde hair and took excellent care of it. Any thought of cutting her hair absolutely terrified her. So, she was not in a good space when the rest of the team started to cut their hair. And once the team began to shave their heads, she almost had a breakdown. One of the hardest things she ever did in her life was when she cut it all off. It also ended up being one of the greatest moments of her life. It had been eight and a half months since that night, and she still had no desire to grow her hair even a little.
Her only regret was that she took so long to shave it. She tried not to show it, but growing up Melissa dealt with a lot of insecurities about her body. She was incredibly tall, especially for a girl her age. Not only did she tower over all the other girls in her class, but most of the guys as well. She was also ridiculously thin with not much chest to speak of. As she grew up, she learned how to handle her awkwardness and found that she could pour all her attention into her hair. She chose to wear as little clothes as possible to show off her body to compensate for other areas. Over time this became second nature and her way of life.
Franklin had completely changed her life. He taught her to appreciate what she had and boosted her confidence tremendously. He had her cover up, and she realized she was worth more than she gave herself credit for. She no longer felt the need to use her body or hair to promote herself, which she didn’t even realize she was doing. Her confidence and self-worth had never been higher.
Melissa was also incredibly spoiled. While she was always materialistic, this only intensified when she was with Franklin. The mere mention of something and suddenly it was hers. In return, she had no issue fulfilling Franklin’s deepest desires. She saw a real future with him and dreamed often of being his wife and the mother of his children.
Melissa came out from under the sheets of Franklin’s bed and took a moment to catch her breath. “Oh Franklin, I love you so much.” She took another moment as she smiled at him, before she kissed back down his body and went under the sheets again.
“And I love this so much.” Franklin replied. He did have affection for Melissa and cherished their time together. He loved to spoil her and get her whatever she desired. She always rewarded him handsomely for his generosity. Like just a few minutes ago, when he gave her a new pair of diamond earrings. Worth every penny.
A TWIST OF FATE
Candi slowly entered the barbershop with a defeated look on her face. She dumped her accessories on the chair in the waiting area and slumped into the chair.
“What’s wrong?” Jenny hadn’t seen her friend like this in a long time. Even when she first found out that she didn’t get the part, she didn’t seem this down.
“Looks like I’m shaving my head again.” Candi replied.
“You got the part!” Jenny assumed excitedly.
“NO!” Candi looked up, with tears in her eyes.
“It’s still Amanda’s. She’s gonna shave her head too. We both are. Together. I’ve already been through it, and she’s freaking out. So, the director thinks we should both do it together and I can hold her hand through the entire process.” Candi explained. “Can you talk with Heather and find a good time for us to come in?”
“That doesn’t seem right. If you have to do it, you should at least get something out of it…” Jenny sympathized.
“I’ll get a better show…” Candi shoved her face into her hands. “But I have to do it. It was my idea!!”
Jenny gasped.
“Jenny, I wanted that role SO BAD and I could have had it. But Amanda’s better and it kills me. I wouldn’t take the role from her now. But at least I got an awesome new hairstyle out of it.” Candi looked up and reached her hands to her head. “I love this mohawk. Sure, I could grow it back and get back to this point in a few months, but that’s not the point…”
“We’ll help you with whatever you want to do. And yes, I can talk with Heather.” Jenny placed her hand on Candi’s shoulder.
“It’s not what I want, but it’s what has to be.” Candi felt defeated. She sighed as she sat back in the chair. “Might as well enjoy this while I still can.”
THE WAITING GAME
Jacqueline took the day off work. That’s how important this was. She couldn’t let Heather down. Heather managed to fit her in, and she would not be late again. Jacqueline allowed herself to sleep in, she made herself a nice breakfast and enjoyed a nice, hot, long shower. Those would be a little different soon. She got dressed and headed off to campus. She wanted to be casual and comfortable, so she put on one of her old cheer T shirts and a nice pair of jeans. Then, she grabbed a nice lightweight jacket on her way out the door.
Since she still had some time to kill, she visited some of the places she used to frequent and visited with a few former professors. Although she had now been back to campus several times since she graduated, it had mostly been to the cheer house grounds and the football field. She received many compliments on her hair, which she gave all the credit to Heather and bragged that there was more to come. She found her way to the Student Union and got herself some lunch before she went over to the cheer house to see who was around.
When she got to the Cheer House, it was empty. She was disappointed but not entirely surprised as it was the middle of the afternoon on a random weekday. Instead, she headed over to the barbershop. It was better to be early than late, and she figured someone from the team would be there also.
Emma looked up from the desk as the door to the barbershop opened. She was pleasantly surprised to see Jacqueline.
“Hey Jackie!” Emma greeted her former teammate. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
“Yeah, I’m early. I didn’t want to be late. I should be down for an appointment with Heather.” Jacqueline said as she walked over to hug Emma. “I took the day and have been roaming around campus. I stopped by the house, but it was empty, so I decided to just come here.”
“It’s great to see you.” Emma looked down at the appointment book, “Ah yes, I do see you in here. I’m just filling in for Nikki for a bit. Weren’t you just here like a week ago?”
“Ah, yeah,” Jacqueline reached up to run her fingers through her hair. “It’s time.”
“Time for what?” Emma smiled at her friend, as she rubbed her own bald head.
“A haircut.” Jacqueline stated bluntly. “CUT.”
“Oh, I know, I wouldn’t expect you to shave it like me. It’s already a lot shorter than I ever expected to see it.”
“Yeah, well, it’s about to get even shorter.” Jacqueline ran her hand through her hair again. “And redder, too apparently.”
“Can’t wait to see it!” Emma applauded, “I guess that’s incentive enough to hang around.”
“Oh, it’s not happening today.” Jacqueline corrected, “We’re just discussing it and dying it.”
“Still not ready yet, eh?”
“No, I’m more than ready. I’m totally committed to it. I WANT a pixie cut. I promise you that.”
“So… then what are you waiting for? You know Heather will do you right.”
“Because… well, we discussed it. It’s a process and I’m –”
“You’re what? Not ready? You just said you were. So, which is it?” Emma laid it out for Jacqueline, who now had a lot to think about.
Jacqueline was taken aback and didn’t really know how to respond, although she reasoned Emma was probably right. She slowly sank into one of the chairs in the waiting area and browsed through her phone to study the pictures she had bookmarked.
“Jackie! Jackie! Heather is ready for you.” Emma had come over and tapped her on the shoulder. “You can head back.”
Jacqueline wasn’t sure how much time had passed as she was fully engrossed in her phone and her own head, but it must have been a while. She shook herself out of whatever trance she found herself in and slowly stood up. She smiled at Emma and made her way towards the back room. It was time. She had a plan, and she knew what she wanted. But as she crossed that threshold she also acknowledged, for the first time, there was a decent chance the plan could go to hell, and she’d be crossing back over fully pixied.
RELUCTANT CONFIRMATION
Amanda was almost a Barbie Doll. She was a living, breathing human… but if a Barbie Doll were to come to life, it would be exactly like Amanda. Her long, thick, stick-straight, natural blonde hair fell to just above her waist. She was slender, with a perfect hourglass figure. She was the envy of many, all the girls wanted to be her and all the guys wanted to be with her. She also had the brains to back up what she said. While many are given either brains or beauty, she was blessed with both and proved to be the perfect antithesis of the “dumb blonde.”
Amanda was Ms. Popularity and well known around campus. Well-rounded but extremely vain, Amanda was used to getting what she wanted. This latest development did not go her way.
“What exactly was your plan when you got the part? Did you not know what was expected of you?” Candi confronted the lead actress.
“I dunno.” Amanda shrugged. “I just auditioned and assumed they’d figure it out. I could, like, tie my hair back or something. How important is it really? Can’t I keep my hair and call it artistic license or something?”
“Amanda!” Candi was infuriated. “That only goes so far. Did you even know anything about the character you auditioned for? Her being BALD is the most essential part. You can’t just fake that.”
“Yeah, well, it looks like you’re gonna get your wish anyway.” Amanda subconsciously played with her hair. “This better be worth it. It will be years before I have any semblance of a decent hairdo again.”
“Just talk with Heather. She’ll take care of you.” Candi reassured.
“It’s my Senior year. I’m gonna be bald for the final semester of my Senior year of college!” Amanda completely lost it, and the waterworks started. “Are you sure that you don’t just want the part?”
“Amanda, I would love this role. I’ve already shown my commitment and dedication when I auditioned. You were deemed the better person. And honestly, after watching you perform, it’s hard to argue. You’re perfect for it, and I’m extremely jealous. There’s just one thing that holds you back.”
“I know.” Amanda turned towards Candi. “You’re gonna do it, too, right? It shouldn’t be a big deal for you.”
“I already said I would.” Candi sighed, “But I already explained, that it IS a big deal. I have Jenny checking with Heather on her schedule. It will be okay.”
“Just tell me when and where. If I show up, we’re good to go… if not, then congrats, the part is yours.”
“Would you really not show up? Don’t dick around Heather that way. She’s extremely busy and doing us and specifically YOU a major solid.” Candi practically begged.
Amanda sighed, “Fine. I’ll be there. Just stop talking about it!” Amanda walked off, before Candi could say anything else.
FOURTUNATE MISTAKE
“I still want it to be ‘neat and tidy.’ It sucks but I still need to be professional.” Jacqueline was seated in Heather’s chair with her hair completely covered in dye. “I’d like to keep the bangs, but I’m open to other options.” Jacqeline was discussing her options with Heather. “I’d like something versatile, which honestly is something new for me, but I like the idea of exploring and having different looks.”
Heather nodded.
“Now, Heather, I’m still fairly young, and I don’t plan on growing it long again, which means I’ve got a long time ahead of me with short hair. I imagine there will be a lot of time to try different styles and looks.” Jacqueline cautioned, “I’ll probably switch it up often enough, so there’s no need to go super short right away. I’m already making a pretty big leap, but I expect to defer to you more often than not.”
“Whatever you want.” Heather assured. “I think all of those are very viable options. So, when do you want it done?”
There it was, the question Jacqueline had both anticipated and feared. She was ready and knew what she wanted, but was today really the day? Was there a reason to drag it out, to postpone the inevitable? Would the larger regret be if she did it or didn’t do it and waited? But what exactly was she waiting for?
“Um, that’s a very good question…” Jacqueline was clearly trying to stall. “Today?” There she had said it, and if Heather agreed, she wouldn’t back down.
“Today? Are you sure? I thought we were just going over options, and you wanted the color done?” Heather was a bit surprised as she was not prepared for that answer.
“Well, that was the plan, yes.” Jacqueline giggled nervously, “But, well, I’m here, and I know I want it, so…”
“Alright, I’ll just check my schedule and make sure. I want you to enjoy this and don’t want to rush.” Heather made a quick exit out of her room.
Jacqueline sat with her thoughts as she waited for Heather to return. Was this actually happening? She knew there was a small chance she’d go for it today but figured there would be more discussion on Heather’s part. She would allow herself to be convinced but that’s not at all how it happened. Yet, she was ready… so was there any reason NOT to? Fuck! Heather better be able to do this. There was no way she would leave without a red-hot pixie, and she didn’t care how short it ended up either. She exhaled deeply and smiled widely; her mind was made up.
“Okay, it looks like I’ve got a window.” Heather walked back into the room. “So, whatever you want done, I’ve got the time.”
“DO IT!” Jacqueline wanted to make sure there was no doubt in her mind or Heather’s. “It’s pixie time!”
“So, did you –”
“The third picture.” Jacqueline answered with conviction.
“The third picture? Are you sure? That’s –”
“Yes, the THIRD PICTURE I just showed you.” Even though Jacqueline didn’t actually remember which the third picture was, she wouldn’t back down now. She only showed Heather pictures of the styles she liked, and since the ones she liked most were near the beginning, she figured it was a safe bet.
“Okay, if you say so…” Heather shook her head in disbelief. She was surprised that was what Jacqueline wanted, but she said it with such conviction, she wouldn’t question it. Heather took Jacqueline’s phone and scrolled through the pictures, just to make sure she had the right one.
After Heather confirmed that the third picture was the one she thought it was, Heather put Jacqueline’s phone down on the counter. Then she guided Jacqueline up and over to the sink to rinse out the dye. Heather gave Jacquline’s head a nice massage, which caused Jacquline to coo in delight. All too soon, Heather helped Jacqeline back up and led her back to the chair. Then Heather parted Jacqueline’s already short hair down the middle and combed it out. It suddenly dawned on Jacqueline that no matter what haircut she ended up with, these were probably the last few moments when her hair would ever touch her ears again. She had been used to her ears being exposed whenever she wore ponytails, but this was a totally different concept.
After what felt like an eternity, Heather picked up her scissors. She combed out Jacqueline’s hair one final time, then carefully placed the comb about a half inch above the ears and lined up the scissors just below the comb. SNIP. A couple of inches of Jacqueline’s hair fell to the floor. Heather slowly moved the comb, next to the spot it previously was, carefully keeping it even with the previous spot. Then once again placed the scissors below the comb. SNIP. More of Jacqueline’s hair unceremoniously fell to the ground. Heather continued this process as she moved all the way around Jacqueline’s head, which didn’t take long.
Jacqueline sat in silence and allowed Heather to work. Jacqueline still wasn’t sure what haircut she would end up with, but she felt it was too late to admit that at this point. So, she’d just sit back and enjoy it and deal with the consequences later.
Heather made her way to the back of Jacqueline’s head. She put down her scissors and comb and picked up the clippers. She had planned to use the clippers over comb and then use the clippers to refine the edges and make a clean line on Jacqueline’s hair. This apparently wasn’t what Jacqueline wanted. Heather double checked the attachment on the clippers and turned them on. Then, she placed them at the bottom of Jacqueline’s nape and flicked her wrist up, taking a large chunk of hair with it. Heather mowed the clippers up Jacqueline’s head taking the bulk of her hair with it. Barly a half inch of reddish hair remained. Heather continued to use her clippers to strip away all of Jacqueline’s hair below the line she had just previously cut a few minutes earlier.
Heather wasn’t sure what had changed Jacqueline’s mind in the few minutes she was gone. But when she tried to question her about it, Jacqueline insisted and didn’t seem like she wanted to discuss it further. So, Heather just went with it. Maybe there would be some kind of discussion or explanation later.
Jacqueline realized she had lost quite a bit of hair. She smiled. She couldn’t believe she was doing this but was happy she was. Was it weird that she suddenly had no regrets and was thrilled she had been so decisive about it?
Heather finished up with the clippers for the moment and put them down. Now it was time to focus on the top. Jacqueline’s hair had dried quickly, so she wet it again, as she used the comb to gather what remained of Jacqueline’s hair straight up on her head. Then, she gathered a small clump of hair between her fingers and SNIP. Then Heather repeated the process. More hair fell around Jacqueline. For someone whose hair was already on the short side, she sure was losing a lot more. There would probably end up being more hair on the floor than what would be left on Jacqueline’s head by the time Heather was done.
Suddenly, Jacqueline sat up just a bit taller and let out a soft gasp. She just remembered what the third picture was. Damn! She forgot that she had put that into the group. When she looked at styles, she tried to be as open-minded as possible. She would have time to try many different looks. While this particular look was something she was intrigued by, she thought she would work towards it. Eventually. The back and sides were extremely short, almost nonexistent in spots, and the top was short and spiky.
It seemed kind of funky and something she definitely would have gone for in high school or college, if she had ever actually had the courage to cut her hair back then. It’s exactly what she would have wanted if she was a few years younger and currently on the cheer team. If she were on the team now, she could get caught up with all the fun hair styles the team was currently experiencing and experimenting with. But she wasn’t that age anymore. She needed to be more ‘mature…’ This isn’t what she wanted for herself, not now at least.
Heather continued to snip away at Jacqueline’s hair, reducing the length significantly. She was proud of Jacqueline for taking such a bold step and this style would look amazing on her. “This is going to look so amazing on you. I can tell already. I didn’t think you’d go for this, but I think you’ll be pleased with the results and very glad you did.” Heather offered a rare mid-cut compliment and encouragement.
Jacqueline really hoped Heather was right. It wasn’t what she planned or really what she wanted. But what was done was done. It may have been a mistake, but it was now one she would have to live with. She thought about saying something or stopping Heather before it went any further, but it was probably too late already. She didn’t want to upset or disappoint Heather. As far as Heather or anyone else would ever know, this is exactly what she always wanted. Jacqueline bit her lower lip. Now she just needed to convince herself of that.
“Yeah, well, you only live once, and it’s just hair, right?” Jacqueline wasn’t sure if that was directed more towards Heather or herself.
“Exactly!” Heather was always happy when her clients took such a positive outlook. “I hope that attitude keeps up. I’m really looking forward to going on this journey with you.”
Oh, Heather if only you knew… This style was like at least 3 or 4 steps down the line. The journey just bypassed quite a bit of other stops along the way. Jacqueline originally only cut her hair to better fit in at her job. Now, she worried that she may have the opposite problem.
Heather worked quickly, so it didn’t take long before she had finished the top of Jacqueline’s new hair style. It would need a little help staying up, but Heather would deal with that soon enough. She needed to finish the rest of the cut.
Heather picked the clippers back up. She changed the guard to a #2. She began at the edges and worked her way in, blending the shorter lengths with the longer ones. Then she removed the guard completely. This was all about refinement and precision. Afterall, Jacqueline wanted it ‘neat and tidy,’ so Heather wanted to ensure the edges had crisp, defined lines. Once she was satisfied, Heather returned to the top. She studied it for a moment. Something wasn’t quite right…
“Your hair isn’t laying quite right. I can alter the lines so that it works better with your hair, but I’d need to take off a bit more length.” Heather wanted to check on Jacqueline before proceeding. “Or I can just adjust it slightly, but will probably require a lot more styling, product, and time.”
Jacqueline perked up. This was her opportunity to say something. To keep whatever hair she had left and figure out a way to deal with any issue. Her hair will grow back. She’ll make it work. “Um, whatever you think is best.” Wait, what? That’s not what she should have said!
“I really think it’d be better a bit shorter. I just wanted to check with you, because I know you’ve cut so much already, and this is probably a big change for you already.”
Damn straight! This whole thing was a misunderstanding in the first place. This is WAY shorter than planned. Jacqueline could still salvage this. “I understand. Thank you for asking. Go ahead.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Jacqueline’s eyes bugged out. She couldn’t believe she had just said that. This was not like her at all.
“Great!” Heather got right to work. She picked up the scissors and started snipping relentlessly. More hair fell on the floor as the pile continued to grow.
Jacqueline fought back tears, this is not what she wanted at all. She was so looking forward to this and had fully embraced her pixie era. It could not have gotten off to a worse start. This was a disaster. She was already calculating how much PTO she had accumulated so that she would be able to go home and bury herself in bed and not emerge until her hair grew back.
After what felt like forever, and Jacqueline imagined there couldn’t possibly be much hair left on her head, Heather finally stopped. She put the scissors down and went over to the counter. She grabbed a bottle and squirted its contents into her hand. Heather raced back over and massaged the gel into Jacqueline’s head.
Jacqueline hated to admit it, but it felt great. She could tell her hair was short. Really, really short. It seemed like Heather was just about done, so it was time to put on a brave face and be positive no matter how much she hated the image in the mirror.
Finally satisfied, Heather smiled as she rinsed off her hands and made her way back over to Jacqueline. “You know, you really surprised me with this cut. I wasn’t even sure we were cutting anything today, let alone this style, which I thought was a bit down the line. So, I gave you a few chances to back out. I wanted to make sure this was what you really wanted. But you never flinched and you never wavered. You were so confident, so I didn’t want to disappoint you.” She reached out for Jacqueline’s hand to help her up and direct her towards the mirror.
Jacqueline’s mind raced, and she swore everyone would be able to hear how loudly her heart was pounding. She knew she would hate it, but she was determined to stay positive and make sure Heather never knew her true feelings. She took a deep breath as Heather walked over to the mirror and pulled down the curtain. Jacqueline exhaled.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Janie wanted to keep it fun and casual. Not the relationship, but the double date. She didn’t want to have to dress up for some fancy dinner, she much preferred they all get together for some kind of group activity. That part she left up to the guys to plan.
Janie giggled as Scott rubbed her bald head, “For Luck.”
Scott lined up his shot and struck the cue ball squarely in the middle. It banked off the sides, journeyed around the table a few times and knocked two balls into their pockets before it stopped.
“Now, ladies. Just in case it wasn’t obvious, these balls are fair game, but we’d never strike your cue balls.” Doug commented as he came back to the table with a basket of chicken tenders and fries and a pitcher of cola. He sat down at the table and gently stroked Anna’s head.
“So, it wouldn’t bother you that your POTENTIAL girlfriend, would have less hair than you, or even no hair?” Anna questioned Doug.
“Should it? Besides that’s something that can be easily rectified.”
“I don’t mind.” Scott answered, as he wrapped an arm around Janie.
“Well, I hope you mean that it could be fixed by shaving your own and not expecting me to grow mine.” Anna answered Doug sternly.
“Of course,” Doug rubbed his head. “I would never dream of telling a woman how to wear her hair.” Doug tried to move closer to Anna, “Besides I like your bald head.”
“Me too.” Scott agreed, pulling Janie closer. Janie looked affectionately into Scott’s eyes.
“Well, that’s good to hear, because I’m more likely to stay bald then I am to grow it out, even a little bit.” Anna stepped away from Doug as she approached the pool table to take her shot.
Janie already knew she was falling for Scott. She hoped they could start to call each other boyfriend and girlfriend soon. She hoped that Anna and Doug would get along just as well. Doug seemed to be into Anna and wanted to give it a shot. Anna seemed to have a wall up and was very resistant to pursue anything. Anna was Janie’s best friend, and she only agreed to this double date as a favor to her, but Janie still hoped that Doug could find a way to break through.
A FRESH START
Jacqueline burst into tears. She tried so hard to control her emotions, but they overpowered her. She was so annoyed that she was crying. She didn’t want Heather to see her this way, but she just couldn’t help it. Heather had a look of horror on her face after she saw Jacqueline’s tears.
“You don’t like it.” Heather stated blankly.
“No, Heather. No.” It was all Jacqueline was able to say at first. She continued to look at her reflection, then turned towards Heather. “These are actually tears of joy.”
Heather looked at Jacqueline confused, as Jacqueline reached her arms out and hugged Heather and smiled. She turned back towards the mirror.
Jacqueline’s hair was fire. It was a bright reddish orange and looked like a flame rising out of her head. Her spiky hair stood up on top of her head between about half an inch to an inch in length. Below that, her hair was buzzed close to her scalp no longer than half an inch long anywhere and faded to the skin for much of the base of her neck and around the ears. It was way, way shorter than she ever imagined but she genuinely loved it.
“Heather, I was so prepared to hate this.” Jacqueline confessed. “I made a mistake. We knew this day was coming and I was making excuses and pushing it off. When I showed up last week and you asked about a timeline, you called me out. Ambitiously, I said the end of the year. I did not expect that to happen. You made it happen. I showed up today, and you were right, a cut wasn’t originally going to happen, but Emma got in my head. Honestly, was there really a good reason not to?”
“We didn’t have to, and I certainly would have done any cut you wanted.” Heather replied.
“I know, but while you stepped out, I got in my own head. I decided it was time. I was ready and didn’t want to leave here without my pixie.” She smiled widely. “I am so thankful you had the time to get it done. But then I felt that I had to double down, so I told you picture three without checking first. The truth was I didn’t remember what picture three was, but I figured I liked all the top pics and whatever it was would be fine.” Jacqueline paused, then sighed. “I forgot about this style.” She pointed to her head.
“Oh…”
“But the funny thing is, I was drawn to that style immediately. I never paid much attention to short hair before, but this one caught my eye. That’s why I kept it. I didn’t think it was right for me, but I liked it. If I had played with my hair in college like the team is now… If I was a bit younger and still on this team, that’s probably the style I would choose for myself.” Jacqueline sighed. She hadn’t planned on confessing all of this, but there was no stopping it, and Heather was listening intently, so she continued. “As soon as I realized what style you were giving me, I filled with dread and regret. I was prepared to hate it. And I didn’t want to let you know that. In fact, I wasn’t going to tell you any of this. I’m still not sure why I am…”
“You can always tell me anything. Don’t hide your feelings. If you’re not happy I want to try to fix it.” Heather looked over Jacqueline and tried to figure out what to fix.
“That’s just it. There’s nothing to fix.” Jacqueline smirked, “Heather, are you familiar with the phrase ‘happy accident?’ Sometimes the greatest discoveries began as mistakes.”
“What can I do? I want to make it right…” Heather was too focused on how she could fix this problem, that she still missed the point.
“Just continue to be you and never lose your innocence. Trust your gut. It hasn’t been wrong yet.” Jacqueline smiled. “Heather, I don’t need you to fix anything. I love my hair. I am so happy I showed up today, and I’m so happy that you did this. I’m a little concerned about showing up like this to work tomorrow, but that’s my issue not yours.”
“Oh, so you like it.” Heather breathed a sigh of relief.
“Heather, I love it.” Jacqueline chuckled at her young stylist as she hugged her tightly.
Jacqueline and Heather spent another few minutes together. Heather showed Jacqueline a few different style options, which Jacqueline paid particular attention to. She looked forward to the adventure and promised that she would be a frequent visitor. It was important to her to keep it sharp and was dedicated to having it look the best. She wanted to keep the red hair and with it so short, she knew her roots would poke through quickly.
Finally, Jacqueline felt ready to leave, so she said goodbye to Heather. Once she stepped out of the back room into the main room of the barbershop, she was met by several familiar faces.
“Wow, Jackie! You REALLY went for it.” Emma was first to compliment her new look.
“It’s amazing!”
“You look stunning.”
“Welcome to the club!”
“Oh, my God, you can never have long hair again.”
“That look is fire.”
Jacqueline was embarrassed by all the attention but flattered by all the comments. She couldn’t help but smile as she tried to acknowledge everyone. Gathered in the barbershop were Emma, Betty, Tabitha, Jenny, Jessie, and Melissa.
“Thanks, everyone. I still need time to get used to it, but so far, I love it.” Jacqueline stated, “I was very apprehensive at first, but as soon as I saw it, I knew it was me. This look is here to stay for a good long while.”
Everyone stuck around for a few more minutes as they all couldn’t get enough of Jacqueline’s new look. Heather made her way from out back and joined in the conversation and received tons of praise. Jacqueline relayed the story of what happened in the back room and all of her thoughts. She admitted how much fun this team seemed to have and wished she could be a part of it. With her new style, she almost looked like she was part of the current cheer squad.
As the crowd finally started to disperse, Jenny pulled Heather aside to discuss the newest development with Candi and Amanda, while Emma continued to chat with Jacqueline.
IT’S TIME
“Amanda! Amanda!” Candi pounded on Amanda’s door. They needed to get to the barbershop. It took a lot of coordination, but everything was set. Heather’s schedule was busy, but once she learned of the situation, was more than happy to help. Amanda was open but less willing to participate but knew she had no choice. It was decided that Candi would pick up Amanda, and they would go to the barbershop together to make sure Amanda got there. As much as she reluctantly agreed, no one wanted her to have any reason to back out at the last minute.
“Chill, girl, I’m coming…” Amanda poked her head through the door. “I’m not happy about it, but I’m coming.” Amanda, wearing only a bra from her waist up, left the door slightly ajar as she went back into her room to continue getting ready. Candi slowly ducked in while she waited.
“Amanda, we really can’t be late! Can you hurry up? You’re not even dressed yet…” Candi tepidly asked.
“Hey, I’m ready when I’m ready. I promise we’ll be fine.” Amanda continued to apply her makeup and made no effort to pick up the pace.
“You look fine. Can you just put on a shirt so we can leave?” Candi paced nervously.
“OH. MY. GOD! Would you relax?! I said I was coming.” It was clear that Amanda was getting upset.
Candi suddenly understood. She realized what a huge deal this was for Amanda. Rushing her wouldn’t help. She believed Amanda was committed and would go through with it but needed to go through the process. So, she sat on the bed and waited.
HOSTILE MAKEOVER
Heather and Jenny both sat in the barber chairs, waiting. Heather kept glancing at the clock, watching the time tick by, while Jenny kept looking at her phone and checking for any updates.
“They’ll be here.” Jenny said. “Candi knows the stakes.”
“I don’t like to be idle. I don’t mind helping, but I don’t want to be kept waiting.” Heather got up and headed towards her back room. “Just get me when they show up. Hopefully, it will be before my next client shows up.”
Jenny paced nervously. She knew if it was just up to Candi, she’d be there already, but this was all on Amanda. She thought everything had been worked out.
A few more minutes passed and just when Jenny was about to give up or try to contact Candi, the door opened. Candi held the door open as Amanda slunk through the door. Amanda slowly looked around as she took off her coat and hung it on the rack. Candi followed behind and guided Amanda into one of the chairs, while she sat in the other one.
“Hello, Amanda. It’s nice to meet you.” Jenny introduced herself.
“Yeah, whatever. Are you Heather?” Amanda inquired bluntly.
“Ah, no, I’m Jenny.” Jenny chuckled. “Heather is right over there.” Jenny nodded towards the back room, as Heather emerged from it. “She normally works in the back. However, we thought you’d like to be together. So, she’s coming out here to take care of you while I deal with Candi.”
“Fine, let’s just get this over with.” Amanda brusquely retorted.
“Hello, Amanda. I’m Heather.” Heather walked over and introduced herself. “I understand that you’re getting your head shaved.”
“Not willingly.” Amanda pointed out.
“Oh, I see. Well, if you’d like to discuss some other options –” Heather began.
“There are no other options! You were right, I’m here because you’re shaving my head. I’m just making sure you’re aware it’s not my choice.” Amanda flaunted her perfect locks, “If you had hair like this, would you shave it?”
“Um, I actually did,” Heather replied, while Jenny nodded in agreement.
“It’s true. She had gorgeous hair that went well past her butt.” Jenny stated, “Then she had it all shaved off in one go. It was pretty epic.”
“Ugh, why?” Amanda asked, clearly disgusted. “And you haven’t grown it back at all?”
“I actually prefer it this way. My life has been so much better since then.” Heather smiled as she rubbed her head. “But I acknowledge it’s not for everyone.”
Amanda turned to look at Jenny, “And you too?”
“Well, my hair wasn’t as long as Heather’s was, but my sister and I also had long hair. We cut it short, but then we shaved when our team had a fundraiser where we all shaved our heads. I’ve grown it a bit since then and do actually prefer a bit of hair, but I never plan to let it grow long again.” Jenny recapped.
“You already know my story.” Candi piped in.
“Yeah.” Amanda grew silent. “Well, let’s get this over with. I don’t have all day.”
“Neither do I.” Heather echoed. She reached for the comb and started to section Amanda’s hair. “You have such nice natural blonde hair. Did you want to donate it?”
“Donate it? Why would I do that?” Amanda huffed.
“Your hair can be used to make wigs for others. Those who can’t grow their own.”
“Eww! No, definitely not. No, if anyone is getting a wig of my hair, it’s me.”
“But you can just regrow it again!”
“Oh, and I will, but in the meantime…” Amanda exhaled. “I’m glad you mentioned the wig. I feel a bit better about this now.” She sat up a bit straighter, “Okay, proceed.”
“You do realize it’s a process, right? It’s expensive and takes a while to get a wig made.”
“Does it take as long as it will take to regrow my hair?” Amanda retorted.
“Well, no, but –”
“Then why are we still discussing this? Come on! Chop chop… I’ve got other things going on.” She clapped her hands together.
Candi looked on in horror and shed a tear as she grazed her mohawk for probably the final time.
Heather motioned for Jenny to join her. They headed into the back room for a quick chat.
“I don’t want to help that girl.” Heather said. “She’s vile.”
“I know, I had no idea.” Jenny agreed, “I feel bad for Candi.”
“Can I just hack off her hair so she can’t make a wig of it either?” Heather asked. “I wish I hadn’t said anything about it.”
“I know, most of us would gladly give to those of us that can’t, but that’s not everybody.”
“Hey, bitches! Are we doing this or what?” Amanda yelled from the main room.
Jenny started seething. Her face turned red, and her hands made fists as she did all she could to hold back her disgust. A moment later there was some commotion and muffled shouts. Jenny and Heather hurriedly made their way back into the main room to find out what happened.
Nikki towered over Amanda who cowered in her chair. Nikki noticed Jenny and Heather emerge from the back room and greeted them warmly. “Amanda just needs a minute… Heather, are you okay?” Nikki walked towards Heather with open arms as she hugged her friend.
Jenny headed back towards Candi, who had sat in her chair and watched everything unfold. “Are you still good? We don’t have to do this, if you don’t want.”
“No, I’m good.” Candi turned in her chair and faced the mirror. “I made a promise, and I’ll see this through.” She smiled at Amanda.
Amanda took a deep breath as she turned toward Candi, and mouthed a “Thank You,” at her. Then Amanda turned to look at the mirror. A single tear formed and slid down her face.
“Heather, Amanda has something she wants to tell you.” Nikki walked back towards Amanda and put her hand on Amanda’s shoulder.
“I – I – I’m so – sorry.” Amanda struggled to get out. “Thank you for fitting me in.” She paused and looked at herself, after a while she took a deep breath. “I’m ready, if you’re still willing to shave me.”
Heather was still a bit shaken but slowly walked over towards Amanda.
“I’m going back over to my desk. I hope you all have it from here, but I’ll be right over there if there is any more trouble…” Nikki glared at Amanda, who shrank further into her chair, before Nikki headed back over to the reception desk.
“Do you want me to hold your hand?” Candi recognized the terror in Amanda at that moment and really felt for her.
“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t see what holding my hand is going to accomplish.” Amanda looked over at Candi, then looked at Heather straight ahead through the mirror. “Proceed.” She said confidently.
At this point all talk was done. Everyone was silent as Jenny helped Heather tie up Amanda’s hair. All the tension of a few minutes earlier was really just a coping mechanism for Amanda. For all that Amanda said and did, Heather still wanted Amanda to have a positive experience.
“Do you want to watch, or would you like the mirror covered?” Heather spoke for the first time since she reentered the room.
“It doesn’t matter. Just get it done with.” Amanda was resigned to her fate. While she still wasn’t thrilled with what was about to happen, she no longer had the energy to fight it, plus Nikki scared her.
As Jenny and Heather finished tying up Amanda’s hair, Jenny bent down and gave Heather a quick hug. “You got this,” she whispered into Heather’s ear and then headed back to Candi.
Heather got her clippers and began to tear through Amanda’s hair. Amanda watched as her long, beautiful, natural blonde hair was reduced to nothing. The tears began to form, as she wept at the loss of her hair. They were slow at first but intensified as Heather continued to remove more and more hair. Soon, she was full-on bawling.
Normally, this would have upset Heather. This would have been cause for her to stop and make sure Amanda was okay. But this was different. She knew Amanda wasn’t really okay. She understood why this was happening and the reason behind it. While Heather realized that Amanda was just dealing with a lot and she was lashing out, Heather didn’t particularly care for Amanda as a person or how she was treated. Heather recognized that she had a job to do, and while it was usually her favorite thing to do, she wasn’t going to take the same care and tenderness that she usually did in these situations.
Meanwhile, in the next chair over, Candi was in mourning. Her mohawk was gone and for the first time in her life, she missed her hair. Jenny lathered the shaving cream in her hands and spread the shaving cream across Candi’s head. When Candi first had her head shaved, she enjoyed it. Even after Candi missed out on the role that led her to do it, she still liked how it made her look and feel. This led her to adopt the mohawk, which she loved. This time, her return to the bald look did not bring the same joy that it had the first time around. She looked over at Amanda, who was sobbing uncontrollably. All that makeup that Amanda had carefully spent time on was now streaming down her face.
Soon, Heather had removed all of Amanda’s hair and began to spread the cream on her head in preparation for the shave. Throughout all of this, Amanda continued to weep, sniffling back as best she could. Candi looked over and sympathized. “Twinning!” She said, as she tried to make the best of the situation. Amanda attempted to smile a small smile in return but was still completely overcome.
Candi and Amanda sat in the chairs with heads covered in foam. Jenny and Heather stood over them, razors in hand. They both looked at each other and then, in tandem, dragged the razors over the top of their respective client’s heads. It was done repeatedly, like they had both done countless times before.
Neither shavee was particularly thrilled with the outcome, but for very different reasons. Amanda still hadn’t stopped crying, but the reason was obvious. She was bald and it would be years before her hair had any sort of major length to it again. She had done this for a role in a play, and she seriously questioned if it was worth it, but it was done now.
Candi’s reaction was almost the exact opposite. If given the choice between being bald and having long hair, it was a no-brainer. Candi never wanted her hair long again. She wasn’t sure how long she could actually tolerate her hair anymore if she did grow it, but reasoned it probably wasn’t much. However, it wasn’t her mohawk. She decided that her mohawk was her all-time favorite hairstyle, even though she didn’t have much to compare it to. She also wasn’t sure she’d go back to it, now that she was bald again, since it was supposed to be ‘temporary’ anyway.
As much as Amanda hated her look, it was done. She was committed to it for the run of the play, which meant daily headshaves right before any rehearsal or performance for the next two weeks. She didn’t like it, but what other choice was there. Candi also agreed to come with her and had committed to the shave for the rest of the semester. So, they worked out a schedule between the four of them once Amanda and Candi had gotten their shaves.
“Wait!” Amanda shouted as she was about to get out of the chair. She had managed to stop crying but her eyes were still puffy and her face red. She sat back down and pointed to her temples, before lowering her head in defeat and trying not to hyperventilate.
Candi, Jenny, and Heather all looked at Amanda in confusion, unsure of what Amanda was trying to say. They thought she might need a bit more time before leaving. Suddenly, Candi gasped and snapped her fingers. “Eyebrows!” Amanda looked up and slowly nodded. “It’s not enough to be bald, she shouldn’t have eyebrows either…”
“I’m gonna look like an alien!” Amanda whined. “As if things aren’t bad enough.”
“Oh, I think you’ll be okay. Your hair is pretty light. They can barely be seen as it is. Mine, however…” Candi turned towards the mirror and stared at her eyebrows, “Mine would have to go.” She looked at herself for a moment. “Honestly, they probably could use some shaping or plucking or something. These giant caterpillars make me look like Groucho Marx. All I need is the mustache and cigar.”
“Candi’s right. You’ve done enough. I’m sure we can find a way to hide them further.” Jenny offered consolation while looking towards Heather, who nodded in agreement.
“No, I’ve gone this far. Might as well finish the job.” Amanda looked over to Candi, “I don’t expect or want you to, though. You’ve already done enough.” At this point Amanda was fully committed and determined to see it through. “Please, I promise to behave.” Amanda pleaded with Heather.
Heather reached for her clippers as Amanda sat back in the chair. Candi and Jenny stood by offering their support. It did not take long. Two quick swipes with the clippers and what little eyebrows Amanda had were gone. Then, on Amanda’s insistence, Heather spread some cream and with a few quick flicks, Amanda’s skin was bare. A faint smile appeared on Amanda’s face before it quickly disappeared. She quickly got up from the chair. She couldn’t bear to look at herself and didn’t want anyone else to either. She buried her head as she exited the shop followed quickly by Candi who thanked them and said they’d both be back at the scheduled time tomorrow.
True to her words, the next day Candi and Amanda both showed up at the shop at the planned time. Amanda was totally covered in sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt. The hood was up and tied tight around her face. She only loosened it and put it down once she was seated in the chair and Heather was already by her side with the cream in hand. Amanda kept the hood up and did her best to hide as much as possible while she wasn’t at rehearsal.
Amanda hated how she looked, and the lack of eyebrows really didn’t help. This continued every day for several days and while Amanda did not like a single part of the entire experience, she accepted it and no longer tried to fight it. Until everything changed.
It was the fifth straight day. Jenny and Heather were at the barbershop waiting for Candi and Amanda to show up. The door opened and the bell rang. Jenny and Heather looked up and were surprised when Amanda entered. Not only was she alone, but it was how she was dressed that caught their attention. Gone were the sweats. In their place Amanda was in a denim mini skirt and short off white bandeau crop top. She had big hoop earrings, and her face was fully made up. She walked in with a big smile on her face and an overall seemingly positive attitude.
“Hey girls. How are we doing on this beautiful day?” Amanda walked over to Jenny and Heather and greeted them each with a hug before she took a seat in the chair. She turned towards Jenny, “Don’t worry, Candi should be here in a moment.” She then turned back to Heather, “But I’m ready now, so anytime, feel free to start.” Jenny and Heather looked at each other. This was the most positive and upbeat either had ever seen Amanda since she first entered the shop.
“So, Amanda… This is quite the switch from how we’re used to seeing you. Is everything okay?” Jenny sat down in the other chair while she waited for Candi.
“Oh, yeah, everything’s fantastic. This is how I usually am.” Amanda paused, “minus the hair, of course.” She explained. “I still hate this look, and I’m growing my hair back the instant this play is done. But it’s done, it’s gone. I can either continue to suffer or make the best of the situation. For better or worse, this is how I look now. Do I let my lack of hair take over everything I’ve established and worked towards over the past few years, or do I make the best of the situation?”
At that moment, Candi entered the shop and made her way towards the group. “Sorry girls, I must have gotten our signals crossed. Amanda said, –” She noticed Amanda in Heather’s chair and couldn’t help doing a double take. “Holy shit, Amanda! I hoped you’d come around.” Candi sat down as Jenny got up.
“Relax, I still hate every aspect of this look, but as I was just telling these two, I’m not gonna let it ruin my senior year. Right now, the play’s the thing. If anything, this will drum up interest. If anyone says anything, I’ll tell them why and hopefully, it gets them interested and maybe they come check it out.” Amanda explained. “I’ve got this, and I’ll continue to be here every day, right before I head off to the play. Thank you for your assistance and commitment, but I’m good. You’re free to do as you wish.”
Candi turned and faced the image in front of her and sighed. She was happy for Amanda and proud of her. She just wished it hadn’t come at the cost of her mohawk. Jenny looked at her as if to ask what she was doing. Candi had made a commitment and her mohawk was already gone. Candi shrugged. Might as well keep up the daily shaves until the end of the semester, as planned.
Meanwhile, Heather promised her services to Amanda and when she came back next semester, Heather would help her with the grow out process as best as she was able. Amanda was grateful and apologized for how she acted when they first met.
