My True Hair Journey: Part 8

If you’ve been following this series for a while: welcome back! If you’re new, please don’t be put off by the ‘part 8’. Now I’ve re-started this series I’m trying to write each instalment in a way that works both as a stand-alone story and as part of a series. Enjoy!

As the title says this is a true account of my hair journey however names have been changed.

Part 8: Summer Misadventures

The Choice:

I love experimenting with different lengths and styles of haircuts. My hair is a natural dark auburn which I’ve never coloured.

For my last haircut I went for a major transformation – from collarbone length to a micro bob that only covered about half my ears. I’m pretty sure it was the most hair I’ve ever had cut off in one go. Personally I think the style looks super cute on me and it was fun showing off my high undercut which I’ve had for several years.

I’m still having fun trying out new short styles so I knew the micro bob wouldn’t last long but when I finally get tired of experimenting I know I don’t want to let my hair grow past my ears.

Perfecting timing.

I waited until my bob had grown to my earlobes and booked my next appointment. For this haircut I gave myself four possible choices: an asymmetrical bob, a bowl cut, a pixie cut or a random cut by a new stylist.

I was tempted to go straight for the pixie cut but I didn’t want to miss out on other styles if I went too short, too fast.

Even though I love my micro bob the length meant that it was too short to properly tie-up or tuck behind my ears. To keep my hair off my face I had fun accessorising with clips and hair slides. I wondered if perhaps an asymmetrical cut could be an even more perfect style for me. If part of my hair was cut above my ear then it would always be out of the way.

I also decided, for fun because why not, to add in a random factor by visiting a brand new stylist.

The Expectation:

I had everything planned out.

I’d booked an appointment at a unisex salon in town that I’d never been to before. When I arrived I was ushered into a chair belonging to Angela, a nice lady in her fifties. I’m sure it was completely unnecessary but, to explain why I was new to the salon, I spun a story about my usual stylist being on holiday and I was so excited about my upcoming restyle that I decided I couldn’t possible wait and could Angela please help me with me new look?

In reality I have two usual stylists – a barber named Kieron who completes my hair transformation requests and a barberette called Nora who shaves my undercut every few weeks. As far as I knew neither of them were on holiday but, like I said, I wanted to add a random factor (i.e. a new stylist) to this haircut experience.

Since I knew specifically what I wanted I’d brought a reference picture to show Angela. The woman in the picture had an undercut like mine which was buzzed nice and short. On one side of her head the bob started above her ears and on the other side it was at her chin; creating a blunt diagonal line across the back of her head.

To my untrained mind the cut seemed fairly straightforward. I already had the undercut. My bob had grown to fully cover my ears. Simply keep one side the same and cut a line across to the other. Easy!

The Reality:

Angela frowned and examined the picture closely then, after the black cape had been swept around my body, pinned all of my hair to the top of my head with various coloured clips. This gave her a clear look at my undercut which stopped a couple of centimetres above my ears.

Did I want the same length as in the picture? The clippers were already vibrating in her hand. It wouldn’t be too short?

I assured Angela that the buzzed length shown in my reference image would be perfect. This led to a discussion about the ‘normal’ length for my undercut. If you’ve read the past couple of instalments in this series you’ll know that I love a bald undercut. Nora uses a foil shaver to get my skin as smooth as possible.

Angela assured me that, once the cut was complete, she could take my hair shorter if I wanted to. Next thing I knew the clippers were gliding up my nape, shearing inch long pieces of hair from my head.

Did I want it shaved all the way to the top?

This made me pause. Did she mean shaved to the top of the undercut or shaved to the top of my head? If I said ‘yes’ was I ready for what that might mean?

The clippers were already mowing a path over the back of my head. I decided to play it safe, just in case. Up to where the line currently is – that would be great.

Not a problem.

Even so I couldn’t help but hold my breath when Angela bent my left ear over and touched the clippers to the side of my head. Mercifully my request had been understood, with my head shaved to the top of my undercut and no further. The process was repeated on the right side of my head. Then the larger clippers were swapped for a smaller pair and the back and sides of my head were shaved again. I realised that I had no idea what length my undercut now was.

Once she was finished Angela unpinned a couple of sections hair on the left side of my head. The side I had requested for the shorter cut. A pause. Did I definitely want my hair cut above my ears?

I again gave my assurance and so, with just a few snips, my left ear was fully exposed to the world. No more hair for it to hide behind now. Two thick locks of ten centimetre long auburn hair were sent tumbling onto the cape. As more and more sections of my hair were released from the clips, the pile of discarded hair on the cape grew.

This initial cutting process lasted several minutes. First came the rough chop with the scissors, then a comb and the smaller clippers were brought out again to perfect the line. Repeated use of the thinning shears added generous layers to the top of my head. I knew this meant I wasn’t getting the blunt cut I’d asked for but maybe it would look better with a bit of shaping.

Angela made sure that every clump of hair, every wisp of copper she cleaned from the blades, all ended up on the black cape to join the locks already covering my shoulders and lap.

About two-thirds of the way around my head, Angela stopped. She had reached the last few sections on the right side of my head – the longest sections. Did I just wany a trim on this side?

These sections of my hair were ear-length. We both agreed that a trim would be enough.

And just like that my haircut was finished and I had a super short asymmetrical bob. Of course I still hadn’t seen the back just but the front looked kinda cute. Since I loved my micro bob so much I was very relieved that this new style still looked good. I thought it might be fun to keep this asymmetrical cut for a while instead of always racing though new styles.

Angela picked up the large clippers and attached a guard.

Short hair suits you so well! Now the basic shape’s done I can sort the edges out for you.

But my haircut was already done. Wasn’t it?

Clippers in one hand, comb in the other. With only the comb to protect some of my remaining hair, the clippers were pressed to the left side of my head and up they travelled. They stopped about a centimetre below the top of my head. More chunks of hair were added to my shoulders as the clippers unexpectantly erased my long-loved undercut hairstyle.

The clippers and comb moved around my head. More and more hair fell onto my shoulders.

Stopping once again at the two-thirds mark, the clipper guard was swapped for a smaller one. Repeat, and then a smaller guard again.

Clearly my request for a blunt cut had not been heard because this must have been the style Angela had in mind all along – an asymmetrical style but created with a fade. Still my hair rained down onto the cape. Just how short was the back being taken?

The clipper cut seemed to last forever. When it finally ended the thinning shears made their loud return to again attack the hair on top of my hair. The right side, which still covered my ear, was also deemed in need of thinning.

I’d walked into the salon with an ear length bob. That was a pretty short hairstyle right? So how was there now so such of my hair decorating the cape.

A comb was pulled through my hair to check the length. Several tiny snips. A couple more sections of layering. Then at last, at last the haircut was over.

The longer right side of my hair seemed to be about the same. Just a few extra layers higher up my head than I’d had before but still covering my ear. The shorter left side had hints of stubble that grew to two centimetres in length when it reached the top of my head.

I still hadn’t seen the back of my head.

Angela was beaming at me. The bolder look suited me so well. I looked so professional now.

I thanked her.

I needed to see the back of my head.

Finally the mirror was raised.

Oh my…

Angela moved the mirror to show me different angles.

On one hand it was a really good haircut. On the other hand it wasn’t exactly what I’d asked for. Instead of a short asymmetrical bob, my hair had been clippered into an extreme asymmetrical pixie cut.

My undercut was no more. Instead the asymmetrical look had been created with a clippered fade. Imagine a line. It starts above my left ear and swoops down across the back of my head before ending at the base of my skull on the right. My hair in the triangular section below this line is completely shaved to only a few millimetres in length. On the line is the faded/blended area. Above the line are the remaining layers of my hairs. The longer sections on the right side of my head still cover my ear.

I have to be fair. Angela clearly has skills with the clippers because to my untrained eye the fade looked excellent and overall I’d actually received a good haircut…but oh my goodness it was a lot shorter than I was expecting!

And my poor undercut which I’d had for years and which I’d still planned on keeping in some form for at least the next several months.

While it’s true that the back and sides of my head had been shaved to the skin in the past, I still had the option to hide those sections under the rest of my hair if I wanted to. Even with the micro bob clearly showing off my nape, the full extent of the shaved section could still be partially concealed. But now the shaved parts of my haircut weren’t a secret anymore – instead they were completely on display for everyone to see. Nowhere to hide now.

I had definitely leapt further into the realm of short haircuts had I had expected to when I walked into the salon. It was an interesting look. I didn’t feel the immediate love like I did with my micro bob but I certainly didn’t hate it. It was just…unexpected.

I thanked Angela and watched as the fluffy mountain of copper locks finally tumbled down the cape and onto the floor.

What’s Next?

Good question.

This asymmetrical pixie cut is definitely starting to grow on me. I think I’ll keep this style for a while. Although at some point I know I’ll get both sides cut to the same short length.

My original plan had been (if I finally plucked up the nerve) to get a classic yet hopefully chic bowl cut as my next hairstyle. But now, for this to work, I’d have to let my hair grow out for a while before it could be cut into the right style.

Or maybe this is a sign that I should jump straight into experimenting with some shaved styles.

At this point I’m not sure. But whichever direction I go in, hopefully there’ll be no more surprises.

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