"Anyway, this is a nod to my hippie days when my hair was 'cool'  "... Michael Earls

This, immediately after I was sitting in my morning developer meeting,  thinking, "perhaps its time to cut my hair!" 

I think about cutting my hair about every three days.  The usual reason is because I see someone with a ashort haircut, they look very clean and respectable, and I desire that other people have the same perception of me. 

I had very long hair in highschool and cut it when I moved to Georgia from WI.  I did not want long hair interfering with my ability to succeed in a totally new world.  I had, on occassion, experienced discrimination and stereo-typing because my style was not a good, christian, male cut. 

My childhood buddy's dad was an x-navy barber and had wanted to give me a 'trim' as long as he'd known me.  I gave him the honor of doing the deed.  When I asked him to cut my hair, he said, "I only know how to cut one style, short."  I said, "short is what I'm after."  He pulled out the clippers.

So, many years later, many years of displeasing haircuts, color experimentation (streaked, blue, purple, red and multi-color), and a determination to have long hair again, my hair is long.  It can finally be pulled into a small ponytail when necessary.  This, I think, is the apex of "growing out your hair."  Once it can pull back, you can get it out of your face.  My hair grows much more slowly than it did when I was younger. 

The thing is: there is no, good "in-between".  Short looks tight and clean.  Long looks artistic and rebellious.  In between looks shitty. 

My hair, when short, sticks straight out like a kitchen brush.  I can cover it in hair goo and get it to chill out but I hate hair goo.  The only hair cut I've found that works is the "Ceasar" style made popular again by mr. George Clooney.  I think it works for me but its pretty boring.  I bore easily, after all. 

Then it reaches a place where it  will split right in the middle of my head and "wave" back towards my ears.  Imagine brown ass cheeks on top of the head.  

Then, it reaches my eyes.  When its in my eyes I develop a head twitch as I sub-consciously attempt to get it out of my eyes and constantly have to mess with it.  Last time I arrived at this place I began visiting Junkman's Daughter and sampling the wide spectrum of un-natural colors.  This was fun.  Watching people's faces when they see a 6'2" late twenties dude with fusia hair was a trip.  Unfortunately, there aren't permanent colors in this realm and it stains everything it touches.  Your collars, pillows, car head rest, friend's car headrest, friends couch, etc.  Not cool.  Had to give that up.

Once I can tuck it behind my ears, I find relief.   Unfortunately, hair stylists are both stupid and deaf.  They must have a hangup about cutting x% of a person's hair off and I found myself repeatedly above the ear tuck.  This pissed me off almost enough to give up, except,  I don't give up.

I finally met Julian of Van Michaels Salon, my beloved hair dresser.  He not only understands what its like to be a guy with longish hair (I think its different for guys because of what we deem is reasonable preparation time and the activities we participate in), he understands the motivation for a straight man to have long hair (to stand apart Joe Bob Normal and express internal creativity externally on a budget).  He has kept me looking respectable while my hair slowly creeped down my neck and finally reached the length it is now.  The last time I went in for a cut, I told him I was ready to throw in the towel.  He discouraged me, saying, “its almost there, man!” 

So my hair is long and I consider taking it off all the time.  I know that I can always cut it, but I will probably never grow it out again.  For now, I have the opportunity to keep it and it has no adverse repercusions.  The day I find myself pursuing a job or situation where a long hair style my present an obstacle is the day the Flobie enters my life.  Until then, I quite enjoy being different.  It tends to be a pain in the ass.  But most things worth doing are. 

One day, I will decide to go short.  When I do, I will look fifteen years younger.  Until then, I will continue living in my headbanger fantasy world.  Unless I change my mind....

I've never shaved my head, I wonder what my skull looks like.