I walk toward your shop wearing my new denim skirt which just falls
over my knee, with white halter-neck top. My shoulder length hair shines
as it falls down in layers. My shoes make a clip clop sound as I stroll
down the street in my high back platform straps. My feminine sent wafts
behind me to the aroma of Chanel No5. I see the spinning red and white
pole as I tuck my hair behind my right ear and push the door open.
There is 3 chairs, 2 are occupied. Both are men in the chair receiving haircuts from barberettes. I notice above the vacant chair there is a sign situated on the top of the mirror which reads, Tom. His chair is a big red leather chair with a thick steel frame. A long red cape is draped over the armrest waiting for its next victim.
I cant explain the butterflies I feel in my stomach as I sit down next to what I assume is a boys mother. In the waiting area there are two women in their late thirties sitting next to young children. I cross my legs and search for a magazine, Sports Illustrated…Men's Health…no girls magazines. I decide I should just watch what is going on in front of me. As I look up one man is being uncaped. The barberette pulls the long red cape from the man with a swish then places it on the arm rest as he gets up.
After the man pays, the female barber walks back over to her station looking at the waiting area, she picks up the cape and shakes it out, “next”. One of the ladies stands up and escorts her son to the giant chair. He is hoisted up. Next the barberette walks to the wall and with both hands pulls a long strip of what looks like tissue from a dispenser. As she pulls the tissue I notice her extremely long acrylic nails, squared at the ends, just like mine. She walks back behind the young kid and wraps the thick tissue around his little neck. She folds the end in so its nice and tight before she lets the cape float over the young boy. What I’ve just seen has me intrigued as I've never had that treatment at the hairdressing salon before. The barber and the mother converse then agree on a style and the barber gets to work. Just as she begins, the other man is finished and the young boy from the waiting area takes his place. I watch this series of events unfold before as he is prepared for his haircut and I wonder if I will get the same treatment.
The two mothers beside me return back to their magazines as I sit cross legged waiting my turn. It relieves me a little that my first haircut in a barbershop will be from a female. I just feel that I can communicate with them better and they will be able understand the magnitude of this haircut and how terrifying this is for a young girl. I'm scared that if I were to receive a haircut from a male barber that I would end up looking like Demi Moore. After having these thoughts I relax a little and my heart back goes back to about million beats per minute as opposed to one billion.
Just as I settle down and watch both these boys hair being reduced with swift clipping motions I hear a noise out the back. A man walks out from the back, I look at the top of the mirror, could it be Tom??? Feels like my heart is going to jump out of my skin now, I’m horrified! I hope that maybe he thinks I'm a sister just tagging along for the trip, but no. He walks over to his station to pick up that cape that has been waiting all morning. My toes begin to curl and I squirm in the waiting chair realizing my fate. “Next” says Tom as he whips the cape against the large chair. I swallow and stand, forcing a half smile, I think he can see straight through me and realizes my nervousness. I reluctantly sit back in the high chair, it feels like a throne. Tom effortlessly puts my hair in a pony tail and twists it to the top of my head, securing it with a clip. Tom chats to the other barbers as he reaches forward for the tissue. I’m not sure why but this whole neck tissue concept has me so very excited. I can't wait to feel it tight against my neck. The tissue is torn from the dispenser and with both hands he quickly pulls it close around my petite neck. I look at myself in the mirror, a clueless crossed legged little girl with a thick strip of tissue fastened around my neck awaiting the cape, I was in Tom’s hands. Just with this tissue secured so tightly I felt so vulnerable. Then with a flick of the wrists the red cape was drawn across me. Tom pulled it up against the tissue tightly, and pinned it close with a loud snap, I was trapped. My hair was released as I look down and could only see the painted toe nails of my right foot. Apart from my foot my the whole chair and me were covered.
Next thing I knew the chair was jolting up and down as I began to ascend. Tom continued to pump this pedal under the chair as I continued to rise. Once I was at his desired working level I came to a stop, I think we were ready to start. I remember looking over the chair beside me. The young boy sat high in the chair as I did, he gave me a little smirk as if to say “haha your not getting away without a summer haircut either”. It seemed justice from when I was young and sat on my mum’s knee in the waiting area pulling faces at my brothers who were being shorn. They hated their haircuts and they also hated me watching them and teasing them, finally it was my turn, but by choice! My youthful curiosity had landed me in a barbershop consensually about to receive a haircut! I think if someone had of walked in who knew me, they would have a heart attack as no one was aware of my little burning desire.
I was brought back to realization when I felt combing through my hair. I don’t think Tom was too used to long hair as he seemed a little frustrated at the length that he was forced to contend with. The silence was broken by a “So what are we doing today?” I tried to speak but I had that big lump feeling in my throat which prohibited me from doing so. He cut in again “Something a little shorter? Off your neck for summer maybe?” All I could do was nod, what the hell was I doing, “Off the neck!!!” I thought. “So perhaps take the back and sides down short and leave a little length on top for your to style..?” Tom queried. First time I was able to force some words, “um yeh that would be fine..” I said. Cant believe this was happening, all I wanted was him to trim up my layers, but I couldn’t say no!
With a style settled, my hair was pulled in a pony tail and with a few snips of the scissors it was tossed in my lap and sat there lifeless after being apart of my morning ritual for the last 15 years. I let out a little sigh and took a deep breath. Tom ruffled up my hair a little then combed it out straight. What happened next was expected I think but still the fright of my life. I had eyed off the clippers as soon as I sat down in that chair. They were black and white and hung lifeless on a hook off the bench in front of me. They were lifeless until they got plugged into the wall. Tom quickly picked up the clippers and searched around for a guard, “three?” he asked. I just nodded cluelessly in amazement as my eyes studied this over oaring machine. They were plugged in, then oiled. Tom stood behind me casually like he’d be clipping 19 year old girls everyday for his whole life. “How could he not be nervous or excited!” I thought as I was trying my hardest to keep still and not give away my anxiousness. I looked down at my little foot sticking out from cape and noticed the hem of the cape, which made its way around the base of the chair, was slowly tremoring. Not sure if it were intentional but next Tom flipped on the clippers right next to my ear, I think I just about hit the roof with a fright. The clippers purred waiting to make short work of my hair. They remained switched on as Tom searched around for a big comb on the bench in front of me. Tom began combing my hair out in order for the clippers to begin. I felt his left hand on top of my head and gently push it toward my chest. All that was in front of me was a sea of red, my shoes with my painted nails and a checked black and white floor. At this stage I was breathing heavily but silently, my heart was thumping. I felt the combs last pass from my hair line upwards, causing my hair to stick out. Next I felt he plastic guard of the clippers at the base of my neck, it vibrated through my whole body, this was it, I bit my bottom lip. “Ring Ring Ring” went the telephone, the clippers were switched off and put down on the counter. I blew out the biggest sigh of relief and was able to take several deep breaths to calm my self. Lifted my head back and stared at my self in the mirror, what was I doing??!!!
I was then br
ought back to reality when Tom returned from his brief phone call. “Sorry bout that” he said as he picked up the clippers again and placed his left hand on my head. My chin was forced to rest just above my breast, I wasn’t going to get out of it this time. The clippers were flicked back on, ‘here we go’ I thought. One slow pass was made up my neck, it sent shivers down my spine as I felt a cool breeze float past the freshly clipped area. More and more passes were made as more and more of my sweet smelling layers were clipped and sent down in front of me. My legs were crossed in the chair and it created a dip in the cape just above my knee. All the clipped hair would slide down the front and deposit itself in this little dip. If it fell fast enough it would slide to the point that my right knee made in the cape, then fall past my shoes to the floor. I couldn’t believe how much hair was falling down, was this ever going to stop. Shortly I felt his hand on my chin and he gently pulled my head back up straight. I looked straight into the mirror, it looked like nothing had been cut but of course I couldn’t see the back, but I could feel it.Tom then stood beside me and placed the vibrating clippers on my right check. Slowly Tom moved the clippers up past my temple, I was holding my breath then let out a giant sigh as he pulled them away with a flick of his wrists. A sheet of my highlighted layers fell to my shoulder then slid down to join the rest of the previously cut locks. Tom folded my ear gently and ran the clippers past this area, this was the first time id ever had my ears exposed! I was getting used to all the passes and began to enjoy the haircut, although I was extremely nervous about the result, what would my friends say tonight!!
I must have had my eyes closed because I looked in the mirror and it was the first time I noticed how much had been shorn on my right side. His left hand continued to hold my head in place whilst he proceeded to reduce my hair on this side. Shortly after the pressure of his hold was released. I turned my head to the side to see the damage before he began clip me on the other side, this guy sure didn’t mess around! Large mounds of hair would fall to my shoulder and tumble down the cape covered arm of the chair and into my lap or onto the checked floor. He was so precise with these clippers, I guess it was his job but I remember when me and my mum gave my brother a crewcut once, we had to make a pass over the same areas about 4 different time, took us 25 minutes to clip him. I watched Tom in the mirror as he would comb then immediately just follow with a quick pass of the clippers, next I would see my tresses float to the floor. Even if I wanted to get out of the chair I don’t think it would be possible, Tom was in control and once he started a haircut he wasn’t going to stop.
The clippers were shut off and for a brief minute there was silence throughout the shop apart from the snipping off the other barbers scissors. Starring at myself in the mirror was peculiar, my hair was short on the sides and down the back however I had long longs hang down from the top of my crown. It looked like an 80s style undercut that my brother had during the winter. It was then I realised if that’s how short the sides were, then quite a lot needed to be cut from the top, it was going to be short. This thought was interrupted my damp mist which Tom sprayed over my hair whilst a long comb was used to comb thought it. The spray bottle was placed down and replaced with his scissors, these were just about as scary as the clippers I thought. Razor sharp steel blades which made that unforgettable slicing sound as Tom quickly snipped them together in mid air.
I took a big gulp and swallowed as my hair was combed vertically up from my head and tom held the long strands between his middle and index finger. Next, snip snip snip, long wet freshly cut strands fall in front of my face. This process was fast, Tom combed and snipped , combed and snipped combed and snipped until my hair was ultra short. His scissors and comb was just about as quick as his clippers. Tom then stood infront of me and sliced through my fringe, 15 years worth! I almost cried as it was gone with 2 snips of the scissors! A comb was brushed back through my hair a number of times before the scissors were placed on the counter. The length on top was short for a girl but there was style a little length to grab hold of and style. Tom picked up some scissors which I recognized from the salon, thinning scissors. He stood by me and made quick fresh air snips at my locks. This process was over and so was my haircut, well that’s what I thought at least.
Another buzzing sound replaced the scissors, but it wasn’t the clippers that were used earlier, they were still on the hook. Tom walked behind me and my head was tilted down to my chest again. I felt smaller clippers clipping at my neckline and then follow up around behind my ears to give that precise cut. Tom stood in front of my and lifted my head gently by my chin. I looked directly at him as he turned my head from side to side and studied my haircut. I think he was satisfied cause the clippers were put back down and a big fluffy neck duster was used to dust my face to remove loose clippings. The cape was unclipped and it wasn’t until then that I realized it was so tight, such a relief. I felt like a prisoner who had been let free. After my neck was dusted the cape lay around me still, but it was unclipped at the neck. Tom proceeded to style my hair with some styling wax. I must admit I was thrilled with the result. My eyes were large and mysterious, my ears were released for the first time with my new hoop earing and the exposure of my neck made me feel so elegant. Tom produced a mirror behind me so I could see the back of my head, I smiled in approval and nodded. The cape and tissue quickly flicked away to send mounds and mounds of my hair to the barbershop floor! I uncrossed my legs and stood up out of the chair after Tom had lowered it to the floor. I looked down on the checked floor board and saw so many hours of styling, brushing washing and hairdressing appointments lying there on the floor. A mother from the waiting area looked over at my and smiled. I walked over the cash register to pay for my haircut. One of the other barberettes had finished at the same time as me. A mother and her son stood at the register paying for his haircut, Tom thanked me and asked me to pay with Debbie who I assumed to be the barberette at the counter. I put down my hand bag and filed through it looked for my purse. Next I heard the sound of high heels walking across the floor. There was, there was a flutter off the cape and turned back to Tom’s chair. One of the mothers strode to the chair and took a seat in her business suit and heels. Her hair was expertly styled up in an up do, I couldn’t believe she was getting a haircut. She crossed her legs and Tom walked toward the wall and pulled a long strip of tissue out. It was quickly and tightly fastened around her neck. The large cape of Tom’s was thrown across the elegant lady and fastened around the tissue. All that was exposed was the base of the chair and the lady’s designer heels from the bottom the cape. The chair rose as it jerked up and down. I heard Tom say, “ what will it be” , the lady looked over at me and smiled…
There is 3 chairs, 2 are occupied. Both are men in the chair receiving haircuts from barberettes. I notice above the vacant chair there is a sign situated on the top of the mirror which reads, Tom. His chair is a big red leather chair with a thick steel frame. A long red cape is draped over the armrest waiting for its next victim.
I cant explain the butterflies I feel in my stomach as I sit down next to what I assume is a boys mother. In the waiting area there are two women in their late thirties sitting next to young children. I cross my legs and search for a magazine, Sports Illustrated…Men's Health…no girls magazines. I decide I should just watch what is going on in front of me. As I look up one man is being uncaped. The barberette pulls the long red cape from the man with a swish then places it on the arm rest as he gets up.
After the man pays, the female barber walks back over to her station looking at the waiting area, she picks up the cape and shakes it out, “next”. One of the ladies stands up and escorts her son to the giant chair. He is hoisted up. Next the barberette walks to the wall and with both hands pulls a long strip of what looks like tissue from a dispenser. As she pulls the tissue I notice her extremely long acrylic nails, squared at the ends, just like mine. She walks back behind the young kid and wraps the thick tissue around his little neck. She folds the end in so its nice and tight before she lets the cape float over the young boy. What I’ve just seen has me intrigued as I've never had that treatment at the hairdressing salon before. The barber and the mother converse then agree on a style and the barber gets to work. Just as she begins, the other man is finished and the young boy from the waiting area takes his place. I watch this series of events unfold before as he is prepared for his haircut and I wonder if I will get the same treatment.
The two mothers beside me return back to their magazines as I sit cross legged waiting my turn. It relieves me a little that my first haircut in a barbershop will be from a female. I just feel that I can communicate with them better and they will be able understand the magnitude of this haircut and how terrifying this is for a young girl. I'm scared that if I were to receive a haircut from a male barber that I would end up looking like Demi Moore. After having these thoughts I relax a little and my heart back goes back to about million beats per minute as opposed to one billion.
Just as I settle down and watch both these boys hair being reduced with swift clipping motions I hear a noise out the back. A man walks out from the back, I look at the top of the mirror, could it be Tom??? Feels like my heart is going to jump out of my skin now, I’m horrified! I hope that maybe he thinks I'm a sister just tagging along for the trip, but no. He walks over to his station to pick up that cape that has been waiting all morning. My toes begin to curl and I squirm in the waiting chair realizing my fate. “Next” says Tom as he whips the cape against the large chair. I swallow and stand, forcing a half smile, I think he can see straight through me and realizes my nervousness. I reluctantly sit back in the high chair, it feels like a throne. Tom effortlessly puts my hair in a pony tail and twists it to the top of my head, securing it with a clip. Tom chats to the other barbers as he reaches forward for the tissue. I’m not sure why but this whole neck tissue concept has me so very excited. I can't wait to feel it tight against my neck. The tissue is torn from the dispenser and with both hands he quickly pulls it close around my petite neck. I look at myself in the mirror, a clueless crossed legged little girl with a thick strip of tissue fastened around my neck awaiting the cape, I was in Tom’s hands. Just with this tissue secured so tightly I felt so vulnerable. Then with a flick of the wrists the red cape was drawn across me. Tom pulled it up against the tissue tightly, and pinned it close with a loud snap, I was trapped. My hair was released as I look down and could only see the painted toe nails of my right foot. Apart from my foot my the whole chair and me were covered.
Next thing I knew the chair was jolting up and down as I began to ascend. Tom continued to pump this pedal under the chair as I continued to rise. Once I was at his desired working level I came to a stop, I think we were ready to start. I remember looking over the chair beside me. The young boy sat high in the chair as I did, he gave me a little smirk as if to say “haha your not getting away without a summer haircut either”. It seemed justice from when I was young and sat on my mum’s knee in the waiting area pulling faces at my brothers who were being shorn. They hated their haircuts and they also hated me watching them and teasing them, finally it was my turn, but by choice! My youthful curiosity had landed me in a barbershop consensually about to receive a haircut! I think if someone had of walked in who knew me, they would have a heart attack as no one was aware of my little burning desire.
I was brought back to realization when I felt combing through my hair. I don’t think Tom was too used to long hair as he seemed a little frustrated at the length that he was forced to contend with. The silence was broken by a “So what are we doing today?” I tried to speak but I had that big lump feeling in my throat which prohibited me from doing so. He cut in again “Something a little shorter? Off your neck for summer maybe?” All I could do was nod, what the hell was I doing, “Off the neck!!!” I thought. “So perhaps take the back and sides down short and leave a little length on top for your to style..?” Tom queried. First time I was able to force some words, “um yeh that would be fine..” I said. Cant believe this was happening, all I wanted was him to trim up my layers, but I couldn’t say no!
With a style settled, my hair was pulled in a pony tail and with a few snips of the scissors it was tossed in my lap and sat there lifeless after being apart of my morning ritual for the last 15 years. I let out a little sigh and took a deep breath. Tom ruffled up my hair a little then combed it out straight. What happened next was expected I think but still the fright of my life. I had eyed off the clippers as soon as I sat down in that chair. They were black and white and hung lifeless on a hook off the bench in front of me. They were lifeless until they got plugged into the wall. Tom quickly picked up the clippers and searched around for a guard, “three?” he asked. I just nodded cluelessly in amazement as my eyes studied this over oaring machine. They were plugged in, then oiled. Tom stood behind me casually like he’d be clipping 19 year old girls everyday for his whole life. “How could he not be nervous or excited!” I thought as I was trying my hardest to keep still and not give away my anxiousness. I looked down at my little foot sticking out from cape and noticed the hem of the cape, which made its way around the base of the chair, was slowly tremoring. Not sure if it were intentional but next Tom flipped on the clippers right next to my ear, I think I just about hit the roof with a fright. The clippers purred waiting to make short work of my hair. They remained switched on as Tom searched around for a big comb on the bench in front of me. Tom began combing my hair out in order for the clippers to begin. I felt his left hand on top of my head and gently push it toward my chest. All that was in front of me was a sea of red, my shoes with my painted nails and a checked black and white floor. At this stage I was breathing heavily but silently, my heart was thumping. I felt the combs last pass from my hair line upwards, causing my hair to stick out. Next I felt he plastic guard of the clippers at the base of my neck, it vibrated through my whole body, this was it, I bit my bottom lip. “Ring Ring Ring” went the telephone, the clippers were switched off and put down on the counter. I blew out the biggest sigh of relief and was able to take several deep breaths to calm my self. Lifted my head back and stared at my self in the mirror, what was I doing??!!!
I was then br
ought back to reality when Tom returned from his brief phone call. “Sorry bout that” he said as he picked up the clippers again and placed his left hand on my head. My chin was forced to rest just above my breast, I wasn’t going to get out of it this time. The clippers were flicked back on, ‘here we go’ I thought. One slow pass was made up my neck, it sent shivers down my spine as I felt a cool breeze float past the freshly clipped area. More and more passes were made as more and more of my sweet smelling layers were clipped and sent down in front of me. My legs were crossed in the chair and it created a dip in the cape just above my knee. All the clipped hair would slide down the front and deposit itself in this little dip. If it fell fast enough it would slide to the point that my right knee made in the cape, then fall past my shoes to the floor. I couldn’t believe how much hair was falling down, was this ever going to stop. Shortly I felt his hand on my chin and he gently pulled my head back up straight. I looked straight into the mirror, it looked like nothing had been cut but of course I couldn’t see the back, but I could feel it.Tom then stood beside me and placed the vibrating clippers on my right check. Slowly Tom moved the clippers up past my temple, I was holding my breath then let out a giant sigh as he pulled them away with a flick of his wrists. A sheet of my highlighted layers fell to my shoulder then slid down to join the rest of the previously cut locks. Tom folded my ear gently and ran the clippers past this area, this was the first time id ever had my ears exposed! I was getting used to all the passes and began to enjoy the haircut, although I was extremely nervous about the result, what would my friends say tonight!!
I must have had my eyes closed because I looked in the mirror and it was the first time I noticed how much had been shorn on my right side. His left hand continued to hold my head in place whilst he proceeded to reduce my hair on this side. Shortly after the pressure of his hold was released. I turned my head to the side to see the damage before he began clip me on the other side, this guy sure didn’t mess around! Large mounds of hair would fall to my shoulder and tumble down the cape covered arm of the chair and into my lap or onto the checked floor. He was so precise with these clippers, I guess it was his job but I remember when me and my mum gave my brother a crewcut once, we had to make a pass over the same areas about 4 different time, took us 25 minutes to clip him. I watched Tom in the mirror as he would comb then immediately just follow with a quick pass of the clippers, next I would see my tresses float to the floor. Even if I wanted to get out of the chair I don’t think it would be possible, Tom was in control and once he started a haircut he wasn’t going to stop.
The clippers were shut off and for a brief minute there was silence throughout the shop apart from the snipping off the other barbers scissors. Starring at myself in the mirror was peculiar, my hair was short on the sides and down the back however I had long longs hang down from the top of my crown. It looked like an 80s style undercut that my brother had during the winter. It was then I realised if that’s how short the sides were, then quite a lot needed to be cut from the top, it was going to be short. This thought was interrupted my damp mist which Tom sprayed over my hair whilst a long comb was used to comb thought it. The spray bottle was placed down and replaced with his scissors, these were just about as scary as the clippers I thought. Razor sharp steel blades which made that unforgettable slicing sound as Tom quickly snipped them together in mid air.
I took a big gulp and swallowed as my hair was combed vertically up from my head and tom held the long strands between his middle and index finger. Next, snip snip snip, long wet freshly cut strands fall in front of my face. This process was fast, Tom combed and snipped , combed and snipped combed and snipped until my hair was ultra short. His scissors and comb was just about as quick as his clippers. Tom then stood infront of me and sliced through my fringe, 15 years worth! I almost cried as it was gone with 2 snips of the scissors! A comb was brushed back through my hair a number of times before the scissors were placed on the counter. The length on top was short for a girl but there was style a little length to grab hold of and style. Tom picked up some scissors which I recognized from the salon, thinning scissors. He stood by me and made quick fresh air snips at my locks. This process was over and so was my haircut, well that’s what I thought at least.
Another buzzing sound replaced the scissors, but it wasn’t the clippers that were used earlier, they were still on the hook. Tom walked behind me and my head was tilted down to my chest again. I felt smaller clippers clipping at my neckline and then follow up around behind my ears to give that precise cut. Tom stood in front of my and lifted my head gently by my chin. I looked directly at him as he turned my head from side to side and studied my haircut. I think he was satisfied cause the clippers were put back down and a big fluffy neck duster was used to dust my face to remove loose clippings. The cape was unclipped and it wasn’t until then that I realized it was so tight, such a relief. I felt like a prisoner who had been let free. After my neck was dusted the cape lay around me still, but it was unclipped at the neck. Tom proceeded to style my hair with some styling wax. I must admit I was thrilled with the result. My eyes were large and mysterious, my ears were released for the first time with my new hoop earing and the exposure of my neck made me feel so elegant. Tom produced a mirror behind me so I could see the back of my head, I smiled in approval and nodded. The cape and tissue quickly flicked away to send mounds and mounds of my hair to the barbershop floor! I uncrossed my legs and stood up out of the chair after Tom had lowered it to the floor. I looked down on the checked floor board and saw so many hours of styling, brushing washing and hairdressing appointments lying there on the floor. A mother from the waiting area looked over at my and smiled. I walked over the cash register to pay for my haircut. One of the other barberettes had finished at the same time as me. A mother and her son stood at the register paying for his haircut, Tom thanked me and asked me to pay with Debbie who I assumed to be the barberette at the counter. I put down my hand bag and filed through it looked for my purse. Next I heard the sound of high heels walking across the floor. There was, there was a flutter off the cape and turned back to Tom’s chair. One of the mothers strode to the chair and took a seat in her business suit and heels. Her hair was expertly styled up in an up do, I couldn’t believe she was getting a haircut. She crossed her legs and Tom walked toward the wall and pulled a long strip of tissue out. It was quickly and tightly fastened around her neck. The large cape of Tom’s was thrown across the elegant lady and fastened around the tissue. All that was exposed was the base of the chair and the lady’s designer heels from the bottom the cape. The chair rose as it jerked up and down. I heard Tom say, “ what will it be” , the lady looked over at me and smiled…
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