Business is booming! We got a write-up in the Saturday Post - - the reporter is a friend of Caseys and got a cut on the house. Ethics aside, things have been going great. Its never boring. Just yesterday I served as judge and jury on a hairy dispute.
Two guys walked in the shop arguing loudly. They sat down opposite me (I was in between customers sitting in the chair enjoying a cup of java). The two guys were arguing what kind of hair cut they should have.
The more vehement of the two was medium build, sharp ice-blue eyes, hair cut in a shortish businesmans taper - - his bangs were a bit unruly though. The second guy taking most of the abuse was a bit taller and more muscular than his sparing partner. He had deep blue eyes and thick blond hair that was neatly brushed, but well over his ears and collar. It seemed that business cut guy thought shaggy cut guy should get a really short buzz cut and shaggy cut guy though both of them just needed a trim. Well, business cut guy was really making a scene and being very nasty.
They finally noticed me sitting there, watching, listening and trying not to laugh out loud. (I didnt want to spill my java.) Business cut guy said he thought that I should decide who got what cut (like I didnt do that every day anyway) and shaggy cut guy said that would be fine. Well, of course I agreed.
I told blond shaggy cut guy to get in the chair. I ran my fingers through his thick blond hair. Jose Eber would have swooned. No artificial coloring or curl here. He had a natural wave and his hair though shaggy was still neat. About 6 to 7 on top and 4 to 5 on the sides and back.
I took out my Oster and put the #2 attachment (1/4) and clicked them on. I stared on his right side. Slowly, I moved the razor up just to above the top of the ear and pulled out. I tilted his head away and held his ear out of the way and moved the razor up just to that same level that when I released his ear the hair was cut down from 4 to 5 to 1/4 just above the top of the ear. I proceeded around the back slowly move the razor up the back of his head mowing through 4 to 7 of thick blond perfection. Mounds of blond locks fell in a heap on the floor. I kept the same line all the way around to his left side where I once again protected his ear and buzzed of the 4 to 5 just above the ear.
Next, I took off the attachment and shaved off his sideburns so there would be a straight line back above the ears and cleaned up the back. I turned off the clippers so they could cool down. (I knew I needed to at least). I got out the shaving cream and lathered up around his ears and back of the neck. With the straight razor, I defined the edges around his ears and back of the neck. Then I shaved his face and applied my favorite tonic.
Then, I picked up the clippers (still without the attachment) and my trusty comb. I started on his left and placed the comb at an angle and ran clipper over comb around the side of his head tapering from the 1/4 around the ears up to 2. Sheaves of 4 to 5 of thick blond locks showered down onto the cape and onto the floor.
I moved around to the back and continued to taper from 1/4 at the nape of his neck to 2 at his crown. A cascade of long thick blond locks showered to the floor as I moved slowly and steadily around the back towards his right side. On his right side I continued tapering away showering the cape and the floor with those beautiful locks. They got so thick on the floor I had to push them out of the way with my foot so I would not slip and fall. I went back around double checking the taper all the way around.
Finally, I started on his long thick top. I tilted his head forward. Using the clipper-over-comb technique, I started on his bangs and lopped them off from 7 down to 2. 5 of thick blond locks fell into his lap. I continued back holding the 7 long thick locks up with the comb and chopping them down to 2. From front to crown slowly. A constant cascade of 5 of blond hair kept falling into his lap. By the time I reached his crown, an enormous pile of gold had accumulated in his lap.
I ran my fingers through his hair. Still long enough for the wind to blow and for him to comb, but short enough not to be unruly. I went all around making sure everything was blended just right. When I was done what had been 4 to 7 was now 1/4 to 2 all around the sides and 2 on top. He was very pleased, and a bit surprised. He paid me and sat down.
Business cut guy sat in the chair while a got the broom out and swept away the mass of blond from around the chair. I finished sweeping and came over to the chair. He had thick brown hair that was tapered from 1/2 to 3. His bangs and the top however, were much longer - - about 4 to 5 long. I ran a comb through his hair just to see where the natural part was.
He was still sneering at his compadre when I clicked on the clippers without an attachment. I took a deep breath and tilted his head forward. I placed the clippers in the middle of his forehead and shaved straight back to his crown. 7 of thick brown hair fell into his lap. He stopped sneering at his friend. I continued to shave the top of his head. Mounds of thick brown hair piled into his lap.
Then I moved around to his life side and started by removing his sideburns and then continued around his ear to the back. I shaved the side of his head from front to back and then moved to the back. I tilted his head forward and shaved up the back of his head reducing his nice neat business taper to stubble. I then moved around to his right side and tilted his head forward and shaved back to front this time. Chunks of brown locks showered into his lap. Finally, I removed the remaining sideburn and clicked the razor off.
I got out the shaving cream and lathered his head. I shaved front to back starting on his right and across the top and over to the left side. In back I shaved up the back to the crown and then went over in reverse just for good measure. Then I shaved his face and applied my favorite tonic all over. I rubbed my hand over his crome-smooth head. Mmmm that felt good.
Well, at first he just sat there. Then he ran his hands over his bald head. His nicely tapered friend got up and ran his hands over the now bald business dude. The new taper guy smiled and paid me for his stunned bald friend and lead him out the door.
I turned around and Casey was standing there shaking his head with that smirk on his cute face. Like what, they said whatever I decided. Come by and see me sometime, Im here most every day.
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