HairSnip.com

I got the strangest email a few months ago. It wasn't to my 'regular' email account, but one I have with one of those 'free email' sites. This particular email account is rather private, only two other people even know about it. I don't keep either the name of the email account or the password anywhere written down. It was, as I say a strange email, but it was intriguing enough for me to reply back and ask where they had gotten that email address. "From a friend." Was the response. The two people who do know that email addy also know about my fetish for haircuts, head shaves, or high and tight flat tops. And, they know just a little about where I've worked before. Perhaps if you've read some of my other stories, you'll realize that I also have a 'dress up' suit fetish. I know about suits, because I worked for a few years at one of those 'men's suit stores'. I helped many guys pick out the right suit, fit it, and gave other advice and opinions about 'grooming, looking good, or looking professional', what they should and shouldn't wear. This email however simply said that the person wanted to meet me for a 'mutually' satisfying encounter. Why I ever agreed to 'meet' with a total stranger is still a bit of a mystery to me. For some reason, I felt compelled. We set up a place and time. I did warn him that I was a stickler for being on time, and he would have only a 5 minute leeway and not only would I leave, he would be blocked from further contact; early is much better. I told him what I would be wearing and he said he would find me.

I was surprised when I got to the meeting place and a younger man, less than half my age, met me at the door. (Let's say his name is Bob.) He looked like a 'late blooming hippie', hair back in a ponytail, a long Celtic drooping moustache. Bob was taller than I by an inch, 'cleaned up' he would probably be a reasonably handsome man. We moved to a back corner booth and ordered something to drink. He never said, and I didn't ask, which of the two had put him on to me. His basic problem was that he'd had a really good job making really good money. Then a new manager had come in and let half the shop go. No matter where he applied, they would just take one look at him, seem to glance at his resume and say, "we'll let you know Bob." And he never would hear from them again. He had to take two part time hack jobs just to make ends meet. His last application at least netted him a decent interview. "As I was leaving, a cute little clerk at the window gave me a hint. She asked, 'ever look at yourself in the mirror?' I must have looked puzzled because she told me to take a look at the two guys in the waiting area on my way out. 'One of them will get the job.' I looked. "There were two guys there, one wearing a suit, the other guy wearing a nice shirt and sport coat. They both had neat sort of haircuts. But hey! It's a tech job, not a meet the public job. I was dressed in khaki's and a polo shirt, what I usually wore at my job." Bob's hair was well down on his shoulders, even pulled back in a ponytail. Bob said, " I was moaning and complaining about my situation one day, and someone said I obviously needed a make over and you were the person to see."

I thought for a minute. "Maybe I'll take you on as a challenge. First you must tell me 'all' about yourself, your parents, your childhood, school, what you do for recreation, and what your goals are." For the next two hours I listened to Bob's life story. When it got close to time to eat, we moved to a nearby restaurant. I was intrigued enough to pay for the meal. When I was pretty sure I understood where he was coming from and where he wanted to go, I asked him three more questions. "Everything hinges on your answers. The first question is, how much money do you have to put into the 'image transforming project'?" Bob said he could perhaps come up with $5,000. He'd been out of work now for a few months. That impressed me that he was serious. The next question, "are you willing to make a few other 'life style' changes as well as working on the 'outside' cover?" Bob said, "yes sir. I'm ready to do what ever needs to be done." That's a fair answer I thought. "Last question, are you willing to put your whole self under my direction, do what I tell you, until I'm satisfied that you are ready to be 'let go'?" I think he then understood that I wouldn't play any games with him. I wasn't interested in a superficial fix. He thought for a couple of minutes. "Yes sir. As I said, I'll do whatever you tell me."

"Good. When shall we start?"

"Tomorrow?"

"How about now?" It was late and he was wondering what I could do when all the stores were closed. I told him he would have to quit one of the part time jobs, preferably the day job as it really didn't have a future. I could tell that he disliked the evening job, but it paid a little more and it would give him a greater incentive to make changes. There were also possibilities there, I thought. Bob said, "OK. Now is as good a time as tomorrow." "Let's go to your place." "My place?" "Yes. I will need to come see what you have that could perhaps be adapted. I'd also like to see how you live." "But, but..." "I'm not concerned it's not ready for your mom to come visit." "Ok. But I'll warn you. I've been busy with the two jobs and the place is a bit of a mess." "I'll follow you in my car." I smiled to myself as we went out the door. "I'll be right behind you. Just don't go too fast." It was dark and following tail lights can be difficult.

I parked right beside Bob and we walked up to his duplex apartment together. "Here we go," he said as he opened the door. It look much like a college kids bachelor pad. After looking through all the rooms. I said, "tomorrow, you go in and quit your day job; come back here. I'll be back at 4:00. That will give you time to get your laundry done, and let's see if your mother at least wouldn't have a heart attack if she came to visit." He seemed a little crestfallen. I told him not to worry. Just get the place cleaned up. "Don't hide anything in closets or under the bed. I'll be 'inspecting' it tomorrow." I smiled at him, held out my hand. We shook. "See you tomorrow at 4:00." "Yes sir." I left and soon was back home. I looked around my own place. I'd thrown my last wife out two years before. It didn't look too bad for an old bachelor. Of course, I'd had training with a few wives.

I was right on time the next day. Bob opened the door and told me to come on in. The change in the place was almost spectacular. There was only about 45 minutes before I knew he had to go to work. "This is much better," I said. "The trick is to keep it this way. Let's go take a look in your closet." He opened the sliding door. "Go get a large garbage bag." Bob was smarter and brought the box. When I had finished, Bob had 3 pair of dress pants left on hangers and one blue and white striped button down color sport shirt. I told him to quickly try on each pair of pants. The dark blue pair we put back in the closet. Now to the chest of drawers. I had him open another bag. All the boxers went except for one pair, (he would need one clean pair to start tomorrow in.) The white crew neck tee's looked ok. Socks, out went all the white crew socks as well as all the 'white' sport shoes. That seemed to hurt his feelings a little. The shoes went in the bag with the clothes from the closet. Out in the same bag went all his colorful advertising tee's too. His collection of baseball caps followed. "Not my Steeler's hat!" I just pointed to the bag. He put it in. Time had passed rather quickly. It was about time for him to get to his desk job at the hotel. You carry that one, I'll take this one. We put the two bags in the trunk of my car. "I'll take care of these for you and I'll be back at 9:00 in the morning. Get some sleep when you get home. Wear the pants and shirt that are in the closet. Don't wear those shoes." "Yes sir. 9 a.m. sharp." There was a dumpster near my place and the other bag was dropped off in a Good Will box. 'Poor Bob', I thought. 'Only one pair of pants and one shirt left, besides what he's wearing.'

I arrived at Bob's right at 9:00. He looked 'not too bad' dressed in the pant's and shirt he had left, with pair of black socks and loafers. "All ready?"

"Yes sir. I'm ready." We went down to my car. As he guessed, his first stop was at my barbershop. I'd already called Pete and told him I was bringing a customer in for a really short, and I meant short haircut. Bob knew he was going to lose his hair. He probably didn't have an idea that it would be this short. Pete got him set up, then asked if he was ready. I could see Bob visibly swallow and nod his head. "We'll take it down, then work with what we have left." I suppose Bob thought at that moment it would just be 'short on the sides with a good bit left to comb on top'. After Pete combed his hair out, not just to get it out of the ponytail, but to check for moles or scars, he began. The first pass of the clippers with a #1 guard, disabused Bob of the notion that he was going to have hair left. Pete started at the nape of his neck and worked his way up the back then across the top, all the way to the front. Every couple of inches he would have to toss the hair from the front of the clippers to keep it running smoothly. There was no mirror for Bob to see the result, a two inch 1/8th inch high valley right across the top of his head. Relentlessly Pete kept mowing the thatch until all of Bob's hair was a uniform length. By the look on his face, Bob knew he'd been scalped. But it wasn't over. Pete took the guard off the blades and began again at the nape of his neck. This time it was a straight run up about 2 and a half inches, then the comb came into play. All the way around Bob's head, both sides, a close tapering fade towards the top. Pete stopped and took a good look all the way around to make sure it was all even. Then he told Bob to "just relax and lean back." He reached under Bob's chin and tilted his head back and quickly removed the moustache. Bob didn't act surprised at that. After the initial shock of losing most of his hair, he must have figured that the face hair wasn't long behind. Bob put the clippers down and brushed Bob completely free of loose hair. He un-did the cape and removed the paper strip. A small towel was tucked into his collar. Bob looked a little pale as the hot lather machine began to whirr. Pete however just put it over the sideburns and around the ear and around the bottom of the sides and neck. After stropping his straight razor he shortened the sideburns to about a half inch, then edged around the ear and cleaned off the sides and back of Bob's neck. Pete pulled the towel out and wiped the little residue of lather away. "Now, just lean back. I'm going to lay the chair back so we can clean your face." If you've ever had your face shaved by a barber that's good, it's an experience you would repeat as often as you could. It's relaxing and exhilarating. There is almost nothing in the world like it for a man. And Pete gave him the works, not just a shot of lather on his upper lip. He wrapped his face in a rather warm steamy towel, stropped his razor to a keen edge while the steam did it's work. The towel was taken away and warm lather slathered from ear to ear and across his upper lip. Very expertly then, Pete shaved Bob's whole face, beginning at the blocked off sideburn, down around his neck and chin, then up to the other sideburn. Then he shaved Bob's upper lip. Pete used the warm damp towel to clean his face off. A splash of aftershave lotion and massage before he put the chair back in it's upright position. Pete used a vacuum to get the little hairs from Bob's collar after giving his head one last brush with a little talc at the neck line. Pete turned the chair around. "There you are Bob. Good for a week." The shortened hair was a dark brown. Bob didn't remember ever, well not since grade school had his hair been this short. Pete turned the chair back around and lowered it removing the cape from Bob's lap at the same time. Bob stepped down and paid, giving Pete a nice tip. "Thank you," he said. "My pleasure. I had thought about a flat top, but I think for a first short cut, that would be easier to take care of. In a few weeks maybe we'll talk about a flat top maybe."

We left the barbershop, Bob with his hand up feeling his burr head, running his finger across the upper lip. He took a deep breath and let it out.

"How do you like it?"

"I don't know. It looks pretty good actually. It'll take some getting used to. Definitely going to be easier to take care of."

We got in the car. "Where to next," Bob asked. "I think we better go get you some clothes. A couple of suits, two sport coats, 7 or 8 dress shirts, and maybe 3 or 4 sport shirts." I could see he was thinking about that as we drove up to the big department store. Before we went in, I advised him to open an store credit card if they offered him one, it would save a bit of money. We stopped by the underwear department first. I handed him 3 packs of short rise white briefs. "You'll change out of those boxers you have on when you try on the pants." Now we went to see the men's clothing consultant. He was very good, I thought, as I watched him take Bob's measurements and try to determine what he was looking for. Bob seemed lost and turned to me. I told the gentleman that I was there as his consultant and that Bob needed 4 complete outfits, two suits, two sport coats with at least 4 pair of pants, dress shirts, ties, and so forth. Bob was about 6 ft 2, maybe just a bit taller. Wide shoulders and a pretty narrow waist at 34". Forty two long athletic fit him perfectly. I didn't see anything in their regular suits and asked if we could see the separates. First Bob tried on a black pinstripe, 3 button suit. That looked pretty good, so we tried the blue window pane. That took care of the suits. Because they were separates, he also got an extra pair of pants with each. I really liked the brown houndstooth sport coat and the navy blue blazer. Bob asked about the black blazer, I just never liked putting younger folks in a black blazer unless there was a reason. None of the pants he got were plain, but a charcoal, Cambridge grey, and a brown window pane. Then a pair of olive and brown and a pair of black and white plaid pants. All plain front with just a hem, no cuff's. Bob needed two more pair of pants, it took a few minutes to find a pair white on white striped pants and a pair of black on black stripe. These were pleated and cuffed. We took the four coats and went to find shirts. I told the man they should all be athletic fitted shirts. I really don't like the blousey look guy's are wearing, might as well have puff sleeves too. Four white shirts with tab collars. Two blue, an olive green, and even a really red, like a fire engine red. No button down collars. I thought Bob might balk when I picked up two pink shirts, a pale pink and a brighter one. Since all the pants and coats were patterned, 7 of the ties were plain, no pattern. Three ties had a little swirl pattern to them. We almost left the shirt department when I saw the french cuff shirts. I put the darker pink shirt back and got Bob a pink shirt that had a white collar and white cuffs, and a purple/lavender one. These would have to be tailored, but he would look right smart. Dress socks were next, black, brown, a red pair and a white pair. I asked the salesman to hold them while we went and looked at shoes. Now for the first time Bob really looked at me as if I were crazy, when I had him try on the black and white saddle oxfords. Then a brown and white pair. I saw him swallow at the price of the Florsheim slip on Braedon's, a pair of brown and a pair of black. I told the girl to throw his old shoes away, he'd be wearing the black pair out. I asked the girl if she was on commission?" She said yes. I told her to give me her number and I'd see she got credit. She'd been real helpful and quick. Back in the mens department, I asked the salesman for suspenders, the button in kind. Bob looked puzzled at the 4 sets I had added to his pile. Bob was asked if he'd like the store card, he took it and got a 15% discount on all his purchase, which was still a little over $1400.

I helped him carry his new wardrobe out the door. He hung the suits and coats in their suit bags in the back seat. The pants and shirts would be going to the cleaners. Right next to the cleaners was a tailor shop. The two shirts he had to put on so she could pin them to fit. She would add suspender buttons and remove the belt loops to all the pants. When I asked her how long it would take, she said the buttons and belt loops would be done in a couple of hours. The shirts would take a couple of days. To that she added the price for having them cleaned and pressed; the pants we could pick up that afternoon about 3:30 along with the other shirts.

Bob was even more surprised at his next stop, but I'd noticed that for a guy that young he was acquiring a little gut. It was an Army/Navy Surplus store. Black, cap toe, Army lace up combat boots, 6 pair of green wool socks, 6 army green tank top tee shirts, and two pair of silky army green running shorts. Our next stop was at a sports shop that also carried swimming suits. I'm not sure what he thought when I had him get a Speedo Solar Brief swim suit. I asked if he'd like two pair. "Maybe." He looked them over and picked out a'Dolfin' lumina red print brief suit. "Maybe we'll get you a trainer too. I'll give you a week or two and see how it's going first."

We stopped for lunch after that purchase. I told him he should get a complete physical, if he hadn't had one recently. It had been required for the job he'd just quit. That was good, especially since that company had paid for it.

Bob asked about getting a hat with his hair this short. I thought I had seen a place in the mall, so we went back. I steered him away from the baseball caps, "next year maybe, if you're a good boy and IF you are going to a baseball game." He couldn't believe it when he walked out with 4 different pattern ivy/ascot riding caps, a blue windowpane one on his head.

We stopped by the YMCA and signed him up for a year at the gym and swimming pool, along with a locker rental. I told him I expected him to use it at least 3 or 4 times each week. He could run down on days he was just going to work out or even if he was going to swim. "I need to get some running shoes then," he said. "No. You'll be running in the boots we got at the army/navy store." I'm sure he thought I'd really lost my mind. Time overtook us again. It was getting on towards 3:00, I told him we should go pick up his cleaning and get him home.

Back at his place, he just had time to change before work. I picked out the white pants, with a white shirt and the brown tie. I had to show him how to adjust the suspenders. He looked really sharp, then put on the houndstooth coat. "You look ready to go." I took out the brown plaid riding cap and put it on his head. "Wear a cap whenever you go out. You'll get used to it." Bob looked himself over in the mirror. "The boss is gonna think I 'want' that job.

I left him getting in his car going to work. "I'll be back at 9:00 in the morning and we'll work out a schedule." He touched two fingers to his cap and said, "yes sir." I drove slowly behind him to see him get out of his car and go into the hotel. Back at my place I began researching that hotel chain. 'Interesting,' I thought to myself. I began to create Bob a schedule on my computer. A little more research and a few notes to the side. I took a deep breath. 'Gee, this was fun.'

I asked Bob how it had gone the night before. "The boss actually smiled at me as he turned the place over to me. The night went well. I got compliments from several of the guests that had been there for a few days." "That's good. Now, let's get started." I had him pull up the hotel on his computer. "Look at the careers. Management. They have a couple of trainee positions and you already have a bachelor's degree." "You do know I'm an IT technician/programmer?" "Ok. I'm a retired soldier, suit salesman, financial consultant, now 'image transforming consultant. What's that got to do with anything?" "I just thought....." "Click the apply button on that second description." "Yes sir." He clicked on it. "Now fill it out and click send." I sat there and watched him. I chuckled lightly, did you think you'd wear those suits to play with computers?" Bob shook his head and smiled. "Besides, I think you will be a great manager, and with your computer skills, will be able to go even further. I checked it out. This is a 'good' hotel. One of the best in several cities. I'm almost surprised that you even got a part time job at night. Great possibilities." After he clicked the send button a half hour later, I had him check out another big hotel chain and fill out an application there also. When he leaned back after, he didn't seem unhappy about it. "We need to plan and work on a weekly schedule. Call up your calendar." We nailed the nitty gritty down for the next 30 days. What he would wear, days he would go to the gym, days he would get a haircut, his work. His life was planned to the minute.

A month and a half later, after his hair cut, Pete told Bob, he would be away for two weeks. "Perhaps you'd like to try that flat top when I get back." Bob didn't tell me about the wait for his next haircut and I was busy with my own affairs. He had adjusted to his fitness program, although he did ask me if I'd ever run wearing boots. (I had, but that was ages ago.) He was getting along splendidly at his work. He'd been quickly accepted in the Manager Trainee Program. There was course work on line as well as the practical aspects of it on a daily basis. Within two weeks of his application he was moved to work full time, three days a week during the day and two in the evening. The regional vice president came down and interviewed him. He seemed impressed with Bob's presence. Word also found it's way back to him that 'the boss' liked the way he dressed and other's working for the hotel should 'take note'. Among other things, long hair was out. Even the night clerk was now required to wear a shirt and tie and have a coat handy. We were at lunch when he passed this news on to me. He showed me his adjusted 'life' schedule. He seemed much more sure of himself and thanked me for my efforts. I smiled and told him I'd done little but help him spend his money and seize the moment of opportunity by pushing a button on the keyboard.

We just happened to be in the barbershop at the same day when Pete returned from his vacation. I was a bit surprised at Bob's two weeks of growth, compared to how he was supposed to be keeping it. When Pete explained he'd been away, I understood. Bob sat there, his tie loose and the top button undone. I noticed the brown and white saddle oxford shoes. Bob had apparently decided he liked them. Pete set him up and told him this would be a little different look for him. He clipped Bob's hair on the sides a little closer, if possible, than usual, and went up a little higher on the sides. He completely took the sideburns down to skin. Pete had been cutting my hair a long time, I'd never seen him give a flat top. Bob's he freehanded, using only the comb to stand the hair up and mow it off on top of the teeth. It was a short flat top, a bare landing strip down the center, just a little over 3/8ths of an inch at the highest in front. Practically a high and tight with a horseshoe, but not quite.   Pete didn't wax it or make it stand up. He told Bob it would "I think on you it will look better laying down." Put him in a uniform he'd look like a Marine.You could tell Bob liked it. He thanked Pete, gave him an extra good tip and then sat to wait for me to get my hair cut.

Pete went on about his vacation while he set me up. Then he asked, "the usual?" "I don't know Pete. Bob there looks so good, but I don't think I'm a flat top person. Surprise me today." Pete surely surprised me. Red Wahl clippers with 000000 blades reduced my hair to nothing in just minutes. My induction haircut years before may have taken a few seconds longer. Pete didn't bother to turn me around. He knew that I knew that he'd taken it all off. The next did surprise me; Pete lathered over my whole head and shaved it twice, until it was smooth. I was prepared to be shocked when he turned the chair around. I'd forgotten how my head looked bald.  Even now, it made me look a little younger. He turned the chair back around and let me down. I paid. I was like Bob with his first haircut, feeling my head as we walked out the door.

"What's up today Bob?" "My day off. Pete said he be back today and for me to be here. He really wanted me to try this flat top thing. What do you think? Is it me?"

"Well, it looks like you. A lot of guys try that and it looks not so good. Nice that your head tanned a bit under the short hair, so, yes, I think you could keep it this way for a while."

"I like that smooth look on you too. Did you think Pete would do that?" "I sure didn't. I'm almost surprised he didn't do some fool thing like a mohawk. Should teach both of us to make our own decisions and not leave it to other people."

"No, no. I'm really happy you made some decisions for me."

"I never. You always had a choice. It's not like Pete with those clippers, once he took that strip out of the top, I had no choice. You could always have walked away. Speaking of which, what are you doing today, your day off all dressed up?"

"Excuse me sir. "I" don't have a choice. It's dress up or wear that army gear. You forget, 'you' took all my clothes away."

"Hmmm. I did, didn't I. You could have gotten them back from the Good Will." He 'humpfhd'.

"I need to go buy a couple more suits. Never thought I'd get to be a clothes horse. Are you still my consultant?"

"I suppose. I don't recall that I've 'released' you yet. Although I'm sure you could take it from here."

"Let me drive." I said, "no. I have an appointment later", but would follow him to the Mall.

He wanted to show me a suit he'd seen in another department store. He knew his size and we went to look at a shirt and tie to go with it. I thought the combination was perfect and for him to "go try it all on". Bob came out. A three button suit, grey with a thin burgundy plaid, a burgundy red shirt and a grey tie with just a touch of burgundy diagonal plaid pattern. It looked good. He'd need to get that shirt tailored though. He picked out another suit, a really bold black stripe on white. On him, a young man, the white and black pinstripe looked good. He didn't need a new shirt for that suit. After he paid, Bob left, said he wanted to get the shirt fixed today so he could wear it tonight. "Oh, you have a date?" He laughed, "no sir. But my day off is the one day a week I splurge and go to a good restaurant. Why don't you join me?" He told me where he was going and I said for him to save me a seat. I would enjoy his company.

Now a few months have passed. He has a really pretty girlfriend. I asked him where they met. Bob said she followed him in to work one Friday morning and very boldly asked him if he'd go to church with her that Sunday. He didn't go to church, or hadn't until then. Now just a few months later they were engaged and getting married the next spring, in April. She is really sweet and thinks, sometimes I think that she believes that really, I'm his father, not his "godfather". She say's she'll name the first kid, if it's a boy, after me. We'll see. I told Bob that all he had needed was a push start, he could take care of himself now, just keep his goals in front of him. We remain friends. Sometimes I think of him like my 'youngest' son; my own children being a few years older than he. And, Bob was right; it has been a mutually satisfying encounter.

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