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Wanted to share a bit more about getting my second flattop!

Wrapping up my freshman year of college I had started spending some more time partying and socializing at a buddy's house. I got mixed up in the neighborhood one night and ended up driving by this barbershop around the corner from this strip mall. This place was at the very end of the row with this glass window going from the ceiling nearly to the floor. I had only made a mental note of where it was but couldn't help driving by every single time I was going to my buddy's house from that point forward. This place was the quintessential barbershop to me. Huge bulb lights on the sides of the mirror, big leather barber chair and pinstripe cape draped over the armrest.

I had grown my hair back out into this longer, beiber-ish hair that swooped down in front of my eyes and hung over my ears. It was late spring and starting to get hot out during the day making the shaggy hair an issue. Eventually I had enough and with the day off from work I drove down, parked around the corner and walked in. I took a seat in the waiting area while one gentleman was getting his hair cut. After about 15 minutes the barber had finished up the business cut on the gentleman who had paid and left. I was up.

"What can I do for you today?"

I asked for a flattop with a 2 on the sides just like the first time. With little hesitation he flicked those Oster clippers on and drove them up the base of my neck. I knew the curly little rattail I had didn't stand a chance and I could feel the air conditioning on my neck almost instantly. I don't think I could ever be prepared for the blonde locks that slid down the cape as he ran the clippers up the side of my head. Goodbye any resemblance of sideburns.

He pulled out the butch wax and started blow drying it into my hair. I could tell I looked pretty funny by the way more than a handful of people walked by the front of the shop and looked right into that massive window seeing this young guy getting a flattop. My face had to be red as a beet and blushing, I thought someone turned the heat on for a second.

After the butch wax was dry he took out the clippers and comb and began whittling down the top, swipe after swipe. There wasn't much conversation as he worked on the top, it felt like forever as he moved around my head not turning the chair once for me to check out the progress! The only thing I was left with was little chunks of waxed hair falling down onto the cape.

When he handed me the mirror I felt right as rain seeing something so uniform. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was that he left the bangs in front a little longer and swept back instead of standing straight up at attention, but no way was I going to complain. I handed him a $20 and didn't ask for any change back. Walking outside to my car the breeze that ran against my head felt amazing.

Side note: It's been a little over 10 years since this flattop, but thinking about these experiences has me wanting another flat, but working in a larger corporate office environment now and thinking about coworker reactions or comments is the biggest thing holding me back. I know I shouldn't care about what people think but has anyone else run into this feeling and gotten over it? Maybe it's my age or something but there's still that piece of my brain that can't NOT think about the comments or reactions from people. Maybe that just comes with the territory?

If you've gone through the same and have been able to get over that hurdle I'd love to know your thoughts or how you did it? If you want to chat over email don't hesitate to reach out: artvandelay42024@proton.me