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I was curious to know what people's best or memorable haircut moments were that you experienced. Mine are (in no order):


1. I was always a salon guy. but I had this interest in short haircuts and the old sites like gunny's quarters fed my fetish. I finally got the nerve to go to a barbershop for the first time as an adult and asked for a basic taper cut. It was a sh*tty haircut. Even a guy at work said so. But I went to a different shop the next time and brought a picture with me. Success! The picture was a Giorgio Armani cologne ad. This was in the 90s. Fast forward to now, I recently saw the ad posted on Instagram at the Aids Memorial Wall. The model in the ad sadly passed from Aids. But a barber or stylist commented on the IG post about how many times he had customers bring that advertisement in to ask for that haircut. The model was iconic. I still have the same ad, all folded up wallet size.

2. Getting my first flattop. I've always wanted a flattop and I admired them on others. So many times I got into the barber's chair all psyched up to ask for one then I would chicken out. But on a fall day, I went to the barber, and my usual guy was finishing a flattop on another customer. When it was my turn to get into the chair, I finally had the balls to ask for a flattop. The barber didn't even flinch, and just did it. He did block my view when he started cutting the top so I didn't see the moment of the clippers cutting through my basic taper cut to flatten it out. When he was done, he asked if I wanted to go shorter. I didn't go shorter at that time but I did on many other occasions thereafter.


3. First time I got a Hight & Tight....I went to new a barber and he gave me a #4 buzzcut with tapered sides. It was a great haircut. I went back to the same barber a few weeks later. He remembered me. I asked for the same cut....#4 top. He said that he didn't give me a #4 but a #2. I politely corrected him and said a #4. I ultimately gave in to the #2. It was late afternoon, and the shop was just lit up with the fading sun. So the shop was a little darker, and when the barber was done, I remember thinking to myself 'this isn't much different.' I then got into my car, flipped the visor down with the mirror. And thought 'holy sh*t, I can see my scalp! This is a marine H&T'. I just laughed it off because I finally got that short haircut. That gave me the courage to go shorter and shorter with each buzzcut.

4. My first shave: A buddy and I went to the barbers together and got our usual cuts -- a longer buzzcut. We got back to his place, and he asked if he could cut my hair shorter. So he talked me into clipper shaving my head. He did the deed. It felt nice and soft -- not like sandpaper at all. I was really surprised by how much I liked looking bald. So my interest in shaving was born. I bought a headblade that sat on my counter for a few months. I was too nervous to use it. At that time, chat rooms for haircuts were popular. Guys were asking 'when are you shaving'. So I gave into peer pressure and said 'Friday'. The day came, I had a few beers. Took a hot shower. I was psyched and rushing through everything with adrenaline because I wanted to do the deed. I jumped out of the shower and lathered my head. Without thinking, I then took the first swipe. Like an idiot, I took the first swipe across the side of my head. Thinking I could back out! But I said to myself, "I can't do it this way. I have to commit", so I took the next swipe right through the middle of my forehead all the way across the top. I had my first clear, smooth pass. At that point, I realized a clipper shaved head and a razor shave are leagues apart! I finished the deed. washed up the blood from the nicks. I was loving it! I realized at this point that this was the best haircut for me. I never hesitated about shaving again. I went out and showed off that bald head. A shaved head for me was the most liberating thing!

5. That old fashioned-barber Tony. He was the ideal barber. Always went shorter than you wanted. Had a nice firm grip, and he understood a good short haircut. I got many great haircuts from him: crewcuts, flattops, hnts. I would just get in the chair and he would do his thing. I didn't always give him instructions on what I wanted. The one time, I ended up with a marine tear drop haircut. Didn't ask for that! Just received it. I miss those times.