HaircuttingStories.com

In Part 4 of this epilogue which takes place twenty five years after the original story begins, a Flashback tells the story of the Moms, Dads, friends and supporters meeting the Cheetahs and Otters on their return from their triumphs at the international soccer meet in Tampico, Mexico and the Supersectional swimming meet respectively, which had happened twenty four years earlier.  Doris and Rhonda decide to get their heads shaved in celebration of Ellen's and Bridget's performance.  After talking to Michelle and Leigh, they conclude that another 'Shavathon" may be in order.  Kate agrees and they set it up in the Community Room of the newly opened Shopping Center at Hillsdale, where more than fifty people attend to participate or encourage those who do. 

Half way through the proceedings, Kate asks how many more are waiting to get their heads shaved and is stunned to see six more people stand up.  She realizes that she cannot do them all and invites those who are disappointed to come to her barbershop on Melrose Street on Monday or whenever they choose and she will take care of them.   

Leigh led an impromptu meeting to decide who would get shaved in the remaining time on Sunday and they all decided to reconvene at Kate's shop on Thursday afternoon to continue the 'Shavathon." with Leigh, Wilma and Pam participating at a minimum. 

Flashback Part 3 - Thursday July 25, 24 years earlier 

Thursday Afternoon at Kate's Barbershop 

"Do you know who's coming," Pam asked. 

"Not completely.  I talked to Leigh.  Of course she's coming.  I'm quite sure Michelle will be coming too.  You know how they are.  They've been doing thing together for years, so if one of them suggests doing something usually they all end up doing it together," Wilma replied. 

"I know.  And they really want us to be part of it.  It's hard not to be drawn in when they are so eager to make us one big happy family.  With Denise so determined to be part of the girls sisterhood, I suppose I should just let go and be a part of it.  They certainly seem to enjoy being with each other," Pam said. 

"I feel quite comfortable with them.  They do seem to treat each other like family.  If what Angela tells me is even half true, we'll be seeing a lot more of them for the next ten years or so.  They're easy to like and I sort of look forward to being a part of what's going on.  They've really adopted Denise and Angela too," Wilma pointed out. 

"I guess you're right Wilma.  It's just that I've never been a part of something like this and it seems a little strange to me.  I've never been much of a joiner.  I suppose I should just relax and go with the flow.  When Rhonda called me she said that no one would make me feel out of place if I didn't get my head shaved and it's hard not to believe her," Pam said. 

"I've always felt they were very accepting and not pushy.  After all, Rhonda and the others waited for a year before they got shaved.  I don't think I ever will," Wilma replied. 

"That's a point.  OK, I'm ready to go.  I actually do like the idea of having a buzz cut like Leigh's.  I'll drive over to your place and pick you up.  If I leave here by twelve fifteen I should have no trouble getting us both there by one," Pam said. 

"That works for me. I'll be ready when you get here," Wilma responded. 

Twenty minutes later they were on their way to Melrose Street and Kate's shop.   

"There it is Pam.  It's small.  I've been by it lots of times and never even noticed it.  I don't see any place to park though," Wilma observed 

"We'll find a place somewhere," Pam replied. 

As usual a place to park was hard to find and they had to park a block away and walk back.  As they approached the shop they saw that Leigh and Heather were approaching from the other direction. 

"That's Pam and Wilma!  Hi Pam and you too Wilma," Heather called as she waved her arm. 

"Well, good timing.  Hi Leigh, Heather.  Glad you could join the fun," Wilma greeted them. 

"Wouldn't miss it for anything," Heather said laughing. 

"Is anyone else coming?" Pam asked. 

"I wouldn't be surprised.  I think quite a few will show up.  Not as many as Sunday though," Leigh laughed. 

"Well that's a relief.  I did count on being able to breath," Wilma laughed. 

"We might as well go on in.  It's hot out here," Pam complained. 

"You're right.  No point in staying out here," Leigh agreed. 

Wilma opened to the familiar tinkle of the bell and glanced inside. 

"What the!" she exclaimed as she took in the fact that the shop was filled with women. 

"Come on in Wilma.  We all came so we could be in on the fun," Michelle called out to her from the back of the shop where she was sitting. 

Hallie, Gwen, Joyce and Alexis were also present along with Rhonda, Doris, Sammie and Abby. 

"Well, now that you're all here, I'd better close the shop.  I doubt I'll be able to get to anyone else for a while," Kate said as she wrote "FRI. 8:30 AM" under the words "Closed until."  

The women were all talking to each other in various combinations that seemed to be in constant motion as individuals shifted from one group to another to greet and hug each other.  Wilma, who was naturally gregarious, laughed and joined in.   

Pam, who was somewhat introspective and reticent, held back, but the others greeted her warmly and she found herself unable to resist being attracted to them.  She had talked to all of them during the summer when they attended games or swim meets and had found them all outgoing, warm and likable, but in Kate's shop there was no game or other distraction, so they gave Pam much more attention without seeming to do so.  She relaxed and couldn't resist enjoying the camaraderie. 

"OK, everybody, who's going first," Kate asked, raising her voice to make herself heard over the noise of thirteen women all trying to talk at once. 

There was a quick reduction in the buzz. 

"Wilma, why don't you go first.  You said you knew what you wanted," Heather suggested. 

"Why not.  I'm going to get a short buzz.  Tony said he thought I'd look good with a buzz, but he may be a little shocked at how short I'm going to get it," Wilma laughed. 

"What do you have in mind Wilma," Kate asked. 

"Here's a picture of what I want.  I found it on a web site," Wilma replied as she handed the picture to Kate. 

"That is short Wilma.  I want to check out a few things before I agree to cut it like that for you.  Let's get you caped first," Kate told her. 

"You know Wilma, there is something you need to know about Kate," Leigh said.  "She won't cut your hair the way you want it unless she is sure it will be flattering for you." 

"You're kidding me aren't you?" Wilma said. 

"Not really Wilma.  I want everyone to look good with any cut that I do.  So I check your hairline to see if it will work with this kind of short clipper cut.  And I really wouldn't do it if you had ears that stuck out.  Fortunately you don't and your hairline is OK too.  So I think it will look quite good on you.  But first I want to be sure that you really know just how short this cut is going to be.  I'm quite confident that it is a number one buzz with the sides and back taken even shorter.  A number one is only an eighth of an inch.  Are you going to be OK with it that short?" Kate asked. 

Wilma laughed.  "I knew it was almost shaved, and I'm not surprised that it's only an eighth of an inch.  And yes that's exactly how I want you to do it.  I made up my mind yesterday and I'm not changing it." 

"You've got it.  I'll need to take it down to a half inch first, then I can do the final cut and see what I'm doing," Kate told her. 

Kate put a number four guide on her large clipper and began to reduce Wilma's light brown hair to the half inch length that she would use as a starting point for the actual finished cut.  Meanwhile the women quickly went back to chatting with each other. 

"Abby, Jessie said that you and Tess are both getting your hair removed permanently with laser treatments.  Are you really doing that?" Sammie asked. 

"She told it right, Sammie.  We went in for our first treatments yesterday evening.  We're getting total Brazilians as well as getting our heads done.  Tess wanted it all done before she went to Nationals, so we have another session Friday and two more scheduled the next week.  We won't need follow-up treatments for a month.  After that we'll be smooth top and bottom so to speak," Abby laughed. 

"Well, that is surprising.  How did Dan react to the idea?"  Sammie asked. 

"Actually he was pretty blasé about it.  He actually likes the way I look.  His only comment was that I could always wear a wig if I needed to.  I know that Steffie is very happy with being permanently bald, and I'm sure I will be too.  As far as the brazilian goes, Tess said that Christine already had gotten a laser brazilian and was very happy about it.  So she wanted one too.  She has never liked all that hair anyway.  Of course Dan really liked that," Abby said with a wink. 

"I hear that it's pretty uncomfortable.  Is that what you found?" Doris asked.  She had heard most of the conversation and was interested in the process. 

"Well, it's not exactly a cup of tea.  They do use a topical pain reducer, but it still get pretty uncomfortable at times and you have to ask for a break.  I don't know how it's going to be on my head.  We had our brazilians first.  They wanted us to let our hair grow for a while because they weren't sure it would work otherwise.  That's why I'm looking a little hairy right now.  We haven't used the special moisturizer or shaved for the past month," Abby replied. 

"I was going to ask about that," Sammie said. 

Rhonda who had joined them mid-way had gotten the gist of the conversation.  "Bridget has already asked me about getting a brazilian.  She mentioned Christine also.  Monday she also broached the idea of having her head done.  Tim and I encouraged her to keep her head shaved so I'll sure I'll agree to if she wants it.  I have an idea that I might follow your example pretty soon, if Bridget decides to go that route." 

"I'm sure it's just a matter of time before we all do.  Once you've kept your head shaved for a year or so and only shave it once ever two weeks or less, it just gets to be so much a part of you, and you like the look and feel so much that you can't imagine yourself with hair on your head.  At least that's how I feel about it," Abby said. 

"I agree," Heather said as she listened to what Abby had explained.  "I'm at that point myself.  Chris wouldn't think twice before agreeing if I said I was going to have  my hair permanently removed." 

Kate, in her usual meticulous fashion had been doing the last bit of exacting tapering on Wilma's buzz cut. She had begun with a number two buzz in order to determine exactly where she might have to adjust the way she did the final cut to account for any bumps or hollows.  She found that Wilma had a slight depression at the top of her head, a fairly common feature.  She had decided to go with a number one and a half buzz followed by her thin comb and clippers to make the final cut.  Even with her hair cut to an eighth of an inch the depression would be undetectable.  Now she did the rest of Wilma's head with the number one.  She followed that with the number zero, a sixteenth of an inch, on the sides where she went up an inch and a half before she began the taper.  The back  received a similar treatment.   

Kate then began the detailed finishing that characterized her work.  On the top she used her very thin comb and clipper set at it closest to reduce  the hair to an eight of an inch except at the region of the little depression, which was left just slightly longer.  On the sides she could almost match the sixteenth of an inch with her comb placed flat on Wilma's head.  Soon the transition from sixteenth inch sides and back to eighth inch top was essentially undetectable.  Kate continued with her comb and clipper making additional undetectable improvements.  Finally after examining the result close up and in the mirror she was satisfied.  Now she used her small edging clipper to edge around her ears and to square off the sideburns.  In the back she went down behind each ear.  After one more critical examination she decided to fade the nape up about an inch.  Her new edger cut extremely close, only one two hundred fiftieth of an inch.  She would not need to give Wilma a wet shave edging.  It was a classic short buzz cut and Wilma's head suited it perfectly. 

"Kate's getting close to finishing Wilma.  Wow!  She looks good with that short buzz.  We should start a pool on how long it will take her to decide to get it shaved smooth," Abby said laughing. 

"It's almost done Wilma and you look smashing as the English say.  Here, have a look," Kate said as she turned her to face the mirror.  

Wilma looked at herself and a broad smile broke out on her face as she saw herself with a very short buzz. 

"My goodness!  I should have done this years ago.  I never imagined how good I could look with my hair cut this short.  It's a revelation, but I think it must be all in my mind.  I know that Leigh looks great with her buzz and the rest of the bald crowd look super with no hair at all.  So there's no reason to think I wouldn't look good with a short buzz," Wilma said. As she explored her head with one hand that she had managed to get out from under the cape. 

"Wow, that feels good!" Wilma exclaimed delightedly. 

There was a round of applause followed by a chorus of approvals. 

"Of course it does," Kate said.  "Let me get you brushed off and clean up your neck. Then you can really enjoy it." 

Kate brushed Wilma's head vigorously with her round brush and used a damp towel to remove the fine hairs that had stuck to her neck.  Unfastening the green cape, she carefully removed it so that no hair fell onto Wilma.  She refastened it loosely around her neck, pushed it down and using her edger quickly clipped off any stray hairs.   

Removing the cape with a flourish, Kate announced, " Let me introduce the new Wilma and her terrific buzz cut." 

Wilma jumped out of the chair to be greeted by hugs and hands rubbing her now bristly head as they welcomed her into the ranks of the buzzed or shaved. 

"Way to go Wilma.  You really do look great," Abby said as she gave Wilma a hug. 

"You look so good Wilma," Michelle added her voice. "Don't forget that you'll need to get it redone every two weeks." 

"Is that right Kate.  I should get it done every two weeks?" Wilma asked. 

"If you want it to look sharp like it is now that's what you should do," Kate replied. 

"Oh good!  That means I have a perfect excuse to come back a lot more often than I would otherwise," Wilma said with a big grin. 

Wilma had immediately responded to the approval, and especially to the palpable sensation of having crossed a threshold into a special place where all these women connected with each other.  She felt a little giddy from the sensation as she returned their hugs and tried to reply to their numerous congratulations.  Finally she found a seat near Michelle and Hallie. 

"I guess I'm still the odd man out sitting here with you two," Wilma said. 

"Not at all Wilma.  That was a huge leap.  It takes a lot of courage to do what you did.  And we're here to make sure that you don't regret it.  Just remember you did it for yourself, even though there may have been some other motivations,"  Hallie told her. 

"Well, I feel really good.  I don't know how you girls do it, but I feel as if I just discovered who I am and I really like it," Wilma expressed her sudden burst of self-confidence. 

"I know how it feels Wilma.  The gang has that effect on us.  We seem to absorb confidence from each other," Leigh told her. 

"Is anyone else ready" Kate asked. 

"I'm ready, but I want to look through your book a little longer.  It's great and I'm definitely going to find something I like," Alexis said with growing enthusiasm. 

"I want to keep looking some more too.   I remember how much I liked Michelle's pixie.  I'm looking for something like that or maybe a cut like Rhonda had," Pam echoed. 

"I guess that means that I'm next Kate," Leigh spoke up.

"I guess it does Leigh.  My chair seems to be unoccupied so I think we might as well get started," Kate bantered with her. 

"I wish Beth could be here, but she wouldn't consider missing a practice unless she was sick or had to go to the dentist or something like that," Leigh said. 

Kate wrapped a paper around Leigh's neck  followed by the cape.  After a brief pause to clean and check the cutting head of the clipper she began running it over Leigh's head.  "She appreciates what you're doing.  You know that, but her highest priority is to reach the playing level that will get them to the Olympics.  She'll give you lots of praise and love when she gets home." 

"You're right.  And Ray is looking forward to seeing me with a bald head.  He has seen Paula, Abby and Iris frequently for the last year besides seeing Beth every day.  I think he's been brainwashed," Leigh laughed. 

Kate wrapped a hot towel around her head.  "I'm surprised that it has happened as often as it has.  Joyce,  how did things go with you?  How did George react?" 

"Well, he had been seeing some of the others when I got him to go to some of Arlene's soccer matches and of course having two bald girls around morning and evening as well as on weekends had an effect on him.  When I said I was going to get a shorter buzz cut back in April he hardly reacted at all.  He had taken to patting the girls on the head.  One time he even told them how nice and smooth it was.  So when I said I wanted to get my head shaved if Vickie qualified for the Olympic trials he hardly raised an eyebrow.  After a minute he finally said 'Sure, why not.'  He's been very attentive the last month.  Once I didn't shave for two days, and when he felt it he told me that he liked it better when it was smooth," Joyce laughed.  "I think he's a convert." 

Kate had spread gel on Leigh's head and had begun to shave her.  Meanwhile there were other conversations occurring. 

"Rhonda, look at you!  I hadn't even noticed that you have a nose stud!" Abby exclaimed.  "When did you do that?  You didn't have it Sunday did you?" 

"Sammie, Doris and I went to Rings and Things Tuesday afternoon and got them.  They look nice don't they.  I'd been admiring yours and Paula's for a year, especially after you started to change to a different style pretty regularly," Rhonda said. 

"All three of you.  Maybe we're starting another trend.  I think Tess is going to get hers right after Nationals.  She said that Christine can get one if she wants to, but is going to wait for a year or two.  They take a long time to heal, so you can't change them for at least three or four months.  I wanted to be sure it was going to be OK, so I waited for six months.  Did you hear about Deedee?  Helen took her to Rings and Things' and got her a nose stud birthstone and Deedee hadn't even asked for one!  She got one for herself too," Abby responded. 

"Well, Helen seems to like exotic things, so I'm not surprised she would do it if she saw a few other women with them," Rhonda answered.  "Do you remember that bald girl and her Mother - the one with all the tattoos, the Mother I mean. They came to our last BGMC meeting." 

"Oh yeah.  I do vaguely remember.  That was the April meeting wasn't it?  What about them?" Abby asked. 

"That girl had one of those nose rings.  A septum ring I think they call it.  It was small - about the diameter of a penny or maybe a nickel - but quite thick.  Someone told me that she said it was solid, not hollow.  I wondered how it had been put in.  Anyway, I've seen a couple more since then.  So that kind of ring seem to be catching on too," Rhonda observed. 

"Actually I've seen a couple myself, but I dismissed it as just something that a few kids were doing just to be rebellious," Abby said. 

"Probably that's it, but look at the idea of having your ears pierced  three or more times.  When I was a teenager doing it even once was being rebellious.  Now its practically universal.  And having a nose stud was really exotic.  Something only someone from India would have done," Rhonda said. 

"That's true.  I hope Tess doesn't tell me she wants a nose ring like that," Abby laughed.  "I'm not quite ready for it.  Looks like Leigh is getting close to the end.  She's a little older than the rest of us isn't she?  At first I was surprised that she was going to get her head shaved, but when I really thought about it, it wasn't that surprising.  She's really into it and she got a nose stud at the same time the rest of them did.  And she certainly looked good with her buzz cut.  She'll look even better with it shaved." 

Kate was finishing the second shave for Leigh, who would emerge with as smooth a head as was possible with a wet shave.  Leigh had asked her to do it.  Now Kate was in the process of putting on the moisturizer and would begin giving her a scalp massage in a moment or two.  She felt the moisturizer disappear as it was absorbed.  She put on the massage vibrator and began to give the promised scalp massage.  A little smile appeared on Leigh's face and her body visibly relaxed as Kate's fingers worked their magic.  She continued the massage for another three minutes, then stopped. 

"Well Leigh, that's about as much as I can give you today,  You can use some of that sunscreen bronzer to give it a little color.  It helps disguise the shadow too and anyway you need the sunscreen when you go out." Kate said. 

"I'll remember Kate.  I had to do that for Beth.  That massage was marvelous.  Didn't you tell Janet or somebody that if you give some one a scalp massage after they get shaved, and do it twice a week or so for a while, they'll be so brainwashed that they'll want to stay shaved forever?" Leigh asked. 

"I did say something like that at our first shavathon, but I can't remember who I was talking to.  I was actually half serious.  Get Ray to do it once in a while and you'll be addicted," Kate laughed. 

"If he'll do it I'll definitely stay bald as an egg," Leigh responded.  "I wouldn't care how I looked." 

"You look just fine.  You have a well shaped head.  Ray is going to be surprised and pleased," Kate reassured her.  Then in a louder voice.  "Here she is the latest and greatest new baldy in our community - Leigh Singletary." 

"Looking good Leigh," Michelle called out over the sound of applause and other words of praise, all of which was drowned out when Sammie issued one of her ear splitting whistles which switched pitches in a rapid warbling. 

"How in the world do you do that Sammie," Wilma asked in astonishment. 

Sammie laughed.  "My uncle taught me.  He was only three years older than me - the youngest of four boys," She explained.  "You look great Leigh.  I think you just lost about ten years." 

"It's amazing.  Every time I see one of the bald women they seem to look a lot younger than I know they must be.  Like Paula.  I thought she must be in her early thirties when we first met.  I couldn't believe that she was almost forty-one," Alexis agreed.  "Everyone got ten years younger last Sunday!" 

"There you go Alexis.  Lose your hair - lose ten years.  Who could resist such a bargain?" Michelle said laughing uproariously. 

"I don't think Myron is ready for that but maybe he is ready for something like this," Alexis said holding Kate's book open to a page that showed a woman with bright red hair in a brush cut with closely clipped sides.  "I think I've found just what I want Kate.  I was really taken by this style.  Her face shape is almost exactly like mine and the longer I looked at it the more I liked it.  Can you do mine like that?" 

Kate looked at the pictures of the cut which was shown in four views, then examined Alexis critically.  "Absolutely Alexis.  You would look terrific with that cut.  But let me warn you - the sides and back are very short.  It's almost what is called a 'high and tight flattop' on men, although the top is a little longer.  I must say it would be very flattering for you." 

"How short are the sides.  I see that they're really short now that I look at them," Alexis responded. 

"The

"I really like the way it looks, but an eighth of an inch is a little scary.  It gives me butterflies.  I shouldn't have asked," Alexis laughed. 

"Go for it Alexis.  Kate has always said that she will never give anyone a cut that won't look good on them," Leigh encouraged her. 

"Is that right Kate?" Alexis asked. 

"That has always been the way I work.  If I think it's the wrong style for you I try to persuade you to do something different that will work," Kate reassured her.  "You made an almost perfect choice for yourself because of the shape of your head, your hairline in front and your ears - they lie nice and close to your head." 

"OK, I'm convinced," Alexis said.  "I just got this cut a month ago and I though it was the shortest I'd had my hair in my whole life.  I would never have even imagined getting it cut like this, but here I am doing it." 

"We were all like that Alexis.  Once we made the decision it's as if we were dumping a bunch of pre-conceptions and suddenly had a whole new level of freedom," Michelle explained.  "A year ago I had hair past my shoulder blades.  Now I know the real me and I would never go back." 

Alexis gingerly sat down in Kate's barber chair as though wondering if it would be hot, quite obviously tense.  Kate didn't say anything, but did begin to massage her shoulders.  Alexis jumped in surprise, then relaxed a little. 

"You'll be quite striking and beautiful Alexis, I'm certain of it.  Your ears are nice and close to your head, just right for this style.  The shape of your head is absolutely perfect and the color will give it a terrific impact." Kate spoke to her softly as she continued her massage of Alexis' shoulders.  "Just tell me when you're ready and we'll get started." 

The rest of the women remained silent except for a couple of quiet conversations going on in the back.  They recognized the importance of Alexis making the decision herself. 

"Thanks, Kate.  That was very relaxing.  I was getting a little tense.  I'm ready now.  You can go ahead.  I trust your judgment.  I've seen some of your other haircuts and they have all been wonderful"  Alexis told her. 

There was a brief burst of applause as the other women let Alexis know that she had their support.  Kate put a paper around her neck, then fastened a pink cape over it followed by quickly folding the paper over the collar of the cape.  For some reason she had switched from the green cape she had used on Leigh to a pink one. 

"Ready if you are, Alexis," Kate said, giving her one final chance to change her mind. 

"I'm ready. Go ahead," Alexis answered. 

"I'll have to cut the top first in order to get it short enough to be able to do the sides and back," Kate told her as she combed up the hair at the front of her head and used her clipper to cut it off at about an inch and a half.  

Kate had to lift up each side and clipper it off as well.  She went slowly toward the crown of Alexis' head continuing the process, but making it progressively shorter as she got to the crown.  At the crown it was no more than three quarters of an inch.  Now she used a wide comb with long teeth to reduce the sides to a more appropriate length and begin to blend it in to the top.  First the left then the right.  Finally satisfied that she had a rough outline of what she was was going to do she attached a number four guide to her clipper and went around Alexis's head.  The sides were reduced to only a half inch.  In the back she followed the contour of Alexis's head all the way to the crown before pulling away.  With the desired shape now visible she could do the next step which was to use her flattop comb to get just the right shape to the top.  It would be an inch long in front but would be only a half inch at the crown, based on the shape of Alexis' head and the fact that her front hairline was rather low.  She carefully adjusted Alexis's head so that it was exactly upright. 

"Alexis I need you to look straight ahead and don't move your head until I tell you that you can.  OK?" Kate told her. 

"Sure Kate," Alexis said as she grabbed the arms of the barber chair and sat rigidly waiting for Kate to complete whatever she was going to do. 

Using her flattop comb once again, Kate carefully went over the top of Alexis's head reducing it to the exact length that she planned from the front to halfway back to the crown.  It was quickly done to her satisfaction and she released Alexis from her rigid posture. 

"OK, Alexis you can relax now.  That part's finished," Kate told her. 

Kate was pleased to see that Alexis had hair that wanted to stand up and away from her head.  That make it particularly easy to make the style work.  The next step was to finish the sides and back.  She would do the rest of the top freehand with her clipper.  She attached a number one guard to the clipper.  Beginning at the right temple she went up about an inch before pulling away.  After a second pass beside the first she stopped to make a critical evaluation.  'Not nearly high enough' she thought.  It will have to be up as high as her hairline in front.  Putting her thought into action she started back to the temple and ran the clipper with it eighth inch guide all the way up to the curve of Alexis' head, continuing straight up from that point.  Alexis's scalp was clearly visible, the remaining dark red hair giving only a shadow to the side of her head.  She did the next run the same way and continued until she reached the back of Alexis's ear where she stopped and went to the left side.  Following the same plan she reduced that side to the same eighth of an inch up to the curve - a full three inches.  The next step was to clipper the nape and back of Alexis's head.  She would not go up so high in the back - only to the top of Alexis's ears - ears that she had already told Alexis were perfect for this haircut. That was soon done.  This time she rounded the transition as she approached each side so that it became a gentle "ess" curve that blended into the sides where they made the transition to the longer top.  Now she was ready to do the detailed finishing that was her trademark and that was critical to giving this cut the crisp perfection that it needed to make Alexis the striking figure that she would become. 

"It's getting there Alexis and you're going to look terrific, but first I have to do a lot of finishing to get it just right," Kate told her. 

Kate replaced the big clipper and picked up her cordless one which she adjusted to its closest setting.   She put a number two guide on her clipper and used that to reduce the hair in back starting from the eighth inch clippered area up to near the crown and from the back of each ear.  Removing the guide, she picked up a wide toothed straight comb. Beginning at the top of Alexis's head and going back toward the crown, she carefully cut closer as she went over the curve of Alexis's head, blending perfectly with the quarter inch hair at the back of her head.  The result was a precise transition that formed a perfectly rounded contour.  Kate repeated the process going around Alexis's head from right to left, so that the rounded contour would be the same when viewed from any angle, even from above.  She continue her finishing by blending the eighth inch part of the cut to the longer hair in back and on top.  On each side she softened the sharp transition from the flat top to the nearly vertical sides a small amount.  From front to back it was still nearly ruler flat, just as it was for more than half the top from left to right.  A strict square flattop would be too strong for Alexis's delicate features.   

Kate put her battery operated  clipper back into its charging stand and took up the very small edging clipper which she used to go along Alexis's hairline and do a short fade so that there was no sharp demarkation.   Using her scissors and comb she went over everything once again, looking for any imperfection, especially in the critical areas where the nearly vertical sides, clippered to only an eight of an inch, faded into the longer hair above which quickly rounded into the flat top.  Finally she added some styling mud to the top and back and brushed it so that it stood up erectly in front and all the way to the crown.  She brushed the back up also so that it formed a perfectly rounded contour at the back of her head.  Finally she pulled a few strands this way and that in the front so that the hard look was given a more gentle aspect.  Kate was very happy about the way Alexis's hair seemed eager to stand up with very little coaxing.  Even at the back of her head it wanted to stand out rather than lie flat.  Perfect was the thought that went through Kate's head as she surveyed the result of her artistry. 

"You're done as soon as I brush you off,"  Kate told her.  "Are you ready to see the new Alexis?" 

"I think I am Kate.  I really loved the feel of those clippers," Alexis said 

Kate turned her around so she could see herself in the mirror that had been behind her during the entire cutting process. 

"Oh my gosh!" Alexis exclaimed.  "Wow.  It's wonderful!" 

The room exploded in applause and cheering. 

"It's gorgeous Alexis.  You look marvelous with that cut," Michelle told her enthusiastically. 

"It suits you beautifully," Leigh said.  "I've never seen anyone who looks as good as you do with that cut." 

"What a great look Alexis.  It's absolutely amazing.  I think you look like you're twenty again," Joyce joined the chorus of resounding approval.

"You remember my brush cut Alexis.  I thought I looked good with it, but yours looks way better.  It's really sensational!" Sammie said. 

"She's quite right Alexis.  You have such cute features and somehow that brush cut does something remarkable to how you look.  It's sort of a combination of sweet and tough that is really adorable," Heather said. 

Kate had brushed her off and removed the cape.  As she stood up it seemed to Alexis that she could actually feel a flow of warmth connecting her to the rest of the women in the room.  Several of them stood up and met her in the middle of the room where she received hugs and more congratulations as several of them reached up to feel the bristles on the back of her head.  She felt herself being enveloped in a strong atmosphere of strength, self-assurance and contentment.  It was exhilarating.  She had never experienced anything like it.  She found herself responding strongly. 

"You guys are really great.  How do you do that? Alexis said laughing. 

"It's easy.  You've been part of the gang for more than a month, you just hadn't realized it until now," Rhonda told her. 

"I guess you're right.  I was just holding back I suppose.  Most of you guys had been together for more than a year, so I wasn't sure I'd be accepted," Alexis responded. 

"A lot of us were like that Alexis.  Nothing to worry about at all.  It always takes a little time and you have to do it at your own pace," Abby told her. 

"Well, I guess I'm ready for whoever is next," Kate spoke out loudly enough to  get their attention. 

"Seems like it's my turn Kate.  I think I'm being brainwashed by these women," Pam laughed.  "Anyway I think I've found a cut that I will like.  It's this one.  It's all your fault Wilma." 

Wilma and Pam had been best friends for years.  They were quite close and shared their thoughts about almost everything.  When Wilma had told her how at ease she felt with the other women, Pam had been swayed and almost convinced, but it was Wilma's decision to get a very short buzz cut that influenced her most heavily.  She did not want to be left behind by her closest friend.  The way the women had adopted both Wilma and Alexis seemed quite remarkable to her.  She could feel the empathy and rapport that had been shared.  She and Wilma had a similar linkage.  She realized that she would like to be included in their bonding the way Wilma had been.  Somehow their haircuts or shaved heads was the visible symbol that they had stepped over a threshold and now shared common goals, aspirations, mutual support, self-confidence and a willingness to try to make a difference. 

Pam showed Wilma the cut that she had selected. 

"That's a wonderful cut Pam.  It will look fantastic on you.  Denise will be thrilled.  And I'll bet Jim will like it too after he gets over the initial surprise," Wilma responded. 

"He's gotten used to Denise's bald head, so he shouldn't have too much trouble with this.  Here Kate.  You're the expert. Will I look OK with this cut?" Pam asked. 

Kate looked at the pictures then back at Pam checking her features, shape of her head, hairline and ears.  Her knack of being able to visualize how a person would look with a different hair style kicked in and she looked back at Pam seeing her in the short little boy cut that Pam had shown her. 

"Yes.  In fact you will look quite good in that style.  I will make a couple of small adjustments to adapt it to you, but with your hair color and features it will be an outstanding look for you," Kate reassured her.  "Have a seat and we can get started anytime you're ready." 

Pam sat down in the barber chair a little hesitantly.  Like almost anyone she was feeling nervous, even though she had made a decision and intended to stick to it.  It seemed like a gigantic leap to go from her ordinary conservative chin length layered style to what she had decided to do.  Kate took her time slowly wrapping a paper around her neck then fastening the cape over it.   

"You're going to look super good Pam.  And I bet you'll look ten years younger," Gwen told her.   

"Absolutely Pam.  I loved Rhonda's cut and you'll look just as good with one like it," Ellen chimed in.   

"Pam gave a little smile, took a deep breath and let it out.  "OK Kate I think you had better get started before I chicken out." 

"I can get started and go slowly using scissors and comb or I can cut it to a working length quickly using my clipper with a guide on it.  Do you have a preference," Kate asked. 

"I don't want to prolong it Kate.  Do it as quickly as you can," Pam replied. 

"You've got it," Kate said. 

She picked up the big clipper and after a brief search in the drawer under the counter found the one and a half inch guide, one that she rarely used.  She snapped it onto the clipper head, then put the clipper back down and picked up her comb and a clip.  The little whiff in front might need to be more than an inch and a half long so she parted off a narrow strip and clipped it out of the way.  This time she picked up the clipper and spoke once more to Pam. 

"Here goes, Pam.  It's a little noisy as I'm sure you've already realized.  Are you ready?" 

"Yes, Go ahead." Pam stated with conviction. 

Without further ado Kate tilted Pam's head to the left and ran the clipper up from her cheek and past the temple to where the clip held the section of hair.  A second pass followed going up even higher.  Starting from behind Pam's ear she repeated the process.   She continued methodically  around Pam's head, until she reached her right ear, then moved to in front of Pam's ear and buzzed that section.  The last step was to finish cutting the top so that, except for the whiff section, Pam had a rough pixie like cut that was about an inch and a half long.  Kate examined Pam's hair and combed it forward to see whether it would remain close to her head as it was cut shorter, just as the hair of the women in the pictures Kate was looking at did.  She judged that it would especially if she added a little mousse to help it.  She decided that the top could be an inch long at the longest except at the whiff which might need to be a bit longer.  The sides and back had been clipped quite short, little more than an eighth of an inch up  to an inch or inch and a half above the top of her ears.  The back seemed to be done the same to about the same height, making the back quite closely tapered.  The crown was about an inch long and combed away from the center point, forming a little circle. 

Kate put a half inch guide on the battery operated clipper and used it to start tapering the sides.  She went up quite high - about three inches before she pulled away.  In the back she pulled away a little sooner - just at the widest point of Pam's head.  The right side was done the same as the left.  A quarter inch guide was next and it followed the same pattern except that it did not go up as high before Kate began the taper.   

Kate had finished what she considered the rough outline of the cut and could begin the "real" cut.  She began with the battery operated clipper set at an eighth of an inch which she used on the sides and the lower back going up an inch and tapering up another three quarters of an inch.  This was done very carefully so that the two sides and lower back had the same taper and blended.  The top was next.  Using her fingers, a comb and scissors she went over Pam's head from front to back and side to side carefully shortening the hair to achieve a uniform length back to the crown and a short distance down the back - no more than an inch.  Next she trimmed the whiff to an inch and a half.  She continued to trim and taper with comb and scissors, reducing the sides and back still further.  The sides were tapered up quite high to blend with the hair on top, which was further reduced in length.  Periodically Kate would check her work in the mirror and do more judicious tapering and trimming.  She kept combing Pam's hair forward from the crown, encouraging it to lay close to her head.  The front and the whiff were treated with special care.  It had to be long enough to go up and over, but still be compatible with the short top.  It was almost done.  She used her edger to square off the sideburns, edge the hairline around Pam's ears and create a neatly rounded hairline in the back which she softened by using the edger to do a short fade there.  The last step was to apply some mousse to Pam's hair and comb it into place.  Pam's crown had a single point with the hair forming a swirl around it.  Kate easily persuaded the hair there to form a spiral around it which did not stick up.  The whiff went up and over and the rest of Pam's, now very short hair, came forward and lay close to her head, almost as sleek as a Siamese cat's fur. 

It had take the best part of an hour while the other eleven women chatted about the things that women and Mom's always chat about.  There was no dearth of topics.  They had kept an eye on Kate's progress and now knew that she was almost finished. 

"Well, Pam, it's done and I just need to get rid of the loose hair and clean up you neck," Kate announced. 

"Wow! Pam, it's sensational," Wilma announced. 

"That is one terrific looking cut.  Kate really did you proud," Gwen told her. 

Kate had brushed her off, removed the cape and paper and cleaned up her neck as promised.  Now she rotated the chair so that Pam could see herself for the first time. 

"That is such a good look for you Pam.  You are super sharp with that cut," Alexis praised her. 

Despite the reassurances from the other women Pam still had butterflies.  She almost dared not look,  but with Wilma's and Alexis's statements she opened her eyes and looked.  Her eyes got big.  She put her hand up, but couldn't bring herself to actually feel the short hair at the nape of her neck or on the sides.  Turning her head from side to side, she surveyed the person in the mirror that she hardly recognized.  Kate held up a hand mirror so she could see the back.  Finally after a long moment of silence she hazarded a small smile. 

"It's going to take some getting used to, but it does look pretty good doesn't it,"  Pam finally told them. 

They all applauded and yelled,  "Super!  Just Great!  Absolutely fabulous," were a few of the congratulatory remarks that could be hear above the general hubbub.  

"Pretty good doesn't begin to do it justice.  You look fabulous.  That style really suits you perfectly.  Your eyes look so much bigger and brighter.  I really love it," Wilma gushed.  "Heck you look like you're twenty-five again." 

"It really is a wonderful style, Pam.  Kate did a terrific job like she always does.  You and Wilma will have to come back every two weeks to keep your cuts looking sharp.  Some of the women get so used to their buzzes and short cuts, and like them so much that they come back every week," Sammie said.  "Rhonda, Doris and I came back every two weeks for a year so we could keep ours looking just right.  Our men took a little while to get used to it, but after a couple of months they decided that they liked our short haircuts." 

"You're one brave woman, Pam.  I nearly fainted when I got my first short cut," Rhonda said giving her a hug. 

"It feels so good, Pam," Hallie told her.  "I loved it when I had a short buzz." 

"You're going to get the shivers every time Jim rubs his hand up the back of your neck," Michelle added, laughing. 

One after another the women hugged and praised her for her courage. Soon she was completely surrounded by the twelve other women, who kept continuing to praise her courage and tell her how great she looked and to take turns feeling the short bristles at the back of her head.  She felt herself being submerged in the heady enthusiasm that exuded from them.  Her surroundings receded as she drifted into a trance like state.   The women surrounded her and continued to provide encouragement.  Slowly her barriers yielded and she experienced a flood of something - strength, confidence, well-being, exhilaration - but mostly something like an awakening.  She began to relax and accept the warm glow generated by the other women's determined effort to draw her into their circle of acceptance and bonding.  Her tentative smile grew and finally she could not resist reaching up and feeling the hair at the nape of her neck and then sampling the length of the rest of her hair.  There was a moment of surprise as she realized that her hair was less than an inch long everywhere except for the very front.  After further exploration the surprise was replaced by an impish grin. 

"Doesn't it feel great? Heather asked rhetorically. 

"You guys really know how to get into my head, don't you," Pam said with a laugh.  "OK.  I can't resist.  I already feel like I just jumped into what I thought was a pool of ice water only it's actually warm and soothing, and you're all dolphins keeping me afloat and safe." 

"Wow, that's really poetic Pam.  I wish I had thought of that," Alexis said, as she pushed forward to give Pam a hug which was now returned warmly. 

Another round of hugs followed, this time with Pam eagerly responding.  Finally, she turned to Kate. 

"Kate, thanks for helping me do this.  I really do like this haircut," Pam said reaching out to give Kate a hug, which Kate returned freely.  "I'll be returning in two weeks to get it freshened up if Wilma is willing to come with me." 

"Of course I will Pam.  And if I can't someone else will," Wilma told her.  "Time for us to go Pam.  I need to get back before Tony gets home.  Bye, Kate.  Thanks for giving me such a wonderful haircut.  And especially thanks for all of you for being here." 

"OK.  I'm ready.  Thank you, all of you," Pam said as she exited with Wilma, feeling as though she were ten feet tall and walking on air. 

The other women said their goodbyes and exited in twos and threes.  Finally Kate was alone.  She began cleaning up, getting her shop ready for reopening for her first evening appointment at five thirty.  She had a little more than an hour.  With her floor swept clean, all her tools cleaned and readied for the evening  and her station tidy, she went to the back of the shop and retrieved her dinner from the little refrigerator and sat down at the small table.  She brushed her hand over the top of her head savoring her own buzz cut which had gotten somewhat shorter over the past year.  Her thoughts went to the remarkable women who had adopted her as part of their circle and the equally remarkable way they had bonded with each other.  Even more amazing was the way they got other women to join their "sisterhood" as Kate thought of it privately.  She knew that it was an incredibly strong bond that had formed among them and that they supported each other and her intensely.   She wondered how long it would last.  She suspected that it might be enduring for many of them.  She knew she wanted to be part of it, however long it lasted. 

To be continued in Blond, Black and Pink - the Epilogue Part 6

Rate this story now.
5- Excellent 4- Very good 3- Good 2- Needs work 1- Poor  

Enter some comments about this story or see what others have said on the forums.