32 Comments
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Tina Carlson's avatar

This could also be flash fiction, my talented friend!!

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X. P. Callahan's avatar

Ha ha! We’ll see. Thanks, Tina. 🧡

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Janie Braverman's avatar

Spit laughing at the photo of "not you"! Reminded me of one of the worst cuts I've ever had - and I've got the photos to prove it!

I got the best haircut of my life about six weeks ago - from a tattooed, bright-blue haired, mom of two, advocate for all kids, nose-ringed and very funny woman. She has a great take on "stranger danger" for kids in the city - "look for the helpers and the moms" - "and DADS!" her kids added. She shaved her head in solidarity with a kid with cancer at her daughter's school. And does free first cuts for trans kids just coming out and wanting their hair to be *their* hair.

She works about a block and a half from my home, in what used to be a dentists' office. Off the beaten path, funky, and one of the most welcoming spaces one could want.

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Mary Roblyn's avatar

I was going to say that the Dutch Boy cut is so repellent that even splashes of paint won’t go near it, but I decided it’s the hundreds of dollars of “product” that did the trick.

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Sharon Hom's avatar

Uh oh, Mary….i was going to write I LIKE that Dutch boy cut, otherwise known as the Asian bob, but blonde😹😹😹

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Mary Roblyn's avatar

Sharon, I have no doubt that this cut looks terrific on you and probably most of the people on this planet. I was speaking from bitterness and envy. My hair has been virtually unmanageable for most of my life. A brief few years of glory, until my hairdresser betrayed me by leaving me high and dry when she went off to sell real estate. Trauma followed. Now I look for someone who is capable of studying a photo and listening. Not a perfect solution, but I realize that my hair is incorrigible. After a cut, I let it grow out for several months, until gravity’s pull can no longer be ignored. That is my current situation. Sigh.

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Sharon Hom's avatar

Since I have not been able to travel back to HK (for various reasons😿), I completely resonate with your incorrigible hair challenges😿 the prices in NY are ridiculous and now retired, I have taken to cutting my own hair (following YouTube videos!) . I’m usually quite pleased until the family reacts, usually like, why don’t you go to a real cutter?😹😩😿

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Mary Roblyn's avatar

Oh, Sharon. Prices are high in St. Paul as well, but I have yet to take out a second mortgage. I would not dare to cut my own hair, YouTube notwithstanding. It would result in a walk of shame the length of the Appalachian trail.😱

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Sharon Hom's avatar

Hahaha😹. Well, I probably would do a walk of shame if I actually left my house more. Except for No King marches and Dr appointments, I am mostly home. Whew.

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Kim Nelson's avatar

The flippin' hair. Loss -- no matter how it transpires -- feels like the greatest of woes until the universe humbles you with real challenge. And then you learn you can grow through that, too.

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Deborah Kay Kelly's avatar

I can relate, X.P. Got a buzzcut once, and purplish-maroon color. Neither of them what I requested. Had to go to work the next day.

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Janie Braverman's avatar

Yikes! What did you ask for?

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Deborah Kay Kelly's avatar

My usual, back then. Warm medium-brown. Pixie cut.

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Janie Braverman's avatar

Not even in the same universe!

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X. P. Callahan's avatar

That was a . . . creative take.

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KL Parr's avatar

Having just gone to the barber Wednesday, I resemble this remark a little too closely.

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Sharon Hom's avatar

X.P. Until a few years back, my hair was cut by Jojo, an irreplaceable stylist in HK. When I sat down, she would say, sighing, did you try cutting it yourself again😩 one year I grew it down to my waist so I could donate it to Locks of Love (for children with cancer). The whole cut was videos by one of the other stylists as it was apparently an unusual event😹😹😹

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Mary Roblyn's avatar

Bless you, Sharon. Locks of Love is a marvelous organization.🙏💛

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Sharon Hom's avatar

I almost have a foot now so another few inches and I can cut it all off for donation again!

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David Lyman's avatar

Ah, first world problems….still, I loved it, as we all can relate…

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

I had my hair cut at the same place for 32 years. Things have never been the same since I relocated but I get by.

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Sharon Hom's avatar

Paul, just leave it and when you get it to about a foot long, cut it and donate! A man-poet with a ponytail during the process♥️😹

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

I’ve never really had long hair, Sharon. Maybe I’ll try!

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Sharon Hom's avatar

As HK activists like to say — Add oil😹 (metaphorically, NOT on your head😹😹😹)

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X. P. Callahan's avatar

You guys are cracking me up with your sad hair stories.

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Sharon Hom's avatar

X.P. Well, there’s only one thing left then…organize a poetry reading but every person who reads must be on camera - full head of hair visible- no slouchy Gen Z beanies😹😹😹😹

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Rebecca Weil's avatar

Yes! This is the greatest thread! Poems here.

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Celeste's avatar

I hope you're documenting all these invented forms you are creating with your poetry!

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Mary Holscher's avatar

I love your commentary! A perfect complement to the poem.

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X. P. Callahan's avatar

😁

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Aditi Garg's avatar

The more I read your poems, the more I want to read them! Anyone who's got a bad haircut can totally relate to this.

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X. P. Callahan's avatar

What a nice thing to say! Thank you, Aditi.

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