June 30, 2003: Andrew's experience
It was on a Friday right after work when I had gotten my first flattop haircut. I had thought about it for weeks if I should of gotten a flattop. When I asked my buddies how would I look with a flattop, they tried to hold in their laughs and snickers, but they couldn't. Since my hair was so long from not having it cut for a month, I decided to take the plunge and try something different. Fortunatly, it wasn't a plunge. It showed me my new look. When I walked into the barbershop, I surprisingly wasn't afraid of getting a flattop. After having my former 3 inches of hair finally off my head, the barber held up a mirror, showing me my new look. I thought I was going to either laugh like how my friends pictured me, or freak out. Actually, I didn't freak out or laugh. I liked it, and still like it because my hair is now easier to maintain, and little or no hair gel is needed. Since my hair is somewhat red colored, and I speak with a country accent, everyone at work would call me "The red-headed redneck". Now that I've got a flattop, they now call me "The red jar-headed redneck". They sometimes pull my chain a little by placing a sheet of paper on my head, or by telling me that if I were to do a headstand, I wouldn't have the fear of falling over. I'm really proud to have my hair this way, instead of long and wavy that if THEY were to do a headstand, they could be used as mops. I don't care what other people say about my hair cut if they give me a dirty look or give me a bad comment. I think a simple and short flattop will always look a lot more better than a gel-pasted head.
FROM A MESSAGE BOARD (Feb 18, 2002)
I was at Rons Barbershop this past Saturday Morning, and I have to tell all on
this board what I saw The young man before me was sporting a very grown out very
blond flattop. The cut looked a little desheveled, and he was in need of a haircut
badly in order to keep a military look. When Ron finally said "Next Man" This
young man stood up and headed for the chair. That young man stood up when the barber announced "Next Man!" he took a seat in
the chair and the barber just said, "Where have you been?", the Young man replied
"Home on leave for a few weeks"
His friend who just got out of the chair with a nice comb-able top high and tight
added "He went on leave for a few weeks, and came back looking like a hippie!"
Barber: "How do you want your haircut?"
Youngman: "Straight edge Shave the sides and back High and Tight, and run the top
down to a flattop as short as you can get it"
With that the barber wrapped a tissue around the young mans neck just below his
very pointed adams apple. then he laid a barbers cloth around his shoulders, then
placed the red and white pinstripped cape around his neck. The barber then began
to SLOWLY remove the the hair on the side and back of head with several passes of
the clippers, each pass would bring a little more hair onto the cape. Finally, the
Barber snapped on the 00000 blade and finished up the high and tight. The barber
then Gelled up his 2 inches of former flattoped gold blond hair and proceeded to
shape it into a supershort, perfectly level skinned landing stripped flattop. The
barber spent a considerable amount of time ensuring that the flattop was
supershort, and extremely level. Ron then placed a hot towel around the sides
and back of the young mans head, There were LOADS OF BLOND HAIR NOW RESTING IN
HIS LAP ON THE CAPE. Ron removed the towel after a couple of minutes, then applied
hot lather and began to straight edge shave the sides and back of the youngman.
After that was done (I was next to be in the chair)The barber went to the counter,
and squirted what I believe to be baby oil into his hands and rubbed it all over
the freshly shaved high and tight. Then Ron took out of the pocket of his smok a
safety razor, most likely a Mach III and re-shaved the entire high and tight again,
this time Ron shaved it from every possible direction--with hair growth, against
hair growth, pass after pass after pass after pass. Then for no apparent reason he
re-ran the electric clippers all over the H-n-T again. He re-brushed the extremely
short flattop again, eyeing it to be sure it was super flat. Then handed the young
man a large hand held mirror (You face away from the mirror at Rons) so that he
could inspect his new haircut. The young man just said "Perfect as usual Ron --
It looks Great." With that the Cape was reemoved from the young man, carefully
folded up so that the large amount of clipped hair would not get on him. The young
man got out of the chair and the first thing he did was run his hand down the back
of his own head and just say "Smooth as glass, as usual, Thanks" With that The
barber yelled "Next man" while the young man was getting ready to pay. It was my
turn, so I sat in the chair, while the youngman and Ron settled up at the cash
register. When the young man and his friend left it was now my turn. The barber
came over and asked me how would I like it cut. All I said was a Flattop, just
like the one you just cut -- real short.
I was now my turn, and I had the same experiece. If you ever are in South Carolina
--You MUST STOP BY RONS AND GET A HAIRCUT!!
NOTHING LIKE A SUMMER FLATTOP (July 1, 2001)
This post is an attemp to get a little discussion going in conjunction with a
new poll for this group about getting a big summer haircut.
Some of my experiences, I'm sure, are common to many of you.
First step is deciding you want to get a flattop this summer and, for some,
working up the courage to actually get one. When you've finally convinced
yourself that you're ready, the drive to the barbershop is filled with an odd
mix of nervousness and positive anticipation.
Once inside the barbershop, this feeling usually lingers. But you get a whiff
of that wonderful barbershop smell, and maybe get to watch a few other guys
getting buzzed down before your turn.
Soon enough, your number's called, and you hop in the chair. The barber capes
you up and maybe even brushes the stubble off his warm clippers from the last
customer. At this point, you still may be second-guessing yourself as you
wait for the big question: "What'll it be today?"
Then you gotta actually tell the barber, "I think I'm gonna get myself a
flattop today." There, you've said it. No turning back now.
The barber's response can be critical. A bad barber will be overly concerned
about cutting your hair too short. "Are you sure?" is a common response. It's
kind of disheartening to hear the barber almost try to talk you out of
getting the haircut you've been working up the courage to get for so long. On
the other hand, a good barber will know what you have in mind and will be
eager to get you clipped down to a cool, comfortable summer haircut. The best
barbers take pride in cutting flattops, since they are not easy haircuts to
do and have an almost artistic quality to them.
At this point, the barber probably starts white-walling your sides and back.
You start feeling the breeze on the back of your head and neck, wondering
what it's going to look like. Then most barbers will either blow-dry the top
or at least brush it up to prepare for the big cut.
The next part is my favorite. The barber may walk in front of you, hunch over
slightly, squint, and get a good look at your hair from your eye level. Then
he turns on the clippers again, and makes the big swipe right down the center
of your head that will eventually be the landing strip.
After that, the barber works meticulously on your top hair to get the flattop
perfectly level. You feel your hair start to take on a boxy shape, and you're
dying to see what it's going to look like on you.
Minutes later, the barber shuts off the clippers, brushes the stubble of your
neck, ears, and head, and then spins you around for your first view of your
new look.
Seeing the image of yourself in the mirror with a new flattop is an awesome
feeling. The barber probably asks you if the cut's OK, but you're just
thinking, "Damn! That haircut looks good on me, if I do say so myself!"
The barber then un-capes you, and you stand up and reach for your wallet. But
you can't resist the temptation to look in that mirror again and get another
peek at the tougher, more masculine man you've become.
Next part is a given--it never fails. You gotta reach back, rub the back of
your head, feeling the stubble, and moving on up to get a good feel of the
hair on top. Your hand can sense the shape your hair's been cut in, and it
feels good to rub!
You then pay the barber, exchange pleasantries, and you walk out of the shop
feeling like a new man. You hop in your car, and--this is another thing that
always happens--you pull down the driver's side mirror or adjust the rearview
mirror to get a second look at your new haircut. You may have even tried to
sneak a look at yourself in the reflection on your car windows as you were
unlocking your vehicle.
When you get home, you go straight to the bathroom for another, closer
inspection. Grab a hand mirror and look at the back of your head. You probaby
really like how it looks, but then you may start thinking about people asking
you why you got such a short haircut. But you don't care.
When a week goes by, you start itching to get back to the barbershop for a
maintenance cut. Some guys wait 2-3 weeks, but for many, it turns into a
weekly ritual at the barbershop to get your flat tightened up and looking
squared away.
I'm not going to send out pictures from the House of Wyatt becuase I don't
have his permission. However, I'll post in a couple of links to 2 of his
pages showing some great flattop transformations. Both of these guys have
excellent, crisp new flattops. The angles are just perfect. He's a talented
barber.
FROM A MESSAGE BOARD (Nov 15, 2000)
I've worn a long ivy league cut (parted on the side) for the past three or four years. I've always wanted to get a flat top but never had the
cajones. Last day at my job was last Friday and I start a new one the Monday after T'giving. So I decided now was the perfect time, before I
start the new job, to go for the flat top. Actually, thought about it for a few weeks. I cased some barber shops (I've been going to a sort of salon
place, I know don't hate me). Found a great shop, with a hot young Puerto Rican guy who wore a really tight fade.
Yesterday, I went in and asked for the flat top. He ran his fingers thru the top of my hair (it's about 6" long) and said "you know how short
that is? This all comes off." I asked if he thought I should do it and he said, "Hell yeah". He flipped on the clippers and said "take a good look,
cause you gonna be a different man". I was scared to death. First he buzzed the sides and back with a #1 (I usually get a #3.5). And he gave me
the sharpest outline I've ever seen. Then spent about 2 minutes brushing my hair back w/a blow dryer (my hair is v. thick). He said "You
ready?" I almost backed out but before I responded, he plowed the clppers over his comb. It was exciting to watch all that hair fall off. And he
seemed to enjoy it too. He did a terrific job (it rises to about 3/4" in front and is completely flat). The sides are a little closer than I wanted, but
to be honest I liked the experience. When he was done he said now "you look rugged instead of like a pretty boy". I love the cut. I stopped at
the grocery store and a guy ahead of me with a flat top said that's good work--where'd you go? But my sister hated the cut as did her two
girlfriends (they thought I looked too military) And tonight I went to a friend's b-day dinner, people were much less than enthusiastic. One
woman (who seemed to set the tone for the comments) said I had such a good haircut before and why'd I do this. Ran into an good frind who
said (and this is a quote) "Holy s_ _ _! What did you do to yourself?" The best response I've gotten is it looks "sharp" and that was from my
uncle who's 60! (I'm 29). I still think it looks and feels great, but obviously I'm in the minority. This ever happen to any of you guys? Did you
keep the cut or let it grow back? I know we should please ourselves, but I don't necessarily want to wear a cut that no one else likes...
The webmaster's flattop experience (Apr 4, 2000)
Well today I finally got a flattop haircut. Thanks to everyone who
helped me decided. I went on today to the barber shop I went to last
time. I had asked for a flattop before but chickened out last time.
But today would be different. I waited a good 35 minutes because it
was so busy and I let some people in front of me because I wanted to
get the same barber as last time. I sat down and he asked what it be
today. I said I want to go real short either a flattop or a crewcut.
He asked which one and I asked if he could cut the flattop first and
if I didn't like it could he give me a crewcut. He said that would
be fine since he would just buzz off the rest. So I told him I had
never had it short before but want to try the flattop. He said OK,
one flattop coming up. He buzzed the sides real short like last time
I think with a #2 or #1 & 1/2. Then I asked if he could leave the
top as long as he could since this was my first flattop. He said
that would be alright. As he was spraying and brushing my hair up I
asked if he cut flattops often and he said yeah. Then he took the
vacuum clippers and with three swipes cut the top pretty short. I
was facing away from the front mirror but there was a small mirror
on the side and I glanced at it every now and then. He then cut it
with clipper over comb for a good five minutes or so. And then
sprayed it in place with hair spray. He turned me around and said
he thought it looked good. I have about an inch on the very front
and about 1/4" on the middle of the top. He sorta rounded the sides
a bit and I think it looks sharp. I asked him when I should come
back and he said about three weeks to keep it in shape. As soon as
I got in the car I checked it out in the rearview mirror and liked
it. This is the shortest I have ever had it cut and I like it. I
got a small thin spot on the right corner of the top and the top is
not completely flat from the side view but it looks good from the
front. Haven't got any reactions yet since I am modest and have kept
my cap on. Don't know if I will keep it flat all the time. May try
a landing strip and low and tight on the sides next time or either a
n all over buzz. Thanks for helping me get the courage to get the
cut I wanted.
PT
Story 1:
I had always been told by women and many stylists that I had beautiful, thick
hair. So, I kept it kind of long-over the ears and collar. About seven
years ago I decided that I wanted a short cut. My father had always worn a
flattop and had always encouraged me to get one. I however, refused to break
down and get the same cut as my father! I had deciced that I would go to a
regular barbershop and get a regular haircut, even though I was really
wishing that I had the courage to get a flattop.
I drive by a few shops and found one that I thought would be ok to enter. I
enter the shop and find that there are four guys in front of me in this two
chair shop. The first guy gets in the chair with almost as much hair as I.
He asks for a flattop. I am in luck! I am actually going to get to watch a
guy get buzzed down into a flattop. Needless to say, this was my day. I
watched anxiously as his hair falls to the floor. It was very exciting to
watch. In the mean time, the second guy gets in the chair. He asks for a
regular haircut. He must know the barber well because they talk for a long
while. As the newly shorn guy is finished, the third guy gets up and into
the chair. He also asks for a flattop. He had a businessman's cut, not too
long, not too short. The barber begins to buzz the sides of his head. The
guy int the chair does not seem phased at all. Not I. I was very excited
that I get to watch two guys lose their hair into newly cut flattops. The
barber cutting the flattop is getting finished about the same time as the
other barber. There is still one guy ahead of me. So, in my head I say that
if the barber giving the regular cut gets done first and I get the guy giving
the two flattops, I would also get a flattop. My heart was racing so fast.
Both barbers finish at the same time; and both customers get out of the chair
at almost the exact same time. So now, the guy ahead of me gets to choose
which chair he will get into. This unsuspecting guy is in control of my
haircut! The guy gets into the first chair--not the one giving the flattops.
I got the guy giving the flattops. Would I have the courage? I get into
the chair and the barber puts the cape around my neck. He asks me how I
would like it cut. I said, "Well, we might as well continue the trend. A
flattop please." The barber said ok and went to work. The feel of the
clippers moving up the side of my head was incredible! My heart was beating
so hard that I know the barber could tell that this was a stimulating
experience for me. There were no mirrors so I could not watch what was
happening. He finished the cut and began to turn me around. As I stared
into the mirror, I smiled. I loved it! I walked out of the shop a proud,
confident new man. I continued to get flattops for about the next year or
so. Now, I get one about once a year just to expeience that wonderful
feeling.
Tony
Story 2:
My First Flattop,
by henryZ,
Several summers ago, I was working on a construction job and I went
into the barber shop with my co-worker on our lunch break, who wanted
to get his regular short haircut buzzed into a flattop. At the time
I was a neo-hippy with a full beard and long sun bleached hair.
I had no intention of getting a haircut. My buddy's flattop looked
so good, however, that I found myself in the chair for "a trim."
Woody was a very skilled and conscientious barber, and trimmed me
up like I requested. Turning me to the mirror to view the finished
haircut, he said "You know, I can take it a little shorter if you'd
like." Something made me say yes, and we progressed through several
more stages. He finished each stage, cleaned it up, and asked me
each time if it was short enough. With perfect patience, he kept
going shorter until I ended up with a traditional short crewcut with
tapered edges and a slight landing strip. It was absolutely the best
haircut I had ever had. Seeing those tangles of multi-colored sun
bleached hair on the floor made me realize how ridiculous I had
looked for so long. He took the clippers to the beard, too, and
suddenly I saw an unrecognizable muscular young man in the mirror
before me. I looked younger, yes, but also much better. I thought the
long hair and beard made me look sexy and "alternative" but I
realized that I had been hiding behind them. The reaction was
incredible. I was nervous at first at how people would react.
Universally, however, everyone loved the new me. The women at the
building supply store we had been frequenting all summer rubbed my
buzzed head with glee. My buddy took me out for a elebratory drink
after work, and I found women looking at me like they had never done
before. Even the beautiful hippy chick I had been interested in all
summer, a Deadhead with long flowing red tresses, couldn't get
over the look -- and feel -- of my head. We ended up dating, and it's
ironic when I look back now that fear of her disapproval was the only
negative thought that entered my mind during the haircut. I shouldn't
have worried. Even though I left the area after that job, I still
made it back to Woody's shop occasionally for haircuts. Each time I
get a haircut from him, I realize how much more skilled he is than
the average short haircut barber. He takes his time, and does what
you want, but isn't afraid to make suggestions. He is not a butcher
who gets a thrill from buzzing stray hippies who enter his shop. He
seems instead to be interested in making each haircut, no matter
what the length, the absolute best it can be. He does a whole range
of styles and lenghs but in my biased opinion, the short cuts are the
best. I later grew the crewcut out a bit into a flattop, and
experienced a whole new level of Woody's artistry. He has the best
flattop method I've ever experienced, and in the years since that
first buzzcut I've become something of an expert on the subject. He
has a way of cutting a flattop that somehow keeps it standing
straight and rigid, even if you don't continue to use the Butch Wax
that he applies. That summer crewcut changed my life and I've been a
convert ever since. There were so many highpoints to that haircut:
the breeze on my neck as we left the shop, the comfort I felt on the
worksite all day (how had I put up with all that sweaty hair for so
long?), unexpected glimpes of the "new me" in the mirror when I
didn't recognize myself. Perhaps the best part was waking up the next
morning and rubbing my curiously light-feeling head. I was
momentarily startled, and then remembered the whole thing. Stumbling
into the bathroom, rubbing my buzzed head, I saw not the usual tangle
of blond and brown strands in my face, but the same perfect crewcut I
had gone to bed with the night before. Okay, this has turned into
more of a personal experience story than a barbershop listing. But
Woody is an awesome barber, and if some fellow grungy hippy discovers
him because of this posting, then it was worth
my time to write all of this.
P.S: Last time I was in town, it looked like Woody had retired and a
"stylist" had taken over the shop.
Story 3: by Once Flattened (from the Buzz Board)
I had wanted a flattop haircut for a long time, but had been afraid to take the plunge. I had just finished my sophomore
year in college and was working at a local manufacturing plant for the summer. It was the beginning of July, and I was getting
ready to go on vacation for 10 days. So, I figured now was as good a time as any.
I went to my normal barbershop on a Wednesday afternoon. It was a crowded, 4-chair shop, and the razors were fast at
work, though no one was getting a buzz or flattop. My turn came, and I sat down in my usual barber's chair.
He turned down my collar and tightened a white tissue about my neck. Then he placed the red and white striped cape over
me and spun me around towards the mirror. "Yes, sir?" he said as he looked at me inquisitively. I swallowed and said
confidently, I'd like to try a flattop.? "OK," he said. "Short on the sides?" "Yes," I replied.
He went to work. Based on his last question, I thought he would buzz the back and sides, but he didn?t. He just combed and
razored them to about � of an inch at the top down to a quarter inch at the bottom, with no skin showing through my dark
brown, very straight hair. He tightly tapered the hair at the nape.
I could see myself clearly in a mirror in front of me, and noted how cool I looked with a tight taper?my hair still about
3-1/2 inches long on the top. Then he lifted the hair at my crown with his comb, and sheared it off at less than an inch. I
realized there was no turning back now. He continued working from the back to the front, razor over comb, until he had lopped off my bangs and left them sticking
out about and inch long in the front. He then applied mousse to my short hair on top and blowdried it straight back. I had a
wild looking spike when he was finished. Next, he started at the back with the razor and comb and proceeded to level it off. He worked for at least ten minutes until
he finally had it flat enough for his liking. He then blew the hair off of me and asked me what I thought.
It still looked too long on top to me. The hair at the front was at least an inch long. But he said that it was already less
than a quarter inch at the top of my head and that I probably shouldn't go much closer. I said OK.
The feel of running my hand through my new flattop was incredible. Just based on the feel, I thought I would keep this
haircut for a long time. I liked the way it looked on the back and sides, but still thought the top was a little too long.
My parents were shocked. My mom was not overly complimentary, but my dad really liked it. He graduated from college in
'61, so he was no stranger to short hair (though I have never seem him with a short haircut except in old pictures).
I looked at my new flattop from every angle for a couple of days. I loved the way it felt, though it did take more time to
primp than with long hair?which was a surprise to me. On the following Saturday, after I moussed and blowdried my hair
into place, I concluded that it did need to be shorter on top. So off I went back to the barbershop.
But as it turned out, my barbershop was closed on Saturday. So, I went to another barber down the street?an
old-fashioned, 2-chair shop. Both chairs were full, so I waited my turn. It was hard for me to believe that my hair was
shorter than it had ever been in my life, and I was sitting in a barbershop waiting to have it cut again!
When my time to sit in the chair finally came, the barber caped me, faced me to the mirror, and said, "Flattop, right?" I
said, "Yeah, I just want you to take the top down a little and..." "I know," he said interrupting me.
He pulled a razor out of the back of the chair. (I had never seen this kind of chair before; it had the power outlets for
the razors on the chair.) He then firmly pushed my head down, placed the razor right at the bottom center of my neck, and went
straight up to the crown. My heart was pounding! I thought he must have shaved me to the skin, but when he got to the
sides, I realized he did have a guard on the razor and was just taking it down to a #2.
We he finished shearing my back and sides, he grabbed a comb and a new razor and began flattening the top. Contrary to my
last barber, he started at the front, and I could tell after his first swipe that the top was going to be short enough for
me. He proceeded to take the top down at least another quarter of an inch, which left me with a pretty good landing strip. (It
seems my head is quite round!) He freehanded a lot of it. He then brushed the flattop up at the sides with one of those
little plastic brushes that has a ring for your finger, and then tightly tapered the sides into the top.
I thought he must be about through, but then he started tapering my neckline. I guess he figured that since my hair was
tapered at the neck when I came in that this is the way I always got it. He freehand tapered for at least five minutes. He
then rubbed hot lather over my neck and ears and proceeded to outline my edges with a straight razor. He then scissored a few
stray hairs on the top and pronounced me done.
It was quite a rush getting buzzed and shaved like this, even though I would never have had the nerve to ask for such a
short cut. When I walked out of the barbershop, two ladies across the street turned their heads and did a double-take at my new
look. It was pretty radical for the summer of 1991.
This was the last old-fashioned barbershop experience I have had. I let the flattop grow out and have kept my regular
businessman's cut ever since.
Story 4: My first flattop
I had always admired these classic cuts and I never thought I'd have
enough guts to actually get one done. With mother nature encroaching
I decided that it was now or never. It was the early nineties I had
long hair and Flattops were things that you could only find in
yearbooks dating back to the 50's, not cuts you could get a salon
by some hot chick named Tanya. I needed to find a real barber shop,
you know, the kind of place you use to go to as a kid, kicking and s
creaming. Where would I find one? Better yet, once I actually found
a place would I be able to follow through with a flattop or would I
wimp out???
I picked up the phone book and hoped to find a shop that might
specialize in flattops. No chance. Not one in sight. The only
thing that caught my eye was a place called Mike's Barbershop.
Sounded good enough to me so I drove over. Mike's Barbershop was a
small uneventful one man shop several towns away. I walked in and
nervously took a seat. The place was exactly what I had expected.
No frills, the ball game on an old AM radio and the barber talking
shop with his current customer. Although there was only one customer
ahead of me, the wait seemed like hours. My heart pounded like it
was going to jump out of my chest and my mind raced thinking about
what I was about to do. I managed to stay calm until I heard a loud
bark "NEXT!"
I shot out of the chair like I was sitting on springs. Too
nervous to think coherently, I sat in the well worn Koken barber
chair. The barber wrapped tissue paper around my neck and affixed
the cape making sure not to trap my long locks under the collar.
"What'll it be" he said. I swallowed hard and less than confidently
said "I want a flattop." His reaction was one of disbelief! "Are
you sure" he said? "Yes" was my reply. "What'd ya do loose a bet or
something? " I just want something a little different." I said.
"A little different," he said, "This is going to be a lot different
and a lot of fun."
The barber combed my hair which more than covered my ears and once
satisfied, reached for the clippers. This is it! I thought. He ran
the clippers on the back of my head up to the crown and I cringed as
mounds of hair that I would carefully style every morning fell into
my lap. He repeated these strokes along each side of my head and
soon the all too common feeling of hair brushing over my ears was
gone. No turning back now. I thought. He brushed the hair on the
top of my head which was still over six inches long, forward and
proceeded to cut it clipper over comb. All the while the barber was
talking to me about his latest fishing trip, something I really
enjoyed hearing about. He then applied some Crew Comb and brushed
my hair back. Then he began to make a flat plane on my head. Stroke
after stroke he cut the hair shorter and shorter until he was
satisfied.
For the duration of the cut I was not facing the mirror and
thought great! He's done, now I get to see the finished product.
How wrong I was. He affixed another attachment to the clippers
saying that the back and sides we too long and needed to be cleaned
up. Checking his work he brushed the top back again and cut a few
hairs off here and there. Still facing away from the mirror he
lathered up my neck and shaved the outline. At that point an older g
entleman came in and said, "Son, you look like you just walked out
of 1956" I could only laugh although I'll admit, it was nervous
laughter.
Now for the moment of truth. He turned me to the mirror and what
I saw was remarkable. My nervousness gave way to enthusiasm. I looked
better than I thought possible!! Wow I exclaimed! This is great!!
I couldn't stop smiling and rubbing the back of my head. It was
like peach fuzz!! Man did it feel great! I really liked what I saw
and the barber knew it!! I stood up from the chair and I swear I
stood 6" taller. "How often need I get this cut" I said. His reply
was every three weeks at a maximum. Looking at the clock, the cut
took about a half hour. I asked how much. His reply was $8.50.
I gladly paid the charge and left a fat tip.
That event happened many years ago and I kept the cut for about
five years. Since then I've experimented with variations of the cut
but I always go back to flat. I know it looks good on me and I wear
it proudly. If you're thinking about getting the cut and you're
nervous about it just let me say, every one is nervous about it.
Just go for it, you'll be glad you did. The flattop is a classic cut
and as far as I'm concerned it never goes out of style. -Ragman
Story 5: GETTING WHITEWALLED HIGH AND TIGHT
Well I went with a mindset of getting my HnT and I did, complete with
whitewalls. I arrived late for my appt as usual and ran into the
shop. Bob sitting reading his paper pointed to the chair and said
hop in. Are we going for a re-flattening? I swallowed the lump in my
throat and said, a change in menu. Looking to try an HnT Flattop
version. He looked at me and said that he hasn't cut an HnT lately.
But has done many in his day. (This is a one-man barbershop who has
been cutting hair for 37yrs). So I trusted him and told him lets do
it. Before I could ask about whitewalls. He said you want the sides
and back shaved right? I quickly responded with a crackle in my voice
yep. Well he got out his clippers no guard no attachment and started
buzzing. He started out at the nape and sheared up the back. I could
feel the coldness of the tines and the smell of oil from the blade.
He worked the back and sides to a stubble, blending at the crown
and leveling to my usual �" FT deck. Then it was time for the
lathering. He gingerly worked his way to skin. As he was finishing
the shave I kept looking into the mirror. Saying to myself what am I
doing? I had all these other negative thoughts racing thru my head.
I stopped myself and said screw it, anyway too late enjoy it. So Bob
finished toweling my newly skinned sidewalls. Spun me around and said
not bad it looks good. I immediately had to feel those whitewalls and
was in heaven. He did not rush cause I sat in the chair for a good
45mins. I now know why they call them whitewalls. I definitely can
use some color. The feel is incredible. I can't stop rubbing those
smooth sides and back. Even when I walk I can feel the cool air
around my shaved sides. This is my first ultra short military cut
though my flattops were quite short. The shaved sides make the
difference. My look has completely changed. Ttomorrow should be a
warm day here in the East. Going to get out and show my HnT flattop
off! Guys going to need some guidance on maintaining this cut.
Should be interesting in the reaction I get at work on Monday. My
Navy buddy loses our bet; I now get to take him for an HnT?.
JL