When I was young, I used to give my bald-headed Dad a hard time. My observation that he could part his hair with a towel was not well received.
I remember when he and a long-time friend would debate why some men get gray hair and others, like my Dad, go bald. Both were college professors and had their own theories based on their own condition. Dad argued that a person went bald because when the roots of the hair got deep due to age, the richness of the “Grey Matter” would burn the roots and the hair would fall out. His friend, who had a full head of snow- white hair would respond with, “No, when a person goes bald it’s because the roots go down and find nothing and die of malnutrition. On the other hand, if the roots strike rich Grey Matter, it causes the hair to bleach out!” This discussion went on for several years in good-natured fun, each feeling they had won the debate.
Now that I have inherited my Dad’s hair “style”, I lean toward his explanation. As I aged and my hair disappeared, I started asking my barber why he charged me the same as people with a full head of hair. I felt I should get a discount. He explained, in my case he couldn’t give me a discount because in actuality, he should be charging a “Finder’s Fee”. I think I know how my Dad felt…
The standard line barbers use for bald guys when they get a haircut is to say: “A little off the top?” … Knowing full well that’s their only option. Shortly after a visit to “The Tonsorial Parlor”, a local barber shop, I happened to see a group of teenagers in the Mall and one of them had a really tall Mohawk haircut. He also had three rings in each ear. I thought to myself, “Now, there’s a guy that could take “a little off the top” and no one would notice!
I drew this cartoon and took it to the Tonsorial Parlor where it is on display. They no longer ask if I want a little off the top. I just got my hair cut (both of them) and this time was asked, “Would you like me to trim your nose hairs?” Do women get asked these kinds of questions when they go to the beauty shop?
