Your Vote: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow?
When I left home for college, one of my biggest (and most secret) fears was that I would never find a place to get a proper haircut in a new city—I had the same stylist (I use that word purposely) for 18 years of my life. Our doctor-patient relationship was so good, she even came to my high school graduation party. Thanks Darlene.
Anyway, after I moved to the university it took an exhaustive six month search, included three botched haircuts and two or three 240 mile drives home to see Darlene, before I found a new stylist closer to where I lived: Christie. I was quite happy with Christie’s work, but the day following my initial visit, the hair salon, and the entirety of the eight story building it was in, burned to the ground.
I’ve been a bit more cautious with my hair stylist decisions since.
Fast forward to my two-year trip around-the world, living a lifestyle that has me in any given place one day, and gone the next. How in the world is a man supposed to get his hair cut under these circumstances?
Of all the reoccuring comments I seem to get from my friends back home, the most common reaction is best represented by that of my former girlfriend Becky, who recently wrote on my Facebook Wall: “Who is that man with the long hair in your profile picture?”
It’s hard for me to judge whether its time to get my haircut, because in a normal setting your friends might remind you, but since I move to a new place nearly everyday, there’s no one around to tell me.
Actually, that’s a terrible excuse. The main reason I haven’t cut my hair is that I never learned to say ‘please cut my hair’ in Chinese, Tibetan, Hindi, Kazakh, Czech, Germany, Swahili, etc, etc.
Ok, that’s a lie too, actually I’m scared and, the truth of the matter is, I have absolutely no fashion sense (seriously, check out my photos, I’ve been wearing the same 4 outfits for 18 months).
So, I’ve decided to turn it over to you, dear readers, to vote and comment on the debate: Should Andy cut his hair, and if so, short, long, or in between.
So please review photos from the past 7 months (the last time I had my haircut) which follow, and leave your vote and thoughts in the comment box below.
Andy and Nettie looking clean cut, in Hong Kong, China. (1 weeks since my last haircut)
Andy with the crew in Tokyo, Japan—including my brother on the far right. (3 weeks since my last haircut)
Cooking lessons with Neeta and Pranar in New Delhi, India. (3 months since last haircut)
The wind-blown look in front of The Taj Mahal in Agra, India. (3 and a half months since last haircut)
Andy with the US Marine Detachment, Yerevan, Armenia. I have more hair than these 7 guys combined.
(4 months since my last haircut)
Sean (on top), Jonathan, and Andy, in profile, in Nairobi, Kenya. (5 months since my last haircut)
Just last week in the back of a semi-truck hitchhiking across Zambia, the wind-blown look. (6 months since last haircut)
February 13th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
hilarious! nice tan
February 13th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
It’s funny that you should blog about this…
As I was looking through your photos a while back, I thought, Andy looks different… what is it… and I swear it took a good 20 pictures to figure out you haven’t had a hair cut. If it takes me that long to notice, I don’t think it’s a bad thing - you should see how long you can let it go!
February 13th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I like the four month post haircut look the best. Considering the fact that many men go to the salon to achieve that tousled hair look you are blessed that all you had to do was let it grow out.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Go long - why not?! With long flowing locks you’ll be able to feel the cool/warm/hot/freezing breeze/wind/air in your hair in all the wonderful places you visit. When else will you have that opportunity?
Plus, I think it’s kind of fun. I have a friend who recently returned from 2+ years in Senegal and he has some hilarious stories about trying to get his hair cut in various African locations…he eventually resorted to cutting it himself. I do not think Darlene would be happy if you chose that option.
I’ll also admit that I am a member of the “I’ve driven over 100 miles for a haircut’ club.
Think of you all the time! T.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow - you’ll probably never do it again in this lifetime! Have fun!
Also, the one question I would ask is “What is the most important thing about you, your village/town/city, or your country that you would like people from elsewhere to know?”
February 14th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I see keep it long, forget cutting it! That money to spend on a meal who needs haircuts!
February 14th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Keep it long baby! The wind blown look is where it’s at! But I think next time you are riding the back a truck hitching across Africa you should sport one of those pimp suits above… Player!!!
February 14th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Just let it grow. Let the length of your hair mark the stages of your journey! (There’s probably no other point in your life where you’d keep your hair very long anyway)
February 14th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
HaHa~~~ Try long hairstyle it will be cool~~~~:)
February 15th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Let it grow or chop it short. As usual, I’m torn between extremes. Luckily, there are 7 great options, here. Really, you can’t go wrong, Andy.
February 16th, 2008 at 8:42 am
If the hair photo documentary did not start from a bald one, why not end with one. Surprise all………….:o)
February 17th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I vote for a mullet! It will be an excellent way to broker international peace.
February 20th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Sweet post and photos. I like it long, actually. And I agree that letting it mark the stages of your journey is kinda cool. You’ll have plenty of time for short hair when you’re back.
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
We like the long hair, it makes you look like a movie star (like Jackie Chan, he’s Asian you know?) or rock star (can’t think of any Asian rock stars) You are looking more like someone from our era.
By the way, Darlene saw the pictures and said she can squeeze you in on Saturday. Are you going to be home by then?
Love Dad
March 1st, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I was looking at this on Darlene’s pc and had to tell you NOT to cut your hair, you look HOT!!!! a lot different when D. use to put you on the chair to buzz you, but that was pretty cute too! great tan, GREAT hair /Great lookin! Cindy (from the salon with Darlene)
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:03 am
Keep it long…save the money…take advantage of not having to be “clean-cut and professional” while you can
p.s LOVE your pictures!!
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Ha, ha, ha! Love your Dad’s post! I like it long - you have always had great hair. Plus, might as well save the money!
March 4th, 2008 at 5:31 am
I think you should wait until you get to South Africa and then get your haircut at one of the dudes that has a haircutting tent on the side of the road. They use a car battery to power the clippers. Admittedly, you probably won’t be getting a stylish cut…but at least it’s a new story you can add to the ol’ blog!
March 10th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I say keep growing it! It looks great!
April 6th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
andy,
3 weeks for a clean-cut andy!!!
on a side note, cute Cow looks like he needs a bath…. ;P
trace
April 9th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Glad you left it, man. I’m a huge fan. I’d grow my hair, but I end up looking like some kind of dying shrub.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Really nice pics, so it seems you have not visted much of India yet.