Hair Today

I guess mothers and sons will always have... uh... discussions, yeah, discussions about haircuts, and the lack there of. It is part of every generation's right of passage. I have two observations though.

First, there is no accepted standard contemporary men's hairstyle. Almost anything goes--with the exception of the Mullet. Burr or Stringy; High & Tight or 'Fro; I am seeing it all.

However, it seems the teenagers are opting for a modified form of the shag--medium long hair with a curl or swoosh to the side. They want it to look like they have been wearing a hat or blew it dry using one of those blowers found in public restrooms. This strikes me as odd but not repulsive. Think Jonas Brothers.

Second, I am seeing way too many Mohawks. And they are poorly done Mohawks at that. Hey, if the Mohawk is your thing, mow it down. Just get it straight and centered. Some of the ones I have seen lately look like the boy gave it to himself, while sitting in the dark, after taking a load of cold medicine.

If you want a Mohawk, get some help. Perhaps you can get one of those guys who paint the stripes down the center of the highway. They do a good job, usually. I recommended going to see "the other guy" and letting him help you (see Nashville Mysteries below).

The cousin of the Mohawk is the Fauxhawk. This is the thinking man's way of expressing individuality. He can be like everyone else and have a crazy style, while not having to live with the consequences if it turns out wrong. Do-overs are easy when your sporting a Fauxhawk.

But young men are not the only age group opting for a modern 'do. A recent read reminded me of this fact:

"Our supervisor recently made a casual comment about my shaggy mane. He then went on to extol the virtues of a good haircut, which, he insisted, makes an elderly man look younger, and a younger man seem more mature. 'How would a haircut make a middle-aged guy like me appear?' I asked, trying to stump him. 'Employed,' he answered."