Cueball
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 11:11AM | Ray Sawhill I decided to celebrate the arrival of spring by doing something I hadn't done since the '70s -- shaving all my head-hair off. Don't ask me what, by the way, "shaving all my head-hair off" and "celebrating spring" have to do with each other.
Frank, the great haircutter who's the only person I entrust with the job of making my daffy hair look presentable, soon got into the spirit of the adventure despite his good taste and common sense, amusing himself along the way by giving me a lopsided Mohawk.
The job was soon done and it was on to the superfun stage of surprising Polly. No photographic record of her reaction, sadly. I really need to become a more resourceful snapshooter.
Once we'd left the accusations-of-craziness and threats-of-divorce stages behind, off we went for a walk through the Village. Whoa: the sun was pounding on my scalp. Talk about an unfamiliar sensation.
Yet the chilly day was also taking its toll. I now had first-person insight into why so many skinheads favor the ski-caps-and-hoodies look.
So I'm now enjoying presenting a whole new Ray to the world.
I like to think of my new image as "a heterosexual version of Michel Foucault." Polly tells me I remind her more of "a graphic designer employed by Apple." I like the way that both of them imply "visionary, and unquestionably kinky."
The biggest surprise about doing a baldy? The fact that strangers don't find it bizarre. As far as they're concerned, you're just being yourself. Weird.
frank, haircut, photography, polly frost Family, Humor, Personal, Photography, Polly 
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Reader Comments (6)
Go full PUA. Tan. One earring. Goatee.
I haven't embarrassed myself enough already?
"Visionary, and unquestionably kinky."
Fantastic. Can't wait to see it in person!
Heh, I've been rocking the bald look for a few years now. I usually end up wearing a hat along with it though, both because of the cold (as you noticed) and because you can get a sunburn with your scalp exposed to the elements in the summer.
One thing that helps your looks when you go skinhead is to grow some facial hair. It takes the "focus" (what people first zero in on when they look at your face) off of your eyebrows (which is where all the attention will go if your scalp is naked). It's hardly a coincidence that most guys with shaved heads also have beards. Me, I have a goatee, which combined with the shaved head and my usual choice of hat, makes me look like a studious college professor.
Not every Man can rock the Dome, but YOU can!
Great new look - Now you need a tattoo