Hi Guys, hope you’re well. I’m a week (or so) away from finishing my new book and handing it over for the layout stuff, the design work and, finally, the printing. If all goes to schedule, we will have books for sale on November 29 here on the site – and in book stores in the New Year. Giddyup. When all my writing is done, you’ll see a little more of me around here. 
Today’s post is more a case of me thinking out loud and sharing a personal experience, than it is a major life lesson or heavy-duty motivational masterpiece. So, if you came in search of a typical personal development download, today is probably not your day. However, you might find something of interest, insight or relevance in a brief and slightly quirky story I have to share.
Hair-ology
For the last twenty-five years, I have cut my own hair with my trusty clippers. Having done it hundreds of times, it’s fair to say that I am something of a master hairdresser. But only with my hair. Although… if a short overall fuzz (type appearance) is what you’re looking for, I could be your guy. Call Johnny and make a booking. I gotta say, the regular trim has always been a somewhat liberating, cathartic and therapeutic ritual for me. Just me and the clippers. It’s a man thing. I love the feel of the cold steel against my skull, the vibration of the motor massaging my brain and I might just be a little addicted to the alluring smell of the blade oil; it’s right up there with the aroma of freshly baked cheesecake. Sexy. Delicious.
The Hairy Gene
I normally give myself a ‘zero’ trim (no comb attachment) every ten-ish days which leaves me virtually bald. Having almost no hair certainly decreases one’s getting-ready and personal-grooming time. No shampooing, no conditioning, no drying and no brushing. When not subjected to regular shearing, my hair is kinda thick, wavy and abundant. And perhaps a little grey-ish. It grows like bamboo so it’s fair to assume that I will never go bald. Naturally. Even as a (young-looking) seventy year-old, my dad has hair like a Golden Retriever. Fortunately for mum, he doesn’t have the accompanying breath.
Speaking of Mary, she says my hair is gorgeous when it’s long. Of course she does. That’s what mothers say. I say, not-so-gorgeous. At all. The last time I had long-ish hair I was fifteen and my name was Jumbo.
You Forgot What?
So, you can imagine my surprise early last week when I realised that I hadn’t cut my hair for four weeks. I don’t know why but I totally skipped a week or two without even realising it. Someone pointed out that my hair was ‘long’ (for me) and it dawned on me that I had been follicly negligent. Being the thrill-seeker that I am, I decided to by-pass another week and see what might happen. Crazy, I know. So, I’m now in the middle of my fifth week of no clippers and I gotta say, it’s a weird feeling. Uncomfortable even. I look in the mirror and I feel like I’m staring at my boring, responsible twin brother.
I desperately want to cut it.
The Urge to Trim
Isn’t it funny how we become attached to crap that doesn’t really matter? Like hair. Part of me wants to run to the bathroom cupboard, yank those clippers out of retirement and restore my noggin’ to its normal, comfortable state. But another part of me wonders why I want that. Why do I feel better or worse if my hair is an inch shorter or longer? Where does that come from? Why am I attached to a particular hair length? Is it just what I’m used to or is it something deeper? Is it possible that I get some sense of self from my hair? No! Surely not. Could that be my ego making a stand?
Isn’t it amazing that something as meaningless, inconsequential and irrelevant as half an inch of hair can be quite meaningful (significant) when we make it so? Who would have thought that there could be a correlation between hair length and a person’s emotional state? Someone told me yesterday that my longer hair made me look kinder and less intimidating. “I looked intimidating before?” Good grief.
In our eternal search for meaning, purpose and self (true self), it’s fair to say that, as long as we feel more or less, better or worse, happier or sadder, anxious or calm because of trivial crap like hair length, we still have a way to go in our quest for consciousness, enlightenment and contentment.
Well, I do anyway.
So, after twenty-five years of ritual buzz cuts, I’m hanging up my clippers for a while. Next time you see me, I’m gonna look like ZZ Top.
Are there any ‘clippers’ that you might need to hang up?
* Don’t forget my new kid’s book (The Angry Ant) is out now! Love this article? Sign up for my FREE Email Newsletter today to receive more articles like this, and get my FREE Ebook!
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Gotta love having someone run their fingers through your hair!!
Believe me Craig, you will never look anything like ZZtop
Photo please!
Well it is not just head hair – our body hair and nails are annexes of the skin and a form of skin excretion.
All of these excretions have the role of how we protect our self and communicate with each other.
Well our hair is the thread of our souls and it represents our ideas, thoughts, even personality.
Did you know, your hair Craig represents your relationship with Heaven?
Short hair is more yang, more masculine, and long hair is more yin, more feminine.
Like you have always shaved your hair (like in Buddhism) mmm in Australia OCD, did you do it in order to be closer to the Father of Heaven.
Now you have let loose and are beginning to seeing it grow, stands for a good relationship with your mother, that is to say, with your feminine side….. Get the heels and lippy out.
And seriously, there is a link between a guy’s hair and the way testosterone is used.
If you were an animal grrrr, did you know hair is an attribute of strength, might (for instance, the lion’s mane) and of loyalty to the clan? Mmmm you have that to this blog….
Animals prefer to be beautiful rather than ugly. This makes them more effective.
And warriors of ancient times had long hair, in many cultures (Samson). It represented power on Earth.
Slap me….Back on track our hair growth depends on the management of our emotions through communication.
And just for you boys…. (Chic’s check your partner’s, boyfriends, squeezes etc.) Here is a few what if’s…
Dandruff indicates a guy could be experiencing a feeling of separation or communication difficulties, and that his ideas are not compatible with those of us gal’s, or someone close…..gasp
Dry hair is synonym of dry person……jokes are not funny but we laugh anyway
Oily hair denotes a slippery person, who does not want to be caught, and for this reason, runs away… sleaze bag
If all else fails just purchase Pantene (silicone) for boys extra shine
Hi Louise – I’ll put a photo up later this week… (it’s not pretty).
Hi Anon – that was one very interesting and amusing comment. Thanks for sharing – I loved it.
Craig
I used to also shave my hair 2 blade every 4 weeks roughly. Loved the early morning look in the mirror as in yes hair all done….in seconds…
I was also told I look harsher with a shaved head..
One year over holidays I shaved it into a small mohawk and dyed it red.
Very quickly learnt how much judgements I had on others while walking around with a red mohawk. (I was sure everyone was looking at me)
Now my hair is still kept relatively short, even 21st century mohawky style which I now wear very comfortable to my professional job.
So to me it comes down to how you feel about it, if you yourself are comfortable with it then I believe everyone appears to be also.(Or so it seams)
Anonymous, I am a lady with oily hair, all my life. I wear it short because I like the look. Shorter hair also makes me look younger which at almost 59 is a good thing. I have occasion bouts with dandruff. So what does all of that say about me?
My husband says my hair is shorter than his when I first get it cut. He doesn’t like it this short. I tell him he wears his hair the way he wants to, I will do the same. He still wears his hair the same way that he did as a teenager. Mine has gone through a lot of style changes over the years, most of them short. I don’t have the talent to take care of longer hair and it look good. Also don’t have the time or inclination to do it. Also, I look like my mother with longer hair and I don’t want to look like my mother. She was old when she was in her 20′s. I will never get that old.
Can’t wait to see your picture Craig.
I’m with Louise Craig, can’t wait to see the photo!
My hair has always been long – usually very long. But just before I hit 40, I had a mad rush and chopped it all very short in one day. Hubby Sean was totally horrified, and told me that I gave him nightmares whenever I turned over in bed, because I looked just like my Mum LOL. Needless to say, I was badgered into growing it all back.
Oh how right you are Craig. For months I’ve been looking forward to having my life long best friend and his partner on holidays staying with me for the Melbourne Cup carnival. Not that I like horse racing – in fact I dislike it intensly and would rather give my money away than bet on a horse. But they love it and I just looked forward to spending time with great friends. However it hasnn’t quite worked out that way for me. Anyway, getting to the point, these friends have recently had a “Trinny & Suzanne” type style makeover. One of those makeovers where someone comes into your home and throws out items in your wardrobe that don’t suit you and then takes you shopping for new stuff. Anyhow, we’ve spent the entire time they’ve been here shopping for new clothes. Armed with their colour charts, we’ve been at the shops from morning to night. They’ve brought the most hideous colours because its on their chart, because some stylist told them to. They have become their clothes. And finally last night when I was told I don’t wear enough colour, that I need a makeover, that my hairs wrong, I bit my lip no longer and told them what I thought. And I woke this morning decided not to go to the races – I couldn’t bear all that clothes stuff, betting, alcohol – I’ve put on my old grey tracksuit and I’m loving the peace of my home with my son. Sadly though I miss my friends. I miss who they really. I don’t understand what they’re hiding or escaping from. But how true your words ring for me today Craig.
“In our eternal search for meaning, purpose and self (true self), it’s fair to say that, as long as we feel more or less, better or worse, happier or sadder, anxious or calm because of trivial crap like hair length (or clothes), we still have a way to go in our quest for consciousness, enlightenment and contentment.
J9 ()
Shaved heads on blokes ARE sexy. Click it off immediately please. This is serious. I am a serial lurker of this blog. Never one to comment BUT this scenario is unacceptable
Yes, yes….I have lots of hair stories!! If you were a woman Craig, you would have been through this ‘maybe I will look better with an extra inch of length on my hair’ issue many times (or maybe that’s just me!!)
I have also asked myself the same questions – why does it matter? who cares, it’s only hair? does anyone (but me) even notice? at least I have hair..etc, etc..etc.
.
What I have decided is that yes, it is definetely an ego thing and therefore I try to take less notice of those automatic thoughts that arise when I look in the mirror.
I just ignore them (as best I can). Since I (and I’m pretty sure, you) are more interested in living life from a more enlightened perspective, then that is how I chose to deal with thoughts like that.
That said, I think I go through the whole process all over again each time I go to the hairdresser and she looks at me and says ‘so, how much to you want off today?’ Arghh!!!
Anyhow, maybe this is a new Craig emerging….don’t forget to share those pics!!
Hiya Craig!
:) he heee
Well from a hairdresser’s point of view………’you’re a very naughty boy’!!!
clipping your own!!
Every day that is my job, working with people and the WAY their hair makes them feel…….. it is astonishing yes, what a difference it makes to our sense of self and inner contentment….
I love it though, people walk away feeling 10ft tall and bullet proof when their hair is ‘on track’:):)
All ages my clients say…. ‘when my hair is right, I am right’.. even boys!!!
Have a fabbo hairy day CH
Cannot wait for the new book!!!
Karen x
In the hairdressing world a guy doing something different with his hair is either gay or in a new realtionship! And if a woman cuts her hair it usually signfies the end of a one!
Anything you would like to tell us Craig??
Thanks for coming out of the shadows Susan… too funny.
Hi Anonymous (2) – haven’t I told you enough?…
Karen – but self-clippering is so…. free!
yep bald is sexy worth the ocd
It is not about hair. It is about staying the master of your universe, if only on the Planck level.
This is why I love many of the thoughts shared by Bruce Lee so much….
“Using no way as way” & “Having no limitation as limitation”
Sometimes when we intend no message we share the best message of all.
Beauty comes from within. As I often say to those close…don’t worry so much about your clothes or your hair because everyone else is so worried about themselves and how they are percieved they don’t have time to look ato you
unless of course you forget to put on your pants …
…and I hope you will be sporting a well groomed Mo as part of Movember to match the new mop !
I’m also a self hair cutter and for a wombat that’s a lot of work
But I have been told that if the facial hair goes then I’m not welcome back in the house! life can be so unfair….
Have a great day all.
Sometimes a birthday will have this affect on man. The new soft and furry look for Craig maybe. Mmmm
Photo please!
well you inspired me me to try something…
i am a chick… today i went into the hairdresser with a shoulder length, chick style and walked out with a short back and sides. as she clippered away, i squeezed my eyes tightly shut and repeated to myself, “all change is uncomfortable, all change costs”
mmmmmm, interesting.
r u still growin ur hair???
So Mr Harper progress report ?
What Coiffed or Styled Hair on a Man Reveals
When a man’s hair is carefully cut, blow-dried, and hair sprayed, it could indicate that he’s into the power image. A man who pays close attention to his hair may also have expensive or trendy clothes, shoes, accessories, and toys. This guy s man is probably vain and wants to impress others.
“All other things – the suit, the shoes – being equal, the man with the coiffed hair is almost guaranteed to be more concerned with status, power, and image than the man whose hair is neatly cut but not styled or sprayed.
What Short Hair on a Man Reveals
In this case can be confusing, because short hair on a man can reveal many things about his personality. Very short hair on a man could indicate that he’s practical, plays sports, is conservative, is in the military, is recovering from medical treatment, or works for an organization that requires short hair.
What Hair Loss on a Man Reveals
How a man deals with hair loss shows his personality. If he uses extreme comb overs or obvious hairpieces, he may have poor judgment. He simply doesn’t realize how he looks to others, and he thinks people won’t notice.
Hair replacement surgery and hair plugs to replace hair loss may indicate a lack of self-acceptance and vanity. Men who go to the extent of surgery to look younger and more attractive may struggle with self-esteem and insecurity (which we all do sometimes).
“Baseball caps, hats, and ponytails on a balding man can also indicate resistance to growing older (or growing up) “But bear in mind that many balding men have to wear a hat outdoors to avoid sunburn on their scalp or for warmth in cold weather. If the hat stays on indoors, that’s another story. The wearer may be self-conscious and insecure because of his hair loss.”
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