Barber Blues

Barber Blues -- 06 March 2008

Long hair was a signature of the DL sisters during our younger days at school. We all had long brown hair. As we grew older, some opted for short hair but most kept the long locks. Father used to cut our hair when we were very young. Eventually, we (the girls) cut each other's hair. It wasn't that difficult, really. The only skill required was to be able to cut in a straight line. Eldest Sis would sit down and say, "Two inches." I would place the scissors below the estimated two inches then snip away. She would part her hair on the other side and I would trim away the long edges. She would then part her hair in the middle and I would dutifully snip off any hair that wasn't in line. Just to make sure everything was perfect, she would part it one last time, back where she normally has her line, and I would give the haircut a final check.



When I was done cutting her hair, we would either swap places and she would trim my hair, or someone else would sit on the chair and ask for a haircut.

The boys always went to the barber, mind you. Us girls had an occasional beauty parlor trip, but by and large, we just sat in the kitchen and got our hair trimmed.

I do recall one time Eldest Sis asked for her hair to be trimmed two inches and I felt that I had cut something more like three. I apologized to her for that and she was not upset at all, but I suppose my subconscious was not as forgiving. That evening, I dreamt that her boyfriend got mad at me for having cut her hair so short.

When youngest siblings J and Z were in college, sister Z decided she'd give up her long hair in favor of a bob cut. Off went her hair and Father felt as if he had gained a son. It was then that we realized that J and Z looked alike. At that time, I would never have imagined that I'd have my hair cut that short. I liked my long hair.

Well, the years passed and sisters left the nest. I eventually mustered up the courage to go out of my comfort zone. I had my hair cut to shoulder length. However, I suppose the discipline of going for a regular haircut never quite kicked in, so the shoulder length hair would become longer and longer. At times it'd merit a trip to the parlor for a professional haircut, but often it would be a trip to the kitchen for a quick trim, and at times, one to the bathroom where I would cut my own hair.

When GI was born, he was practically bald. He had such short, fine brown hair. We didn't have to really cut his hair until he was almost two, I think. On the other hand, RD was quite the opposite. His hair would grow so fast and so thick. I would cut their hair with a pair of Solingen scissors. They were perfectly happy with their haircut, probably because they didn't know any better. They must've thought that all mothers cut the hair of their children.

As the boys got older, I got bolder. My sister got a Wahl clipper set for me. There was an instructional VHS that came with it, but it got lost among the piles of VHS in the living room at Cebu Avenue. (I'm sure I could find it if I tried but I can't be sure to find a working VHS to watch it in.) The first time I tried to cut GI's hair, I only got halfway through the haircut. Dad had to take GI to the barber to finish my work. Who could blame me? I had never step foot in a barber shop, and had never held a buzz shaver before that day.



GI looked fine in his crew cut after that fateful trip to the barber. It was a good thing it was summer. By the time classes resumed, his hair was back to normal.

You might know that I hate pieces of equipment lying around unused in the house. So as expected, one day, I get the unsuspecting RD to sit on a chair for a buzz shave to get rid of some of his thick hair. He looked FINE and best of all, he was happy with his new haircut. I was pleased. I even managed to get GI to trust me to cut his hair again. What can I say? Time helps people forget.


I was able to keep this up until GI started getting conscious of his haircut. Dad would bring GI to the barber. There were times that RD got a barber cut as well but more often than not, RD would get his buzz shaves in the kitchen.

I knew this wouldn't last too long though. RD had a style he wanted to achieve with his hair. A style which I couldn't quite figure out. He wanted the front part of his hair a bit long but the back and sides short. I tried. I really did.

One day, after RD's barber cut had grown to a length which would not be tolerated at school, I told RD that I'd cut his hair. I cut it based on his instructions. I left the front portion long but the cut the back and the sides short.

I thought I did a pretty good job. He looked nice and handsome to me. It must have been an illusion because Dad brought RD to the barber a couple of days later. And apparently, the barber took one look at RD and said, "Pinag-praktisan*?"

So ended my career as a barber.



* Roughly translated, the barber had asked if someone had practiced haircutting on him?