Fish out of Water

I had been working in New York City for some 14 years. Don’t get me wrong, I love New York City. It is the greatest city going but I wanted to get out into the field as it were. I had applied for a field job and the boss called me into his office. He handed me my application and said, “What is this all about?” I tried to explain I wanted to work for a time in the field so I could better understand the problems the sales people were having. When I finished, my boss looked at me and said, “You know! That is a good idea! What time frame are we talking about? Where were you proposing to go?”

I told him I thought maybe a year or possibly 2 years and I was thinking of going into the South West. That seemed to be the trouble spot in our business. The boss approved my plans and asked me to keep him personally informed as time went on. I assured him I would and if I came up with some ideas I felt might benefit the company, I would pass them along while in the ‘field.’

I landed in a tough market - Tucson, Arizona. To say it was a little like New York City would be a stretch. I really found the area most interesting. It didn’t take me long to find that the temperature/humidity change was something that needed some adjusting. In New York City, I found my long, thick, curly hair was a plus. I guess it was because that was the style there. When I got to the Southwest, I found my hair presented two problems. First I found that people with whom I would be dealing, didn’t trust folks from back east, as it was put. I knew I spoke a little differently but couldn’t figure out how they knew I was from the Big City as they called it. After talking with some our people in the field, they told me that my hairstyle was a No! No! in that area.

I did notice that most men wore very short, closely cropped hair. I was amazed as to how many were clean-shaven heads there were. I asked Olin, my main man in the field about the hair. He said people in this area don’t trust men with ‘girl-like’ hair. They want to deal with “real men.” To the people in the area, a real man has the short hair or bald heads. As I indicated before, there was a second reason for the short hair….it was more comfortable in that climate. After a week or two in the area, I felt like a fish out of water. I did notice that the Native Americans wore their hair long, but it was a tribal thing.

I asked Olin where he got his hair cut and he told me of an old-fashioned barbershop that he and a lot of businessmen used. I finally got used to the layout of the city so I went to visit, Gene. I was told he was not only the owner, but the best barber there. I didn’t find it difficult at all finding Gene’s Barbershop. I walked in and found the shop very busy. I located Gene and asked how long it would be before he would get to me. He looked around and said, “You’ll be next.” I sat down and waited. I noticed that all customers were in the short to very short category.

When it was my turn, Gene asked me how I wanted my hair cut. I told him that I had just gotten in from New York City and he smiled. He said, “Ah! The Big Apple.” Before I could continue, Gene said, “Are you going to be with us for any length of time?” I told him I was going to be there in his fair city at least one year and maybe longer. Gene then said, “Well! Then! Let me give you a piece of advice. You are going to be most uncomfortable with this mop of hair. Here short is comfortable. Yes it does get cold here in the winter, but the short hair is the way to go around here.” I told him that was why I came to him. Some of his customers had directed me to him.

Gene then asked me again how short I wanted him to go. I told him I had never had short hair, in fact, the length I have now is the shortest I have ever had. I asked Gene for his suggestion. He combed my hair and said, “Well! Your hair is really thick on the sides and back. There is a lot of thinning going on, on the top. I would go quite short.” I looked at Gene and then looked at the top of my hair and I finally admitted to myself that I was going thing on top. I had noticed it for some time, but wouldn’t admit it to myself. Finally I said to Gene, “What cut would you ask for if you were me and came into you?” Gene smiled and said, “I know what I am going to say will shock you, but you asked me. With your shape of head, facial features, I would go for the Head Shave! Your hair is really light and when you shave your head, you will not see much if any hairline. It will be easy to take care of and believe me, you will be extremely comfortable.”

I looked up at Gene and said, “You’re kidding aren’t you?” He looked straight into my eyes and said, “NO! I am not. You asked me what I would do. You are lucky you arrived here in the spring so you will get a good tan in no time and you will look even better with the head shave.” Gene then said, “Let me shampoo your hair to get out that goop you have in your hair and you think about it.

As Gene shampooed my hair, I kept thinking BALD! BALD! I had never thought about going BALD! Now that would be a totally wild thing for me to do. Then I thought no one knows me out here except for the couple of men I had already met and the chances of meeting them again, would be slim.

It wasn’t long before Gene was finished shampooing my hair and was in the process of adding a conditioner. I said to Gene, “Why are you using conditioner if your are going to shave it all off?” Gene grinned and said, “It will be easier to shave off. I will use the clippers first and that makes for easier cutting.” The conditioner was rinsed out and my hair dried. I must say the entire operation so far was very restful.

Gene picked up a pair of clippers and ran them over the top of my head. It then hit me what I had said about conditioning my hair if you are going to shave it. Oh! Boy! I had asked for a shaved head and didn’t realize it. I couldn’t wait to see the BALD HEAD! It didn’t take Gene long to relieve me of the long mullet. He leaned me back and shampooed my almost bald head. It felt so good that he could wash my head all day and I wouldn’t get tired of it. After rinsing, he tilted me back up and immediately applied some hot lather. When Gene began the shaving part of the cut, I felt like I as going to bust. I knew if he didn’t hurry up, I would shoot in my shorts. I never had that feeling before while getting a haircut. Everything was going well until he hit the crown and I couldn’t hold it any longer. I had read about men in the same situation, but didn’t think much about it. Now I know what they are talking about.

When Gene finished, he put some warm baby oil on my head and massaged it around for about 3 minutes. It sure did feel good. I truly enjoyed that part of the shave. Afterwards, he wiped his hands and then my head. He then took some clear aloe gel and rubbed a little bit on my head. It had such a cooling feeling. When he rubbed it around, it felt so slick. Gene told me that the clear aloe gel was great for a sunburn if I should ever get one while out here.

When Gene turned me around, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There I sat with a shine you wouldn’t believe. To me I thought I looked years younger and more masculine. I knew at that moment, I would never let my hair grow out again. When I saw the head, I lost it again. I knew when I got back home, I would have to take a good shower. I thanked Gene for his work and gave him a good tip.

The following morning, I was so disappointed when I got up. I automatically rubbed my head expecting it to be nice and smooth. Must to my surprise, it felt like fine sand paper. I was about to give up when I decided to try my hand at shaving my head. I took my time and found it was easier than I thought. I was once again smooth, but not much of a shine. I thought, ‘why shave my head and not have a good shine on it.’ I immediately got dressed and headed for the drug store. I got me a bottle of baby oil and a bottle of clear aloe gel and went right back home. I did what Gene had done and in no time my head was once again shining. I ate breakfast and couldn’t wait to get out into the ‘field’ and get to work.

I did notice that everyone treated me like they had known me all their life. During that year, I had a chance to talk with all of the field representatives in the entire tri-state area. They all seemed to have trouble getting clients and maintaining them except for one young man from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Yep! You guessed it. He had also shaved his head for comfort and didn’t realize it also helped him get a ‘foot in the door’ as it were.

I conveyed this bit of information back to my boss. He couldn’t believe what I had told him was true. He came out to find out himself. He had a full head of hair, down almost to his shoulder. Of course he kept it very neat and well groomed. He went out into the field and tried his hand and came back saying, “These people are a tough nut to crack.” I suggested he go to see Gene and let him fix him up. Joe, my boss looked at me and said, “You’re serious, aren’t you.” I said, “I’m dead serious. Give it a try.”

I took Joe to Gene’s and Gene took care of Joe’s mop and in no time, he was sporting a bald head. Joe did say later that the bald head sure was comfortable. He also said he felt a little strange without the hair. He went back out into the field and found what I had told him was true.

Eventually Joe went back to New York City and sent back word that his new hairstyle went over big. It seems a lot of the men working under him there had wanted to go BALD. The last count, 1/3 of the men were now sporting a head shave. Now I say that is progress.

Joe sent out a directive telling the men in the field what I had found out and that he had tried and it worked. I have noticed that the sales have increased considerably in the South West Region since the directive went out. Yes! A number of salesmen have gone bald or closely cropped and love it. Their sales have increased also. Now who is to say that short hair doesn’t have its advantages?