I wanted to tell you all about a great haircut experience I had this week while in Los Angeles. I was there on business for a few days for a convention. I had a difficult time concentrating on the business at hand because I was looking forward to this haircut for months. You see, as much as I love High and Tight haircuts, I don’t think they are the best look for me and I tend to only get them when I’m out of town or on vacation. I guess I’m a bit of a coward when it comes to the reactions from people I know and work with. I also don’t feel extremely comfortable wearing a H&T because I have a scar on the back of my head and a fairly large pink birthmark/ stork bite. My regular cut is about 1” on top with a #1 ½ blade used medium high on the back and sides. Anyway, the cut I’m about to tell you about wasn’t my first H&T, but it was certainly the best.

I had heard about Lincoln Barbers in Santa Monica on this board as well as seeing it in photos. After doing some research, I decided this was the shop for me as it fit all my requirements: a traditional shop with real barber chairs, all male barbers and, most importantly, they do lather and razor-shaved High and Tights.

On the final day of the convention, I got my rental car as soon as I could and drove directly to Lincoln Barbers. Lincoln is a primarily Hispanic barbershop with mostly Latino barbers. The shop was fairly busy when I arrived and I was able to watch some outstanding cuts while the butterflies in my stomach fluttered (I had mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement). Every guy there was getting either a H&T or at very least, a medium fade. There were several guys waiting on the bench who looked like their hair was freshly cut including one Caucasian guy getting his H&T shaped up. I guess it’s important to mention that my hair was pretty grown out by this time, as I hadn’t had it cut in about six weeks in anticipation for this day. I think it’s more of a turn-on when a significant change is about to take place. The top was probably close to 2” and the back and sides were well over ¾” long. For the first time in recent memory, I had the longest hair of any waiting customers in a barbershop.

After about a ½ hour passed, I was beckoned to Chuck’s green leather barber chair. Chuck is one of only a couple white barbers that work in the shop, but that didn’t bother me at all as I witnessed him meticulously execute a H&T and take his time with his previous client and I wasn’t determined on having any specific barber. I sat down and Chuck and I exchanged pleasantries as he wrapped the thin white tissue strip around my neck and then fasten the blue cloth cape. He then politely asked me how I would like my haircut. “Well, here we go” I thought as I looked at myself in the mirror and I told him, “I’d like a High and Tight. About ½” on top, keeping it fairly round and razor-shaved on the back and sides.” He then confirmed what I wanted by asking, “You want it about ½” on top, a little longer in the front with a high fade and razor-shaved on the back and sides?” “Exactly” I replied. With that, Chuck got to work.

First Chuck snapped on the ½” attachment and ran it several times over the majority of the area on the top of my head. I was really surprised at the amount of hair that had already fallen on my lap; I didn’t realize a ½” was going to be that short, but I certainly didn’t regret it as I though it looked fine in the mirror I was facing. He then cut the front free-hand, blending it in with the top. After the bulk of my hair was removed from the top, he took what I assume to be a #2 blade to remove the bulk of the hair on upper sides. He didn’t use the #2 over the entire back and sides, just enough so he could see where he was going to begin the fade. He then started feeling the contours of the upper edge of my head with his hand – a technique he used to find where to start the fade. Then he brought the clippers in and proceeded to “draw” the demarcation line around the upper sides and back of my head. As he did this, I could really feel the semi-sharp clipper blade on my bare skin as he repeated an up and down motion in the same area and it really felt great as the blade caressed my bare scalp. I know some guys don’t like this method as they prefer the barber to move the clippers from the neck line up the back and sides and ending just below the curvature of the head, but now that this technique was used on me, I prefer it. I must admit I felt a little silly as I looked at my reflection in the mirror and saw a bald white line around my head with so much hair remaining both above and below the line. It was at this point any bystander could determine I was in for quite a change.

After the demarcation line was established, Chuck spent a very long time perfecting the fade and sculpting the top. He meticulously blended the buzzed portion into the ½” top using many different blades until it was perfect. I could now see an emerging jarhead in the mirrors reflection. It was interesting to me that it seemed I could really feel the tightness in my scalp of the shorn area, particularly in comparison to the mess that remained below. I loved the contrast of feeling the longish hair insulating the lower portion of my head and the breeze of the cool air of a fan on the upper portion. Well, that insulation wasn’t going to last long.

As I enjoyed the contrasting feeling and interesting look of my haircut thus far, Chuck was in the process of attaching his 00000 blade to his Oster clippers. Next he very slowly, methodically and semi-forcefully ran the clipper blades up my left sideburn at an angle continuing to the demarcation line as what remained of my light brown hair fell to the ground exposing my gleaming white scalp. Again I felt the cold steel blade against my skin and it was incredible as I could yet again feel my scalp begin to tighten. This process was repeated several times, continuing around the back and ending on the right side until I was, more or less, ¾ bald. At this point I was wondering what I was so nervous about; I thought it looked pretty cool, if not slightly extreme for a non-military man.

As I mentioned before, I’ve had H&Ts before, but something was always missing from the cut/ experience: I’ve never had my head lathered up and razor-shaved before – until now. I then heard Chuck press the lever of the hot lather machine and within seconds he was applying the foam to my head. I was aroused from the minute I was caped and told the barber my haircut choice, but at this point I was about to explode. The hot lather was both mildly burning, soothing and extremely erotic. He really took his time working the lather in and distributing it evenly and generously over the sides and back of my freshly shorn scalp. He then began the shaving process – holding my head firmly and tightening my scalp with his thumb so he could get it as close as possible while he maneuvered the razor with his other hand. I couldn’t believe the amount of time he took scraping off the remaining bits of microscopic stubble with the strait razor. It seems like an eternity, although, don’t get me wrong, I was enjoying every second. Finally, he wiped off the remaining unused lather with a soft cloth, did some touch up/ re-shaping work on the top and then asked me if I would like him to apply some aftershave. I said, “Sure” and he took out a spray bottle of Bay Rum and applied it generously. This whole experience was a series of one highlight after another. The Bay Rum stung slightly, but it made my scalp feel alive, tight and tingling – a feeling that I’ve experienced many times on my face, but it is elevated to a whole new level in relation to ones head. I got one final look at myself in the hand-held mirror Chuck used while showing me his handiwork and asking for my approval – a jarhead was born. The resulting haircut was without a doubt the highest and tightest I’ve ever had. After I told him it looked great, he then took off the cape and I followed him to the cash register. I paid him the $10 price (which was worth every penny) plus a generous tip and thanked him for a superb job.

As I walked out of the shop I could immediately feel the warm sun against my newly exposed scalp. Then I felt a refreshing cool breeze. I love the whole new sensitivity level I feel on my scalp. I brought my hand up to the back of my head and was shocked at the bareness of it – absolutely nothing but skin. I kept smacking it lightly just to hear the sound of skin on skin. This whole experience has me reevaluating my comfort level with this particular haircut. I walked out the shop with my head held high and I didn’t even wear my hat at the airport. Regardless of what the future holds for me – when it comes to haircuts – I can guarantee you I will be visiting Lincoln Barbers again to relive a fantastic haircut experience – perhaps a Flat Top with a landing strip next time. I’ve only been back home a few days and I’m already counting down the days until my next visit with anticipation. Maybe I’ll see you there.