Once upon a time, around the early 60s, I recall that there was literal home-service as far as hair-cutting was concerned. Like it was in the vaccination procedure, my Grand Dad and Dad would take turns as our regular ‘Nai’ would use all the tools in his steel box : scissors, razor and a ‘machine’ with a whirring when applied around the corners that signified the job was half-done! For the full family charges would’ve been appr 50 paise ! Preferred style was with side parting, though Dad had a middle one, possibly inspired by actors he admired. Growing up we saw industrial progress & rise of hair cutting saloons.
In the 70-80’s, for the college going youth, a hair cut was a monthly ritual at the friendly neighborhood barbar shop and Sundays were specially chosen for the job. I was initiated very young to this outing by my Dad and at first the exercise looked scary but soon I got fearless enough to venture alone. Dad would check that that the cut was proper and hair was short if not military crew cut. However, let’s give credit to the idols, film-stars & the fashion industry for transformation of ‘hair-dressing’ as special services & big business. Aside from the burgeoning ‘beauty care’ industry for modern women of today, ‘Unisex Parlours’, Hair-Dressers also help men look savvier & cooler adorning the latest trends.
Where should we as ‘Senior Citizens’ go for the normal hair-cut ? All the swanky saloons have young staff (some in pony-tails !) and most educated customers seem to be aware of the style they want. Recently, I visited a nearby joint as Mumbai’s becoming hotter by the day. A busy looking guy peremptorily replied when I told him that I wanted a regular cut ‘ What cut is that ?’ Unable to explain all the style detailing, I said I didn’t want ‘Virat Kohli’s latest hairdo’ that I’d seen on FB. The hair dresser chastised me for my remark. He said ‘Uncle we know our job, how will you at your old age, look with Virat’s style ?’
Suitably rebuffed I sat quietly as he went about snipping and sniping at my head from all sides. At the end of it, I found that unstated aggression applied on me was pretty close to a ‘buzz cut’. I now looked bit like my Son in Class X and felt happy. Sons look sweet and lovable when they are in school. My wife also generously said – ‘It’s not so bad after all’ !
Working on Living 