almost cut my hair

Yup.

My hair has been cut.

Chopped.

Made shorter.

The formerly long locks have been donated to Locks of Love, where they’ll soon adorn the head of a child undergoing medical treatment.

If you want to see a (sub-par) picture of me with the new ‘do, click here.

So why did I cut it?

Simply put: it was time.

I’ve been growing my hair long since 1991, when I graduated from high school. That’s when I had my last formal haircut, and I’ve been growing it out ever since, with only an occasional maintenance trim and one more major cut in 2005 (I donated to Locks of Love then, too). But it’s been swept back in a ponytail for many, many years.

But my increased level of cycling and skiing over the past few years has taken its toll on my hair. I’m no expert braider, and even with multiple elastics keeping things more-or-less in check, my hair would get whipped, twisted, tangled and knotted by the things I did. Ends would split, strands would tear or get curled by being dragged forcefully over things (think of curling a decorative ribbon). As a result, it was looking a bit sad.

So I’ve been toying with this idea all summer.

This past weekend, our friends, Charles and Jordi, got married. And that was the date I chose as a “must cut the hair” date: August 16.

So this past Saturday, I picked up my suit from the tailor (it needed to be taken in quite a bit – I’ve lost a lot of weight and toned up with all my cycling and working out) and went to XYZ Salon, where Rodney did the deed: in one snip, 12 inches of my hair was on its way to a wig maker. A soothing shampoo and scalp massage quickly followed.

From there, I asked him for a modern European look, good for cycling but not a typical “cyclist’s cut” (i.e. short-cropped, which is not a becoming look on me – or on many guys, to my eyes). And Rodney came through: some length, some layering, and a new look.

I was pleased.

sprite was pleased.

My friends were shocked, but also pleased.

And no, I didn’t upstage the bride and groom.