Change can be scary, but it is an inevitability of life. From fashion styles to technology, nothing stays the same for long. Except, when it comes to hair. At least that was the case for me. See, since I was a little human running the streets of LA, my hair style has stayed the same: Faded. Every time I'd go to the barbershop, I'd sit in one of the worn out chairs as my barber shaped the bush that had evolved from my scalp, into something worth looking at. For over 20 years this happened, until one day not too long ago, I decided I wanted to do something bold and drastic (pause for effect): I was going to let my hair grow out.
Ok look, I get it. What I'm doing isn't exactly revolutionary, but you have to understand for a black man, hair matters. Yes hair is important to all people, blah blah, but the relationship that we (black men) have with our hair, is crucial. It's a relationship that starts in infancy, and can only strengthen as we grow. See, our hair is more than just hair, it's an investment. It starts with the king of of all kings, your barber. The relationships we build with our barbers doesn't just spring up over night. No sir. These are bonds that have been cultivated over time. We've nurtured them. Put blood, sweat, and tears into them. All in an effort to make sure your best friend for the next 30 minutes, won't fuck up your hairline. When I moved to Sacramento, my first order of business was not learning the lay of the land, it was finding somebody who knew how to use a pair of clippers. And I stuck with that somebody for the duration of my undergrad. I then I moved on to a different barber who gave me what I needed for the time being (don't let him know I said that), before I finally settled on my newest barber, Marcus. Now Marcus doesn't know this, but I was very much flying blind when I visited him at his shop. I went there on a recommendation after I made a post on FaceBook, where I asked if anyone knew any decent barbers. I made an appointment, and ended up in his chair. Thankfully, it's turned out to be a good pairing.
Finding a barber you can trust is crucial. However, once you get that done, the real work begins.
Creating a look only happens through trial and error. Experimenting can be fun, but it also can be hazardous. A haircut can either make you or break you. It's that simple. And with so many styles out there, choosing the right one can be a doozy. Again, I know how important hair is for a lot of people, but for us, it's a lifestyle. You have your dread-heads. There are the dudes who loc. Afros have made a very nice comeback (shoutout to jersey number 7). And of course you have the dudes with the twist-outs ( a personal fav). And then you have the tried and true dudes who go with the fade. A traditional haircut that will never go out of style, and my go-to look for the past 24 years. I mean it had always been such a no-brainer. A simple fade, with the sides lower than the top. It was a good look. It was my look. It had worked exceptionally well. However, it was a look that had begun to feel boring. For 24 years I had been so stuck in the same routine, and I was starting to resent it. It felt like with all of the changes I'm trying to do internally, my external wasn't exactly catching up. So I made the decision to ditch the fade, and a brand new Kevin was born.
It was a weird feeling walking into the shop, letting my barber know I would not be getting my usual, but instead a simple line up, and a taper on the side. It was scary, and nerve-wracking, and gut-wrenching...ok maybe not the last part, but I was nervous. Every time he spun the chair around and I glimpsed myself in the mirror, I fought the urge to tell him to just cut it all off. But I stayed strong in my beliefs. I knew this was needed. I had rocked with the same cut since I was in pre-k. I had earned this right. So, I relaxed, made small talk, and let Marcus do his thing. And the end result was glory.
Leaving the shop that day felt as if I had crossed over into a new light. For all intents and purposes, this is my first adult haircut, but I'm digging my look so far. This is very much only the beginning, and in keeping up the new trend, I will be documenting my journey for the world to see. In comparison to other parts of me that I'm working, I'm pretty geeked to see how this will turn out, as this is something I can visually track. There are so many ideas to go off of, but I know this is a process, so I'll be using this as lesson about patience, and perseverance (growing your hair out is not always visually pleasing). Whatever the end result is, I can take solace in the fact that it was a decision I made based purely off of vanity, which has never led anyone wrong. Ever.
