The Hairy Effect of Aging
Deceitful follicles are a way of life
Nothing beats a good head shave and a hot cup of coffee in the morning. They are my indulgences and are as traditional as good music, well-aged scotch, fine cigars, and a good steak.
A few decades ago, I shaved my head. I went au natural and became a chrome dome. Amazingly, the new look took a few years off my appearance.
It removed any indication that I was losing my hair and erased all notions of it turning gray.
I left my facial hair alone. Without any head hair, the silver-gray look of my goatee took on a very distinguished academic look, one that I was comfortable with.
I've had facial hair for over four decades. I remember starting a beard when I was discharged from the US Air Force in the 1970s.
One year, my dermatologist asked me to come to my appointment clean-shaven. He wanted an open view of my face for a precancer screening.
As I was asked, I shaved my beard, leaving no hair above my shoulders.
Although that was an appearance disaster, it met with the doctor’s approval.
But my wife laughed when I walked out of the bathroom with my new look. Her words still haunt me:
You look like a penis head.
