"Your old hairstyle really suited you."
How am I supposed to respond to that?
For most of my life, I've kept my hair fairly short and neat. I was a sweaty boy who became a sweaty man, and this has always been the way. And as I moved to Japan and started cutting my own hair fairly proficiently, this made the most sense.
I did detour in college and grew my hair long. That was a direct result of the cultural impact of The Lord of the Rings movies. At least that's how I justify it to myself these days.
I did spend the past year or so growing it out again. Call it a mid-life crisis, but the realization that my hair was thinning made me figure I should enjoy it while I can. This time, I opted for the top-knot with shaved sides. A modern take on a traditional Japanese look? A bit more noticeable than I'm used to, but I did receive compliments quite often. Something new for me.
But after over a year of this look, genetics and the passage of time became more apparent. Loose strands would easily get pulled out when tying, brushing, or even sleeping. And pulling my hair up and back made the receding hairline even more apparent. I made the decision to cut my losses, literally.
Back to something short and trim. With another excruciatingly hot Japanese summer, I didn't expect the change to catch so many people off guard. But it did, and the reactions have all been pretty much the same. "Oh! You cut your hair." That's usually it. No follow-up. No, "It looks good." Just stating the obvious with a tinge of disappointment in their voice. I've noticed. Although I'm not looking for compliments, I do note that none have been given. I couldn't help but wonder if a woman wouldn't get the same treatment in this case?
But this Thursday night, while joining my regular billiard social at the bar, I got the most straightforward version. "You cut your hair! Why? Your old hairstyle really suited you."
What can I say to that? Even if I agreed, I'm at least a year and a half from getting back to that point. This entire experience has taught me that although I'm not especially particular about my looks, I am just as self-conscious as anyone once I'm noticed.