Christianity and Daily Life: The Unhappy Haircut

I was recently part of a group of Christians visiting together and passing the time with stories.  One fellow told a story about how he had to get a haircut for the first time in years.  He usually uses clippers and buzzes his head.  But his wife asked him to let it grow and then get a professional cut.  He complied.

Having no habit of getting his hair cut by professionals, he drove around until he decided to wander into J.C. Penney’s salon.  He did not inquire as to price.  He also did not give a lot of guidance about how he wanted his hair trimmed.

The woman who cut his hair proceeded to use the clippers at the nape of his neck.  He protested with annoyance in a belated fashion when it was too late to change course.  She finished the haircut, using scissors on top and clippers around the back and sides.

As they walked to the counter for payment, he was feeling somewhat surly.  She then announced the price would be $30.  He was flabbergasted and let her know through his attitude that he thought the price was ridiculous.  She asked if he wanted to add a tip.  He said, “No.”

Now, the way he told the story, a number of people in the class were amused.  I have to admit, his telling was colorfully rendered.

But my question to you is this:  Did he conduct himself in the right way?  Would you have wanted the woman at the salon to know he is a Christian?

Dear Reader,

Can I be direct with you?

War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.

First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.

But we can’t do it without readers like you.

Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.


Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.

Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.

GIVE NOW

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.

Next
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

The Church in the Age of Therapy

Matthew Loftus

In 1966, Philip Rieff wrote in The Triumph of the Therapeutic that “Religious man was born to…

Canada’s Deadliest Blind Spot

Anna Farrow

On September 20, the Daily Mail ran a story with the provocative headline, “Our 83-year-old Christian grandmother…

The Faithful Joy of Dolly Parton and Fulton Sheen

Mike Aquilina

Dolly Parton and Fulton Sheen seem to have had little in common. She favored rhinestones; he wore…