A hair-raising experience?

About 17 years ago at age 73, my good friend and premiere hair stylist, Lou Parillo, owner of Luciano Hair Design Salon in Boardman, suggested I change my lifelong “nerd”-parted haircut style to a no-parted one. I said, “OK, let’s try it.”

Growing up in the Great Depression, haircuts were the least of my worries. Relatives often commented about my hair part being on the left and should be on the right.

My East High School graduation photo shows a right-hand part, while the remainder of my June 1942 class of about 100 boys, were on the right, or no part at all. Our last high school reunion was 20 years ago. So I don’t know how many had any hair left to comb.

All white

My deceased wife Margaret always looked forward to her weekly hair styling visits. Now I understand why. At 90, my hair needs cutting every three weeks. A friend remarked to me some years ago, “Mike, your hair is all white.” I replied, “At least I have it.”

Bald heads have advantages over those of us with hair. They save money on hair cuts and shampoo. They don’t have to worry about blowing in the wind and their head is air conditioned. My parents always considered our bald friends and relatives the “intelligent ones.”

Recently, Lou styled my hair and he said, “Watch out for the women” and several did comment on it. I would have been very happy with a hair style like this in high school.

My haircut is now a cut above and worth the extra money. During the Great Depression I could never have afforded it. I still remember the slogan of those hard time days, “Shave and a haircut, two bits” (25 cents).

Michael J. Lacivita is a Youngstown retiree and member of the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.