Somewhat of a nuisance

There comes a time for many middle-aged men when the hair on the top of their head isn’t thick and lush like it used to be.  Some suffer from no hair at all on their north pole.  It’s all part of a gracefully-aging packaged deal. 

Well my crown is still covered with hair but some of it now sports a Centrum Silver shade of gray color as if I was a “Peter Graves cadet” in training.

But all is not growing slowly in my hair department.  I’ve noticed new and increasingly ever-present ear hair and nostril hair being my now thick and lush claim to fame.  

I consider these middle-aged man onset fur outcroppings my badge of honor of having made it this far.

However with their glory comes a commensurate labor of keeping them groomed and presentable.

Quite frankly, I must confess they’re somewhat of a nuisance.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

More than Q-tips

My legendary morning encounters with my bathroom mirror seem to be taking a little longer some days of the week.  It seems an extra step is needed in my middle-aged man morning personal hygiene ensemble.

Yes, it seems that washing my hands, shaving my beard, combing my hair and brushing my teeth doesn’t quite get the job done preparing me to enter my daily world as a middle-aged man “pretty boy”.

I’ve previously shared about how my middle-aged man nostril hair has become somewhat of a nuisance.  This nuisance requires an additional morning personal hygiene step every now and then.  I wrote about it here:  Somewhat of a nuisance

Now it seems one extra step is also needed; not every day but at least once a week and sometimes more.  This extra step doesn’t take long but does require a steady hand and attention to detail. 

And, like my other somewhat of a nuisance, this one also requires a specialty gadget.

You see, some days tending to the personal hygiene of this middle-aged man’s ears requires more than Q-tips.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

An old-school barber shop

Some high society middle-aged men frequent the finest barber and male beauty establishments that money can buy and this middle-aged man says “Good for them!” 

These establishments offer beauty-conscious middle-aged men more than an à la carte standard “Joe Blow” haircut with their endless assortment of other pampering and grooming delights.

Shop hard and you'll find a barber shop not too far from home offering ancillary manly activities like shooting pool, watching TV on a high-definition plasma screen or downing a strong adult beverage while you sit, ever so comfortably, in a lush leather chair waiting in tingling anticipation for your upcoming facial massage and manicure.

A high-end barber and male beauty establishment for rich middle-aged men.

These are not your grandfather’s barber shop with a seasoned white-hair and wrinkled master barber experienced in giving you a standard middle-aged man haircut and ancillary services such as trimming your excessive ear and nostril hair.

One old-school Joe Blow middle-aged man haircut please!

This middle-aged man has traveled the world and gotten haircuts from old-school barbers in South Korea, Turkey and Italy in a serious search for the best barber shop matching his personality.  

Pierini Fitness on special assignment in Rome Italy circa April 2007.

Closer to home, I found my perfect match about five years ago with a barber named Ruben.  Ruben is a couple years younger than me but has lived a harder life resulting in his less than stellar health.  My recent calls for an appointment found him AWOL and nowhere to be found.  I hope he’s OK. 

So late last week, in desperate need of a long-overdue haircut and with Ruben still missing in action, I reluctantly conducted a worldwide search leading me to a new barber shop about six blocks from my office. 

Did I decide to take my male grooming and pampering needs to the next level by choosing the finest middle-aged man grooming establishment my hard-earned money could buy?

Was my middle-aged manhood crying for soothing comfort of a fashionable haircut, scalp massage, straight razor shave, 60-minute deep-tissue massage, valet parking, a shoeshine, lunch or a car wash and use of a locker room and lounge with music, drink and high-definition plasma screen television?

Nope!  This middle-aged man decided to stick to one that has stood the test of time – an old-school barber shop.

Worldwide headquarters of Vicente, my new 80-year young barber.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum