HAIR, THERE AND EVERYWHERE

As I settled into the barber's chair, I couldn't help but sneak glances at the other man in the mirror who was about to undergo the ceremonial facial shearing.

- RICARDO T. PAMINTUAN

I couldn't keep myself from peeking at the bearded man like a voyeur in De Wallen in Amsterdam or Nana Plaza in Bangkok, where every phase of the shave held the allure of a strip show.

I'm what you'd call a low-maintenance guy. A quick shave with a disposable razor, maybe a couple of coins or tweezers for the stray hairs, and I'm good to go. Unlike those poor souls afflicted with the dreaded five-o'clock shadow-I swear, it would take me five months just to reach one o'clock!

Just when I was about to wallow in a mix of self-pity and bitterness, the conversation next to me snapped me back to reality. A chap in his prime lamented his receding hairline, prompting his barber to suggest massaging raw aloe vera sap on his scalp. I almost chimed in with a success story on the subject, but decided against it. I'm not exactly the barbershop talk kind of guy.

Back at home, I thought I had gotten over my beard envy, until I made the grave mistake of binge-watching Game of Thrones again. Let me tell you, nothing says "emasculation" quite like seeing burly, bearded warriors brandish swords while I sat there contemplating my Fu Manchu peach fuzz.

It begs the question: Why is hair such a big deal, anyway? Women treat their locks like precious treasures, while men, well, we're a bit more laissez-faire about it. Baldness might be the boogeyman for many, but just look at all those A-listers rocking the cue ball look! From Dwayne Johnson to Samuel L. Jackson, they prove that sometimes, less is more.