Before and after

So I've been growing out my hair and my beard. I honestly can't remember the last time I'd had a trim of either one.

I decided, randomly, out of the blue, that I wanted to grow my beard out until New Year's. Just was curious to see how long it could get. The wife, though obviously not the most pleased by my decision, struck up a compromise with me. Grow the beard, but cut the hair. Didn't have to be totally short, but at least get a trim. At least look professional. Or the most professional possible with an extraordinarily long beard.

Well, today was the day set aside to get that first haircut as part of the bargain. Instead of just getting a trim, though, I decided to go with something completely different. "Short," I told the stylist when I sat down in the chair. "How about this?" I asked her as I pointed out a picture.

"Wow, that's really short. Going for something totally different?"

As I looked at the picture again, I thought to myself, "Man, that is really short." Luckily, the phone rang. My stylist went to answer it, and I flipped through a few more pages and found a style more fitting. Still short, still different, not quite as drastic, though. Take a look for yourself ...