Ray Steyger - from Alexandra

Ray Steyger's Hair Razing Tale

Ray Steyger's face as seen after 9 years

Photo Courtesy of Jo McCullogh

     There is something about hair – as long as one has it, one can be picky and fussy about its colour, texture, shape and want the very best of it. Though I never bothered to pamper my hair throughout my younger years, I was a bit taken aback when I saw the first swirl of grey coming across the top of my forelocks in my late thirties. Soon, within 2-3 years, the black hairs were in the minority. My son who is the older of my children still has memories of me with dark hair in the majority. My daughter who is about 4 years younger can barely remember me without mostly silver hair and looks at older pictures with a bit of surprise. But when one starts to lose the density of hair from the crown unrelentingly and irreversibly one develops a change in attitude. Now I’d say, “Hey God, give me natural hair – any colour – even fluorescent green, orange or purple is fine if it still naturally stays on top of the head.” However, I refuse to dye.

     Sadly, I accept the inevitable – I look at my old pictures chronologically and I could see that after each significant milestone - bachelor’s degree, first job, marriage, master’s degree, second job, first child, second child - there was a marked receding of the hairline, but that was still gradual and not too dramatic until I hit forty. Then the colour, density and the boundary lines changed dramatically at high speed. It also then appears that the hair not only disappears from the northern hemisphere of the head, it also tends to migrate to the southern hemisphere of the head to unwanted locations like the ears, ear lobes, nose and generally becomes thicker in density around the face. It in fact seems to grow closer towards the eyes on the cheeks. Now, I just don’t worry too much, let it grow and mow it down once in a while when I find the time in warmer months.

     I noticed around town though, there is something about hair in the culture. A lot of men in the country let their hair down literally, let it go, let it grow and are not affected socially by this as their city counterparts apparently are.  They are just known and accepted for how they are and their hairstyle or hair-state becomes a landmark or signature to identify them in conversation, if you forget their names.

     Come November, something interesting happens here in Australia and it has even more interesting sidelights in a country town like Alexandra. November is sometimes called “Mo-vember” and it is the month when many will grow a fancy ‘Mo’ (Australian slang for a ‘Moustache’) and shave it off around the end of the month to have fun, raise awareness and money for men’s health, in particular prostate cancer. The first patron of this ‘Movember’ event was Merv Hughes, a well-known Australian cricketer who had a huge moustache. I owe thanks to John Rogers, my neighbour and friend for some authentic information on this. As he says and I too have noted, Australians have a tradition of thinking up unusual and entertaining ways and competitions to raise money for good causes – severe, almost scalping haircuts and unusual colouring of hair are some of the hairy approaches, originally starting with shaving of the heads and called “Shave for a cure” to support cancer research. Efforts of other varieties sound intriguing - someone apparently even tried to cross an Australian desert in a canoe. I shall investigate the other types of fund-raisers and write about them later.

     At other times, many volunteer to have their hair mowed publicly for a good cause.  People who volunteer to get their head or beard shaved will ask others to simply pledge and donate some money to a good cause, to have the pleasure/privilege of cutting or watch their hair being cut – usually simply by running an electric clipper. The more famous or popular the volunteer, the more money they are likely to raise since more want to support them in this. It is a festive thing, in public. People bring along their kids, in the middle of the town’s main street. People will buy pins, flowers, sausages etc. to raise money for all types of charitable causes while watching the hair fall.

     I find it touching that many men and women will sign up to let go of their lovely locks and lovely looks to raise money or to just show support for and solidarity with a friend or colleague who is undergoing chemotherapy and lose their own hair in sympathy. Then there are all kinds of caps, bandanas and things that go to cover the shaved head. It is quite easy to see that people that take pride in being well-groomed and looking good can also easily let go of that image to show they really value the person and spirit inside and that looks are only skin deep.

     Around this Easter, there were a heap of such close shaves and haircuts in Alexandra. I sometimes wish I could do this kind of haircut just once a year if only my hair grew at a much slower pace and save a fair bit on regular haircuts which are fairly pricey!

     Anyway, this year we had a much publicised and long awaited hair razing of one individual who had a growth on his face that was ten years in the making - all given up and gone in a flash this year to raise money for Leukemia and the local junior football/netball club. He is a retired policeman who lives nearby, is the president of the local Footy club and a tireless volunteer. I met him two years ago and his face has looked much the same all the time I have known him – it appears to me that after the first few years, the hair growth rate becomes small enough that it does not change much in a couple of years. This man was one for whom his beard was a signature. When I had to pay the club dues the first time, my son’s coach asked me to pay it to Ray. When I told him I did not know Ray, he asked me to give the money to the person I see with the biggest beard within the next half hour or so. And sure enough when I saw a well-built man with the biggest beard, waited for some more time to see if I could find a bigger one, and then walked up to him – I had got the right man. He always has a quiet, dignified and calm air and a kind voice. He has a wicked sense of humour that belies the tone of his voice. There was almost like a countdown in a billboard on the main street announcing Ray’s impeding close shave and it was much awaited to see what he really looked like, to those who knew him for less than about nine years.

     Now that his foliage is gone, I can see the real Ray and so have many locals for the first time. It is only his voice that reminds us that he is the same person; otherwise I would not have recognised him on the street!

     This reminds of a part of the Indian culture where I come from, every year people will flock to a few famous temples in India and ritually ‘sacrifice’ their hair. Many will go on a pilgrimage with their long hair and unshaven face in special attire that makes this obvious. Many of them will have grown their hair specifically for months, some will have made vows to offer their hair in return for God’s intervention in helping a loved one overcome an illness or exam or obtain a job or promotion or success in business. Little children, often without their own consent will be taken for a clean shave of the head as part of tradition. I think the tradition there too, comes from the spiritual angle of clearly stating by our actions that physical beauty, while admired, can easily be let go and is a sign of having let go of ego.

     Here in the western world, what I see is truly a whisker above because – it is not only religious or pious people who do this, just about anyone does it without any religious connotation. Even more, what moves me is this - most give up their hair for people who are not related to them, for strangers, in a spirit of pure giving, with nothing expected in return for them. Even the baldies give, by pledging money for others who give up their crowning glory!

     So, I say this (rightly, I should have my head shaved for a cause, put on a hat and then say this) to Ray and all those who gave their hair away, “Hats-off, to y’all!”