I spent some time at a Turkish barber this weekend. I’ve always admired the craftsmanship in these places, by the way. There’s a particular kind of care and precision they bring to a haircut that you rarely find in a traditional salon.
Towards the end of the cut, the barber paused and asked whether I usually styled my hair up in a quiff or down over my forehead. When I told him I wore it up, he smiled and said that wearing it down would make me look younger.
Being in my late 50s, looking younger isn’t a particular goal of mine. In fact, I think trying too hard to recapture your youth can look a bit daft. However, his comment sparked a little digital curiosity, so I decided to use AI to generate a version of myself with a younger man’s hairstyle, just to see the contrast.
The result? It confirmed my instincts. While the AI could change the hair and smooth the edges, I much prefer the reality. There’s a certain comfort in looking the age you actually are.
A small update
I’ve never been completely happy with the hair around my crown. It always seems to become wayward very quickly, while the hair at the sides soon develops into tufts that make me look like a ruddy emperor penguin.
So, two weeks ago, I decided to visit a proper stylist. She explained that the way Turkish barbers cut hair can sometimes involve cutting into the hair around the crown. As it begins to grow back, this can make it stand up. It also looks as though the new cut may have finally sorted out the emperor penguin tufts.
Overall, I’m very happy with it. My hair is growing nicely, and the hair around my crown is getting longer. As it grows, the extra weight should help keep it down. I may go back in a couple of weeks for a trim and to discuss what I’m going to do with it next, including how long I’m going to let it grow.
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