Bieber Fever?

If I had to choose my Halloween costume today, it would no doubt be: Justin Bieber! Or any one of a million kids with that hair getting ready to head to middle school next week.

Yep, old Justin himself seems to object pretty strenuously to being compared to a 46-year-old woman.

It seems nuts to get a haircut NOW, when in a few short weeks I'll be shorn like a Marine recruit. But the current Bieber-esque 'do is driving me crazy. Maybe a small trim of the bangs? A hairband? Lots o' product? The 18th is so close yet so far away.

The Dividing Line: Hair vs No Hair

Last night, Raymond & I had dinner with friends, a couple with whom we had not yet discussed the St. Baldrick's adventure in any great detail. During our lively conversation, I realized just how clearly life has become divided into "pre" and "post" 9/18.

Sure, I was planning to lay low the first couple of weeks in terms of business commitments, but after that? Not so much. Apparently I'm delusional that within a very short timeframe my head will look like a sophisticated short 'do rather than a Britney-esque scalping.

Well, best-laid plans and all that, as I've been asked to serve as a panelist for an integrated marketing workshop hosted by Vicinity Media Group's InBiz Connection on 9/28. I reminded publisher David Black that this would be post-shaving, but as long as he felt it would not distract from his event, I'd be delighted to participate.

Now, all I can do is wait — and have some scarves at the ready if 9/28 doesn't dawn with some remarkably speedy hair growth.

Winning T-Shirt Design

We have a winner for the "Team Fahoury" t-shirt logo! Can't thank Stephanie and Sally enough for spearheading this effort -- will make the St. Baldrick's event that much more fun with their love and support.

Stephanie tells me there's a few more days to nail down the final t-shirt order, so if you feel compelled to add an oddball t-shirt to your wardrobe (hey, it's a collectible!), email me for details.

Wow, Now There are T-Shirts?!

Just when I think, "Who the heck is gonna show up to watch a bunch of random people get their heads shaved?" it comes to my attention that the answer is, "Waaaaaay more then you'd think!"

Apparently, Team Fahoury will be well represented — and nattily attired — on Sept 18, thanks to pals Stephanie Scotti and Sally Fica, who are spearheading the creation of custom t-shirts to commemorate the event. Will post the winning design as soon as it's finalized.

When this whole thing started, Ray & I never dreamed it would evolve into this amazing level of support. But thanks to such a random, eclectic, and warm-hearted group of friends and family, we've found new things to wonder at and be grateful for — each and every day.

Regardless of how naked my head feels on September 19, it's an experience I wouldn't have missed for the world.

What's this all about anyway? If you're new to the Follicle Chronicles, start here.

Am I a Closet Melonhead?

Over the weekend, Raymond & I measured the circumference of our heads. No, this is not what we normally might do for fun on a rainy Sunday — it was at the request of our wonderfully talented friend Lauren Canning, who has graciously volunteered to knit us each a lovely post-St. Baldrick's hat.

Now, I always knew I had a somewhat large cranium. Cute, off-the-shelf hats rarely fit. But after the official measuring I'm a little nervous — how can my head be almost a full inch bigger than Ray's?

[insert obligatory joke about knowing who's the brains of the operation here]

So I guess I've inadvertently discovered my own Halloween costume...Megamind! Megafan of Will Ferrell that I am, this is perfect. On second thought, I might just ask Lauren to knit me a few more hats. Nothing in blue, though — it's simply not my color :)

To Baldly Go...Where Apparently Many Have Gone

Who knew bald was a hot, happening style trend?

According to the StyleList blog, bald is big, baby! Never thought I'd see a buff-headed runway model — is this what we can expect at NYC's Fashion Week next month? How cool is that.

One stylist-to-the-stars warns that it's a look "definitely not for the faint of heart." Note to self: Bring smelling salts to the St. Baldrick's event. Good thing my reflection already doesn't show up in a mirror :)

What's this all about anyway? If you're new to the Follicle Chronicles, start here.

One Final Costume Idea

You knew that fanboy Ray had to have more than a single Simpsons costume idea up his sleeve.

Not sure where we'll find burgundy bell bottoms in his size, but give Ray a jar of edible paste and he's all set for Halloween as Ralph Wiggum. "Me fail English? That's unpossible!"

The bangs, of course, make the look on this one. Will need some serious industrial-strength product to keep his hair plastered down.

As you can tell, these days it's all about the hair -- Sept 18th can't come soon enough. Hope you can be there for the haircut of a lifetime.

Not that we're competitive or anything (hahaha) but your generous donations have propelled Ray & me into the 1-2 fundraising slots on our team. Your continuing support of our St. Baldrick's adventure means more than you'll ever know.

More Fun at Ray's Expense

OK, this one's my absolute favorite -- the Heat Miser from "The Year Without a Santa Claus."

Heat Miser and Snow Miser were actually going to be our costumes a few years back, until Ray took a closer look and realized they're not wearing any pants.

Not being a tights kind of guy, Ray decided to pass. But now that he sees the uncanny resemblance, maybe he'll reconsider for next year.

At least he's wearing a different shirt in this photo. That blinding yellow Homer "There's a NEW Mexico?" t-shirt has to go in the wash sometimes!

Separated at Birth: Krusty & Ray

My husband, of course, is a Simpsons-quoting freak of the highest order. Put Ray in a crowd full of strangers, and within minutes he's managed to find a kindred soul (or three) who's spouting his or her favorite line. "Is it a crime to bet on sporting events?" "Guess who, fat boy!" "Lemonade? Pleeeeze."

For a few years, Krusty the Clown was his Halloween costume of choice. A few more inches and some green dye this year, and he wouldn't even need a wig. This year St. Baldricks, next year...Locks of Love? Ray's all about a good cause.

Separated at Birth?

Thanks for all the terrific Halloween costume ideas! Looking at photos of Raymond, my husband and fellow St. Baldrick's "shavee," several costumes have come to mind just in case he ever decides to grow his hair this long again. Too bad the big shaving event takes place before Halloween.

First one for your consideration: Doc Brown from "Back to the Future." Great Scott, what was he thinking?!

Stay tuned...more fun to follow at Ray's expense :)

The Halloween Challenge

Years ago, my co-worker Kimberly had a go-to Halloween costume every year -- Glinda the Good Witch. It was perfect for her, since she had long, wavy blond hair.

Then one year, she panicked a week before Halloween -- she had recently cut her hair super-short and dyed it red, completely forgetting about Glinda. So she had to run out and buy a wig or the costume would have seemed, um, schizophrenic to say the least.

Which started me thinking -- since I have no traditional go-to costume for Halloween (my most favorite of holidays as you may know!), what works with a shaved head? Might as well capitalize on the opportunity and have some fun with this.

How much hair will I have 6 weeks after the big shave? No idea.

Help!

Moxie? Who, Me?

I have to say that one of the unexpected benefits of this St. Baldrick's adventure has been the flood of compliments sent my way.

Call me shallow, but it's lovely to hear nice things about yourself -- especially while you're still around to hear them, huh?! My favorite so far was being told I have "moxie." What a great word! It evokes the coolest of imagery, doesn't it -- a dame in a sharp suit and matching hat (picture Karen Allen at the end of "Raiders of the Lost Ark"), saving the world with her unique combination of brains and bravery.

I don't see what I'm doing as especially brave. Shaving my head seems such a minor sacrifice compared to what families must experience after a cancer diagnosis -- sheer terror, while putting on a brave face for the rest of the family and the world at large. Parents aren't allowed to lose it, are they? That's why it's the hardest job in the world -- and the best, from what I'm told.

But shaving a head is just that -- a shiny bald skin-covered dome -- without your generous support of St. Baldrick's. If you've already taken the plunge, thanks. If not, please consider supporting a dame with moxie to raise much-needed research funds.

Dangerous Assumptions

Suddenly, it seems women with super-short hair are everywhere. Yesterday, I found myself on the same shopping trajectory with a lovely African-American older woman at the grocery store.

As we ran into each other aisle after aisle, I had the chance to take a good long look at my future from numerous angles. On her, the shaved head was striking. I can only hope to be so lucky.

I struggled with the appropriateness of asking a stranger why she chose such a look. Was she a St. Baldrick's participant as well? Dealing with an illness? Or simply enjoying a summer of freedom from haircare?

My secret fear? That people won't ask. That the wrong assumptions could be damaging to business, or that acquaintances will form their own erroneous conclusions without having all the facts.

If I were ill, I think I'd want people to ask. Not strangers in the supermarket, because that's just being nosy, but certainly people who know me. I'd like to think that I'd need and welcome their sincere support, without hairlessness being the big bald elephant in the room.

But since I'm making this sacrifice by choice rather than necessity, of course I'm hoping that everyone who wants to know "Why?" will ask when they see me. Hopefully they'll have their checkbook in hand by the time I'm done answering :)

Pass the Popcorn

Since Ray will be playing in a golf tournament this weekend, I've decided the timing is perfect for a hair-themed movie weekend. It's remarkable (and kind of frightening!) how many movies revolve around hair when you start thinking about it.

Thus far, I've come up with the following:

• Good Hair (Chris Rock's documentary)
• Hair (of course!)
• Shampoo (the Warren Beatty classic)
• Hairspray (both versions)
• 10 (beaded cornrows, anyone?)
• Saturday Night Fever ("Would ya just watch the hair. Ya know, I work on my hair a long time and you hit it. He hits my hair.")
• Grease (hey, there's a whole musical number revolving around Frenchie's ineptitude with hair)

Yeah, the last two might be a stretch but John Travolta's worth it. Got any suggestions to add to the list? Send 'em along!

Hair's the Thing

Well, the word is out and it's too late to turn back. Thus far, the calls and emails have been overwhelmingly supportive, with just a few "Are you nuts?!" reactions, followed by, "I think you're crazy, but I just made a donation anyway."

The most common question, of course, has been "Why?" At first, my typical flip answer was, "Why not?"

But the real reason goes much deeper than that. Though our family has had its fair share of hardships — cancer included — by and large, we've been blessed. Not being a parent myself, I can't begin to fathom the terror of hearing the word "cancer" uttered in relation to my child. But if losing a few inches of hair brings us one step closer to no family EVER having to hear those awful words again? That's a no-brainer.