Beauty & Grooming  Discussion Forum

Dear all!

Since yesterday I am a baldy and so are all of my family.

When we all went to Tirupati in July 2009 for the head shave of the gents and my daughter, my m-i-l had somehow developed some affinity for getting a headshave for herself next time. She had also offered that I could also get shaved. I had said ‘not this time’ but got six inches of my hair chopped off. We also thought that we may have a repeat head shave visit to Tirupati about 3 years later. I had thought of getting my daughter Rachana a gundu again.

In Dec 2011, a friend of mine came to invite us for the upanayanam of her 10 year old son. I had seen her with the traditional fully grown braid 8 months before. But now she was sporting a very cute boy cut! I quizzed her about it. She said that her husband wished her to have a boy cut for some time. But her mil insisted for a mottai first, boy cut later. So she got a mottai in July and since October she was sporting a boy cut – back and sides cut short with scissors and nape clippered bald. Her husband was extremely happy about the style and her mil did not mind the change. Now she was also happy with her new hair style. She said that her long hair is gone for good and would keep her boycut, hopefully forever.

My m-i-l became so much attracted by my friend’s boycut that she started insisting that I and also young Rachana should sport it for some time at least. If fil does not mind she also would try it for some time. Her son welcomed the idea of my getting a boycut. M-i-l reminded us that it will be three years this July since we had our last trip to Tirupati for gundu, shall we go again. She added for good measure that she would like to shave her head this time and suggested that I also should do it followed by boycut after some growth. Being a traditionalist my f-i-l said that at least two gundus at a religious place is good before I could have local hair cut. Though he did not like the idea of boycuts for females, in the changing times, he did not want to come in the way if my husband desired it and I accepted it. As for his wife, if she wished to have a boycut he did not mind.

I told mil that my wish is to offer my fully grown hair along with the fully grown hair of my daughter to Tirupati after she completes her 10th class. M-i-l was very happy to hear this. She said “Very good idea. But she is in 4th standard now. It will be another six years. Both of you need just about 4 years to grow the full length from scratch. So no problem in having short hair for about two years.”

Somehow the encouragement of my mil and the cute boycut on my friend’s head tempted me to accept it. So I also thought ‘why not?’, and hence agreed. But to keep my f-i-l also happy, it was agreed that we will have two gundus at Tirumala separated by about 3 months. My f-i-l also became enthused for his wife and d-i-l to go bald at Tirupati twice in about 3 months. But my crew cut husband was the most joyous of the prospects of seeing a bald Kumuda – his dear wife. We decided end April for the first tonsure and early August for the second. While the second gundu is not necessary for my daughter, we decided to do it for all both times – two family gundus. My husband, son and fil stopped getting haircuts in March. It was odd looking at my hubby not to have his customary military style crew cut.

Also we have decided to keep Rachana’s head nicely shaved every two weeks till July beginning – to see that she gets good hair and her young scalp gets healthier with exposure to sunlight. After the repeat tonsure in August, the three females will grow hair for about three months and thereafter, get a short monthly boy cut for about two years – I and m-i-l in beauty parlour, Rachana in barber shop. And my son, Ranjan, will henceforth get regular school boy clipper cuts – almost similar to my hubby’s.

Yesterday (25th) we all were in Tirumala for the first family gundu. The six of us – my fil, mil, hubby, myself, daughter Rachana and son Ranjan – got nicely tonsured in the Kalyanakatta.

I never knew that getting a gundu in those spiritual environs is of such a good feeling. I am on cloud nine now. An extremely happy mil kissed my bald head after the tonsure and my fil patted my bald head affectionately. My husband is jumping with joy. Rachana and Ranjan are also happy like last time. I have decided to go around bald since my own image in mirror looked good. So does my mil. Now, I am eagerly looking for my Aug gundu – to feel the blade again on my head and a smooth grey scalp later.

Three years ago, I had never imagined that I would ever cut my hair. First it was six inches off, now a complete gundu twice, there after a boycut! What a transformation! Rjesh replied. Dear madam,Thanks for ur reply.I dont have any objection from my family for tonsuring.I already tonsured once two years back.My wife always supports tonsuring.she liked vrey much me being gundu last time.Ever since she insists me to get tonsured during summer at some holy places.I dont have any objections from any other family members.I too like getting tonsured regularly.Since iam an officer in public service i feel embarassed to go office being gundu.Any way ur suggetion will be considered and getting ready for tonsure.I also want go for complete family tonsure like yours.My kids are ready but my wife wont agree.I think she may need encouragement from ladies like you.Pls put some words of encouragement to her. Rajesh replied. hellow madam,I read both ur postings.Really interesting.U r really lucky to be part of a family which supports tonsure regularly.But in ur first posting u did not describe ur experiance at tonsure hall. Pl let me know how was the barber and how he did tonsure to all etc.I also want to be tonsured.So ur words really inspires us. Rajesh. Kumuda replied. Dear All

On 27th evening last month, my hubby took me to the barber shop to introduce me to the barber. He told the barber that in this year our daughter would also be his customer, initially for nice gundu a few times and then boy cuts. Would he mind? The barber said “Not at all. Many young girls, even some college going girls, do come for boy cuts”.

On the same evening a close friend of my husband visited us in the evening with his wife. He had come to invite us for the wedding of his younger brother’s marriage due on 7th May. On seeing all our bald heads the two burst out laughing in which we also joined. We told them that we could attend the marriage but will bald heads be ok. They said no problem. So on 7th evening the entire family with stubble on our heads and no cap or scarf attended the marriage. We proudly showed off our bald heads.

Today morning I took my daughter Rachana to the barber shop. She had about quarter inch growth. I could have sent her along with my husband. But I wanted occasions to show off my own gundu head to as many people as possible.

The barber shop has three chairs and a barber each. Four gents and a girl of my daughter’s age were waiting on the bench and three were there on the chairs. The girl had an overgrown boycut. After a chair was vacated, the girl’s father led her to the chair and told the barber ‘machine cutting on sides and back’. The barber ran the clipper all round the girl’s head making the area almost bald. Then he reduced the length of top hair to about one and half inch. The end result was very nice – short, cute but still combable in a boyish crop. I saw Rachana’s face. She seemed attracted with the girl’s cut. I thought that I will give her a similar cut once the hair grows after our scheduled August Tirupati family gundu – may be in October.

After about half an hour our turn came. I led Rachana into the barber’s chair and told the barber ‘very smooth gundu with blade’. He wetted Rachana’s hair thoroughly with water for about three minutes. Then with a fresh half blade in the razor shaved her head. After finishing one round, he wetted her head again and reshaved it. A very smooth gundu head resulted. Rachana is very happy with her freshly bald head. Her next smooth gundu is slated for 27th of this month.