A woman from Wimbledon who discovered her hair can be cut by a normal men's barber is mystifying medics. The news suggests that the hair on women's and men's heads might share a common ancestory.
"I was waiting for my son to have his usual short back and sides, and realised I was going to be late for my salon appointment at Rodrigo's', explains Judith Bantock, who wishes to remain anonymous.
"When I heard 'Who's next?', I thought, well, why not? I've given birth twice, so what could be worse? I had an extra-strength neurofen in my handbag so took that, sat down, gripped the chair arms and said, as I'd overheard other men do, 'Just a trim please'.
"Gary the barber seemed a bit taken aback, but needed no more briefing than that. He set to work with a sterile comb and scissors, which snipped through my hair with no special preparation or anything. Soon the tips of my feminine locks were tumbling over me in a fulsome cascade."
"I hadn't been prepared for the lack of conversation though. Just sitting there without Rodrigo's usual banter was making me extremely nervous. So like a fool I blurted out, "What about Liverpool then?"
The room fell silent for a moment. Clippers were put down, combs returned to sterilising solution. I felt such an idiot because of course it dawned on me, (too late!) the Premier League season had ended weeks before. But then from two chairs down came a voice. "They did well to pick up a win at FC Gomel last week in the Europea League, with Downing sizzling one in from the right."
Normal service was resumed, to my great relief, and my cut was finished in what to me was record time."
Samples of Bantock's hair are being examined by genetics specialists who are still baffled as to how she has somehow inherited the male hair gene. But with a saving of around £40 per visit, Bantock says she'll be back.
"Now when it comes to something for the weekend, I can afford something a bit more exciting than a pack of three!"
