Life redefined

Pity celebrity hairdressers and high-end salons owners. Apart from losing a huge chunk of business due to the lockdowns, should the new trend gain traction, a hair-raising story beckons the industry. For getting a haircut from the better half is becoming the new normal (“Cristiano Ronaldo gets a haircut from girlfriend Georgina,” April 5, Gulf Today).

Until a few days ago we were attuned to seeing the Portuguese football star Ronaldo dribbling the ball past a wall of defender or curling the ball, from odd angles, into the opponent’s net. But the deadly pandemic has drastically shifted the goalpost, so much so that footballers are forced into taking up hobbies and engaging in activities that have raised eyebrows.

In Ronaldo’s case it was not a raise but a loss of hair. The Juventus forward is noted to be a man of many hairstyles. Not sure if it was one the first for him, but it was rather enjoyable to the see CR7 get a trim from his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez at his home in Madeira.

And then there is the inimitable David Beckham, who too is reported to have given himself a clean shave. Apart from his footballing prowess, Becks is also known worldwide for his history of hairstyles and his ability to look good in practically anything. That holds true for his Covid cut too, bringing back memories of a similar stunt he had done twenty years ago.

As for India, the fad has not gripped footballers yet but found roots in the cricketing fraternity. While Suresh Raina posted a photo with a new haircut that was given to him by his wife Priyanka, Team India skipper Virat Kohli posted a video showing his actress wife Anushka Sharma giving him a haircut.

All said and done, the coronavirus is helping us shape our lives differently. Probably quality family time will be a great positive, when the pandemic is done with.

Desiree R — By email