Something.
To be honest, I can’t remember what it was because I couldn’t overlook the fact that he appeared to have a chinchilla stuck in each ear.
I tried to be a good listener.
Tried to look reflective.
At least until I realized saliva had pooled in my open mouth.
As you might expect, this person was a male over the age of 40, which seems to be about the time follicles in men’s ears and noses begin producing hair at an alarming rate. I say alarming because I’ve heard of men purposely growing enough ear and nose hair to make a comb over.
And if that isn’t alarming to you, then you need to stop reading this column right NOW and put more mousse in your ear-and-nose-hair comb over.
Admittedly, after my conversation, I went directly to the nearest men’s room and examined my ears and nostrils. If for no other reason than to avoid putting those I care about at risk by allowing the hair in either orifice to become a fire hazard, such as being ignited by a random cell phone spark.
To my relief, I found that the hair in both regions was still within the parameters of good taste, and by that I don’t mean hanging over my mouth.
Naturally, as I was standing in front of the mirror staring into my nostrils, someone walked in. After exchanging knowing glances, I turned back to the mirror and saw that my ear and nose hair had grown two centimeters.
This apparently is not uncommon.
According to a recent article published in the journal Medicine, “A six-year study of hypertrichosis in the ears and nose of men over age 40 revealed that the same study could have been completed in six months if male researchers hadn’t been fighting over the nose-hair trimmer.”
So, as a service to the men who may be reading this column, I’d like to offer the following tips gathered by our research department here at the Siuslaw News. Keep in mind that this department consists of:
A 48-year-old humor columnist obsessing over his ear and nose hair.
Tip #1: Never attempt to manicure the hair in these regions at the end of the day when you are tired — or possibly intoxicated — unless you are willing to run the risk of waking up without eye brows.
Tip #2: Should you not follow the advice of tip #1, you can always replace your eye brows with hair from your ears and nostrils.
Tip #3: Use a magnifying mirror. This will help you avoid nicking sensitive areas. On the other hand, seeing your own nostrils the size of bowling ball finger holes is likely to cause insomnia.
And lastly,
Tip #4: Do not pluck ear or nose hair with tweezers. This can cause ingrown hairs and lead to infection. Your best bet is to use a nose and ear hair trimmer, which is a device designed to fit into either orifice and remove hair safely by pulling them out at the root. It is best to start out lying on the floor in a fetal position since that is where you will end up anyway.
For those of you who have any more advice on this subject, please feel free to send it in. But please keep it short.
And by that, I mean your ear and nose hair.
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(Ned Hickson is a syndicated columnist with News Media Corporation and a member of the writing team at Long Awkward Pause. His first book, Humor at the Speed of Life, is available from Port Hole Publications, Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. Disclaimer: Even if you choose Ned’s book for summer reading, you should still use sunscreen.)
Ned's Blog 
OH, geeeze. Only you, Ned Hickson, would dare to touch this topic. And by touch, I don’t mean that you should actually reach out and pet any Ear Chinchillas!
A great laugh to send me out the door on my day’s errands. But I will be standing FAR away from any men who appear to be over 40 and sporting comb overs that start anywhere other than on their scalps. I’m swinging by WalMart, as it happens, where this is a very distinct possibility. ‘Nuff said.
WalMart? You ARE brave! Of course, after10 p.m. is when it gets really interesting; the comb-overs aren’t limited to above-the-waist…
Have a great day and good luck on those errands, Marcia!
ARRRGGGHHHH! Eye bleach, eye bleach!!! Quick, before I resort to trying to shop with a sleep mask on!!! *note to self: “No matter how desperate I am for rocky road ice cream, NO LATE NIGHT TRIPS TO WALMART!”*
Our town still has an old fashioned barber who will take care of those little details without too much fuss. Tip 4 could also be bribing one’s wife to do it, if he hasn’t pissed her off lately.
Yes, an angry wife and scissors is not a good combination!
Oh Ewww! It is one of the first things I will notice about a man… or woman for that matter. Hygiene or lack thereof totally grosses me out! Hair in the wrong orifices,bad teeth and dirty fingernails *shivers* blech! The whole comb over thing is just.. OMG, I don’t even have a word!! LOL! So glad you are one of those guys who totally gets it and I’m sure your lovely wife appreciates it too. My hubby is so very
vainconsiderate I don’t have to worry about that either! 🙂I made my wife promise me to let me know when my ear/nose hair is too long once I can’t see anymore.
Good idea! I know I would do that for my hubby too! 😉
I’m just happy to know that there are follicles somewhere on my head that are still productive. Can I blame them for moving south to the warmer climates?
I supposse you can’t blame them for heading south. But you probably don’t want them making a run for the boarder…
Hmmm, I always thought those trimmers just cut the hair. I assumed it pulled mine out by the roots because it was malfunctioning (or dull or both). Turns out it was me who was dull and malfunctioning.
We have a club with our own jackets…
And, I have the matching shoes….
We all do, but I have to tell you: Those heels are killing me.
I’m sure Mama can find you a pair to match your thong Ned. 😀
That’s what I’m afraid of…
Ew. Why does this gross stuff make me laugh? And what was the evolutionary necessity of this development?
For some reason, nature feels the need to cover our orifaces as we get older. So far, it seems limited to noses and ears.
That’s something to be thankful for…
Perhaps you should grab a Bic lighter and do a controlled burn over the weekend. Just have a large tub of water, several shots of vodka (to treat wounds internally), and an active webcam at the ready. Because we need to see this.
I’ve got Pay-Per-View on the line as we speak…
I’ll wait for the bootleg copies to hit the backstreets of Florence.
Good plan. There’s only one backstreet, so it should be easy to find.
Did you know your ears never stop growing? The hair is probably just jealous and over-compensating.
Typical male behavior I suppose…
Let me preface this comment by saying, “No officer, I have not been drinking.”
You should know that I’ve had some interesting conversations about hair today. The first one being with my husband. He had a stress test this morning and the only thing he lamented about was the fact that he didn’t get to have his chest waxed – he wanted to shout “Kelly Clarkson” like Steve Carrell in 40-year-old Virgin.
THEN, my newly divorced co-worker called and shared her story about a first date with an Alpaccan sheep shearer from New Zealand. She’s worried that her walk of shame will result in a shaved head and eyebrows.
THEN, to read your article not even 15 minutes after that call. Well…I’m trying to decide if I need to hide the razors or pull out the Nair.
Maybe I have been drinking…
Starting a stress test by having your chest shaved seems a little unfair, like starting a cholesterol test by eating a double bacon cheeburger first; how accurate can it be? My condolences to your husband. Maybe you should’ve asked if your co-worker’s Alpaccan sheep shearer could do the job?
And as much as I want to run with the whole date-with-an-Alpaccan-sheep-shearer thing and its many implications for your co-worker (“What do you mean you burned out your electric razor last night?”) I will refrain because I don’t know her. Although I feel fairly certain the “Does the curtain match the drapes” question is probably a moot point now.
Any-hoo, hide the Nair and the razors and have another margarita, Michelle!
Bahahaha! I am the worst blogger friend ever!
I read this hilarious reply before the weekend and am just now responding. My co-worker is the “female version” of you – her humor…not the whole drapes matching carpet thing…I don’t know either of you THAT well 😉
Hahaha! No worries, Michelle!
As for your friend, if her drapes match my carpeting, she may want to consider having it re-stretched to get the lumps out.
Spaaaat!
And there went the coffee all over my phone….
One of your best, buddy.
Well done.
Thanks, Robert.
You’d tell me if I had ear hair, right?
Got your back, bud.
And your ears.
As long as you keep it above the waist…
OMG, laughing my ass off. I love it. I am also secretly glad (insert evil laugh) it isn’t just women that have to deal with “over 40” issues.
Not at all. In fact, some of them are the SAME issues.
If you scroll through my timeline you will see some of my rants about it. Happy to say I haven’t found any hair in my ears though. That seems to be more of a guy thing fortunately. We have enough to deal with without Hobbit ears.
It’s cruel that the point in life when you have to start messing around your eyes, ears and nostrils with sharp scissors is the same time when your hands start getting unsteady.
Very true. It’s another of nature’s contributions to population control. Who wants to have sex with you after you’ve accidentally cut your nostrils and earlobes off?
i think this is how big foot got his start.
You’re right! All this time he may have just been looking for an electric razor!
This is just another reason why I am quite happy that I am female and once suffered from those monthly visits. Of course that being said, I am now growing a beard.
Ear and nose hair are obvious. Hair appears in places we can’t necessarily see or reach, also. Shaving back or butt hair is not easy….
Mine stopped growing.
With a name like Nose Hair, it’s got to be good! That is some fine jam.
I will now forever worry about finding a nose hair in my Smuckers…