Tattoos, piercings and body modifications: why?

[Farseer]

Actually, there is one form of chewing fingernails that is quite and entirely wrong.
Chewing fingernails that do not belong to yourself.

I'll pay that!

What is a "number four length"? (these beings do not feel like googling it)

A number given to a cut/shave usually corresponds to the blade attachment number used with electrical clippers and therefore makes it easier to request the length of the cut you'd like eg You'd say to the hairdresser or person cutting your hair, "I'd like a Number Four, please," and they would then use a number four attachment to shave your head, leaving a number four length of stubble behind. The smaller the number on the blade attachment (which is just a plastic comb-like piece that sits over the blade and can be attached or removed very easily), the shorter the cut so a Number One is much shorter than a Number Four. As far as I can tell, from my own clipper sets, you'd just use the blade directly (and not use any attachment) if you wanted to shave your head and leave no hair at all behind.

The length of the cut per attachment varies a little depending on the type/brand of clipper set you use but generally it's a reliable way of ensuring you get the length you want (unless someone accidentally slips on the wrong attachment! ).

I have become good enough at hair-cutting over the years to not have to bother with the clipper set any more but it is a handy tool to have around, especially when you live in the middle of nowhere and even your closest town has no hairdresser or barber. Nearly all of the men we've ever had working here just shave their own heads, and do a good job, so it's easy to operate by yourself as well...and much less expensive than paying someone to do it for you!

Is it only here in Australia that this system is used?