Each year, about 20,000 Marine Corps recruits come to Parris Island, South Carolina, to endure a 13-week gauntlet that determines whether or not they will indeed become devil dogs.

But before they get into the nitty-gritty of the physical and mental challenges of boot camp, would-be Marines have to say goodbye to their hair.

The recruit training hair cut is a rite of passage. These are some of the best photos of the worst Parris Island barber shop experiences of all time.

1. The “Mom, can you come pick me up?”

2. The “It’s just a day at the spa”

3. The “It’ll all be over soon”

4. The “Benjamin Franklin fade”

5. The “NO RAGRETS”

6. The “Can’t see the forest for the trees”

7. The “Friar Tuck special”

8. The “Oh.... sh*t”

Sarah Sicard is a Senior Editor with Military Times. She previously served as the Digitial Editor of Military Times and the Army Times Editor. Other work can be found at National Defense Magazine, Task & Purpose, and Defense News.

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