ugh, how horrible! the MAC person sounds wonderful, though!

when I was young (8-10ish), I got mistaken for a boy all the time. I had long hair until about 7 or 8 and one day I told my mother I wanted all cut off and have short hair. Didn't help I was a tomboy and wore boy-ish clothes.

When I was 27, again I was hit with a "I have to cut my hair off" and got a pixie cut. I was at a cafe and someone approached me from behind "excuse me, sir". As soon as I turned around it was obvious to him I was a girl and he said sorry (he was trying to sell me something, so glad he got scared off).

I must say that experience did bug me and I have not had my hair short since then.