The story of how Zuko got his infamous first season hairstyle.

Disclaimer: I Love Zuko and his hair. If only I did own him. * FanGirl Sigh and giggle*

Iroh watched Zuko as he practiced his fire bending moves on the lower deck of the ship.

"Zuko, that is the fourth time you have missed that shot. Concentrate or I won't be able to teach you the next set." Iroh said this evenly before he took another sip of his tea.

"Agh!" grunted Zuko in frustration as he brushed his long, unkempt hair away from his eyes again. "I should be able to do this!"

"Zuko, it is your hair, it is too long. It is all over your face. You really should make an appointment with Tito to have it styled".

"Uncle! Why did you even bring a personal hairdresser with you? This is supposed to be an elite squad of handpicked, battle-hardened fire benders. I do not have time to worry about my hair! I have to capture the avatar and restore my honour!" Zuko angsted.

"Even so Zuko, it will be hard to defeat him if you have hair in your eyes."

Later that day, Zuko sidled into Tito's salon cautiously. "Ah Tito?"

"Prince Zuko! How are you! What can I do for you? Are you here for a hair cut?" Tito looked at the prince's dishevelled hair pointedly.

Zuko ran his fingers through his hair lovingly. "I have had a troubled past Tito, Maybe I'm not ready for this…"

"Nonsense, sit down, and tell me all about it while I trim your cares away."

Tito swept a large sheet around the Prince so that hair would not get all into the chinks of his armour. "Why did you leave it this long before you came and saw me?" said Tito as he lifted a lock away from Zuko's face and let it fall again.

Zuko mumbled something pensively.

"What was that?" said Tito as he readied the scissors.

"I was trying to cover up my scar; my shame." Zuko looked away, full of sorrow. "I guess I was trying to hide under all my hair."

"Don't worry about that, I'll give you a fashionable cut that's edgy, cool and full of sass. A new hair cut will restore your confidence in yourself."

Tito descended upon Zuko's hair in a fury. Snips of hair flew about as he worked.

Finally, it was finished.

Tito held the mirror in front of Zuko, waiting for his approval.

"Errrrm, are you sure about this? It's not really what I was looking for. It's a bit bare. It doesn't cover up my scar at all." Zuko looked in dismay at his bald reflection. He turned his head… Oh, wait…. He wasn't completely bald; Tito had left him a long ponytail.

"Trust me. Everyone will be amazed at your transformation."

Zuko left Tito's salon nervously, what would his crew think?

He passed a group of soldiers in the hallway. Their eyes widened in shock and for a few moments they stood still.

Zuko took this for a good sign. His crew were clearly intimidated by him and his new hairdo. He became more confident, more sure of himself as he strode toward the lower deck.

"Uncle! What do you think?" Zuko commanded as he whipped his ponytail about.

Iroh looked up from his cup of tea, with a kind of silent horror. "At least no one will be looking at your scar now."

Iroh watched as his scarred and ponytailed nephew completed the firebending set perfectly. He muttered to himself as he poured more tea into his cup. "At least it won't take more than twenty episodes to grow out."