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If a person decides to become a Nazir, he or she may not drink wine, eat (most parts of) grapes, come in contact with the dead, or cut their hair. But becoming a Nazir isn't just a life decision; it's the product of a vow to become a Nazir — subject to all the rules of vows we encountered in the just - completed Masechet Nedarim, which is why Masechet Nazir comes precisely now. Being a vow, all the questions around ambiguous language "did s/he really mean to accept Nazirut when s/he said that?" come into play, just as ambiguous language came into play in the opening chapter of Nedarim. These ambiguities are a primary issue in chapter 1 of Massechet Nazir as well. Chapter 1 Mishnah 2 also deals with a related nuance: If someone vows to become a nazir for just one of the obligations of nezirut — for instance, a Nezir for her hair — the other obligations of Nezirut kick in as well.
One important note to keep in mind: Unless stipulated otherwise, a person who takes a vow to become a nazir accepts upon themselves to become a Nazir for just 30 days. After this, they bring their nezirut offering, drink wine, and their period of being a Nazir comes to an end. There are other options, however — including lifelong Nazir-hood, of which there are two kinds. One, a Nazir Olam (a "permanent Nazir"), may cut their hair when their hair becomes too heavy. A second type of Nazir, a Nazir Shimshon, may never cut their hair. However, just as Shimshon — the mighty warrior — clearly came in contact with the dead, a Nazir Shimshon may come in contact with the dead. And while Shimshon is undoubtedly the best-known biblical Nazir, Chaza"l point to one more: David's wayward (and long-haired) son Avshalom, whom Chaza"l say was a Nazir Olam.
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