on not having beard genes
A while ago, I received a terrific essay from a site visitor. It was titled Ode to Not Having The Whisker Gene. The piece conveys a sense of some of the anxiety and disappointment experienced by so many. Yet the author has the right attitude. The best that anyone can do is to accept themselves, make the most of what they’ve got, and be happy with that. The author gave permission to share his essay on this site. This is what he wrote:
Ode to Not Having The Whisker Gene
At age 14 I noticed some fuzz on my lip. I was ecstatic!! I immediately told my dad who promptly bought me my own razor and shave cream!
I shaved each day for nearly a month, then at the urging from dad I stopped for a few days to await the results. I was devastated. I was disappointed. I was hairless.
Dad said, “Just wait, give it time.”
I put away the razor.
At age 15 I noticed more hair on “other” parts of my body and tried the shaving thing again… nothing! I was so despondent… some of my junior high pals were showing signs of wispy mustaches and shadows on the chin. “What about me?” I asked.
I put away the razor.
For my 18th birthday I was determined to have some whiskers. I shaved every day for a month prior to my birthday, then stopped a week before that fateful morning…. there was something there! an ever so light dusting of the faintest of dark hairs filling the space between my lips and nose. Rapture! I was so excited! It was working! I was growing my much sought after mustache! I was now a man!
Much to my dismay, it didn’t get much darker or heavier as the days progressed. …sigh…
I then looked at my dad and older brothers and realized they didn’t have much brush growing on their faces either. Was it a family curse? What was up?!?
After high school, I enlisted in the Air Force. I had to shave EVERY day, whether I needed it or not! Well, at least I felt like the other guys, of course my shaving took all of 10 minutes while some of the Neanderthals in my flight took half-an-hour or more to scrape the pelts off their faces.
When I got a point in my military career where I didn’t have to shave everyday… guess what!?!?! I had a mustache! A real, honest-to-goodness, respectable, noticeable-from-a-distance, mustache. I didn’t even realize it until I went home and my sister said, “Hey, nice mustache!”
Alas, I have never been able to grow much more than that. At 30 I finally accepted the fact that I would never grow a beard or even a goatee, oh well… I’m still a man and I feel good about it.
Now at 47, I have no problem with my masculinity and don’t fret about trying to prove my manliness by growing a beard. In fact, I shaved my mustache and got incredible compliments! I was told I look younger and more handsome (they said!).
Still, it would be nice to watch the transformation of my face, from smooth to hirsute, but I don’t lose any sleep over it.
May 9th, 2006 at 8:46 pm
I disagree. If people simply settled for what they already had, they wouldn’t strive to achieve what they want.
May 11th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
How does one “strive” to grow a beard. That’s like “striving” to grow taller. It’s not something a person can “will” into being. Believe it or not, there are a lot of “bad beards” out there. Thankfully, most men realize the difference between a good beard and a bad one. Unfortunately, some never admit it.
May 29th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Richard is right, especially about the bad beards out there. I see innumerable examples on TV, these days; the guys who look like they didn’t shave for a few days. Steve calls it a “stubble beard.” While I acknowledge that may be the best these guys can hope for, it still causes me to feel like asking, “hey, guy, when are you going to finish growing that?”
June 8th, 2006 at 6:06 am
iam 19 years old.but still i haven’t got mustach and beard on my face.my sister,my friends,my family members make fun of me saying that i look like an school boy.i had a habit of using creams to my face.iam afraid that my facial look may affect my future.is there any solution to it?
June 9th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
Hi, Ranjit,
At nineteen, just be patient. That’s still young and you may develop more facial hair as you get older. Don’t let the teasing bother you. It’s not something to be ashamed of. Just be happy as you are and maybe in the future you’ll be able to grow more of a beard and mustache.
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:43 am
My father grew a mustache, and i think he may have been able to grow a beard - i say ‘think’ because i only met him for 2 weeks when i was 16, boohoo. My brother and i are not very hairy at all, both blonde. However, i have some growth on my face - no sideburns, just chin and top lip. I am giving it a few weeks - growth so far ain’t too bad but the problem is that being blonde/light brown makes half my attempt at ‘beardism’ seem unoticeable and the other half is coming out red?!? anyway, it seems to be coming along, i don’t think it will suit me but i want to just try to conquer it. (just in case you are wondering - it takes me about a week for the old 5′o’clock shadow… hoohaa - i am gonna keep going
July 3rd, 2006 at 11:08 pm
u say 19 is still young, and that i might grow facial hair as i grow older
but i see most of my friends of 17&18 growing hairs.the other thing is
that my religion demands having it.is there any medicine that can activate my hormones or genes that are required for growing hair on my face.
July 3rd, 2006 at 11:15 pm
Ranjit,
For medical treatment options, you’ll need to consult with a medical doctor. Otherwise, just be patient and see what develops as you get older.
July 5th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
i first grew a beard when i was 25 - had it for a little over a month. it was ok, but it was thin in some areas, and very thin in the middle of moustache…i shaved it. after that, i often would go for a week between shaves, but made no real attempt at a beard again.
i grew a goatee on a whim when i got divorced at age 37, and it was a LOT thicker. it seemed pretty full in a little over a week. big difference.
July 14th, 2006 at 5:50 am
iam trying to be patient,and wait what happens next.i just want to know is this problem of not having mustach and beard common in the modern day life.why does this problem really occur.in our country
(india) all most all have very good beard and mustach.my father(40) and my elder brother(20) have nice and thick beard.iam the only one not having beard in my family.i said u earlier that i had a habit of using creams to my face when my age was in between 17 and 18.did this take an effect.
November 15th, 2006 at 11:11 am
I am 24 Years of age & still not having beard .what should i do ?
May 28th, 2007 at 6:19 am
I’m 24 years old & still not having beard & mustache. Please tell me what should i do? I’ve counsult with doctor & took 6 months course of Sustanan.
May 29th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
The author of “The Beard Gene” said he had very little until he went into the Air Force. That sounds like my story.
In High School, I had sideburns and a light mustache. Verry little stubble on my chin. After graduation, at the age of 19, I enlisted in the Air Force. The “TI” told me I needed to shave (second time in one day). So, I started carrying my razor with me and would “dry shave” a couple times a day after the morning shave.
I have been told that frequent shaving does not stimulate growth but after I started dry shaving my beard took off and I now have a thick full beard and mustache.
I plan to go to Alaska in 2009 to the International Beard and Mustache Growers Association. They have a lot of awsome full beards there.
June 25th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
i dont have mustaches and beard although my age is 20
October 25th, 2007 at 4:18 am
Hi ,
I am indian.25 yrs of old.Still now I didn’t had mustache and beard properly mustache looks very thin take 2-3 mnths to grow and beard are to be same only at the chin level.
giv me suggestion to grow the mustahe and beard because all my frns and family makin fun out of which make me very inferior.so plz give a suggestion or treatment
November 27th, 2007 at 5:26 am
I m 24 year old and have not beard on my face please tell me the medicine for that.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Hi,
We can’t give medical advice here. If you are sufficiently concerned about your lack of beard development, consult a medical doctor. Good luck to you.
January 5th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I think metilated spirit accelerate the growth of beards if I should suggest a scheme.
January 5th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
can anybody suggest with me?
January 5th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I’m almost 18 years old and i can grow a descent beard, and i’m loving it!
but…
to all you people saying you dont grow much facial hair. There’s nothing anybody can do for you. And for those in which its traditional or religious, tell your family to lay off. I know some people who would kill to not have to shave often ( it breaks my heart …), and then there’s the ones that have had a beard since sixteen. Its genetic and there’s nothing you can do, at least until they find a way to genetically engineer us while we are alive.
regardless, thats what the author of the article is trying to say; just be happy with what you got, because if not, you’ll end up hating yourself/ be really uinhappy, which is bad karma……
January 6th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Don’t panic guys - and accept what you have. I was a late developer and didn’t really start shaving till I was in my 20s. Since then I have mostly worn a full beard. Now in my fifties I am starting to sprout hair on parts of my body that were smooth before - so this is an ongoing process.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
i am 28 years old.i have mustach and beard ,but it is improper and looks like 14 years old boy on my face.even i shave it ,it comes like that.my friends,others make fun of me saying that i look like an school boy.iam afraid that my facial look may affect my future.i am requesting you that please suggest me what to do and is there any solution to it?
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
For those impatient for a beard, wait, it’ll happen. If it dont, just tell everyone you shave every morning! and then thank yer Gods you dont have to!
I was a slow grower of facial fluff, but feckme, at the age of 42 I wish I never grew the stuff….I have a beard now, cos I’m too feckin lazy to shave it off.
July 19th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Yes, many will never be able to grow beards but more importantly, most people will not get a full lush beard until the age of 25-30. This is the age when man is at his prime. Wonder why you can’t grow a beard at age 18? You’re not a fully grown man yet.
I suggest start lifting weights. Lifting weights and exercising will increase testoserone and theirfore increase characteristics of a man (smell, bodily hair, and physique)
July 24th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Of course, exercise, eating well, and getting enough sleep are all good for overall health.