Comments on: the hardest thing about growing a beard http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/ Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:04:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Steve http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-9084 Steve Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:33:41 +0000 http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-9084 Good points! Thanks, Ryan, for sharing your story. Good points! Thanks, Ryan, for sharing your story.

]]> By: Ryan http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-9079 Ryan Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:59:59 +0000 http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-9079 The hardest thing has to be that women hate beards. To me this is as ridiculous as if I hated breasts, and I simply don't understand it - I've pondered many hypotheses, mind you, but it still drives me nuts. Although the ones who do like beards are a treat - if you can find one, and if she's not some dumb slut (unfortunate personal experience). I'm a purist, you might say - no trimming (well, a very little bit of my mustache, but not so it "looks" trimmed, because I want to be "kiss ready":P), no shaping, 'wear it long, brown, curly like a "tribesman". Hence, women hate this even worse, but I'll be damned if I'll let anyone keep me from being me! I'm sure all of you feel the same way. 'Guess I'm just lookin' for that sweet woman who'll pet me like a dog:) All of you who are new to your beard, I encourage you to say with it! If you're lovin' it bushy, give it about 4 years! At present I'm about 6 months in to my new one - I had grown my previous one for about 4.5 years. Why did I cut it? Well, I also had nipple length ( and very thinning) hair, and I felt I needed a full "ritual" shearing - now I shave my head every day, and grow my beard, and it's a yin-yan thing that I absolutely love. But I digress. We gotta fight the power, guys, I'm so sick of beards being considered something to be "cleaned" up - what's the next stupid fashion, humans start removing "unsightly" fingers? (laughing) The hardest thing has to be that women hate beards. To me this is as ridiculous as if I hated breasts, and I simply don’t understand it - I’ve pondered many hypotheses, mind you, but it still drives me nuts. Although the ones who do like beards are a treat - if you can find one, and if she’s not some dumb slut (unfortunate personal experience). I’m a purist, you might say - no trimming (well, a very little bit of my mustache, but not so it “looks” trimmed, because I want to be “kiss ready”:P), no shaping, ‘wear it long, brown, curly like a “tribesman”. Hence, women hate this even worse, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let anyone keep me from being me! I’m sure all of you feel the same way. ‘Guess I’m just lookin’ for that sweet woman who’ll pet me like a dog:) All of you who are new to your beard, I encourage you to say with it! If you’re lovin’ it bushy, give it about 4 years! At present I’m about 6 months in to my new one - I had grown my previous one for about 4.5 years. Why did I cut it? Well, I also had nipple length ( and very thinning) hair, and I felt I needed a full “ritual” shearing - now I shave my head every day, and grow my beard, and it’s a yin-yan thing that I absolutely love. But I digress. We gotta fight the power, guys, I’m so sick of beards being considered something to be “cleaned” up - what’s the next stupid fashion, humans start removing “unsightly” fingers? (laughing)

]]> By: jimmy james http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-9066 jimmy james Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:20:57 +0000 http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-9066 Anyone gets weird on my beard, I always reply: You should be thankful - you really don't want to see the face lurking underneath this Anyone gets weird on my beard, I always reply:

You should be thankful - you really don’t want to see the face lurking underneath this

]]> By: Billy Bob http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8824 Billy Bob Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:03:44 +0000 http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8824 Hey Steve, My beard has gotten really long over hte last month. It is so awesome! I can use it as a substitute for a towel! Hey Steve,

My beard has gotten really long over hte last month. It is so awesome! I can use it as a substitute for a towel!

]]> By: Steve http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8712 Steve Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:25:26 +0000 http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8712 Alex, You probably just need to let it grow out long enough that it will start going down. Give it more length. Alex,
You probably just need to let it grow out long enough that it will start going down. Give it more length.

]]> By: Alex http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8711 Alex Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:43:47 +0000 http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8711 How can I train my beard to grow straight down. My right side grows to the left and my left frow up How can I train my beard to grow straight down. My right side grows to the left and my left frow up

]]> By: Steve http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8467 Steve Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:23:45 +0000 http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8467 James, Great! Keep growing! Update us on your progress whenever you can. James,

Great! Keep growing! Update us on your progress whenever you can.

]]> By: James http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8412 James Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:18:52 +0000 http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8412 I started growing my beard last April 2007. It is now January 08 and I haven't shaven. I have grown to really love having this much hair on my face. I doubt I will ever shave it now, and hope to have my own ZZ top beard in the next few years! I started growing my beard last April 2007. It is now January 08 and I haven’t shaven. I have grown to really love having this much hair on my face. I doubt I will ever shave it now, and hope to have my own ZZ top beard in the next few years!

]]> By: Steve (not Beardguy) http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8274 Steve (not Beardguy) Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:31:10 +0000 http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8274 Rob, for "office standards" I'd suggest keeping your beard no longer than the thickness of your fingers. That length would be good for the later fill-in by the sides (which will happen in time). I don't know what prejudices the strangers around you have, but many men here in the Los Angeles area give me frankly disapproving or challenging glances on the street when my beard gets beyond finger thickness. I just keep whatever expression I have on my face at that moment, which makes them look away first. You might want to alternate between using a cheap beard trimmer with a "guide comb" set to your fingers' thickness and using just your fingers and scissors, to see which way works better professionally. If finger thickness is too long, then you'll need to stick with the beard trimmer. About your mustache: A gap in the septum groove and a lack of connection to the beard might work to your advantage because it lets people see most of the movements of your lips and cheeks during conversations, for those all-important nonverbal cues. The following may or may not be useful for you: My 'stache is the "pencil" type when I leave my upper lip completely visible. That is a visual imbalance against my beard that I cannot stand! My 'stache in pencil mode also slants in a way that looks like a snarl when my face is in neutral. For those two reasons, I keep my 'stache long and full enough so that it leaves the lip visible when I'm not smiling, it covers the lip when I am smiling, it looks balanced with the rest of my beard, and its bottom edge goes straight across when my face is in neutral. Rob, for “office standards” I’d suggest keeping your beard no longer than the thickness of your fingers. That length would be good for the later fill-in by the sides (which will happen in time).

I don’t know what prejudices the strangers around you have, but many men here in the Los Angeles area give me frankly disapproving or challenging glances on the street when my beard gets beyond finger thickness. I just keep whatever expression I have on my face at that moment, which makes them look away first.

You might want to alternate between using a cheap beard trimmer with a “guide comb” set to your fingers’ thickness and using just your fingers and scissors, to see which way works better professionally. If finger thickness is too long, then you’ll need to stick with the beard trimmer.

About your mustache: A gap in the septum groove and a lack of connection to the beard might work to your advantage because it lets people see most of the movements of your lips and cheeks during conversations, for those all-important nonverbal cues.

The following may or may not be useful for you: My ’stache is the “pencil” type when I leave my upper lip completely visible. That is a visual imbalance against my beard that I cannot stand! My ’stache in pencil mode also slants in a way that looks like a snarl when my face is in neutral. For those two reasons, I keep my ’stache long and full enough so that it leaves the lip visible when I’m not smiling, it covers the lip when I am smiling, it looks balanced with the rest of my beard, and its bottom edge goes straight across when my face is in neutral.

]]> By: Rob http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8269 Rob Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:36:27 +0000 http://blog.beards.org/2006/12/19/the-hardest-thing-about-growing-a-beard/#comment-8269 I started growing a beard on Boxing Day and its coming along nicely. My wife loves it as it doesn't scrape her face anymore (like a day or two's stubble in the past). I've had a couple of friends give me raised eyebrows but most comments have been relatively neutral. One guy made sure he asked my wife what she thought of it before commenting (which was very wise as he avoided putting his foot in it) but that made the resulting "oh its wonderful! great!" sound a bit superficial). Interestingly it all started over Christmas, when I hadn't shaved for a few days and my mum suggested I just let it grow - so I thought "why not?". The funny thing is she's always telling my brother to shave as he's somewhat hairier than me but tends to look like a bum when he doesn't shave. Anyway, I've noticed the hairs on my cheeks are relatively sparse and have yet to fill out (I'm hoping they will soon!). My tache doesn't connect to the rest of the beard and has a sparse gap in the middle (the groove between nose and top lip). But overall I actually quite like the effect and we'll see how far it'll go. I don't want to go for the mountain man look - its got to be presentable in an office and for visiting clients. Any suggestions for a good length (to achieve "filling out" of sparse areas but not getting huge)? I started growing a beard on Boxing Day and its coming along nicely. My wife loves it as it doesn’t scrape her face anymore (like a day or two’s stubble in the past). I’ve had a couple of friends give me raised eyebrows but most comments have been relatively neutral.

One guy made sure he asked my wife what she thought of it before commenting (which was very wise as he avoided putting his foot in it) but that made the resulting “oh its wonderful! great!” sound a bit superficial).

Interestingly it all started over Christmas, when I hadn’t shaved for a few days and my mum suggested I just let it grow - so I thought “why not?”. The funny thing is she’s always telling my brother to shave as he’s somewhat hairier than me but tends to look like a bum when he doesn’t shave.

Anyway, I’ve noticed the hairs on my cheeks are relatively sparse and have yet to fill out (I’m hoping they will soon!). My tache doesn’t connect to the rest of the beard and has a sparse gap in the middle (the groove between nose and top lip).

But overall I actually quite like the effect and we’ll see how far it’ll go. I don’t want to go for the mountain man look - its got to be presentable in an office and for visiting clients. Any suggestions for a good length (to achieve “filling out” of sparse areas but not getting huge)?

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