Thread: Growing a beard

I grew one in last year for the first time in my life!! It grew in grey though . But I was into it, so I died it.

I thought it was really cool but the better half was less than Luke warm about it - though supportive.

I finally shaved it off after a girl I despise said she liked it, and before going to an important event. After said event, my wife invited a bunch oh people home. All the lady's were in the kitchen when I walked in and the one called out to me laughing, "So you shaved the vigina off your face eh David!"

I was rather off put, and voiced my distain! It was a cool beard thank you very much!! When all the giggling and ribbing was over with they all got serious. "Its not that I really hate beads or food traps," said the one. "Its just that they are always touching it and itching it. I find it repulsive."

That comment seemed to reverberate with all of them. I recall grabbing my beer, shaking my head and dismissing them all as crazy before exiting.

Not long after, I noted they were right!! Guys with beards are always playing with them!! Its kind of disgusting or more gently - off putting.

The take - away from that all is, if you grow a beard, don't obsessively play with it. Or at all.

I don't know - I get a lot of play out of thoughtfully stroking my goatee mid-lecture. Usually when I've lost my train of thought. It imparts gravitas and an air of nonchalant authority if done well:

"Taking the integral over theta, we find that...."
[bugger, forgotten what I wanted to say, initiate beard stroke protocol....initiate student search....]

"Perkins!! What do we find when we integrate over theta?! Quickly now! As I thought! Not paying attention, were you Perkins? When God was handing out brains, you thought he said Trains and asked for a big slow one didn't you Perkins?"

At this point I've either remembered what I wanted to say, or else no one cares anymore and I just move on.

Don't underestimate a good beard stroking.

James.

I use to try to grow a beard and when I did I was envious of Joe Dirt. I grow in red, blond and now gray. I figured out that I am not a beard person. When I did grow it I found it helpful in that it cut the wind and kept me from getting wind burn at work. As for upkeep, I would shampoo it and once or twice a week would add conditioner. The problem with using the shampoo and conditioner, is that when it rains or gets wet you will again smell it. The other problem for me with a beard is that if I needed to cut or weld I would always end up getting sparks in it, burning hair is not a favorite smell of mine. Now I only support a goatee, and that is only to hide the scars from fistfights and hockey, and I keep it short so hand/body soap works fine for that.

Thanks for your responses so far guys.

Ill take onboard the beard stroking lol. When i was actually reading that comment i was having a quick stroke of the beard.... funny lol. Ill make a concious effort not to.

Ome thing mentioned that hasnt crossed my mind before is smell! Im not a smell kind of person... my own farts can set me gagging lol. So for that, ontop of my daily shampooing of the beard im going to have a try of some beard oil.

Looking around some of it is expensive! £19 for 30ml so in Dollars thats something like $30 or so... what to they put in it lol... magic dust!!!

Ill post a picture up when i can and log my journey.

As promised...

Here is a few pics to log my journey...





Please feel free to post up your beard pictures.... there has to be a few of us out there lol

You got more than I seem to be able to grow without self-aborting. How long a growth are these pics.

1st one is at 9 weeks, 2nd one 12 weeks and the last one is 13 weeks... its just gone boom this week! Its going through a shabby stage at the moment.

Originally Posted by tbert33

Thanks for your responses so far guys.

Ill take onboard the beard stroking lol. When i was actually reading that comment i was having a quick stroke of the beard.... funny lol. Ill make a concious effort not to.

Ome thing mentioned that hasnt crossed my mind before is smell! Im not a smell kind of person... my own farts can set me gagging lol. So for that, ontop of my daily shampooing of the beard im going to have a try of some beard oil.

Looking around some of it is expensive! £19 for 30ml so in Dollars thats something like $30 or so... what to they put in it lol... magic dust!!!

Ill post a picture up when i can and log my journey.

Get some Jojoba oil, Argon, Grape seed and Coconut or some variation of that and mix them up, go light on the coconut oil though... this might save you some money if your going to keep your beard
I used Mod Cabin Beard Balm and grooming oil, over the winter, The balm tamed the hairs, and the oil kept the hairs soft. I felt it was a really good product, but expensive for what you get. So buy a beard balm and make your own oil

Originally Posted by Jimbo

What can I say? Since going bald my only hair styling options have been chest hair and beard, and there's only so much you can do with chest hair...

I went full beard over this past Christmas break - started in October, let it grow until around Feb when I got sick of it and shaved it off. That'll probably be it now for the year I think - next time I grow a beard will be after it goes entirely white in a couple of years - see if I suit the santa claus look..

James.

So you thought "yes! Its the summer now i am going to grow a beard, i dont want it for the coler months, that would just be silly " sorry jimbo, just having a bit of fun, back to yhe question at hand, i had a beard once or twice, didnt do anything much with it, just trimmed off the bits i didnt like, which after a month or two was the whole beard. My wife likes the look of a beard, but not the feel, until it gets to the not scratchy length.
I like the idea of a beard sometimes but the reality of the beard is less appealing to me. Patchy beards just make me think of catweasel.

I keep a beard at about 1/3 of an inch. I use my straights to maintain the lines on my cheeks and to shave my neck. I have a dry face so if I don't use a beard oil it gets really flaky, beard dandruff is a no go... I use 4 parts almond oil to 1 part Vit. E oil. Mix in your scented oil of choice (bay rum for me) and your good to go. Is apply a quarter size amount to my beard after my shower. Keeps the beard tame and the skin moisturized.