Grow Your Beard!

          Growing a beard is one of the most diverse felt things to do in the world. To start, when it comes in it’s, of course, lacking in visual appeal and can be quite irritating, especially if you’re not used to any type of facial hair. Then there’s all the itch you start to feel, followed by the potential different looks you will get. But if you break it down, growing a beard is much like trying to get in better shape, or becoming a bodybuilder just not near as strenuous. Then there is trimming, hydrating, cleaning, grooming. Why, on Earth, would anyone want to do such a thing? Well, because there is something to be said about a fine looking beard whether it be short, long, medium, goatee, mustache, etc.

          Growing a beard, like the aforementioned examples takes time, consideration, care, and discipline. There is no real way to cheat it, but a little later I will tell you how you can speed the process and also eliminate some of the hassle. Something I wish someone would have shared with me. Why these things are such secrets, escapes me. Could be because most grew up without a father, or some people just want the knowledge to themselves. As I have mentioned before though, I am here to share what I know. I person changes the world by sharing their knowledge and having it passed along.

          When you have decided to start looking into growing a beard, one of the most important things to do, is hydrate the skin. This can be from your favorite lotion in the beginning and all the way to when your beard is still a ¼ inch long. This can also be in the form of an essential oil of your choosing. Why is this important, well think of it as growing a lawn. You can throw as much seed down as you want but if you don’t water the dirt, the seeds will die. So, keep that skin healthy and moisturized in the beginning and it will help with the growth as well as prevent excessive flaking down the road. Also, for the love of God, and you sanity, DO NOT SHAVE. If you have a general idea of where you don’t want your beard, i.e. below your Adam’s apple, or too close to your eye, then feel free to go ahead and hit these spots, but do so with extreme caution. Don’t go too high and get too close to the Adam’s apple (you can get this with a shape up later) or too low on your cheeks, again this can be shaped and lined later. You want the natural growth of you’re beard to show so you can determine how it will grow in as well as how you will be able to shape it up.

          Now that it’s had good growth, you want to start looking at beard products. This may seem like a gimmick of sorts, but I promise you it isn’t. I thought the same way at first, ‘I don’t need products especially for my beard and face, I have shampoo and conditioner and lotion’. Well, there is something different about beard products, I can’t tell you what, but once you start using them you will definitely tell the difference, even with the shampoos. I do know, the lotions tend to be a little thicker it seems like, and I am presuming the oils have something to do with what is in them, i.e. sandalwood, teakwood, spices, etc. Your new beard, and skin underneath  WILL thank you when you start using the proper products. Here are just a few suggestions that I love to use. All of these may not work for you, as everyone’s skin and hair are different, as well as scent preferences, but after years of looking, buying, and wasting money, these are what I’ve come to like. Also, invest in a really GOOD plastic comb (more than 10 dollars) or some wood combs, and a good beard brush, which will have natural bristles and be a little stiff. Even though your beard isn’t that long yet, you will want to definitely start brushing it which will help get those beard oils and lotions deeper to the root and skin to ensure proper skin hydration.

          Congratulations, your beard should now be about an inch or more long! I don’t want to put a time frame on this because everyone’s hair grows at different speeds, and how disciplined you were with the hydrating will play a huge part in this. It should be at least 3 months though. Now, it’s time to start looking around and seeing what different shapes of beards there are if you haven’t already determined a how you want to shape it. As well as getting a better idea of how long you want to actually grow it out. If this is already too long for you, I implore you to give it another month after shaping it up to truly determine. At the end of the day though, it is YOUR BODY YOUR CHOICE. It’s about time we get to start utilizing that saying now, isn’t it? Let’s also briefly touch base on one outside factor though, your job. The thing we all typically hate going to, but life is, unfortunately, dependent on money. You may have to tailor your beard to fit the job. This is extremely unfortunate, and you have my condolences. There are only two options though… 1. Trim your beard to acceptable “company standards”, which can be a very broad definition so go in and talk to your boss or HR about it AFTER you have trimmed and shaped it, this could help make your case if you wish to keep growing it. The rule could have been set for someone who would look like Grizzley Adams. 2. Start looking for a new job. That’s it, unfortunately.

          After about six months, you now have your beard. It is clean, hydrated, and potentially at your ideal length. You know what you need to do to keep it looking good, and what you need to do to keep it growing if you choose to do so. You have joined the bearded brotherhood, now you need to make sure you do us proud. There will be people who love and adore it, and there will be plenty who think it’s atrocious and needs to be gone. Unless this is your wife and it tickles her a little to much in certain places, leave it be and put all of them out of your mind. This is something for you, and possibly her if she enjoys the tickle! It should make you feel manly if you didn’t before, or it should at least keep your neck warm in the winter months. It’ll make your memories of little ones tugging on it or laughing because it tickles their faces as you kiss them good night. Be proud of it, be proud of yourself, and keep it bearded and beautiful.