When I shaved my beard a week ago, I got a number of responses. I was told it took a “little” age off my face. I was told it took “10 years off my face”, and, by a freshman-year-of-college roommate, that I looked like that 16-year-old boy from that year.
I was told by someone that, as much as she hates facial hair, and even given that most of the time we were close I had been clean-shaven, that I looked bizarre without it.
I was told I looked scary without it.
I was told that it was “just like a man” to grow a beard and then shave it arbitrarily.
I was told by n people, where n was surprisingly large, that I looked much cuter with the beard. n-1 of those comments were by women.
I got exactly one comment that I looked better without it.
But all of those, as interesting data points, were entirely outweighed by the fact that I looked strange to myself, and that I really missed what it did to the shape of my face, and I missed being able to stroke it thoughtfully. (Bearded men do that not as an affectation. It’s more like having a worrystone in our pockets, and turns into a tic.)
I announced that I was growing it back. And I got two inquiries — from women, of course — wondering how long it took to grow a beard. One would be an answer by email. Two — blame my education if you wish — suggested a study.
So, skip this post, of course, if you don’t care. But I decided to document it.
I have the first six days’ pictures prepared, which I will put in the comments, so that it doesn’t overwhelm people who read this on a feed.
So, here we go:
Subscribe by email
‘Twould have been good to correct for lighting, yes? And now you know what my pajamas look like.
I am also unable to conjure a less-flattering angle for me than looking upwards at my jaw.
The latter is ~8 hours late — because I’m scatterbrained?
There are some frakking flattering photos in this thread, non?
(Note to self: practice mugging for webcam.)
The beard is finally reaching the “came back from camping trip” stage instead of “just woke up from a blackout bender”. Maybe I’ll lose the neck beard today and get to “must not be very good at growing a beard”.
Hey! I’ve found the person who likes and cares about this thread! Thank you!
Getting there!
This is also from Day 12, but I sculpted it for the first time tonight. My face is finally starting to look “right” again. #gah #nevershaveitagain
Aaaaaand … we’re back!
3 ½ weeks. Rock on and fuck off. In a nice way. Or not.