50 Ångströms / second
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:
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15 Responses to “50 Ångströms / second”
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August 3rd, 2010 at 22h00
‘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.
August 6th, 2010 at 05h59
The latter is ~8 hours late — because I’m scatterbrained?
August 6th, 2010 at 06h03
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”.
August 8th, 2010 at 22h54
Hey! I’ve found the person who likes and cares about this thread! Thank you!
August 9th, 2010 at 20h31
Getting there!
August 9th, 2010 at 21h47
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
August 10th, 2010 at 21h04
August 13th, 2010 at 08h28
August 14th, 2010 at 22h31
August 15th, 2010 at 07h46
August 16th, 2010 at 15h16
August 20th, 2010 at 15h01
August 20th, 2010 at 15h02
Aaaaaand … we’re back!
August 20th, 2010 at 15h10
[...] to my beard, that is. The quote I gave to the original inquirer was “a full beard in two weeks and a very full beard in three.” Use of the words [...]
August 24th, 2010 at 22h36
3 ½ weeks. Rock on and fuck off. In a nice way. Or not.