Reset Password
Reset Link Sent
| Blogs > VenusRedux2 > Conversing with the Divine |
To beard or not to beard ... men, how did you decide on your facial grooming style?
|
To beard or not to beard ... men, how did you decide on your facial grooming style? Being confined at home, I have watched a documentary about beards. There is WAY more going into men's decisions in this regard than I ever gave them credit for. While boobs, curves, and hair are the domain of women, clearly signaling even from a distance my gender, beards and facial hair is the dominant visible gender identifier in men. Nothing screams manliness more than facial hair. The way a man grows his beard says a lot about him. The problem is, the language it's speaking is incomprehensible to me. Some men have mustaches and beards for cultural reasons. Others for professional reasons. Yet others it has religious significance. Their wives' preferences in this regard usually scores dead last in the reasons. I'm not offended by this, it's your body after all. What I found most interesting is how little men talk about this … especially considering how much thought each and every man has put into it. I'm a black woman. When there's enough black estrogen in the room, we start talking about hair, it's just what we do – "Girl, your hair looks amazing, is that a C3? What kind of curls is that?" But men never talk about their equivalent grooming in regards beards, at least not that I've ever heard. Why is that? Especially considering this is just as complicated to my uninitiated ears as black hair is to white men. Hey, even I can't stay on top of black hair, so how do you guys stay on top of beard styles if you never talk about it? Even those to elect to be clean shaven have long-winded explanations as to why, and that's fascinating to me. I asked my husband while we were watching. He would prefer to sport the light stubble look. However, he is clean shaven for "professional reasons" (I have to put that in quotes). He has perpetual 5 o'clock shadow, even after he's freshly shaved. Shaving too much irritates his skin, and I often have to tell him not to shave so often. Granted, I personally love love LOVE a freshly shaved man – still smelling like shaving cream and aftershave – face soft and smooth, yet still leathery and manly. Swoon! In other words, I would be helpless to defend myself against the pervasive sexual harassment from the Mad Men guys. But after the .com bubble of the late 90's, the Mad Men look is no longer held as the "professional standard." But then again, I work in women's retail, men aren't really applying, so I never consider that when hiring an employee. Are men worried that facial hair might be holding them back in job interviews? I've never really gave it any thought. How is this viewed? Recent trends among sports figures shows full bushy beards making a come-back. I can't wait for this trend to pass. I'm ambivalent towards goatees, sometimes I really like them, other times I hate the look. I like pencil beards on black men, but I find it weird looking on white guys. And I find that all looks can be professional looking to my eyes, as long as it's being maintained properly and not getting scraggly. What I really want to know is to hear from the guys here as to why you chose to groom yourself the way you did. What are you sporting? Clean shaven? Goatee? Pencil beard? Rugged stubble? Full bushy beard? How long does it take you per day to groom it properly? For all the claims that "it's easier this way," is it really easier? What made you decide on that look? Details please! |
||||
5/6/2020 8:08 pm |
- I've gone to shaving every three days now, and grooming a bit of my hair so it totally doesn't look as though it's gone awry is my usual protocol since being on lock down, and choosing the days I decide to venture out toward civilization. M~
| |||
5/5/2020 12:54 pm |
Quite simple for me. When I have a beard women are extremely interested. When I don't have a beard they aren't. Beats me why. My facial hair grows quickly and thickly (not unlike other parts  ) so it does look nice. I have a full beard but its trimmed close.
| |||
5/5/2020 11:55 am |
How funny, I just read the Blog: "Points of Interest" A list of interesting trivia I guess u would say and this was on the list... 10. Guinness estimates that 93,000 liters of beer are lost in facial hair each year in the UK alone. Well now u know why I don't grow a beard .....LMAO! Interesting post!
| |||
|
I’m clean shaven because of work but on vacations I grow it out What you can do in two weeks anyway. Wife likes it too except the first couple days of sandpaper. Maybe when I retire I’ll grow it out some but no Santa or Willie for me. 
| |||
|
I suppose it's what he wants - it's his face... Some men will shave his pubic hair, but not his face. Some will even shave all of his body hair off, and his head too - but then he grows hair on his face...  I suppose for some women, there is a question of what's kissable, and what might draw you in closer - or what just not as approachable, and may keep you from getting closer... Personally, if he really wants hair on his face - I might be able to think of a better way....lol  
| |||
|
i used to have a mustache ever since i was 18.... had a beard off and on. When i had a Mistress, i was told that She wanted my face as smooth as her pussy... NOW .... who was i to argue. couple times i tried to let it grow and she put me in chastity. i never tried that again. so from that time , forward, i am clean shaven. i much prefer to eat pussy after sex without hair ... mmmmmm
| |||
|
I have worn a trimmed beard for the last 40 years. I raised a beard for the same reason that I started wearing a hat (not a ball cap) when I was 16. I did it as a form of individualism. I shave the areas on my cheeks, bottom lip and neck a minimum of once a week. About every third week, I trim it back to about half an inch at the same time that I cut my hair. Thirty years ago, I had a clean shaven man tell me that I should give lessons to the associate pastor at his church. Seems that the pastor had a long scraggly beard. I think that I spend less time on maintenance than clean shaven. Once a week versus every day. The once a week might take a little extra time over a daily shave, but not twice as long. So 5 days' time per week not spent. I never felt that the beard was an issue in how clients accepted advice on my job. Or in how colleagues felt about my thoughts and input on any given work topic. Sort of like tattoos, but not nearly as difficult to change your mind. Yes, the beard shows my age (it is gray), but tattoos fade and skin might stretch, making the tattoo look unattractive. A clipper and a razor will fix the issue of a gray beard.
| |||
5/5/2020 9:39 am |
I'm a white male, about to turn 48, and I'm been sporting a full beard (4-5 inches below my chin) for many years now (although I do shave it off once a year for a break, but begin growing it back after a couple of weeks). My facial hair grows really fast. Maintenance is important. I wash it daily, comb it, and apply beard oil or beard balm depending on the length (oil when it's shorter, balm when it's longer. The balm has some control to it so that it doesn't go all frizzy). Then I brush it. Whole process only takes 10-15 minutes in the morning after my shower. The beard oil and balm are very important to moisturize not only the facial hair, but the skin underneath. Without it, a beard will become so scratchy it will drive you and your partner completely nuts. The soap I use is all natural and is a charcoal soap made locally, but I'm sure similar products can be found at your local drug store. I also like that it's black. It's a guy thing. lol. My wife actually prefers me with a beard. She hates when I shave it off and will actually refuse to kiss me for a few days afterwards, which is fine, I prefer the beard.
| |||
5/5/2020 8:59 am |
Clean shaven here since gave up the moustache decades ago. My view is beards are a sign of vanity on many guys. With some, it is identity. The hippie types and tree huggers. Goatees are the ultimate vain guy look. Like manicures on a guy. Designer stubble.. the same. Who can be arsed to preen to that degree every damn day. Shave it clean.. easy and quick or grow it to your damn knees. Like Dennis Miller once said about bisexuality.."Pick a hole and get off the fence!" LOL
| |||
|
Comments please! I really want to know.
|
Become a member to create a blog
