Chicken or egg, kilt or beard

[J_Mimbs]

But sadly i just got a job in a deli and can only have sideburns so it all went away.

I too worked a deli for a while. They let us wear beard nets, which let me keep facial hair but were itchy and awkward. And I often got confused with the other bearded man in the department, much to our mutual chagrin.

[Silent Raven]

I too worked a deli for a while. They let us wear beard nets, which let me keep facial hair but were itchy and awkward. And I often got confused with the other bearded man in the department, much to our mutual chagrin.

my deli only allows side burns no longer than the bottom of the ear and mustaches that dont go beyond the lip, but im not a fan of the lonely mustache and with nothing on my chin my visual age drops about 6-10 years depending on who you ask. every one at my job though i was bout 18 or 19 when im almost 26

my dad has also almost always had a beard since i was a kid, i think ive seen him shave it off just a few times leaving only his soup strainer. so its kinda an homage to him, although my grandfather was always clean shaven.

[Grizzly]

Macroberts Reply and Tobus I think that you may be getting somewhere near the truth. You both express in terms more eloquent than I ever could valid reasons why I believe that there is a high proportion of bearded Kilties. I fullly understand the expression of individuality and the not wishing to follow the crowd ethic. I consider that I am not one of the followers of fashion or do I believe that I have to have the latest Nikes or Prada this or Gucci that. I am who I am and am happy with that. If I shaved off my beard would I still wear the kilt, yes I would. would it change me, no .

In essence Kilt wearers are individuals who are proud of who they are and the heritage that they represent and that for me is good enough. There are still a lot of beardos though.

[Mike_Oettle]

Unlike many of the guys here, I would say my attachment to the kilt and to being bearded have a connection of sorts.
I developed a profound distaste for daily shaving while undergoing nine months’ army training in the year I turned 19.
But I didn’t have enough growth to justify a moustache or other whiskers, so I carried on shaving the following year.
In 1970, the year I turned 21, I was in a job where beards were banned, but I felt it was time to grow a moustache and experimented with sideburns. I have kept the moustache ever since.
The following year I stopped shaving the day I started a new job, and my regular civilian appearance since then has been bearded.
I first got kilted at a regimental camp in the year I turned 20, so I was clean-shaven.
And when I went to a camp in 1971 (I had just turned 22) I shaved it all off because the army did not permit beards, but travelled in my army kilt.
But when I next went to camp in ’73 I reported for duty bearded and kilted, because the Chief of the Army had issued an order permitting beards. However my commanding officer and regimental sergeant-major both disliked beards, and made me shave.
In ’75 I went to camp armed with a medical certificate, and was allowed to keep my beard. The same happened in ’76.
But in ’77 the regimental medical officer disallowed my certificate and I was forced to lose the beard one last time.
I had persisted in being bearded while in uniform because I felt the beard went well with the kilt and the tam o’shanter, and made me look more Scottish.
So it was a disappointment in ’75 when I reported kilted and bearded for a church parade and was taken off the parade by the RSM.
Although I have been bearded but not kilted since leaving the regiment in ’78, and only took to kilt-wearing again this year, in my mind the beard and the kilt are part of the same attitude of defying convention.
Regards,
Mike

[piperchris]

Beard, sideburns & mustache all came years before the kilt. But I must say they look great together and are quite fitting!

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Moustache since my twenties, goatee since my 30's, full beard starting around 3 years ago. Got my first kilt(s) this year, and looking at the Highlanders of Scotland pictures here, realized unruly facial fur went with the kilt from a long ways back.

[Gael Ridire]

Mustache since 1973 after boot camp. Kilt came in 1989. 2000 put on disability and meds made me gain 60 pounds, haven't worn kilt since, but grew beard since 2005. No connection.

[Downunder Kilt]

Started growing a beard for work in 1982 in the Police Force, had all sorts of beards over the years. Only time I shaved was to get married in 1988. Left the Police force in 2000 and have had all kinds of beards since. Nothing to do with kilt wearing.

[sevenoaks]

I worked all my life in the petroleum Industry and had to be clean shaven so a Gas Mask would seal on my face. After retiring I grew a full beard but ended shaving it off for a few years. I then grew a "stash" and people liked it... so did I. I kept it and tried shaving it off after a couple of years. Mostly because I tried trimming it after a few drams of 15 yr single malt ... I could not get it even so it was gone! I missed the feeling of it now and it is back and back to stay.
&*&^%$ "single malt" and an evening of "relaxation!"
Hmm... maybe I should blame the razor.

[EagleJCS]

Moustache since starting university 24 years ago (had to be clean-shaven in high school). Haven't shaved my upper lip clean since. Started kilt-wearing just 10 years ago. No relation.

Actually grew the moustache as a sort of unspoken family tradition. The first-born male of each generation has grown a moustache for at least the last 6 generations (that's how far back I have photographic evidence for it). Tried growing a beard, but it just made me look heavier than I actually am.