Kilts & Beards

[M. A. C. Newsome]

With the exception of one month when I went clean-shaven (couldn't stand it for any longer), I've had my beard since I was 15 years old. When I was in college, I used to keep it rather full, several inches long. I also had very long hair then. Looking back on the pictures now, I look like Sasquatch! (Now I know my kids will laugh at these pictures in a few years, the way I used to laugh at old pictures of my dad from the 60s.)

I keep it neat and trimmed now, because my wife appreciates it. Neither she, nor my kids, have ever seen me without the beard. I might grow it out longer again at some point, but for now I have grown to also appreciate the discipline of keeping your beard neat and trim. There is an art to it!

But, basically I believe that it is ever man's right to grow a beard! How unnatural to have to scrape a razor across your face every morning to get rid of the growth! A beard is what separates the men form the boys, as it were. Men should feel comfortable displaying that. (I'm not saying every man should grow a beard, just that everyone who wants to should feel free).

I understood that the trend towards clean shavenness was spurred on by the Roman military's proscription against facial hari, and requirement to keep the hair on the head close cropped, so that the enemy wouldn't have anything to grab hold of in battle.... But I suppose vanity could also play a role -- wanting to look younger for those young ladies! (That's actually why I started keeping it short -- I couldn't get a date from a girl my age in college, because everyone thought I was about 10 years older than I was! I trimmed it up a bit, and shortly thereafter met my future wife! Who'da thunkit?)

M

[Blu (Ontario)]

Growing a beard is the only (socially acceptable) option open to men to alter their appearance. (Short of plastic surgery, that is.) It's also seen as a symbol of maturity (as Glen pointed out). Best of all, it's free.

[Sciuropterus]

I hate shaving, but have no interest in having a beard as my father has one, that's reason enough for me not to ever want one. Any time I have excess facial hair, it is a result of neglect, not cultivation. I was a sign & display artist for ten years and always had to be clean-shaven because I wore a paint respirator mask on a daily basis.

[Robin]

I look smart without a beard.

[Archangel]

I look smart without a beard.

I look way too smart with one, I'm usually mistaken for a philosoph prof? The reality is most days I don't want anything that sharp that close to my throat that early in the morning, ha.

My wife had an argument with a woman like Prester John met up with about my beard. The woman said it was against the Bible, dw said Jesus had one, woman said no, dw said how could it claim the guards pulled it out if He didn't have one, the woman retorted, "Not my Jesus!" Go figure.

Mine's not a religious beard, it's just Scottish procrastination and practicality, simpler to cut every two weeks when I do my ears than waste time every day arguing with God about my face. Hmmn, back to that, oh well.

[Bob C]

I've had a mustache for almost my entire adult life. I grow a beard when I feel like it and shave it off when I feel like it.

Right now, I feel like having a gray goatee, so I do. Well, maybe I wouldn't have chosen gray. It is what it is.

[jfellrath]

I just have a goatee, but I used to have a full beard. I just like the look of a goatee. I originally grew my beard when I was promoted to a management position at my old company and I realized that I wasn't being taken seriously because I have a baby face (plus I was just a few years out of college - I was 26-27, I think). The beard helped a lot, it made me look older and mature.

I actually shaved it off at one point, but it gave me food poisoning and I had to miss an MLS playoff game. I was so disturbed by the fact that I had a burgeoning double chin that was revealed by the lack of scruff that I immediately went on a diet - soups and salads for lunch. Something in one of my salads made me sicker than a dog, and the playoff game was that night.

So I am living proof that shaving off your beard can be hazardous to your health. Leave 'em on.

[Riverkilt]

I didn't grow my first beard until my early 30s. I loved it. My weird shaped face suddenly had balance to it and I "looked" like a Scotsman. My beard brought out my heritage. Loved it.

Back then, in the '70s was in corporate American and the beard caused some hassles...some thought I was trying to be a hippie....was working NYC and the east coast in the dry goods business and some of my Jewish customers started calling me the "Goy Rabbi" after a coworker taught me a few words of Yiddish.

Shaved it off to apply for a promotion years later and was nearly frightened by what lay underneath and promptly grew it back.

I shaved it again in early sobriety in 1990 for "a change." When I looked in the mirror afterwards I was horrified to find my long dead father's face staring back at me. Again, I grew the beard right back.

Holier than thou folks used to say my beard was "hiding" the real me. I'd counter that no, shaving off your Creator given whiskers is hiding the real you.

I do trim my cheeks and still shave my neck for comfort. Overall I really like wearing a beard and I do like how it looks with kilts.

And, somewhere along the line I became a graybeard....

Ron

[Iolaus]

And, somewhere along the line I became a graybeard....

When I met my wife,ten years ago, I could count the grays on my chin (5 - 10). Now, if I were to cut it back to a goat, the way I used to periodically, there would be more gray than brown; the sides are what keep my face looking younger!

I'd shave it off briefly, just to see what that would do to my "visual age", but my wife won't let me; she whines if I trim it to short - says it affects her libido.

[bubba]

I have a different problem. My wife hates my beard. She says when I had one it was like kissing a porcupine. My whiskers never soften up and are like wire so I shave. The choice is either the beard or kisses. The beard loses.