Chicken or egg, kilt or beard

**Mike_Oettle** · 7th October 11, 12:31 PM

Sevenoaks wrote: “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!”

Calls to mind what happened to my basic training platoon sergeant. He had a magnificently twirled moustache that was his pride and joy. One night at the mess he had one too many, and one or more of his fellow NCOs shaved off one half of it. Needless to say he had to shave of the other half!
He grew it back when he was on leave, though.

And a point worth mentioning to those gents who have tried to grow a beard but found it too itchy: the itch only lasts for a few days.
(The most it lasted for me was two weeks. The last time I grew my beard, it was one week.)
If you give in and shave, you will never know the pleasure of being bearded.
Regards,
Mike

**TheBrus** · 7th October 11, 02:25 PM

Using conditioner on your beard and giving it a good combing will usually relieve the itching.

**Silent Raven** · 7th October 11, 11:17 PM

yes once you get past the itchy period its all good! then i always treated mine like the hair on my head, shampoo and conditioner and a good brushing as well, for shape and to control any beard locks that may form

**Mike_Oettle** · 8th October 11, 10:19 AM

When my beard was growing I would put hot water on it (as I would for shaving), then (without applying a razor) rub a cream of sorts in it.
I still use the cream daily. It prevents the beard from being too dry.
Regards,
Mike

**Bill aka Mole** · 8th October 11, 08:05 PM

I've had a moustache for nearly all of my adult life. Only been kilted for a year.

**Tobus** · 10th October 11, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Mike_Oettle

When my beard was growing I would put hot water on it (as I would for shaving), then (without applying a razor) rub a cream of sorts in it.
I still use the cream daily. It prevents the beard from being too dry.
Regards,
Mike

Not to de-rail the thread, but I've been wondering about beard treatments and such. As I'm growing mine out longer than ever before, I have been wanting to find something to help 'tame' it, condition it, etc. Surely there is a market for beard-specific conditioners and such? Short of Googling it and having to weed through all the garbage, I don't know where to look.

What would be nice is a product that would keep the frizz factor down, help straighten the curly ones and make them lay properly, and keep it all moisturized/conditioned. Anyone got a good recommendation?

**Santa Wally** · 10th October 11, 07:31 PM

You want to use hair shampoo AND conditioner on beards, not body soap. Also, I use "glossing drops". I'm not at home tonight so I can't look at the bottle and be more specific. It keeps my Santa beard soft.

Santa is willing to share his beard care "secret" with XMarkers.

**Mikewood** · 10th October 11, 07:53 PM

Working in plants and refineries I have never been in the habit of sporting a full beard. Had goatees, mustaches while on vacation but I prefer to be scruffy. Wearing a kilt is a seperate issue and I dont see any commonality in facial hair.

**ohiopiper** · 10th October 11, 09:52 PM

Definately beard first for me. I've been bearded since age 16 or so, only been kilted the last few.

**Tobus** · 11th October 11, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by Santa Wally

You want to use hair shampoo AND conditioner on beards, not body soap. Also, I use "glossing drops". I'm not at home tonight so I can't look at the bottle and be more specific. It keeps my Santa beard soft.

Santa is willing to share his beard care "secret" with XMarkers.

Awesome! Love the pic!

I usually just use my shampoo on my head and lather down onto my beard. It's dandruff shampoo, so it helps a little, but I'm really wanting to try something better. My well water is very hard (meaning it has a lot of minerals, especially calcium), and by the time my beard dries, it feels stiff and crusty. I've thought about using my wife's hair conditioner on it, but it smells a little too effeminate, lol.

I didn't have much luck searching for "glossing drops". I'd be interested if you could tell me what brand/product it is that you use.

A little digging online seems to suggest that Bluebeard's Original carries some fairly decent beard products. I might want to go with their "beard wash" and "beard saver" to see if that helps soften it and make it a little less unruly. Anybody tried these?

What's funny is that I'm starting to get random gray hairs in my beard. And when they get unruly, they really stand out. Especially on my chin and way around at the corner of my jawbone.