Tips for Growing a Beard

Tired of the hassle of shaving every morning, having to spend the money on shaving cream, razors and after-shave? Hate it when you nick your face? Or do you just want a different look these days? Consider growing a beard to see how you look. It will make you look a little older and smarter; or just rough and rugged and possibly dangerous. All of these are good things in different situations. However, there are a number of different tips that should be kept in mind, which will help you to successfully grow a beard.

The Ability to Grow Facial Hair

Most guys can grow facial hair all over their face. Some even grow too much and begin to look a werewolf. However, there are a number of, shall we say folically challenged men out there who can't grow facial hair. Or can grow facial hair but only in patches or scraggily bits, making them look like some creature straight out of Lord of the Rings. So the first thing to do is make sure you can actually grow facial hair. You'll know after the first few days of not shaving. If its scattered or basically non-existent, just stick to shaving for the rest of your life. It's better for all of us. If you can grow facial hair, keep reading.

Grow It Out, Trim It Back. Repeat.

Facial hair is much like a healthy lawn that is cut to the right length repeatedly: if you cut it a little on a regular basis, it will grow back stronger and fuller. Do this with your beard that you are growing. Let it grow a little long and scraggily at the beginning and then trim it down to a shorter length. This will require scissors which will be painstaking and not very precise or a beard trimmer which will be easy and precise but might cost you a little bit of money. Try borrowing one if this is a test run on the bearded look.

Stick With It

This is the most important tip when it comes to growing a beard. People will make comments about it that you might not like, but that's usually just because they are jealous. If someone really thinks you look bad, they will pull you aside and tell you in private or just passive aggressively not say anything. Regardless, ignore anyone else's opinion about your beard. Also, don't pay attention to the nagging feeling you look like Grizzly Adams or Francis Ford Coppola in the 1970's. Just enjoy the freedom of not having to shave all the time while all these other "slaves to the clean cut establishment" have to do it every morning.

Test It Out on Vacation

If you're worried about how your beard might look, among bosses, clients you work with or just friends in general, then you can always test it out when you are on vacation somewhere, preferably another country, where no one will know you. Give it at least a couple weeks and then see if you want to keep it. It could be a nice surprise for everyone when you return.