Beards...man!

[Dave]

Hey Dudes,

So, I've been like growing the full beard for a little while. Always had this have beard goatee thing, now since I'm an unemployed University Student at age 35, I thought, Fuck it...you know...why shave?

First I hated it, now it's like it's becoming part of me. It's meshing with my identity.

Any advice from the Dude Elders who have had full beards for years?

Do you have to like maintain the fucker?

Abide Well my friends!

[meekon5]

As I've said before, treat it as well as you would hair else where on your head and it will treat you well (shampoo, conditioner, at least every couple of days).

[Lao Dude]

I have a problem with growing a beard in the area just above where the cheeks hit the chin area. I can grow an Abe Lincoln but that's about it...although the sideburns come in nicely. I suppose it could be the Cherokee in my ancestry. I wonder if Rogaine works for facial hair.

[Rev. Ed C]

Mine is o-natural.  My hair's never done well under chemical influence, so it just grows and maintains itself.  A little light watering doesn't do it any harm, but a good brushing is a help (especially when your beard hairs are up to 11 inches long).

Then again, I've always found it easy because when I did used to shave I hated it, can't do with the smooth facial skin or the stubble, got to be hair for me.  Much easier to abide a beard when you feel it's your natural state of being

[Tripnastic]

As I've said before, treat it as well as you would hair else where on your head and it will treat you well (shampoo, conditioner, at least every couple of days).

This is it exactly.  In the shower the shampoo goes on my head, then down to my beard.  Just makes sure you rinse it very well or the dried soap will look like dandruff when you scratch your chin!

[meekon5]

This is it exactly.  In the shower the shampoo goes on my head, then down to my beard.  Just makes sure you rinse it very well or the dried soap will look like dandruff when you scratch your chin!

Yep been there Trip.

Have to check the shirt front every time I scratch just in case.

[Outer Element]

I have a problem with growing a beard in the area just above where the cheeks hit the chin area. I can grow an Abe Lincoln but that's about it...although the sideburns come in nicely. I suppose it could be the Cherokee in my ancestry. I wonder if Rogaine works for facial hair.

I've known dudes who've use it for facial and chest hair. Not sure about its safety, but I think it works. Here's a discussion at the top of a google search: http://jefffsbeardboard.yuku.com/topic/862/Rogaine-Experiment. Plenty of other stuff on it, too.

[4weeddude]

I have had a beard 80% of my life .... yeah lots of maintance.... but less than shaving everyday...... and it does'nt itch as much ... I like a long beard but there are many related problems the main one is keeping it out of your food or whatever you may be working on.....

[Rev. Gary (revgms)]

With me beards come an go, full, goatee and bare. Had one full beard all winter, down to goatee now. Never grew it out too long though.

[Rev. Ed C]

Having a long beard is great, because it basically replaces my necktie when bound and braided up   Got it just the right length to touch the top button of my waistcoat!

[Caesar dude]

Not too sure about this thread!

When I was a kid I just grew and grew my hair....I hated it being cut...absolutely detested any fucker coming near me with a pair of sharp scissors....I'm not too happy about that happening to me now to be fair!

When I joined up at age 16...there was only two of us in our platoon who actually needed haircuts...we all had to have them but me and my mate were first!

I then had thirteen years of No. 1 grade and looking fucking hard!

So when I left I decided to grow my hair...didn't want the beard....fuck that took some time! I reckon 2 years to get back to shoulder length and be able to put in a pony tail...and oh the indignity of the in between times...when the hair was just damned annoying....brushing into my eyes etc....

I must say that hair got me into a fair bit of trouble.... I wasn't so dude like then and was prepared to fight more than say "Fuck it let's go bowling" People thinking it was funny to pull my pony tail etc....generally ended in them walking away with a nose bleed!

I was in a very "high profile" job at the time and first impressions mean a lot! I had the expensive suit and the knowledge and experience but I wasn't taken seriously until I'd had a haircut! I actually got banned from going onto a UAE Military Air Base until I'd cut my hair.....on orders of the Base Commander, a Brigadier  who I'd had a lengthy and productive meeting with!

My boss told me the commander had called him and mentioned my hair and that it would be prudent if I got it cut....my boss (Mohammed) then removed his gutra (arab headgear) to expose his flowing locks!!!

I had a haircut!

Peace dudes. 

[Rev. Ed C]

Damn those military guys.  Army, all about the push-broom tashes
I work for/around the Royal Navy and you do see some beards once in a while, but there are many who are in awe of mine and think it's the best thing since Nelson was pickled.

A gratifying moment for came the other month, actually...

You don't often see many multi-ethnic/multi-faith people around on my base from within the British forces, although being an international training hub we do get a lot of officers from the Middle East, Singapore, Brunei and many predominately Caucasian countries coming to stay in my mess.  In fact, we have so many Muslims coming to train with us that every single piece of meat we prepare in our galley is halal certified, ritually slaughtered and officiated, because it's easier than having a big stash of it separately.

So, you can imagine my surprise when a couple of young RAF officers turned up, and one of them was quite obviously a Sikh.  If the tightly-wrapped purple turban wasn't a giveaway, his beard was as long as mine, but only from the chin, and completely unfettered, flowing in the breeze.  Was a glorious sight to behold

That being said, a mate of mine told me a story about a matlot he knows who put down on his joining form, initially as a joke, that his religion was Rastafarian.  When he decided to grow his hair out, he obviously got a bollocking for it, until he pointed out he was officially registered with the Royal Navy as being a Rastafarian, and no they were unable to make him cut his hair

Of course, when I'm asked if I was ever in, or ever considered joining the forces, I simply tell them that I used to serve with the Ancient Norse Navy, when it was all longboats.  Ah, the stories I can tell about me and my old oppo Beowulf...

[meekon5]

First page of Beowulf (from wiki):

As I've just commented in the office the Internet is actually a wonderful thing occasionally, I would not have even thought to go and look for this.

[Lao Dude]

Having a long beard is great, because it basically replaces my necktie when bound and braided up   Got it just the right length to touch the top button of my waistcoat!

I like your style Rev..question..what is that shirt/jacket you're wearing in your profile pic? It reminds me a a Zen monk's robe.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/rhed_c/1.jpg?t=1260479905

[Rev. Ed C]

Having a long beard is great, because it basically replaces my necktie when bound and braided up   Got it just the right length to touch the top button of my waistcoat!

I like your style Rev..question..what is that shirt/jacket you're wearing in your profile pic? It reminds me a a Zen monk's robe.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c16/rhed_c/1.jpg?t=1260479905

It is, sadly to spoil the mystery, simply a black shirt.  I was in fact no even in costume at that point, for the roleplaying had not yet begun!