You're the definer of your own beard.
Me, I care not how others view me, hence the picture recently captured of me playing with two of my granddaughters-

 

You're the definer of your own beard.
Me, I care not how others view me, hence the picture recently captured of me playing with two of my granddaughters-

You look nothing like the guy in your profile picture, but you do have a familiar look.

 

If it will hold a comb in place unassisted then it is a beard.

 

Hold a beer a pipe is more like it when you are setting next to a camp fire.

 

Intent.

For mot of us (males), "growing a beard" is unintentional and inevitable. "Having a beard" is a conscious decision, no matter what stage the beard is in when the decision is made.

EDIT: Although I do like the comb criterion!

 

When you have to trim it because it's getting out of control (trimming to hide the thin spots doesn't count)
Or, when you don't remember what you looked like without it.

 

Or, when you don't remember what you looked like without it.

Haha! Reminds me: when I was a pup, I worked in bar/restaurant in CO. One day, Ken, the bartender, came in without his beard, and proceeded to frown and plop things down a little harder than necessary... clearly in a bad mood, despite several "Hey Ken, you shaved/looks good" etc. kind of comments. One of the waitresses asked what was wrong and he said "When my wife saw it, she said (and he imitated a whiny female voice): 'I don't like it!'"

Then he said: " I was fine with that until I realized that's my face she's talking about!"

 

It's a beard thing...you wouldn't understand.

 

I claim ignorance.

In my 45+ years, I have never sported the hair ware in a style that could be mistaken for a beard. The best I've managed until now was the "letting myself go" look. It pisses the wife off because I'll do it while on vacation. She'll ask why I get cleaned up to just to go back to work but look like a hobo during family vacations.

 

When people ask you to move your beard out of the way so they can read what is on your shirt.....

 

a comb? how about holding those bits that fell from my last meal...yeah i'm keeping those!

 

Week 6 for me, cheeks are still weak but it'll fill in eventually. Wife hasn't complained one way or another so I'm letting it go until I'm happy with it then just maintenance.

 

Since the 17th for me. No 'stache or neck beard, just the jaw line and pre-existing soul patch.

 

I'm at around 4 months. Took a while to get past the aggravating stage where I would normally give up. I love having a beard except for the maintenance. Has to be brushed or combed multiple times daily. I just keep a comb in my wallet.

 

I've had a beard for many years now. I keep it trimmed up for evenness but it's still pretty long. Prepare for stupid people asking you about Duck Dynasty if you let it get long enough. I've held back from giving out many throat punches.

 

That is very annoying. I've had one on and off since before duck dynasty.

Kcult, I'm still in the growing a beard stage, always have been. Work use to would only let me keep a short goatee. Lately I've been letting it get longer in the winter. When my daughter can braid it, I might consider it a beard. I may leave it on in the summer, IDK

 

Currently letting mine go "mountain man" style. No maintenance and no trimming minus those damn rogue mustache hairs that take a turn up your nose or inside your mouth. My 3.5 year old son calls them tickle whiskers...they do a damn good job of that and the beard will stay until he stops laughing.

Disclaimer: I am a stay at home house Dad, my wife loves me no matter what I look like, and the looks I get from all the "mom's" at my boys school is well worth the price.

 

http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/04/p...2/04/pentagon-study-finds-beards-directly-proportional-to-combat-effectiveness/

A real beard is created when the beard starts having a real life and killing terrorist on its own. Mine would leave me while I slept and go on mission without me.

 

When your beard goes off to make Dos Equis commercials without you, then you have embraced the lifestyle. I don't remember what I look like without a mustache and barely without the goatee. Wearing the full growth now. I have at times toyed with mutton chops but not in many years. Only my late father could pull off the mutton chops and make it look cool.....but them was the 8 track years.......

 

I just shaved off about 4 days' worth. All that used to be red is now white; that which was once brown is now grey...

Only my late father could pull off the mutton chops and make it look cool.....but them was the 8 track years.......

Much cool has passed under the bridge since then!

 

Its all in the steps of the beard.

step 1.
You look like a teen trying too hard.

step 2.
you look like a flaming **** (George Michael)

step 3.
go F%^k yourself response to the beard.

done.

 

I had a beard for almost 17 years till I finally realized how old it was making me look. In this pic I'm 43.

So I just shaved it into a goat.

Now when it starts to look too much like a beard again I shave. I hate shaving.

 

Do you look like a Duck Dynasty reject?

 

My wife has never seen me with out one.
been married for 24 years or something like that

 

I wore one of those mustache goatee thingies for a couple of years. It was thick and all white. My mother-in-law, who is offcially old, told me it made me look old. I guess it takes one to know one, so I shaved it off.

I did sort of like the fact that no one recognized me. Anonymity has its rewards.

 

This is a real man's beard.....

 

This is a real man's beard.....

View attachment 95386

I've been making that face since Thursday night, I've had a stomach bug so I've been crapping my brains out. But what's your excuse?

 

Is it not age that makes you look old?

who gives a rats ass if you are 43 and look 40 without a beard...
you just turned in your man card.

 

Nope it ain't age.
With Beard, manly lumberjack

Without beard, goofy 2 year old

 

I have a basketball shaped head. Thanks dad

 

Op opines the question "are you growing a beard". Short answer is yes, every day. I hadn't really thought about it until now but mine has been growing for 32 yrs. Now I wish in had never trimmed it back. Lets see...on the avg a beard grows 1/2 inch per month - 6 inches a year x 32 years = 16 ft. Maybe it's a good thing to trim a little. That would be baaad to get it caught in the belt of my scooter.

 

It takes me about two/three weeks to grow a beard.
It's a beard when one has to look to see skin under it.
Wife prefers it short, I don't especially care, but I am pretty lazy about maintenance.

 

All men have a beard, whether they shave or not.

Jedediah Smith shaved every day during his eight years as a mountain man.

I don't shave at all... not one square centimeter!

 

I just have one added when I choose......