I have been a “beard guy” for the past 11 years and have consistently groomed it for the past 8. I take a lot of pride in being a self-styled beard aficionado. There are many things I have gotten right in my life. Pursuing a career as a freelance web designer; if nothing else I get to grow an epic beard, marrying my wife Carol and of course growing an amazing beard. I get noticed as soon as I walk into a room. I get acknowledging nods from other ‘beard guys’ and I get asked for advice a lot especially by men just starting to grow out their facial hair. The best piece of advice anyone can ever offer you is to get a good beard comb. Growing a great beard requires a lot of deliberate and focused attention, and getting a good quality sandalwood beard comb is a great place to start.
I started growing out my beard by accident really. I was going for a different look at the time. I was in a relationship that was on a spectacular downward spiral and there wasn’t much any of us could do save it. My beard was just one other thing that pissed off my then-girlfriend. I’m not proud of it but I got a lot of satisfaction just from how much she hated my budding beard.
Soon after that relationship ended I started combing my beard with my regular hair comb. At first, it was just something to do. It’s weird but it helped to calm my nerves. It sounds a little OCD but counting the brush strokes gave me some comfort and a feeling of control at a time when I felt like everything around me was falling apart. Conversely, this little habit that I had picked up by accident meant that I always had a perfectly groomed beard.
Grow Your Mane!
The moment I realized that I might be on to something special was the night that I almost got into a bar fight. I’m not a particularly big guy. I have never even been in a fight before except for that one time in fifth grade against a girl named Louise. Let’s just say that I learned a very valuable lesson that day; there is no starting bell in a street fight.