Comments on: I don't want to look like a facial hair newbie

Question: I don't want to look like a facial hair newbie

econous — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 08:14:40 -0800

I want to grow a beard. Or a chinstrap or a goatee or something. But I don't want to look like a facial hair newbie. Are there any websites out there with good photos of different styles and tips and such?

This question asked for someone else via AskMeQ.
I found a goodly number of questions related to beards but none requesting sites with with good photos.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 08:32:45 -0800

Before you try to plan your beard, you need to just let it all grow out to see what sorts of beard your face/follicles will let you have. There's no sense in planning, say, a Van Dyke only to learn that your moustache doesn't reach your chin.

By: brinkzilla

brinkzilla — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 08:38:18 -0800

If you are thinking about growing a beard, it might be fun to join Wiskerino
for 2007! There are some great beards on the 2005 edition and everyone is going through the beard growing and experimentation at the same time.

By: CMichaelCook

CMichaelCook — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 08:59:45 -0800

There are photos (and everything else you'd ever want to know about bears) at Beards.org.

By: muddgirl

muddgirl — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:02:54 -0800

I agree with FoB - the first step is to take a long weekend and just let your facial hair grow out. Note the spots that don't grow hair - this will limit your styling! A good friend of mine dreams of sideburns, but the hair grows in too patchy on the sides of his face, so he's stuck with the classic goatee.

By: nathancaswell

nathancaswell — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:12:34 -0800

Please, for your own sake, don't grow a chinstrap. For the rest of your life you and everyone you know will have to live with the knowledge that you once had one.

By: twistofrhyme

twistofrhyme — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:23:29 -0800

seconding nathancaswell, chinstraps are bad news. please, no more goatees, either. they are looking super-lame these days. david brent lame. do not manicure your facial hair, please.
go for a beard, beards are great.
as are sideburns.

By: mzurer

mzurer — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:32:42 -0800

This might (not) help.

By: 0217174

0217174 — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:22:03 -0800

What the hell is a chinstrap?? Is that like Billy Mays from the oxiclean commercials? lol.

By: DieHipsterDie

DieHipsterDie — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:51:59 -0800

A chinstrap looks just like it sounds. A patch of hair where a chinstrap sits. Popular amongst 17 year old boys into cookie monster metal.

By: DieHipsterDie

DieHipsterDie — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:55:50 -0800

Actually, chinstraps are popular among teenage metal heads and the amish.

By: nathancaswell

nathancaswell — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 11:03:09 -0800

Don't forget college-age jock douchebags wearing overly shiny silk shirts and entirely too much Acqua di Gio on the way to club night in their parents' BMW.

Also, I agree with twistofrhyme on goatees but I would like to go on record about sideburns: without a beard they are a NECESSARY EVIL. Please do not go overboard.

Also, do not over manicure. You will look like a doll.

By: stresstwig

stresstwig — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 11:55:53 -0800

What most people do (and what I recommend) is to let it grow out for at least two weeks before attempting to sculpt it at all. I usually go at least a month before doing anything with it. And then, at this point, you will probably see if you can either do a full beard, or, as is more common, a van dyke. And even if your moustache does not connect to your goatee, it still looks pretty rocking and is easy to maintain. However, just don't accidentally fall prey to the bloatee.

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 12:30:40 -0800

nthing the recomendation to let it grow and see what it looks like, then decide. Chinstraps are cool if you are Amish, but otherwise look goofy. I'm thinking of getting rid of my pudding ring. I was the first white male in America to have a shaved head and goatee. Now that every other balding male has copied my look its time to move on.

By: cardboard

cardboard — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 13:35:51 -0800

To dissent, I would recommend doing at least minimal trimming on the neck and cheeks from the start to have a clean hair line and to avoid looking scruffy. This way you look like you're growing a beard and not just "not shaving".

YMMV depending on how hairy you are though.

By: scratch

scratch — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 14:29:18 -0800

Something to aspire to.

By: rob511

rob511 — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:07:36 -0800

You would probably be well-advised to eschew the dreaded neckbeard.

By: nevers

nevers — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 16:03:29 -0800

Here are some styles, although I'm not sure there are any you'd aspire to nowadays.

By: subtle_squid

subtle_squid — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:21:39 -0800

good advice to find out where your beard grows properly. I wanted some proper civil war mutton chops so bad but alas they grew in full of holes.