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Not since in my 20's had I had a beard. Suddenly NuttieDave followed by Jeffrey and DavidN got the ball rolling. So, I gave it a try and like it best as it appears now. That is, keeping it around the 3 week length. Though I am not happy with the photo of myself (as I do very poorly in front of a camera and always have).........the beard seems to go great with long hair.
Funny how a beard almost lends itself to a more powerful look.........the kind of look that when others see you, you are less likely to be a target for theft or whatever. Anyone else ever notice this? Hey........if I saw the above in a dark alley in the night I would walk quickly away "just in case" this guy had any nastys up his sleeve. LOL
For whats it worth.
Justin~
You look great with the beard!
I know the feeling. Most of the time whenever I'm out for a motorcycle ride, I'm wearing blue jeans, black motorcycle boots, black gloves, and a black leather jacket. I must look very intimidating because I've noticed some people keeping their distance as they walk by! Must be the moustache! Yup, uh-huh, that's it! ;)
--Rick
Hehe same with my harley boots and band shirts, and I'm gonna add a camo home made Kutte with patches on it in the spring:P.
-Mihnea
Hey Justin, the beard looks great. It enhances your looks tremendously.
I would suggest a little more length for a bit fuller look. Neatly trimmed at about 1" to 1 1/4" would probably look best. That would be (depending on how fast it grows) about 5 weeks of growth.
Absalom
Looks good, Justin.
It kinda reminds me of Bob Seger when he had long hair. You look good with or without the beard, but the beard does give you that "macho" look.
Best to ya!
Jeffrey.
Hehe, you are experiencing the viking effect. ;)
Just my opinion....it makes the roundness of yourface to pronounced. w/o one you will slim th eface down....but if it makes you feel better....thats all that matters...
Cheers
Hi there Justin,
"For what it's worth", you said? Well, I have to say it's worth a million bucks! It's looking fabulous, I have to say, Justin! That's amazing for three weeks, and I would have to add that the length and thickness of the beard are just right in your picture. It's amazing how much your beard/moustache resemble mine. It's really been a fun couple of months, hasn't it, for all of us.
Thanks so much for mentioning me in your intro as well Justin, that is far too kind and I really appreciate it. I really have to give Bill a lot of credit for getting me started, and Jeffrey started the same time I did, so I really give Bill credit for both Jeffrey and myself.
And did you read that sweet post that Elizabeth made below ("Mouse, are you feeling as left out as I am?"), where she commented on all of us growing beards, etc. I just thought that was wonderful of her, I can't thank her enough.
All the best,
David
(and I really enjoyed the emails we exchanged over the weekend, just hope I wasn't a pest!)
I think it looks really good Justin and compliments your long hair nicely. I think the 3 week old length is perfect.
...where's the headband? Don't let the camera intimidate you. You
have to make friends with the camera...love it, make love to it and it
will love you back.
But actually, YOU are in control...not the camera.
Great update photo!
Your beard looks great, Justin! And yes, it gives you a rougher, more masculine look. Coupled with your long hair, it says, "Don't mess with this dude!"
I had a coworker once tell me that I could walk unbothered through the rough neighborhood where he grew up, simply because people there would not know what to make of me. They pigeonhole people into various categories by what they look like, but he said I had a look that came off both masculine and as a mystery, so they'd leave me alone. For all they knew, I could be a biker in the Hell's Angels, he said.
However I've found in general that, with the long hair and beard, people may love me or hate me, but they pay me much more attention and respect.
This brings you into a new realm of freedom, Justin, and your beard has delivered you there. Welcome!
Bill
Great story, Bill; and GREAT-looking beard, Justin --- and yes, I agree with your and Justin's comments about a beard giving a more powerful look! In fact, I have a story of my own...
When I used to live closer to downtown SF (Market St. and Laguna, for those who know SF), I got increasingly annoyed with the relentless panhandling in my neighborhood, so I developed a rather mean, "eat dung and die" expression on my face every time I had to step outside. This was just an act of self-preservation and self-protection, not really an issue of me no longer caring about people on the inside; but the begging for $$ on the street had just gotten so bad that I found this the only way to walk down the sidewalk without being bothered.
Anyway, one day during the early years of first growing my hair out, a friend and neighbor I knew was trying to catch my attention as I was crossing the street, and had to yell out my name 3 times in order for me to finally hear him. Once I did hear him, I turned around and smiled, yelling back a cheerful, "Oh, hi, Larry!" He then walked over in my direction to tell me something that shocked me:
"You know, Ken, if I didn't know you better, with that long hair and beard, I'd think you were probably one mean SOB, and that I'd better never mess with you!!"
"Me?", I replied, "I'm just a harmless marshmallow!"
"Yeah, but you don't LOOK like a harmless marshmallow!!!"
Anyway, ever since then, I've realized the power of long hair with a beard (lol)!!
- Ken
That's a fun story.
I have found that I get people calling me "Sir" and holding doors for me and asking me if I'm a professor and such. It's funny to me. I guess with a good deal of white hair in my beard I look older than 32.
Bill's observations are keen as well. Bearded and longer hair makes people take notice for better or worse. Lately, to my delight, I have found only better! I think sometimes a black beard like mine is a little intimidating to others, but I am sticking with it for the time being.
I have to agree with all the comments here. I also think that having the beard gives me more confidence over all, I think it's the overall, more masculine look. Even walking through the mall and seeing my reflection in a mirror or window, the look is definitely that of someone you would not want to mess with. (And what is so surprising is how dark my beard is at 7 weeks (close to the maximum length I plan to have it), very dark brown, almost black, with a touch of gray, a lot darker tahn my hair) Many people say I look like Jesus, and others say I look like a biker.
David
That beard looks great, Justin! It's quite interesting to witness the sudden wave of facial hair on the board. That's a very good length for you and suits you perfectly. =)
-James
It looks great, Justin!
I decided on a shorter length, too. I got tired of have my 'stache in my mouth and having it dripping wet when I took a drink. Reminded me of a rottweiller I used to have that friends called "Slobberface". I also got my longer beard tangled on a necklace I always wear (Yow-ich!!)
Lon
I get egg and similar stuff in my beard sometimes, and my partner takes great delight when it is too far from my mouth for me to get it with my tongue. Last week I got some stuff in it way down, and he said, "Your tongue will never reach THAT!" I reached up, flipped the beard up INTO MY MOUTH, and cleaned it off that way! That really grossed him out.
As for necklaces, it's pointless to wear most of mine now. They aren't long enough to be seen because they lie up underneath my beard. Wearing "ring T's" is also pointless.
Bill
It does give you an intimiditaing look... If i were to stumble onto someone with a mug like that i'd feel quite edgy myself. Nonetheless , The beard looks great at its current 3 week mark.
Cheers!
Wow the beard is looking really good, I almost didn't recognize you for a second! It goes great with the hair.
-Mihnea
It certainly transforms your look, it really suits you perfectly. The length you have chosen is very good, I guess mine is kept at around 5 weeks length.
I really hope you decide to keep it, and also the hair is looking superb too - yes you definately have a 'commanding' look there Mr President!!
Very true. The other day I was having breakfast at IHOP with my wife, when these RCMP
officers came in and gave me suspicious looks. I guess long hair & beard plus earrings and black leather jacket fits their profile for dangerous characters. Not that I really desire attention from cops. I may look like someone on their most wanted list but I'm the furthest thing from that profile personality wise.
Great look, Justin, and I share the sentiment.
Ciao!
shawn
(http://www.myspace.com/manlocks) - Mr.Crow's photo archive of growing hair
Looks great Justin!
- Oren
Suits you well Justin!
Bruce
nice going Justin..the beard suits you very well.I don't see any "salt" in your beard that you were complaining about a while ago,where is it? ^_^
Hey
Justin
Im pleased you like your Beard but ill stick to being Clean shaven facial of course as i dont think beards are for me mate
Axel