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Hey guys, I know this isn't exactly to do with long hair but I know alot of you have beards too, and I'm more comfortable with this board than I would be with a beard one cause I've been reading this one since I was around 13 :)
Anyway I tried to grow a beard last summer (I got given out to when I tried in school so I had to limit it to June, July and August) and it didn't grow much but I was only 18 in August so maybe this summer it will grow fuller and also beards will be allowed in university so I can keep it up as long as I want :D
Do you guys have any advice for growing beards, tips ect?
I'm going to let it grow naturally in June when I get out of school, how long do you think it would be by late September early October when I start college? Does facial hair grow faster than head hair?
Thanks everyone, keep growing!
Hi Cillian,
One thing to keep in mind is that "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Because as you grow a little--or a lot older, the facial hair fills-in and gets a bit more dense and so on. Even for guys in their 30s and 40s etc. Treat it like they say on this board: let it grow! Shampoo/condition as you would your hair. Don't cut weird patterns; just let it take off and see what happens. It is kind of a genetic thing, so find out what your genes hold in store for you. Remember, your genes might add much more when you are a bit older. Sure, there will be the usual pressure from parents and work to "shape up", but give it a go, and enjoy the progress. Personally, I think mine grows at about the same rate (1/2 inch per month). I am now in my 5th month, and this is the longest I have grown, ever--due to the usual pressures.
Best of luck to you, and if you are interested, check out the site: BeardedGentlemen.com for all things bearded.
-Daniel
Opps, here is the correct link:
http://beardedgents.ning.com/groups
The advice for beard-growing is about the same as for hair. Just don't shave it or cut it for a while and see what happens, at least for a few months. Once you see what comes in and how thick, you can decide how to define it or trim it for a certain look. That is, how far down your neck you want it to go, how far up the cheeks, what length you like, etc.
Lots of guys your age are not going to have reached their beard potential yet though. mine thickened tremendously by 20-21 from not much at 18. It may be that it is sparse along the jaw line and filled in more around the mouth. Don't let this dissuade you though. If you grow what you can, I still think it looks better than no beard at all ;-) It's just my idea of aesthetics, but a youthful beard that isn't all developed yet looks appropriate; that is, what you can grow is naturally suited to your appearance at your age, if that makes any sense.
I think that beard hair grows at about the same rate as head hair, maybe a little faster. If grown all summer, you ought to have a nice beard by the fall.
There are lots of pictures to get ideas on beardcommunity.com where you don't have to be a member to view them, and http://jefffsbeardboard.yuku.com/ is a good board too that actually has a teen section, though you'll be past this soon.
My beard hair grew at the same rate as my head hair did. Four months of growth will be two inches of beard if you get the usual "half an inch a month".
The advice for getting a beard long is the same as for getting your mane long, and the #1 item of advice for both kinds of hair is "Don't trim it!"
If your beard does not grow in very thick this year, don't fret too much. Some guys don't get thick beards until they are about 26 years old. Others get them at age 14. Which you get is genetics and nothing else, of course. Your genetics will also determine how thick your beard ultimately is, how long it will grow, and where you will have bald spots on your face, if any. Some men never get much facial hair, and that CAN happen to you, of course, but we'll for your sake hope that it does not!
May your beard grow thick and keep you very warm!
Bill
My beard couldn't really be called a beard until I was about 25 or so. It can in all patchy and stuff. All I can say is kept trying. Let it all grow out and then trim it up like you like it.
Paul
Hello Cillian,
My beard grows at about the same rate as the hair on my head.
Both grow at about 0.6 inches per month.
My mustache grows a bit slower.
At age 18, I could barely grow a goatee.
- Oren
Thanks everyone, thanks Daniel and Matt for the links, they will come in very usefull :)
Thanks Oren, Paul and Bill also, and yes I hope it does keep me warm, it snowed in Cork today which is at the very south of Ireland, this hasn't happened (properly where it stays on the ground) since I was around 12, I even built a snowman, haha! :D
Even from only letting my facial hair grow over the weekends I can feel that it's coming in thicker from my stubble so I can only hope this summer I'll get a better one..oh and the bad thing is no girls liked my attempt at a beard last year :( Most guys thought it was cool however, it's usually the other way around with head hair the girls usually like it and the men don't..confusing stuff, ah well
Thanks again everyone!
Hi Cillian,
once again, pardon for writing back, but I am slow to realize you are writing from dear old Ireland. All my family came to America from Cork. Not a smooth journey, but none of us ever forget our ties to Ireland. Thanks for your question, and I hope you got answers. Best of luck in growing out.
Here from the "new world" sending you good thoughts from Oregon,
-Daniel
Thank you for the kind words Daniel! Some day I might visit America as I've always been very interested in native American culture, in many ways the Native American people share a similar fate with the Irish!
I hope you and your ancestors have happy memories of Ireland, here is a song dedicated to all Irish emigrants
Peace and love from Cork
Thanks again Cillian,
The link was quite funny, in that the hairstyles of the 70s were so crazy. WELL before you were born!
I do hope you get to The States. The American Southwest is an amazing place. No doubt you will come by way of some of the grand cities that Irish immigrants have made a huge impression on. I am thinking of Boston, New York and San Francisco. Other readers here will doubtless add their cities, but these in particular, bare the stamp of the Irish especially. Some came because of the famine, others for opportunity, and some for the California Gold Rush, and made San Francisco the city it is today. (the new movie "Milk" is set in the backdrop of an Irish American neighborhood known as The Castro, now a gay 'hood).
I was surprised by the spelling of your name. It's a famous name here, only spelt with a "K", and famous because of a BEER, Killian's Red. I will attempt to add a photo below. I am sure they will be selling a lot of it shortly, for the St. Patrick's celebrations in a few weeks. I know the feast day is not so big in Ireland, but here, of course it is an excuse to drink beer and be "Irish Nationals" for a day. Even if you are black.
The links to the bear sites I mentioned have some historic photos of Irish beards of long ago, and should be "inspiration" for your beard/longhair future.
Keep on growing!
-Daniel
Sorry that photo did not work. For the whole story, check out:
http://www.georgekillians.com
turn on the sound for the full thing.
If you visit BEAR sites you will find quite a few beards.
If you visit BEARD sites you will find even more! [wink]
Bill
HI Bill,
Oh, good EYE! Freudian slip, I suppose. That will teach me to push "send" too quickly!
Thanks for that.
-Daniel
Yes I imagine the 70's would have been a far more interesting time, more individual anyway, I think the hairstyles are cool :D
In the Irish alphabet there is no letter k (or j, q, v, w, x, y and z) but Cillian is indeed prounounced as Killian, it is, as we call it, the anglecized spelling of the name, though some people do spell it that way, I suppose it saves them from being called Sillian by non natives or those who aren't familiar with the name, haha! :)