new thread
Hey everybody!
As I promised Val on his last update, here are some pictures of my latest adventures in the realms of long hair and epic beards!
I am becoming more and more pleased with both the hair and the beard every single day, and I can honestly say I am starting to really like what I see in the mirror... a whole different face than the one that was looking back at me last September.
Hair is growing nicely, but even now after about 11 months from a clean shaved head, it's not at the length I had even at 9 months last time, it's getting there though.
Beard is not at all itching anymore, and I am loving it more and more every day!
What I am concerned about, though, is the initial trimming. There are absolutely no old school barbershops here in Norway dedicated to beards, and since I don' trust any hair stylist with my facial hair, I will have to start giving it shape myself.
Think I might have to use hair scissors instead of clippers, as I really don't want to take too much off, just give it the right "Opie Winston" form.
Hope the picture on tinypic.com works great, you can compare that to my avatar picture here from last September.
Peace!
PS- Feel free to check out my YouTube VLOG, which now documents both my long hair AND epic beard journeys! Have gotten some sponsors, and will soon start reviewing some beard products!
My hair Journey
Hi Raul,
Wow, those are some excellent pictures as I love the nature backdrop each of them has to offer.Of course it wouldn't be complete without naturally growing longhair to compliment the package.Well the one year anniversary is on your doorstep as it seems like only yesterday you had that debacle with the deadlocks.Time really flies doesn't it?I can't recall the exact date myself but can honestly say I'm approaching my 30th year as a longhair uninterrupted.And with that said I'll never go back to short hair my friend.Cheers
Mârk
Hi Mark!
It sure feels really different, in a good sense, looking in the mirror these days, and seeing more hair than bare skin!
I feel I have grown so much since my high fade/pompadour days, and that I am slowly but surely, turning from a kid to a slightly fatter, slightly smarter and a whole lot more content person :)
It definitely feels like not so long ago it was last September, and I had to start all over again, but you know what? I am really happy, in retrospective, that I had to re-start, as it made me appreciate each and every barely noticable half an inch that much more!
You and the rest of the established longhairs here on the MLHH have always been a great source for support, and even if in these days I really need no more support as I feel I could never cut it short again, I am still getting inspired by your pictures and manes!
Would love to see more of you commenting and supporting my channel, which after all, has the same goal and has risen as a direct result of the board- raising awareness and creating tolerance and acceptance for men growing their hair long!
PS- Thanks for commenting and supporting me on YouTube, Fitz! :)
Hey Raul,
Yes I'll try and make a better effort to check out your you tube channel as I'm bad about doing that and the same goes for Justin since I know he's into it as well.I just run outta time when online as I try not to spend the whole day on the computer ;) LOL.
I agree that with age we do mature more but frankly I've never grown up! LOL.At 52 I don't act that age and certainly don't look it.Sometimes I look back in amazement that I've never had to cut my hair through so many decades of my life.I never receive any flak about my hair especially when I took the plunge to henna it red a couple years ago.I just do what makes me happy and can care less what others may think.I'm my own person and look the way I want to.At least age did me justice,I feel, as I still look relatively good and haven't gotten fat.lol.I count my blessing my friend:)Cheers.
Mârk
Hey Raul,
I'm glad that you're feeling more & more with your hair and your beard. You're looking more and more regal.
Keep it growing!
Your buddy,
Raymond
Hey Raymond!
Thanks for the continous support and kind words of encouragement, my friend! Feels good feel the man in the mirror is the one you feel is in your heart :)
Hi Raul,
What a great update for BOTH your hair and beard. You are blessed with great thickness on both fronts, and your hair is showing some good length now. It is going to be even more awesome the longer it gets, and best of luck in your future journey!
Keep it growing,
David
Hi David!
Yeah, I am rather blessed when it comes to hair follicles, so besides my cheeks being a bit thin, no patchiness to mention!
Take good care, David!
Raul,
Your hair is looking great as usual.....it always did look good,
just sometimes you wouldn't believe it.
Wherever you are that is some pretty awesome scenery behind you.
MG,
Thanks man, I am finally starting to feel like I am back to being a medium haired guy, and not a short one anymore, so it's starting to feel more and more natural :)
In the pictures above I was at Norway's most beautiful fjord, the Geiranger Fjord! Make sure to google some pictures, or check my youtube channel out for a video I shot there to see it in film ;)
Raul, your hair and beard both are looking OUTSTANDING!!!!
Also, those are just simply GREAT pics (photographically-speaking), especially with the beautiful Norwegian scenery in the background, really excellent pics!
Don't worry too much about how or when to trim your beard. It's an on-going process, "the learning curve", as folks sometimes call it. For many years I used scissors only in beard-trimming; but then about 15 years ago gave a good quality electric trimmer a try -- and have wavered back and forth ever since (LOL)!!
"Onward & Downward!"
- Ken
Hi Ken!
Thanks buddy, I am really glad I finally have some hair on my face and on top of my head again, as god knows that winter is coming! :D haha
I think I will wait a bit more with the beard trimming, as I am scared to screw things up. I do want to get a specific shape to it, but I also want it to have some visible length, so I won't stress out with that quite yet.
Norway IS beautiful indeed.... feel free to check out my video on the trip right here, bud!
Hi Ken!
Thanks buddy, I am really glad I finally have some hair on my face and on top of my head again, as god knows that winter is coming! :D haha
I think I will wait a bit more with the beard trimming, as I am scared to screw things up. I do want to get a specific shape to it, but I also want it to have some visible length, so I won't stress out with that quite yet.
Norway IS beautiful indeed.... feel free to check out my video on the trip right here, bud!
To get the most warming benefit from your beard, it will need to be about two inches (5 centimeters) long. Since that is four months' growth, I'd agree with your thoughts to hold off on beard trimming. Four months from now, it will be November!
A full beard (no substantial trimming around it, like under the chin) of that length coupled with long hair that is shoulder blade length or longer will equal about one layer of clothing when it comes to keeping you warm. Also, at night with that much hair you will never have cold air getting under the sheets. Hair all around your neck will plug any gaps that would let cold air in!
Bill
Hehe... Bill, you jokster you! :D
I was more being funny about the warmth than anything else, I could never stand to be so furry ;) hehe... Glad you are enjoying it though!
Hey, I live in freezing San Francisco, not a warm place like Norway! Today it cracked 70°, the hottest it's been all week. [grin]
B
I see no freezing temperatures on your graph Bill! The upper 50s is pretty nice :)
-Tommy
Yeah, we're really spoiled here, and we don't complain a bit! We get none of the hot weather or cold weather that just about everyone else gets. So we joke that 55° is freezing, and 75° is sweltering hot!
San Francisco is on a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by cool water. This gives us a very level temperature. Our high temperatures in the winter are only 12° colder than our highs in the summer. I've only seen it get below freezing once in the 35 years I've lived here. It got down to 30° one morning just after daybreak.
I remember once Victor Engel complained to me that it was unbearably hot one day in August in Austin, Texas, where he lives. I replied, "When it gets too hot in the house here, we open the windows. Have you thought of trying that?" Yeah, I know, we're cruel...
I did live in Chicago for a few years, and I've camped out a lot at upper elevations in the mountains, so I have experienced cold weather. That is where I learned how valuable long hair and a beard can be in keeping warm. And here in San Francisco, where one would normally need a light jacket, my hair and beard enable me to often go without. Very convenient!
Bill
In San Francisco, water freezes at 50° and boils at 75°. :-)
- Oren
Here's another shot of the beard, felt really good and tidy this morning :)
Hi Raul,
As you should! You are looking very nice here! Please keep it growing my friend:)
Ted
Thanks buddy!
Hi Raul,
Fantastic update with beautiful scenery! You are well on your way to longhairdom.I agree with your comments on the awkward stage... Do what you have to do but no cutting allowed!
Bruce
Hi Bruce!
Thanks for the comments on the pics, and for watching some of my videos! I am definitely holding out and in another 6-8 months or so, won't have to worry about it so much anymore, and just enjoy!
Hi Raul.
it's a great start. Keep on going!
A.D.
Hey A.D!
Funny you should call it a start, when I feel the first year has been taken.. a YEAR, hehe... Thank you!
Thanks for the update Raul, I enjoyed your pictures and video..
Glad you both had a good time...Keep it growing! Looking great!
The Spaf Man
Thanks buddy!
Hey Raul, wow your beard has really filled out fast! The scenery is also great around you. I live in a very flat part of the country so its a treat to see mountains for me!
-Tommy
Tommy, bro... thank you :) Beard sure is growing like there's no tomorrow, and despite it being even more curly than the hair on my head, I am really starting to get attached to it!
Feel free to add me on instagram of you are using it, @raultaylor is the handle!
Lots of love from the mountain filled norway, brother! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Looking just great, Raul!
Love the beard/bear combo - grow grow grow!
- Oren