Going, going, gone.

In spite of my commitment to style, and even though I am one good-looking bearded dude, I decided it is finally time to say good-bye to the mass of growth on my face.

I have accomplished a lot these past few months and I have achieved more then most men ever dream of.  I am proud of what I have done.  But like all great things, it is time to move on.

You can see from the different photos below that my beard was indeed a fine example of what a beard can be.  A man should not be limited to a clean-shaven face – raw skin is for hands, or elbows – or maybe why some men go bald.  But the face – the face is a place of growth and male expression.

Figure 3 is the “horned” look.  Notice how the beard neatly parts down the middle, allowing room for the skin underneath to breath.

In figure 4 we find the “wild” beard.  Not a traditional look, and clearly only a style appropriate for a humid (or possibly very electric) day.

My decision to trim my beard down to size was one I did not take lightly.  Ultimately it was rooted in practicality – in my unending love for my beard I couldn’t keep my hands off of it.

I would pull and tug, contorting my face into new and strange shapes.  True, I still looked good even with the extra strain, but my face was starting to hurt and I was causing concern amongst the people around me – so I opted for change.

The transformation was painless, although it did leave emotional scars.  Now all that is left is a pile of fluff.

But alas, I can always grow it again.

September 8th, 2008 Beards