Grew a beard. People treat me differently.

just remember, with great beard comes great responsibility.

I've just started, almost a week in. Not sure how it's going to go, I have the start of what looks like a pretty solid beard. I will definitly shave my neck this weekend, I have a pretty bad neckbeard going on and it looks pretty homely. I'm giving up on the ladies for a bit but who knows, maybe they'll like it.

+1

I am going through the same exact scenario right now. I do shave the neck area once a week though to make it look more attractive but, I haven't shaved the face for the entire month of November. (Mainly for fun.) I've done the mo randomly throughout the year, but never a bear. I hate the way they feel. Other guys do now pause a second longer in front of me for either conversation or whatever. The bosses seem to like it and my family really likes it, especially the older males around the the Thanksgiving table. Now, I don't know if I should shave it off for a race on Dec. 1 or leave it on. I feel like if I don't leave it on I won't run to my best abilities so I'll probably shave it off later after the race.

Thank you for sharing your experience, very interesting. I have a question regarding

I did the old-school "No-Shave November" to raise some money for prostate cancer research.

Why would someone give their money if you grow a beard? How did you find sponsors?

I had a pretty good beard for 3 years. I got a LOT more looks from women, that is for sure. I finally shaved it because it was getting too gray in the chin area. I look about 5 years younger without it.

To ARIZONA: I've grown it out a little before, but never a full-blown beard.

This is me wrote:

Why would someone give their money if you grow a beard? How did you find sponsors?

I made one post to Facebook and I have raised like $160 so far. Mostly friends who donate $5 or $10 for a laugh. No big deal. The whole point is for a lot of people to raise a little money. No one expected anything in return except to see me not shave for the month.

My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. He had surgery and looks to be fine, but I would assume that is the reason most people gave money, not the actual beard. For the record, I didn't really do much to raise money. I posted one status update on the 1st of the month and people randomly gave money when they saw me. I'll post again at the end of the week to let people know where their money has gone.

That's cool!

people always treat women with a beard differently too....but not in a good way. :(

OP, all historical male figures worth respecting maintained some sort of facial hair. The exception is colonial/independence times, where facial hair briefly went out of fashion (think George Washington). You're merely experiencing what's buried in most individuals' subconscious: your beard is what makes you a real man.

Dudes respect you. They'll do stuff for you because they see you as someone to look up to and gain traction with. They also notice the 'alpha'-rays that your beard emits, and those with freshly-shaven baby faces are particularly vulnerable to feeling inadequate when exposed to the radiation (or radiance) of your beard.

Women notice it too. Your full, thick beard marks you as an ideal specimen whose genes would combine nicely with hers to create robust and sturdy offspring. Further, your beard represents a warm place to snuggle her head against during cold winter nights in a cave - though she wouldn't be able to identify it as such and merely thinks, "gee, what a sexy fvcking man." It's not surprising that your wife despises the beard. She understands that it makes you attractive to other suitors, and should one come along that find more suitable for sex, she may be out of a mate. She will try at all costs to get your to shave it - via insults, force, etc. Be wary. Her friends are confused. They see your beard and are attracted to it, yet they must defend their friend and her beliefs. This is dangerous because their attraction will build until they can't resist any longer...

So, yes, you can shave it off if you like, but you can no longer rely on ignorance to get you through your journey. You know that real men have beards, and pu$$y betas have baby shaven faces.

Maybe keep the full porn mustache?

That is a great post. Thank you. I might save it and show it to my wife.

I can relate to the OP here. Who would have thought that doing nothing (except a weekly shave of the neckline) would command so much respect from other men and attract many more looks from women. I suppose not everyone can grow the full beard, but I sure am enjoying it.

If you show that post to your wife she will either slap you or leave you. It's a great post but it is not something you go show your wife.

Dennis Reynolds wrote:

If you show that post to your wife she will either slap you or leave you. It's a great post but it is not something you go show your wife.

You're wrong. I showed her and immediately received a Blo#@*b.

Don't shave it.

Just keep it trimmed up nice.

You get more looks because you probably have a pretty disgusting looking face and/or no chin. Without a beard you look terrible but with a beard it hides the awfulness.

CVS stock room boy wrote:

I had a pretty good beard for 3 years. I got a LOT more looks from women, that is for sure. I finally shaved it because it was getting too gray in the chin area. I look about 5 years younger without it.

Fantastic answer. I believe I'll keep mine for a little while longer.

I'm a little younger (30) than the OP but I have a similar experience to share.

I found that with facial hair I attracted an entirely different demographic than without. The younger girls (18-25) stopped paying attention to me but the older ones (25-40+) would always take a second glance.

Take it for what it's worth.

Interesting thread. I always seem to feel some interest in growing a beard, although I have only done it for short periods. Not sure what the reason is. The wife hates the idea, though.

I've had a similar experience - people took me more seriously when I started shaving my head instead of keeping my hair shaggy. I first noticed while refereeing a soccer game. When someone wanted my attention, it went from, "Hey ref," to, "Excuse me sir," almost overnight.