Tag Archives: beard care

Chris’ fierce beard: growing stronger

Chris, with his fierce beard, made his debut in the featured beards section six years ago. Since then, Chris’ thick beard has been growing stronger. He grows an eye-catching luxuriant beard that is the envy of many an onlooker. In this update you’ll see that his beard is bigger than ever before. In addition, Chris discusses how things have gone with his beard in recent years and how he cares for and maintains his beard in top form. A new photo gallery featuring Chris’ beard is included below after his interview. All photos appear courtesy of Chris.

Also, since Chris was first featured here on All About Beards, he has gone to graduate school and earned his MBA in executive management. Click on any of these photos to view a larger version:

Chris’ beard update interview

Do men still mention to you that they wish they had a beard like yours?

I honestly get comments like that almost every day. My friends and family roll their eyes when it happens. But they’re just jealous of the attention. Ha ha.

Does your beard still get you a lot of attention?

We recently had a new executive join our team. And when our department had the opportunity to meet with him, he opened the meeting with a comment that mine was the best beard he had ever seen. He closed the meeting with another reference to the beard. Needless to say, I inspired several new beards in the company that day!

I am happy to report that I’ve been able to merge my bearded appearance with my corporate persona successfully. My favorite story was one day I was on the elevator with our VP of HR. He asked me if I planned on keeping the beard… a short pause that felt like an eternity gave my mind time to wander… “I’ve never had any negative comments about my facial hair at work, but here we go…” He broke the silence with, “I definitely think you should. You know, I had a beard once…” And he continued to tell me about his previous experience. I encouraged him to try it again and he is now part of the bearded brotherhood!

From a flirting standpoint, let’s just say yes, the beard still delivers…

Have you kept your full beard continuously since the time of your beard feature?

I did shave my beard completely off once since my last appearance on the website. My mom is one of the few people who prefers me bald faced. I shaved for her 70th birthday as a gift. After the birthday month was over, the beard growing resumed.

Chris starts growing his fierce beard again after shaving for his mom's birthday.
Mom’s birthday party’s over: Chris starts growing his fierce beard once again.

Have you gone bigger or shorter with your beard in the recent years?

Compared to my featured pics, my current beard size is definitely bigger. It varies. But even on the smaller end of the scale, it’s bigger than back then.

Have you settled on a more-or-less permanent beard size and shape?

My style has been a little refined over the years… short mustache (my hair is too stubborn to go handlebar), long in the front, squared off at the bottom, keeping the sides trim, and then tapered from back to meet the length of the front.

Are you still trimming and shaping your beard yourself or do you ever utilize the skills of a professional?

I do let my barber trim my beard.  But it’s usually a joint effort. If I want a major trim, I’ll do it first, and then have him clean it up. Or, for a regular trim while I’m getting a haircut, I’ll trim a bit when I get home. He just opened his own shop, and I’ve sent him a lot of business over the years. I even did a photo shoot for the shop. You’ll see me on his website, Single Barrel Barbershop, and I’m the first pic they ever posted on their Insta.

What’s your beard grooming and maintenance routine?

I shampoo and condition my beard every time I’m in the shower. I try to use quality products that are sulfate free and have a decent oil content. Then I towel dry.  I apply a generous amount of beard oil (I’m crazy about Duke Cannon right now) and brush it out. If I’m looking for a more styled appearance, I’ll use a styling product like a beard balm. I keep a brush in my truck so I can touch up before heading into my destination.

Do you have any beard-care secrets that might benefit other beard growers?

I always keep my beard smelling good. People love a well-groomed beard that smells delicious.

When trimming and styling your beard, also consider your hairstyle. If you’re going to have a big beard, your hair should be trim and tight as a contrast. I love getting a tight fade on the sides. It makes the beard stand out even more!

Is your beard still inspiring other men to grow their beards?

Absolutely. Some of my friends tag my pics with #beardgoals .

Would you say that your level of enthusiasm for your beard has changed over the years?

At this point, my beard is a big part of my personality. The only reason I could see shaving would be for a future milestone birthday gift for my Mom.

Chris’ new beard photo gallery

Click on any photo below to view a larger version.

Be sure to see Chris’ original beard feature:

Chris’ fierce beard, featured image 1
Chris’ fierce beard

Add some new zing to your look and your beard for spring

It’s time for spring — north of the equator, that is — and it brings longer days, warmer weather, and maybe a new beard style! One of the great things about having a beard is the ability to change it up whenever you like. Maybe you’ve kept your face nice and toasty with a big beard all winter but are now ready to trim it down or switch to a different style for a lighter look. Below, we’ve come up with a list of ways in which you can do a little spring cleaning to freshen up your facial hair style as well as other aspects of your grooming program.

Consider new beard ideas for spring

If you’re the kind of man who likes to keep his beard the same all year long, that’s great!  We salute you.  However, springtime represents a time for renewal and fresh starts.  Changing up your beard can transform you with a fresh new look. So if you’re game for a beard change, there’s no time like the present.

While we always strongly advocate for the full beard for those who are capable of growing the full beard, you can still change up your full beard while keeping your full beard.  If your full beard is still wild and woolly from the winter growth season, lightening it up with a trim down to a shorter length can give you a sharp new look for spring.

beard for spring image 2
Trimming your full beard short can give you a lighter feeling and a sharp new look for spring.

If you feel like making an even bigger change to your beard, consider switching to another style such as a goatee and mustache combo. Or go for the similar yet bolder extended goatee.   Maybe now would be a good time to have fun with a temporary switch to the chin curtain.  Check out our beard style guide and select a style that you’d like to try.  Or be creative and design your own unique beard style.

Develop a skincare routine

A great beard needs a solid foundation. And a healthy beard comes from healthy skin. Harsh winter weather may have left your skin feeling dry and flaky, which does not provide the greatest grounds for growing and maintaining facial hair. The good news is that this can be quickly corrected with the proper skincare routine. The first step is determining your skin type. The American Academy of Dermatology lists skin types as follows:

  1. Sensitive skin may sting or burn after product use
  2. Normal skin is clear and not sensitive
  3. Dry skin is flaky, itchy or rough
  4. Oily skin is shiny and greasy
  5. Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others

Knowing your skin type will give you a better idea of which products you should use. Always use skin care products that are gentle on your skin that will maintain your face and scalp as clean and healthy places for hair to grow.  If you are in doubt about your skin type and which products would be best for you, it’s a good idea to check with a medical professional.

Maintain your mane

In addition to a facial hair change-up, many men welcome the warmer weather with a new hairstyle. Whether you opt for a shorter cut or a new hairstyle altogether, there are plenty of products out there to assist you in maintaining the hair on your head. Like skin, hair types vary depending on the individual and this determines factors such as how often you should wash your hair and which products you should use. For some men, growing hair on the face comes much easier than growing hair on the top of the head. If you’re in this boat, there’s no need to worry! Something as simple as switching up your hairstyle is a quick fix and will give you the confidence you need to look and feel your best. Following a diet full of foods that are rich in nutrients and vitamins is a great way to support healthy hair growth as well.

Invest in the proper tools

You can do everything right when it comes to the beard-growing process, but if you don’t have the proper tools to maintain your beard, you won’t look your best. Investing in a quality beard trimmer is key to keeping your facial hair looking its best at all times. While there are plenty of beard trimmers on the market from which to choose, when selecting a beard trimmer you should shop around and make your purchase based on the features that will best suit you and your facial hair.

The same goes for choosing a proper razor. If your new beard style is one that means you’ll be doing a lot of shaving, like with the goatee or chin curtain, you’ll need a quality razor. If you don’t want to bother with getting razors at the store, you might consider getting razors via subscription. Many companies now offer a basic plan in which you can tailor products and tools to fit your needs. This allows you to try out their products and then decide what’s best based on your shaving needs.

Overall, it’s pretty easy to create your new look for spring. Shedding your cold-weather style for a fresh look will leave you looking and feeling great just in time for the new season.