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retro beards

Retro beard: Professor James Sturgis Pray

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Retro Beards poster: Professor James Sturgis Pray

A pioneer in Landscape Architecture and a beard grower: Professor James Sturgis Pray

Born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 26, 1871, James Sturgis Pray was raised and educated in the Boston area. His landscape architecture career was also based in the Boston area. He was a pioneering leader who helped develop the foundation for formal education programs in the field of landscape architecture and guided the profession in its early stages.

James Sturgis Pray was married in 1901 to Florence Mabel Nichols. The couple had two children: Benjamin Sturgis Pray and Frances Motley Pray.

James Sturgis Pray apparently was an avid beard grower. It’s unknown when he grew his first beard and whether he remained bearded continuously from there on out. In the handful of photos that I found of him, he always had his big walrus mustache along with some form of beard. The photo of Pray in this post shows him fully bearded, with the walrus mustache. Other photos have shown him apparently with only the mustache and a goatee. At least one photo showed him with the walrus mustache, the goatee, and with the rest of the beard and sideburns maintained as thick stubble.

Retro beard: Professor Jame Sturgis Pray, featured beard image 2
Professor James Sturgis Pray with his full beard, including his Walrus-style mustache. This portrait of Professor Pray was published in newspapers in 1916. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-21565]. Click on image to view larger.

The photo above was published in various newspapers in 1916. That was thirteen years before his passing in 1929.

Education

Chauncy Hall School, Boston, Massachusetts

Young Pray was an outstanding and popular student.

  • 1887: Won gold medal in drill sergeants’ competition. Pray also won the Chauncy Hall Association gold medal for being voted “best boy in the school” by the other students.
  • 1888: Received captain military commission.

Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts

  • 1891: Began his studies at Harvard.
  • 1894: Withdrew from Harvard for health reasons.
  • 1896: Returned to Harvard to resume his studies.
  • 1898: Received his A.B. degree, designated “as of 1895”.

During 1897 and 1898, while at Harvard, Pray pursued specialized studies at the Lawrence Scientific school and Bussey Institute. These studies helped to pave the way for establishing the new profession of landscape architecture.

Professional Career

Private practice

  • 1898 to 1903: Worked in landscape architecture at the firm of the renowned Olmsted Brothers.
  • 1903 to 1918: Pray had his own firm: at first solo, and later with partners.

Landscape Architecture education

Overlapping with Pray’s private practice was his growing career as an educator at Harvard. Starting in 1903 as an Assistant in Landscape Architecture, he became an Instructor in 1903, an Assistant Professor in 1905, Department Chairman in 1908, and then Chairman of the Council of the new Graduate School of Landscape Architecture. In 1915 he was appointed the Charles Eliot Professor of Landscape Architecture, a position he held until his 1929 passing. Earlier, in 1928 he resigned as the graduate school chairman for health reasons.

Professor Pray was not only a trailblazer in the creation of educational programs for the emerging field of landscape architecture, but he also taught the first course in the United States on the subject of city planning. This first course led to the development of a degree program in city planning at Harvard. Professor Pray also supported education programs for women and encouraged them to enter the field of landscape architecture.

Professional activities

Professor Pray was involved in a wide variety of activities related to landscape architecture and nature.

  • 1896: Listed as secretary of the Columbine Association which had been formed recently to campaign for the columbine to be officially adopted as the National Flower of the United States. As secretary of the Association, he was widely quoted nationwide for making the case for the columbine flower.
  • 1898: Elected as a member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.
  • 1899: As a member, Professor Pray attended the American Forestry Association‘s national convention in Los Angeles, California.
  • 1902: Confirmed as a councilor for the Appalachian Mountain Club.
  • 1911: Became a Trustee of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He also served as Vice President from 1913 to 1915, and President from 1915 to 1920.
  • 1913: Became the first Vice President of the new Boston Society of Landscape Architects and was President by 1914.
  • 1917: Traveled to Fort Riley, Kansas to present a preliminary overall plan for a “soldier city” to house fifty thousand soldiers.
  • 1920: Listed as a Trustee of the American Academy in Rome, Italy. He later worked to establish the first Fellowship in Landscape Architecture at the Academy.
  • 1921: Went on a tour of all national parks and national monuments for the purpose of preparing and presenting an unofficial report to Stephen Mather, Director of the National Park Service.

Legacy

Professor Pray was a true pioneer in the development of the field of landscape architecture and the educational programs to maintain and advance it. His leadership was exemplary. His influence spread far and wide. His students spread his teachings even further. They demonstrated and taught Professor Pray’s ideas by:

  • the practice of landscape architecture, implementing Pray’s teachings in completed works
  • teaching his ideas and concepts in degree programs throughout the land
  • running undergraduate schools of landscape architecture

The results of Professor Pray’s teachings can be seen through his own realized projects as well as those of his students who were taught by his students. His ideas continued to be passed on to generations of students beyond. He left behind a remarkable legacy of landscape architecture with the beauty of nature.

Colorizing beards from the past

Retro beard: Professor Jame Sturgis Pray, featured beard image 3
Professor James Sturgis Pray as he might appear in color. Click on image to view larger. Colorization: All About BEARDS.

As part of the Retro Beards project here on All About BEARDS, I am trying out colorizing antique photos that are available only in black and white. While the colors cannot be verified for accuracy, they give an idea of how the subject might look in color. Professor Pray, here, is the first example.

Retro beard: Professor Jame Sturgis Pray, featured beard images: from black and white to color
Side by side: Professor Pray in black and white versus Professor Pray in color. Click on image to view larger.

After an extended unexpected delay, Retro Beards is just now getting started. This is only the beginning. A lot more is on the way. There is a lot that we can learn from Retro Beards, our beard history.

Header photo at top of post: Professor Pray against a background photo of the remarkable Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, California. Gilroy Gardens photo: All About BEARDS.

growing a beard

It’s time to grow your beard! No-Shave November 2025

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Welcome, new beard growers!

How to become a bearded man.

  1. Stop shaving immediately and grow your beard. No-Shave November is one of the best times to start growing your beard.
  2. When No-Shave November ends, do not return to shaving. Keep your beard-growing going!
  3. Stay bearded.
It's time to grow your beard! No-Shave November 2025, featured beard image 2.
No-Shave November: It’s time to grow your beard! Click on image to view larger.

What you need to know about No-Shave November

Grow your beard!

First things first: Put “shaving” at the top of your “Things Not To Do” list. Stop shaving. No apologies. No hesitation. No doubts. Stop shaving and start growing your beard.

If anyone asks about your surprising new growth, tell them that you’re growing your beard to raise awareness for men’s health issues. Engage them in a conversation on the topic.

There is no need to wait for someone to ask about your growing beard. Speak up and tell them. Tell everyone. Also be sure to encourage all other men to support the cause and grow their beards as well. Even if they get a late start in the month of November, it’s never too late to start growing!

To assist all new beard growers on how to grow their beards right and avoid common mistakes, be sure to visit our handy guide to how to grow your beard.

Already bearded? Awesome. You can also participate in No-Shave November by encouraging other men to join the movement and grow their beards. You can also donate to men’s health charities and encourage others to do so.

Take care of yourself and raise awareness for men’s health.

The bigger purpose of No-Shave November is to raise awareness for men’s health issues. Special attention focuses on:

  • prostate cancer
  • testicular cancer
  • mental health and suicide prevention

Bearded men should note that it’s important to have the skin under their beards thoroughly examined for early signs of skin cancer.

For more detailed information on all of the above, see our complete guide to No-Shave November.

Beard-growing encouragement!

To nudge you along and help get you started on your No-Shave November beard growing, here is a thirty-two second beard-growing public service announcement from our archives featuring Scott.

Happy beard growing!

about beards.org

Coming up for air and more All About BEARDS

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It was just an ordinary day. But before the sun would rise the next morning, nothing for me would ever be the same.

I don’t want to go into the details. I just want to give an overview of why the site has been on hold for most of the year.

Tragedy suddenly and unexpectedly strikes.

Resurfacing for more All About BEARDS, featured beard image 002
How it can feel when disaster strikes: Although it may seem like it, you are not alone. PHOTO: All About BEARDS, LOCATION: Santa Cruz, California. Click on image to view larger.

Everything was normal. The daily routine was going along as usual. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. I had no idea of the traumatic event that would come seemingly from out of nowhere.

Tragedy can happen at any time. It’s easy to think that it won’t. But it can and it does. And it can happen without warning. A lack of warning makes it seem that much worse.

In a matter of minutes, without warning, my life was changed forever. It almost didn’t seem to be real. Then, as if I’d been hit by lightning, I plunged into a severe state of shock along with strong doses of denial and despair.

The shock and intense grief would be long lasting. In search of relief, I would attempt to pursue normal-ish activities, including the development of new content for All About BEARDS. I made some progress on this for a little while, but many more unexpected troubles were brewing.

Before long, I started to experience an onslaught of calamity upon calamity, setback upon setback. I was still in mourning and began to be hit with big troubles and daunting challenges at a rate and on a scale I could not have imagined. Once this sequence got underway, I had to set aside all thoughts about the website.

Next up was the escalation phase during which the severity of everything just kept getting worse and worse, to the point where I could barely believe that all of this was really happening. But it was.

At times, I didn’t think that I would make it through all this. Every aspect of my identity and being was seriously challenged. However, with loving support from family and true friends along with my faith in God, I was able to press forward and finally experience a breakthrough. From that point, I began my recovery phase. Thanks be to God.

Get up. Keep going forward.

Resurfacing for more All About BEARDS, featured beard image 003
Get up, back on your feet, and go forward! PHOTO: All About BEARDS, LOCATION: Santa Cruz, California. Click on image to view larger.

So, I got up. I am back on my feet, ready to get to a new normal. However, the recovery process has been slower and more difficult than I expected. Nevertheless, I am thankful with all my heart.

Those nearest to me encourage and remind me to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, to keep moving forward one step at a time.

Now it’s time for me to get back to All About BEARDS again. I’ve finally come up for air and am ready to get going again. I am eager to start rolling out the RETRO Beards project that I announced early in the year. And I will get back to producing other content for the site as well. I can’t guarantee the speed of production, especially at first. I still have a lot of other deferred work items that I have to handle. But I will be putting up new content more and more as things get more back to “normal”.

Appreciate the calm waters.

Resurfacing for more All About BEARDS, featured beard image 004
Enjoy and appreciate the smooth sailing on calm waters. Be prepared, however, for unexpected storms. PHOTO: All About BEARDS, LOCATION: Santa Cruz, California. Click on image to view larger.

Remind yourself daily to appreciate good times and calm waters. Appreciate your family and friends every day. Be kind to yourself and to others. Remember that showing kindness to others is free.

Your good times can always be interrupted by powerful storms. Do your best to be ready for them.

The arduous journey I’ve been on since late last year has given me many hard lessons. However, many developments along the way have been true blessings and some have been nothing short of miraculous. For all these things I am thankful. I’m also thankful for family and true friends as well as everyone else who helped get me through this.

Regarding All About BEARDS, I am thankful for the opportunity to now resume promoting beards to all. Grow your beards in peace and in health. Encourage others to do the same.

Take care, be well, and be happy. Thanks be to God.

Steven

retro beards

Going Retro: Discover Amazing RETRO Beards

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Looking BACK. Growing FORWARD.

Awesome beards from the past can inspire present and future awesome beards. All About BEARDS is proud to announce the launch of our RETRO Beards feature! We will take an in-depth look back at all sorts of magnificent beards from the past with an emphasis on beards from the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century.

The early days of widespread photography were in the nineteenth century, a century which could be considered the glory days of epic beard growing. Beards were abundant and bold. These men did not hesitate to grow massive beards and mustaches in every imaginable style, from the common classics to creative and unconventional styles.

This incredible golden age of beard growing quickly faded away after the turn of the century, especially after 1910. In our lifetimes we have not seen such prolific beard growth. But we could. And we should! Let’s do it!

Discover amazing Retro Beards at All About BEARDS, featured beard image 2
This is a preview of some of the beards you will see in RETRO Beards here on All About BEARDS. Photos: All About BEARDS collection. Click on image to view larger.

RETRO Beards on All About BEARDS will present beards from the past on a regular basis to honor them and for these beards to inspire you and others to grow your beards freely without holding back. Even if you are not ready to go all out, we still want to inspire you to grow whatever beard you are comfortable with for starters!

RETRO Beards: from well-known to unknown

RETRO Beards will include well-known bearded men from the past along with not-so-well-known men as well as unidentified men, whose stories have been lost to history. We want to showcase and honor these legendary beard growers from all walks of life whether they are famous or unknown. As more of these bygone beards are added to the site, they will be gathered into a dedicated gallery of antique beards.

RETRO Beards: a preview

To get started, let’s take a quick look at a prominent beard grower from the past.

George Foster Peabody

Discover amazing Retro Beards at All About BEARDS such as the beard of prominent banker George Foster Peabody
George Foster Peabody: investment banker and philanthropist, well-known full beard grower. Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-DIG-ggbain-12567]. Click on image to view larger.

George Foster Peabody (1852-1938) was born in Columbus, Georgia USA. Impoverished by the US Civil War, Peabody’s family relocated to Brooklyn, New York by the time George was in his early teens.

George started working in Brooklyn as a young teenager. Eventually he got involved in investment banking. Peabody became a partner in a New York investment banking firm where he was known for managing the firm’s investments in railroad construction.

George also turned his attention to philanthropic support for education. He served as a board member for multiple educational institutions and as treasurer for others. He supplied funds for new buildings and educational programs at these institutions.

Peabody was awarded honorary degrees from Harvard University, Washington and Lee University, and the University of Georgia. In honor of Peabody’s service to the University of Georgia, the university’s journalism school established the prestigious Peabody Awards in his name.

All about the BEARD

Beard type: full beard including large walrus mustache
Beard characteristics:

  • the large walrus-style mustache is a prominent feature
  • the beard’s cheek line is relatively high but is not at the full natural height in this photo
  • neck line is left natural, which was a common practice in this era

Remarks: George F. Peabody’s full beard was a striking, trademark feature of his appearance. Photos show him with his beard at various ages all the way through to old age. His big full beard with natural neck line, walrus mustache, and high and sometimes natural cheek line was accepted as a professional appearance for a prominent New York investment banker and philanthropist.

About his beard’s cheek line, I’ve seen it higher in other photos. In the photo above, the cheek line has been lowered a bit and runs almost horizontally from the mustache to the sideburns. Other photos reveal the cheek line joining the mustache just a tad higher up and running from there along an upward angle to reach the sideburns.

How to grow your beard like George’s beard: Keep in mind that George was blessed with abundant beard growth. Not every beard will have the same look. That’s a reminder that every beard is unique, no two are alike. Knowing this, you can try growing your own version of George’s beard and see how it turns out. You may be pleasantly surprised.

The steps are pretty simple.

  • let all of your facial hair grow: beard and mustache
  • let both neck and cheek lines grow naturally
  • allow the beard plenty of growing time to achieve the desired volume similar to George’s beard
  • continue to allow the cheek line to grow naturally, or trim it down sparingly
  • allow the mustache to grow to “walrus” proportions as you like

Need more beard-growing info to get started? See our guide on how to grow a beard.

The power of RETRO Beards

Retro beards: Look BACK. Grow FORWARD! featured beard image
Photo: All About BEARDS collection. Click on image to view larger.

Why bother looking at beards from so long ago? There are many reasons.

  • These beards from the past can be powerful sources of inspiration for potential new beard growers to start growing beards of their own.
  • Once you see the tremendous variety of these beards from the past, you can adopt a whole new outlook on beard growing and possibilities that you wouldn’t have imagined.
  • Whether you are a new or current beard grower, you may be inspired to model your beard after one of these RETRO Beards.
  • Even if you’re not interested in duplicating the look of a specific retro beard, just seeing the variety of beard styles and features may spark new ideas to apply to your current beard style.
  • Looking back at these RETRO Beards, is a fascinating opportunity to see what kinds of amazing beards were produced during a period when seemingly men were free to grow their beards in whatever size, shape, or style that they wanted. They grew their beards without holding back!
  • Seeing these beard-growing ancestors and the beards they produced gives an opportunity to pause and contemplate what their lives may have been like in those days.

All About BEARDS invites you to stay tuned and stay with us as our parade of RETRO Beards begins.

Even with beards today enjoying much greater acceptance and prevalence, a lot of beard-growing reluctance remains. We should have a lot more beard growers! And beard growers should grow without holding back!

Let’s learn from these bearded men, beard pioneers, who grew before us. They left us a legacy of powerful beard growing. Let’s harness the power of RETRO Beards and embrace the freedom to grow our beards however we like! Look BACK. Grow FORWARD!

Post header photo credits: Background image: Canyonlands National Park, Utah by All About BEARDS. RETRO Beards portraits: All About BEARDS collection.

about beards.org

All About BEARDS For Twenty-nine Years

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The world’s first website dedicated to promoting beards

All About BEARDS was the first website exclusively devoted to all aspects of beards. The site was launched to raise awareness, acceptance, and appreciation of beards. It is just as important that All About BEARDS was also created to be a place where anyone interested in beards and growing a beard could find helpful information about beards along with encouragement and inspiration.

The main message of All About BEARDS was to say to the world that beards are worthy of appreciation, and it is natural for potential beard growers to be curious about beards and seek information about beards.

Right from the start, All About BEARDS proclaimed that beards deserve respect, acceptance, and even admiration. The site set out to change hearts and minds about beards to reduce widespread anti-beard bias. All About BEARDS encouraged all men to boldly grow their beards, leaving all doubt and hesitation behind while dismissing the outcry from anti-beard naysayers. All About BEARDS‘ never-ending campaign to encourage and inspire more men to grow their beards is based on the bedrock principle that the more men there are with beards, the more common beards become. And the more common beards become, greater beard acceptance follows.

Before I started All About Beards, there was something called The Beard and Moustache Page. It resided on a web server at the University of East Anglia in England. Online searches as of today’s date do not show any trace of the existence of The Beard and Moustache Page.

The Beard and Moustache Page was strictly a web forum. It was a page with a running stream of users’ questions, answers, and related discussions about beards and mustaches. It wasn’t a full-fledged website dedicated to beards. Even its name clearly called it a page, not a site.

All About BEARDS was the first standalone website dedicated to being all about beards.

The Beard and Moustache Page is long, long gone and barely remembered at all. Meanwhile, All About BEARDS is still here and still dedicated to its mission to:

  • promote beards and beard growing
  • educate people about beards and be a resource for beard information
  • encourage beard appreciation and acceptance
  • work to reduce anti-beard bias
  • encourage and inspire men everywhere to grow their beards as they please

All About BEARDS also holds the title of “world’s longest-running beard website”. And it’s been helping men grow more and better beards, worldwide, since January 17, 1996.

San José, California: home of All About BEARDS

All About BEARDS: established 1996, San José, California
Birthplace of All About BEARDS: On January 17, 1996, All About BEARDS was launched onto the Worldwide Web from south San José, California. Seen here is a view of San José from a hiking trail in the Santa Teresa County Park. Communications Hill is on the left side of the image. Adobe headquarters is just to the left of the gray All About BEARDS circle. Today All About BEARDS is still based in San José as well as Tulsa, Oklahoma. Photo by All About BEARDS. Click on image to view larger.

All About BEARDS sprouted from San José’s Blossom Valley, making its debut on the web on January 17, 1996. The little site was launched on a big mission: to make the world more beard-friendly. It was a tall order. Beards were far less prevalent and far less accepted in 1996 than they are now or even the last couple of decades.

The site’s been named All About BEARDS from the first day, January 17, 1996. Its first home was on America Online (AOL) user webspace at the address members.aol.com/beardguy/. Soon after the site had been established there, I looked into registering a domain specifically for the site. I looked at the beards.org domain and it had not yet been taken. But then I hesitated and didn’t register it immediately. Soon, someone else picked it up.

I was disappointed but accepted that I let it get away. Quite a bit later on, the beards. org domain was put up for auction on eBay in August 2004. By that time, the domain had already changed ownership a few times. I won the eBay auction for the domain. I don’t remember how much I paid. I don’t think it cost me very much.

With the beards.org domain in hand, I quietly started preparations for moving All About BEARDS to beards.org. I don’t know why I took so long. But I launched All About BEARDS at its new home on beards.org on January 20, 2005. And the site has been here ever since, interchangeably known as All About BEARDS or simply beards.org.

All About BEARDS 2025

All About BEARDS will be looking back and growing forward in 2025.
In 2025 All About BEARDS will be looking back and growing forward. Background image is of a scene from All About BEARDS’ hometown of San José, California. In this view, an Amtrak California passenger train passes by the Alviso Slough Trail, accessed from the nearby Alviso Marina County Park. Photo by All About BEARDS. Click on image to view larger.

Watch for some new surprises on All About BEARDS in 2025. We will be looking back and growing forward.

Let all men be free to grow their beards as they wish

All About BEARDS 2025: May all men grow their beards freely.
May all men around the world grow their beards freely and abundantly. That’s what All About BEARDS has been striving for since January 17, 1996. Let’s all grow! Click on image to view larger.

All About BEARDS‘ key mission is to help pave the way for men everywhere to be free to grow their beards as they see fit. No man should feel shy, reluctant, or not at liberty to grow his beard if he wants to. All About BEARDS is here to help him out, to encourage him, to inspire him, and to make it easier for him to truly experience the Joy of Beard.

Ready to start? Let’s grow!

Happy 2025 to everyone.

beard life

All About BEARDS: goodbye to you, 2024

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It’s the end of 2024. Goodbye to 2024.

Leave it behind and go forward.

All About Beards: Goodbye to you, 2024. Featured beard image 002.
Leave 2024 behind. Face the future with courage and optimism, no matter what. Click on image to view larger.

Reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned.

Focus now on what’s most important to you.

Do your best every day as we move forward through the new year.

In addition to everything else, let’s encourage more and more men to grow their beards.

Let’s encourage everyone to grow their beards boldly. No shyness, No hesitation. Just grow bold and strong.

Send off 2024 with this classic song:

Goodbye to you, 2024. Goodbye.

growing a beard

Start growing your beard now! No-Shave November 2024

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Here’s what you need to know about No-Shave November.

  • It’s one of the best times of the year to start growing your first beard.
  • No-Shave November’s larger purpose is to raise awareness of and support for men’s health issues.

Scroll on down for more information to help you make the most of No-Shave November 2024.

Start growing your beard now! No-Shave November 2024: Chris, featured beard image 2
Beard: Chris. Click on image to view larger.

It’s the perfect opportunity to grow a new beard.

Start bearding today! If you’ve always wanted to grow a beard but have been hesitant about it, wait no more. You can stop shaving and start beard-growing today while you’re doing it for a great cause.

No-Shave November gives you instant justification for finally trying out growing your beard. No-Shave November also means that you are not alone in your new beard-growing pursuit. Others you know may be participating in No-Shave November as well. Plus, you should encourage everyone you know to join you as fellow new beard-growers for No-Shave November. Challenge each other to join in and to stay with it.

And when November ends, consider staying with your new beard growth by letting it continue to grow through December and beyond. After all, why let your new beard-growing effort go to waste after only one month?

Be sure to visit our guide on how to grow a beard to help you grow your beard the right way.

Start growing your beard now! No-Shave November 2024: Chris, featured beard image 3
Beard: Chris. Click on image to view larger.

Grow your beard and help improve men’s health.

No-Shave November aims to put the spotlight on men’s health issues, especially prostate cancer and mental health. You are encouraged to make sure that you are taking care of your own health as well as motivating others to do the same. No-Shave November is also a good time to consider supporting charities that benefit men’s health issues.

Whether you can grow a beard or not, you can participate in No-Shave November’s men’s health efforts. Check out our detailed guide on No-Shave November and men’s health for more information.

Start growing your beard now! No-Shave November 2024: Chris, featured beard image 4
Beard: Chris. Click on image to view larger.

Get bearded and get healthy!

What could be better? Helping others to do the same.

Happy No-Shave November 2024. Welcome, new beard growers! Enjoy your beard journey.

growing a beard

Share your gift of beard.

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Being able to grow a beard is a gift, a blessing. Recognize and embrace the gift of beard. It’s a gift that brings many benefits to you and to others. Don’t disregard or discard the gift of beard by keeping it shaved off. Grow your beard and share the gift of beard with the world.

Share your gift of beard. Beard: Sean. Featured beard image 2.
Sharing his gift of beard: Sean. Click on image to view larger.

Got beard? Grow your beard!

Not all men are blessed with the ability to grow a beard. If your facial hair follicles are pumping out genuine beard hair, nature has you already growing a beard. Listen to nature’s message and stop shaving your beard growth off. Your beard is unstoppable awesomeness. Why fight nature? Let your beard grow and flourish. Your beard is a blessing to share for all to see. Your beard regularly will be admired and appreciated by others whether you know it or not.

Share your gift of beard. Beard: Sean. Featured beard image 3.
Sharing his gift of beard: Sean. Click on image to view larger.

Be more authentic. Grow your beard.

People appreciate authenticity. Your bare, shaved face is not your authentic look. It’s a contrived appearance achieved only through the drudgery of regular shaving. Further, you’re not hiding your “real face” by growing your beard. You are revealing your true face by growing your beard. Without your beard, your face is missing an important part of you.

Embrace authenticity. It’s a great asset. Show off your authentic and true face by growing your beard.

Share your gift of beard. Beard: Sean. Featured beard image 4.
Sharing his gift of beard: Sean. Click on image to view larger.

Embrace your uniqueness. Grow your beard.

Every beard is a unique creation in nature. No two beards are exactly alike, not even among identical twins (but those can be close!).

Your gift of beard is uniquely yours. Don’t prevent its rightful presence in the world. It’s a key feature of your own uniqueness. There is a reason why beards have long been associated with rugged individualists.

Share your gift of beard. Beard: Sean. Featured beard image 5.
Sharing his gift of beard: Sean. Click on image to view larger.

Boost self-knowledge, personal growth, and confidence. Grow your beard.

Growing your beard often turns out to be a journey of self-discovery and learning. Growing your beard takes discipline and often requires courage and dedication. This process builds confidence along with strength of character. Your beard can make you feel better about yourself, which also gives you a boost.

You will see yourself in new ways, not just in physical appearance but also in attitude and outlook. All of these changes can help transform you into a better, stronger person. Change and improve your life. Grow and share your gift of beard.

Share your gift of beard. Beard: Sean. Featured beard image 6.
Sharing his gift of beard: Sean. Click on image to view larger.

Inspire others. Grow your beard.

Sharing your gift of beard simply by making your beard visible to the world can inspire others. Your beard may inspire awe in children who have never seen a beard before and view it as a thing of mystery and wonder. Your beard may inspire a young boy or teen to dream of one day having the power to grow a beard like yours. Those who are unable to grow beards may admire your beard and appreciate that you have grown your beard for all to see.

Your gift of beard likely will serve as a call to adventure for potential new beard growers. They may see your beard and be so impressed that they are inspired to grow their own beards to also share with the world. You never know how many lives your beard may change!

Share your gift of beard. Beard: Sean. Featured beard image 7.
Sharing his gift of beard: Sean. Click on image to view larger.

Make the world a better place for beards. Grow your beard.

Sharing your gift of beard with the world makes the world a more beard-friendly place, which is a friendlier place for all. Don’t deny nature. Grow your beard for all to see!

beard

Your beard is unstoppable awesomeness.

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You can’t stop your beard. Let it grow. Let it flow.

You can shave it. But you can’t stop it. It grows and grows and grows. Why keep cutting it off? Don’t deny your beard. Let it grow and flow. Your beard is awesomeness that’s too powerful to keep inside. Let it out for the world to see.

Look at the photo above, at the top of this article. It’s clear that the beard is a majestic wonder of nature. The beard is a force of nature. Unstoppable! Stop shaving!

Your beard is unstoppable awesomeness. Featured beard image 002.
Why shave when you can grow your beard? Don’t deny your beard’s awesomeness. Beard: Mack. Click on image to view larger.

There’s nothing like having a beard.

Your beard is unstoppable awesomeness. Featured beard image 003.
Beard: too awesome. Beard: Mack. Click on image to view larger.

Having a beard is like displaying the grandeur of Niagara Falls on your face. It’s just too awesome.

Let your beard grow and flow. Let it cascade in glorious splendor from your face. You have greatness in you. Show it off. Enjoy your bearded awesomeness!

growing a beard

Get inspired to grow your beard!

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The power of beard inspiration

Have you wanted to grow your beard but just can’t get started? Or have you started growing your beard one or more times and haven’t been able to stay with it? Or have you never even thought of growing your beard? You probably could use some beard-growing inspiration!

Getting inspired to grow your beard may be the key to strengthening your motivation to start growing. Inspiration also strengthens your dedication to staying with it all the way to beard-growing success. Beard-growing inspiration can be a major power source to get you from being beardless to being bearded.

Already bearded but are hesitant about growing bigger or bolder? You could use some beard-growing inspiration, too.

Here are some easy steps to take you down the road to success:

  1. Get inspired to grow your beard.
  2. Start growing. Follow our beard-growing guide.
  3. Refer to your inspiration whenever you need to stay motivated and continue growing.
  4. Commit to growing for a long enough time to give your new beard growth a proper chance: six weeks or more.
  5. Enjoy your beard-growing success!

Keep reading to learn about multiple sources for inspiration to get you growing your beard or growing your existing beard to a new level.

Get inspired to grow your beard! Beard image 002: Scott
Beard: Scott, photographed at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Click on image to view larger. Click again to return.

Sources of beard inspiration

Look at beard examples

Seeing the beards that others have grown can be a great source of beard-growing inspiration. The variety of beards out there is endless. Each one is unique and many may inspire you to see what you can grow.

Where to look to see beard examples?

  • For inspirational beard photos and the encouraging stories behind them, see our featured beards and beard success stories. We also have thousands of beard photos available for viewing in our beard galleries.
  • There are plenty of other online sources for inspirational beard photos. The biggest is probably Instagram.
  • You can also view beards in real life in your environment. Pay attention whenever you may see random bearded men on the street or at work. You can even take a break some time at a good people-watching spot and watch for any bearded passersby. Every beard you see is a potential source of inspiration.
Get inspired to grow your beard! Beard image 003: Scott
Beard: Scott, photographed at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Click on image to view larger. Click again to return.

Consider beard role models

A beard role model can be a tremendous source of inspiration. He can also be a big help to keep you growing whenever you feel unsure about continuing your new beard-growing adventure.

A beard role model can be anyone you are aware of who has a beard that you admire. The beard role model does not have to be someone you personally know. He could be a friend, relative, or co-worker. Or he could just be someone you don’t know but happen to see occasionally during your regular routine. A beard role model could also be a public figure seen on television or other media. Someone you follow on Instagram or other social media could also serve as a beard role model.

The value of beard role models is that they are a persistent source of beard-growing inspiration. Whenever you think about giving up, think about your beard role model. Remind yourself that the beard role model is staying bearded and you can, too. With your beard role model in mind, refresh your inspiration and keep growing!

Get inspired to grow your beard! Beard image 004: Scott
Beard: Scott, photographed at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Click on image to view larger. Click again to return.

Seek guidance and encouragement from a successful beard grower

If someone you know has a beard that you admire, consider asking him for guidance and encouragement. Most bearded guys are happy to be of assistance to a new beard-grower’s effort to grow his beard. Bearded guys are usually happy as well to give advice and encouragement to an existing beard grower who wants to take his beard to a new level.

Just having a beard adviser can do wonders to bolster your motivation and commitment. Their advice or even just a nudge of encouragement may be all you need to stay on track toward your beard-growing success.

If you don’t know anyone bearded who could give you advice and encouragement, you could ask a non-bearded friend or relative to be your beard “sponsor”. They could provide you with ongoing encouragement all along the way on your new beard-growing journey.

Get inspired to grow your beard! Beard image 005: Scott
Beard: Scott, photographed at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Click on image to view larger. Click again to return.

Spend time thinking about and visualizing yourself as bearded

Your thoughts and feelings can be an internal source of great beard-growing inspiration. Spend some quiet time alone for thinking and meditation.

Also, get out and go for a walk, or go for a hike, bicycle ride, or other outdoor activity to get fresh air and a fresh perspective, an opportunity to generate fresh ideas. This could include fresh ideas about growing your beard. When you’re out in nature, remember that your beard is a natural part of you. Why deny it? Embrace your beard and choose to grow it.

While spending time on thoughts and meditation, visualize yourself as already being bearded and enjoying that new identity. Visualize this so strongly that you feel the excitement of already living as a bearded man.

Picture yourself as a confident, bearded man whose friends and associates admire him for his independence as a beard grower. Also imagine yourself performing your regular activities as a bearded man. View yourself as a successful, confident, beard grower who sets a great example for others to follow.

Get inspired to grow your beard! Beard image 006: Scott
Beard: Scott, photographed at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Click on image to view larger. Click again to return.

Inspired beard growing

What’s next? Get inspired to grow your beard and start growing. Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. Don’t be shy. Grow your beard with great enthusiasm and confidence. Congratulations on your new beard!