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 and a fellow student are all smiles at graduation.

Chris and a fellow student enjoy a celebratory moment during graduation.

Chris is joined by a friend in celebrating his MBA graduation.

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.

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.

Chris gets his beard trimmed at Single Barrel Barbershop.

Chris gets his beard trimmed at Single Barrel Barbershop.

Chris gets his beard trimmed at Single Barrel Barbershop.

Be sure to see Chris’ original beard feature: