Andy R.

Bearded since: 2011. I am an experimental beard grower.

Comments:
Why did I grow my beard? Two reasons: Firstly, work was complaining about people with stubble and even went as far as sending people home to shave. As I like being awkward and rebellious i just turned round and said, "You can't make me shave. I'm growing a beard". So I had to make a plan to grow one then. Secondly, and beards.org comes into this a LOT, I started researching the idea of growing a beard. I'm thirty-nine and aside from attempting to grow the odd goatee for a few weeks (which i usually tired of very soon after starting), I realised I've never let my beard grow out. I'd always presumed it just wouldn't provide decent coverage or grow enough.
Both of those lines of thought and researching beards.org and a few other sites brought on my proud declaration of "I'm growing a beard" -- much to the disgust of my wife.

How do I feel about my beard? I'm now at week ten roughly and I'm reaching that point where I told my wife I'd be getting rid of it (the beard). I now find myself shoe-horning into every conversation just how attached I am mentally to this beard. Just before Christmas, it ceased being my stubble and became an actual part of me and I have to say that most of the time, the idea of shaving it off turns me off - sometimes that thought repulses me.

A yeard (year-long beard) is appealing but so is matrimonial harmony so I think I may have to become a winter beard wearer.