Adam

Bearded since: 2009. I am an experimental beard grower.

Comments:
I recently moved to California after two years of working in New York's financial district. I quickly noticed that the finance guys out west were much more lax in their stance on shaving. For about the past year since coming out here, I was shaving on Monday mornings only and getting gradually scruffier throughout the week. One Monday morning in late August, I decided that routine was over. I was going to boldly grow where I had never grown before. From the time I was able to grow facial hair 'til now, I had never really gone more than two weeks. I never really thought I had enough thickness in my facial hair to pull it off. I have learned that while my cheeks and jawline aren't quite as thick as I'd like, I can grow a mean 'stache and chin beard and I don't think the contrast looks half bad.

How do I feel about my beard? It's still kind of new, but I absolutely love it. Reactions across the board have been very positive. I don't know that I will keep it forever, but I intend to keep it for at least six months and may become a seasonal beard grower for life. I must say that after about three weeks, I was ready to give up but this site gave me the inspiration to push on and stay BEARDSTRONG!