Zjef

Bearded since: 2010. I am an experimental beard grower.

Comments:
I started growing my first beard this year because I am becoming fifty years old at the end of this year. It is a reaction to a Dutch tradition where your family makes a life size doll of an old gray-bearded man and puts it in front of your door/house. He is called Abraham and the whole town can see that you becoming fifty. I did not like the idea of this Abraham doll so I decided to be a step ahead by growing my own beard instead.

How do I feel about my beard? It's quite an experience so far. First for myself and how I see my looks start to change. Also, how to groom the beard to a different personal shape is fun and an exploration.

Second, there is the reaction of friends and other people on my beard. People do seem to have opinions about it. They either love or hate it, but there is nothing in between.