Paul

Bearded since: 2007. I am an experimental beard grower.

Comments:
I resigned from my job in order to fulfill my dream of studying literature at postgraduate level and I spent a period of time at home as a result of this. It seemed the perfect time to experiment. I had always had stubble and so decided that I should just grow it out and see how it looked. I got some encouraging comments from my family and friends and therefore decided to stick with it.

I have been bearded now for six months and cannot see myself going back to non-beard ways. To me, my beard represents the significance of my decision to return to studying. It marks the transition from my 'old' self to a new me who is doing what he wants with his life, i.e. studying literature.

How do I feel about my beard? Generally I like my beard. It makes me feel different to my contemporaries, as most people my age are beardless. True, my beard is a little uneven and unmanagable at times but I think that it suits me. I am still quite young (25) and I suspect that my beard will develop and evolve as I grow older.

In short, I love my beard!