Scotty B.

Bearded since: 1985. I am a dedicated, permanent beard grower.

Comments:
Why did I grow my beard? I've had one, more or less, since I was able to start shaving in about 1985, as shaving was something I really hated doing. For the most part I succumbed to peer and societal pressure and kept it in check with clippers. However, I always experimented with goatees (with and without mustache),friendly mutton chops, chin straps, full natural etc etc of varying length.

Hating shaving was only part of it though. A lot of men in Australian history and my family had facial hair and it was something I had always liked. It seemed to me as a kid, and largely still does, that men with beards are nicer, stronger, more centered and self-reliant kinds of fellas. I think I was always destined by these feelings to be bearded. I hope to inspire that feeling in others.

How do I feel about my beard? I really like it now that it has developed defined streaks at length. I'm six months into regrowing a full natural (photo taken at five months) following a long stretch in hospital and I feel that they (the streaks) will look fantastic when the beard gets to be two-to-three years old and on the way to terminal length.

In the sunlight it contains most of the hair colors of the human world, including a startling deep red which I love. I'm totally unconcerned about the grey. It adds to the variegated look and perhaps makes me look wiser than I can silently and by deceptive proxy, claim to be :).

I won't be trimming anything for the foreseeable future. I love my beard and am quite proud to be able to grow such a luxuriant one. It would be a crime to let it be anything other than what it will grow to be.