All About BEARDS was launched on the worldwide web twenty-five years ago today. The mission has always been to promote beards and beard acceptance as well as to provide men with information, support, encouragement, and inspiration to grow the best beards possible.
All About BEARDS, a steadfast advocate for beards, is the world’s longest-running beard website. The site has never wavered in supporting beards regardless of the degree of popularity beards may have at any given time. A core principle promoted by All About BEARDS is that the decision to grow a beard should not depend upon the whims of fashions or trends. Each individual man always should have the right to grow his beard as he sees fit.
When All About BEARDS started in January 1996, beards were far less common than they are today in 2021. I’ve been promoting beards for the long haul, including long stretches during which beards were not exactly viewed as being cool. I’m proud that All About BEARDS was standing up to promote beards during times when not many others were.
In my twenty-fourth anniversary post last year, I shared some reflections on how far we’ve come in advancing the prevalence and acceptance of beards. Here at the beginning of 2021, beards are seen in numbers similar to those of one year ago.
While the bearded cause has come a long way, there is still a long way to go. Casual, everyday observation reveals that there are far more shavers than beard growers. It is heartening to see beards represented in large numbers in television commercials and in other media. However, it seems that in real life I don’t see so many beards out and about. I’d like to see a lot more growth in the number of beard growers. And the need to reduce anti-beard bias still remains.
Celebrating our past and a better bearded future
For All About BEARDS‘ tenth anniversary I created the following graphic to showcase some of the site’s highlights back then.
All About BEARDS tenth anniversary beard showcase image from 2006.
You can still view any of the tenth anniversary highlights seen above by following these links.
During 2021 watch for upcoming special twenty-fifth anniversary content that you won’t want to miss.
Stay strong and grow your beard
Mike and John during a frigid, winter All About BEARDS photo shoot in Kansas City, Missouri
A better bearded future depends on you. Grow your beard. Encourage others to grow their beards. When possible, respectfully speak out against anti-beard bias.
This site is All About BEARDS and it’s all about adding more beards to the world. Grow your beard!
One year ago today I was full of optimism for the new year and new decade. Before long, however, nothing turned out how I expected for 2020. I am not alone in experiencing the year that way.
Sometimes I wonder if I should not express optimism at the start of a new year. Too many times, years that started out brimming with optimism and new hope seemingly turned out all wrong. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s important to hold on to optimism no matter what. That’s what keeps us moving onward toward better days.
Look with favor upon a bold beginning.
Virgil
This quote from Virgil came to mind when I sat down to write this post. Every day can be a bold new beginning. New Year’s Day is always a good time for a new bold beginning. While the first day of 2021 may not be a complete reset from the final days of 2020, we can choose to approach it as a bold new beginning.
For 2021, let’s boldly grow our beards and encourage others to join us. Growing a new beard is a wonderful bold beginning. Don’t hold back. Grow your beard.
Throughout 2021, let’s always strive to do our best. Be kind to each other. Be helpful to one another. Go forward with a heart full of compassion, optimism, hope, and courage.
Today and every day I will “look with favor upon a bold beginning”. I urge you to do the same. Now I wish all beard-growers, beard fans, and their families, friends, and colleagues a happy and prosperous 2021!
Every year should be the year of the beard. And every decade should be the decade of the beard. So let’s make it official. From here on out, every year is the Year of the Beard and every decade is the the Decade of the Beard: each one stronger than the one before. Let’s keep it that way by continuing to grow our beards and encouraging all others to grow their beards. There is strength in numbers. The more beard growers there are, the better it is for all beard growers. While beards are more commonly seen these days than they have been for a long time, we still have a long way to go and grow!
Beard acceptance and even beard appreciation are on the rise. But the old anti-beard bias still persists, often more than you might think. Anti-beard bias may pop up unexpectedly at any time and anywhere. One way to fight anti-beard bias is simply for more men to grow their beards. As beards become increasingly more common, increased acceptance generally follows. More and more people see beards as something normal. And as beards are viewed more and more as something normal, they arouse less suspicion or negative thoughts.
Take a stand for the bearded brotherhood and grow your beard!
Another way to deter anti-beard bias is to politely and respectfully challenge it whenever it arises. View this as an opportunity to maybe change someone’s negative opinion of beards or at least to get them to re-examine their perspective on beards. If someone makes a negative remark about your beard, the beards of others, or just beards in general, ask them why they hold such negative views towards beards. See if you can engage them in a constructive conversation and get them to reconsider their bias against beards.
Meanwhile, let’s continue to grow, grow, grow our beards and encourage as many others as we can to grow theirs. Keep this up and every year will be an even better year of the beard and every decade will be a better decade of the beard than the one before.
If you started growing your beard for No-Shave November and shaved already, start growing again! If you haven’t yet started growing your beard, start today! The beginning of a new year is always a great time to start growing your beard. Really, any day is a great day to start growing your beard. Just make the decision and commitment and start growing.
All about beards has been helping men all over the world grow better beards since 1996. Be sure to grow your new beard the right way by following our tried-and-true guide on how to grow a beard.
Happy beard-growing and best wishes to all for a wonderful new year 2020!
Jimmy, our favorite avid beard-growing attorney on a Mediterranean island, is famously dedicated to his full beard. Jimmy’s full beard is a hallmark of his appearance. So when one day it suddenly was gone, what could have happened? I had to investigate this baffling mystery. To get answers, I directed my questions to the source, Jimmy himself. Read below to learn what happened and see a series of progress photos in Jimmy’s new beard growth photo album.
Attorney Jimmy is normally fully bearded in abundance.
I thought you were clearly happy with and proud of your beard. What led you to rid yourself of your illustrious beard?
It was more a necessity than a choice because of minor issues with dry skin. I felt I needed the skin on my face to re-balance and, although products do help, I have been raised on an island that believes in fresh air and sunlight and that idea is too ingrained in my personality to ignore.
Jimmy’s usual appearance features his luxuriant full beard.
Did you reduce your beard in size before the shave?
I took it down gradually, starting the shortening process about three weeks before the actual shave down to a stubble. The reason was for me to transition slowly into the drastic change since when I did the same some years ago, I had gone straight down from a full beard to stubble and the change was shocking to the point where I could not enjoy the re-growth; I was just anxious about it.
What was the process you used for the beard shave-off?
The fact that the beard was considerably long demanded that the shave-down take place in stages. This was to avoid the pain of pulling hairs, mostly, but also to secure the stubble look I was after. I didn’t want to go full clean face with a traditional blade shave. Henceforth, I started trimming off the length over some weeks. Also this was for me to get used to the shortening, until it was short enough that I could go right in and trim it off to a stubble, always using a trimmer. The trim-down also gave me the opportunity to treat the skin on my face with some good skin products and to assess the situation. I am happy to report that the skin was, and is, in very good shape, hence the re-growth commenced the day of the shave-down!
How did you see yourself when the beard was gone? How did you feel about suddenly being beardless?
Shocking! And way too young! I must be one of a handful of people in the world who actually prefer to look older than their years. Perhaps this is also because in my profession experience is still attributed to age. So the shave down brought about a drastic change in appearance which I cannot say I liked, or like, but which I knew was necessary. The fact I trimmed the length down in stages did, however, help in reducing the shock factor I had experienced in the past and helped me enjoy the short-beard look while it lasted!
Here’s Jimmy’s beard in the early stages of re-growth. Be sure to scroll down for the full set of beard re-growth progress photos.
You are growing the beard back soon, correct?
The re-growth process started the day of the shave-down. I shaved down intending to re-grow straight away. So it was a matter of necessity and responsibility towards my facial skin, too. I do use skin products while I am fully bearded but I do feel that the application thereof is not as easy with a beard as long as mine was. So I know my skin appreciated the effort.
Are you eager to resume your full-bearded status?
I am! And always will be! The full beard is my aesthetic and I cannot quite see myself without any sort of facial hair any time soon.
Do you have any specific plans for your new beard?
I am aiming at a tapered-at-the-chin look which I have had before and which I feel suits my face and gives me added character. What I do wish is for my beard to go whiter at the same fast rate as my hair is. But it seems to be taking its sweet time!
How long did you have your beard prior to your recent shave?
I am actually not entirely sure since I’ve had some form of facial hair for a very long time. But I think I’ve become more aware of my “bearded-man” status in the last six years. This does not mean I would not be trimming my beard and experimenting with styles. But it’s been a time when I certainly had a full face beard rather than just a goatee or ‘stache and also an actual beard, never having gone down to a stubble in said period of time prior to the recent shave.
What was the biggest or longest you let your previous beard grow before the recent shave?
The longest my beard has ever been is five inches on the chin but shorter on the sides of my face (about two inches on the sides). The reason I’d have the sides shorter is to decrease volume and take the full beard from a spherical shape beard to a more tapered look. I loved the length and I am thinking I might go that long again with this current growth. In fact, since the last shave down to a stubble I’ve not touched my beard in any way, no trim, no shaping; just pure growth into a spherical shape until I feel there is enough length to taper it at the chin in the look I wish to achieve.
Here is Jimmy’s beard at one of its bigger sizes.
How did you like your beard at its biggest or longest?
Better! The only reason I shaved down (and to a stubble no less!) is because I felt I needed my facial skin to be exposed to sunlight and also more air. I was having some minor issues with dry skin on my chin and shaving down helped. But I much prefer the full beard and I feel it is such a big part of my aesthetic now that I feel a lack in my identity without it; no matter what anyone else has to say about it.
Jimmy’s new beard growth photo album
From day one to eight weeks and a day, here are photos of Jimmy’s new beard growth progress. Click on or tap any photo below to view a larger version and for the number of days of growth.
This is Jimmy’s beard on the first day of new growth following his beard removal down to the stubble.
This is Jimmy’s new beard growth at 8 days.
Here Jimmy’s beard growth has reached day 12.
Jimmy’s beard growth is seen here at two weeks.
Here is Jimmy’s beard growth on day 16.
Jimmy’s beard growth is just shy of three weeks on day 20.
Jimmy’s beard growth is coming along nicely on day 24.
Jimmy’s new beard growth here has reached four weeks.
Here’s Jimmy’s beard growth at five weeks.
Jimmy’s beard growth here is at six weeks.
This is seven weeks of Jimmy’s beard growth.
At eight weeks and one day, Jimmy’s new beard growth is quite full. His beard restoration effort is pretty much complete.
Jimmy’s beard mystery solved
Jimmy reminds us that taking care of one’s facial skin is important. A healthy beard grows out from healthy skin. By trimming his beard down to the stubble, Jimmy could give his face’s skin all the best care it was needing. With his dry skin issues quickly addressed and his facial skin fully refreshed, Jimmy was well prepared to take on his next big beard-growing adventure.
The disappearance of Jimmy’s beard came as a shock, especially because he is known to be fiercely dedicated to carefully maintaining his full-bearded appearance. But he had a good reason for taking such drastic action. Jimmy shows us just one example of why a dedicated beard man might need to temporarily shave off his beard.
Shaving off a well-established beard sounds unthinkable. However, it doesn’t have to be permanent. It just opens up the opportunity to grow out the beard again. And if you ever find yourself needing to shave off your beard for whatever reason, follow our expert guide to shaving off your beard. Just be sure to grow your beard right back again — like Jimmy!
Be sure to also see Jimmy’s beard feature interview and photos:
It’s November. Make that No-Shave November. In the United States, Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is fast approaching. No matter where you are, the year is nearing its end. The next couple of months are a favorite time of year for many thanks to the holidays and traditions of time spent with family, surrounded by laughter and good food. It’s also when No-Shave November rolls around.
Now is the time when we can all get on board to help raise awareness for men’s health, including men who are battling cancer along with the common side effect of hair loss associated with their treatments. No-Shave November is a great way for us to join together, similar to American Heart Month and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in February and October, to support those living with illness.
What is No-Shave November?
A lot of guys may not be aware of what No-Shave November is really about. Some see it as an opportunity to save time each day by not shaving and maybe gaining a little extra sleep every morning. Others just think November is a month to let their beards grow because the weather might be getting colder. Or they might see it now as the traditional month to start growing a new beard.
Of course No-Shave November offers the perfect excuse for growing a new beard. But the real purpose of No-Shave November is to support men fighting prostate and testicular cancer and to prevent men’s suicide. No-Shave November means raising awareness about men’s health and the importance of early detection and prevention. To do this, men are encouraged to grow out their facial hair as a symbol of support and donate the regular costs of grooming to the cause.
Why is it important?
Men’s health is often brushed aside. But the causes that No-Shave November support are important concerns for all men.
Prostate cancer begins in the prostate gland where it may grow slowly or it may grow aggressively and spread quickly to other organs and tissues. About one in nine men will be diagnosed with this disease in their lifetimes, making it one of the most common cancers for men. Early detection is key for the best treatment outcomes.
The Mayo Clinic classifies testicular cancer as being relatively rare. It happens most often in men between the ages of 15 and 45. It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor to see if you should give yourself regular testicular self-exams to aid in early detection.
Never let suicidal thoughts overtake you. There is always hope and there is always help, even if you feel that there is none. Resources are available. Please reach out to someone for help.
Men’s suicide rates are alarmingly high. It’s a disturbing crisis that is difficult for many to acknowledge. Reports indicate that women are more likely to think about suicide while men are more likely to carry it out. Recent data revealed that men died by suicide 3.5 times more often than women. If someone you know is in crisis, reach out to help connect them with resources to prevent a potential tragedy. In the United States if you are in crisis, or know someone who is, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime, 24/7, at 988. In other countries, please seek out appropriate suicide-prevention resources.
What if you can’t grow a beard?
Growing a beard fit for a lumberjack isn’t always realistic. Some guys have never been able to grow one. If that’s you, don’t worry. The lack of ability to grow a beard is genetic and you just can’t help it.
One way you might participate in No-Shave November is by letting the rest of your hair grow for the month. For some, that option presents its own challenge. As we get older, it can get harder to grow our hair like when we were younger. And even young guys may experience male pattern baldness much earlier than they might have ever expected. Unlike the inability to improve beard thickness, you can treat hair loss, if it’s right for you, with a doctor’s prescription for male pattern baldness. This could help you show your support for the No-Shave November movement without having to stress about lacking the genetics for beard-growing.
Another way to participate in No-Shave November if you cannot grow your own beard is to suggest to beard-capable men that they grow their beards. Encourage them to grow and support No-Shave November themselves.
What if you already have a beard?
If you’ve already got a beard and are a pro at beard growing, don’t scoff at No-Shave November as “amateur beard month”. Encourage all the first-time beard growers out there and welcome them as newcomers to the bearded brotherhood.
Not a necessity, but a way to make a big statement would be to shave your beard and start growing again. You can think of it like that old saying which states that the only reason to shave off your beard is to experience the pleasure of growing it out again.
Bearded already? Give encouragement to the rookie beard growers and recruit others to grow their beards for No-Shave November!
Even if you’re already fully bearded and opt not to shave and regrow, you can participate in No-Shave November by reminding everyone that it’s all about raising awareness about men’s health issues. Amplify your participation by recruiting others to participate as well.
How can you support the cause?
Be a leader. Don’t be afraid to keep the conversation going around these significant men’s health issues. Keeping the focus on men’s health issues helps to press for needed research to improve treatments and prevention.
Taking part in No-Shave November is a great way to show that you stand for something. People will follow you. People will want to hear your story and know what you represent.
Although No-Shave November ends at the month’s close, your support doesn’t have to end. Spreading your message, beliefs, and support for those fighting prostate and testicular cancer as well as men’s suicide can be a year-round effort. And the end of No-Shave November does NOT mean that you automatically should resume shaving. Keep growing your new beard!
To continue the mission of No-Shave November, consider volunteering at your local hospital or participating in races or walks that support men who continue to fight these awful diseases.
If you feel that a month off from shaving is enough for you, then you might think about getting rid of your new beard growth. If so, stop. Think again. Don’t make a hasty, automatic decision that your new beard growth must go. If after careful consideration you decide that your new beard absolutely cannot remain, do the deed the right way by following our expert guide to shaving off your beard. Then make a commitment to grow again during the next No-Shave November.
Welcome, new beard growers! Don’t be shy. If you’ve never grown your beard, now is the time to boldly grow where you’ve never grown before.
Although, any time is a good time to start growing out your beard, there’s no better time to start than during No-Shave November. There is strength in numbers. You won’t be alone in your beard-growing effort. And if your beard-growing confidence gets a little shaky when confronted with objections or criticisms by others, you can justify your new beard growth by pointing out that it’s No-Shave November.
You can grow your new beard with confidence and success by following our proven guide on how to grow a beard. So don’t delay. Start growing out your beard today!
Grow your beard for No-Shave November…and beyond!
And when November ends, don’t stop there. Keep growing! We hope that once you go beard, you’ll never go back.
Bearded dad and author Kellen Roggenbuck is back with another beard book for children: Great Beards of History! Like his first book, My Dad Has a Beard, this paperback is under thirty pages and is colorfully illustrated with humorous drawings created by Roggenbuck himself. In this book, Roggenbuck presents a diverse selection of bearded figures from history, including bearded luminaries such as Mr. T and Abraham Lincoln. Funny tidbits accompany the drawings of each bearded icon to tell the story.
In addition to highlighting a number of famous beards, a secondary theme running through the book promotes dear old bearded dad as a famous beard hero as well. This reflects the message from Roggenbuck’s My Dad Has a Beard book. While both boys and girls should enjoy My Dad Has a Beard, Great Beards of History! is geared to appeal more to both girls and boys equally. All children should find this lighthearted look at great beards of history to be funny and entertaining.
Dad and author Kellen Roggenbuck shows off his new book Great Beards of History!
The first reason that led Roggenbuck to create Great Beards of History! was his desire to create a more diverse beard book for children. The author explains, “This new book deals with beards from different time periods, different countries, different races, and even different genders. There’s a little beard for everyone. Second, I wanted to explore the sentiment that to our kids, we are all famous, remarkable people because we are their dads and that’s such an amazing, cool thing.”
I asked Roggenbuck about the kind of feedback he’s gotten on both books from parents and kids he knows. He replied, “The feedback has been incredible — I could never have imagined how far reaching this book would be and the outpouring of love and gratitude for My Dad Has a Beard. The overall reaction to the new book is that it’s a great book to laugh at and parents have really appreciated it at bedtime. Especially that 6th night of reading the same book over and over…”
Still a confirmed beard enthusiast, Roggenbuck reports that his beard continues to grow right along. He is looking forward to his first time to participate in a beard competition this year. He plans to compete in a local competition in September.
Great Beards of History! gives kids a fun look at a variety of bearded historic figures and fosters an appreciation for a local beard hero: Dad.
Don’t delay. Order your copy today! Great Beards of History! is now available on Amazon. Click or tap on the following image to buy your copy on Amazon:
My Dad Has a Beard is available on Amazon, too. Click or tap on the following image to buy yours on Amazon:
All about beards is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Twenty-three years ago today a little beard website made its online debut: All About BEARDS. That was the small beginning of a worldwide mission to promote beards and the growing of beards. Accompanying this effort was the important mission of providing helpful information about beards. The site developed an easy-to-follow guide on how to grow a beard successfully. The All About BEARDS beard-growing guide has helped thousands of men around the world to grow their beards. Before these men started growing, the site helped convince them to do so. In many cases, the All About BEARDS site inspired them to grow and bolstered their confidence to stay with it all the way through to beard success.
By promoting beards without wavering, All About BEARDS set out to increase public acceptance of beards. With the increased popularity of beards in recent years, it may be hard to fathom that beards used to be far more rarely seen. And it was not long ago that beards enjoyed far less acceptance than they do today.
Recently Scott, pictured above, reported that he was speaking with a young man who is just a year older than the All About BEARDS site. In reference to All About BEARDS, the young man asked Scott why there would be a need for a website devoted to promoting beards. Scott mentioned this exchange to one of his dearest friends. In response, she told Scott to tell me, “Mission accomplished.”
The heartbreak of anti-beard bias
While I was delighted to hear that congratulatory “Mission accomplished”, All About BEARDS‘ mission will never be fully accomplished. Even today while beards seemingly enjoy great popularity and acceptance, the negativity of anti-beard bias remains surprisingly prevalent. It may not be as readily apparent as before. But it still lurks about and makes itself known with too much frequency.
There are people who still comment about how much they detest beards. There are still those who ridicule new-beard growers and insist that they shave. Or, these self-appointed beard police often inform bearded men that their beards must be trimmed down substantially or shaved off altogether. Why should someone else hold so much veto power over your beard? And thanks to these people, there are still far too many men who are too reluctant to grow their beards. It is not easy to eliminate the harm of anti-beard bias. However, All About BEARDS will continue undeterred.
Growing for the future
Click on either image above to view larger.
One of the main ways to grow beard acceptance is for as many men as possible to grow their beards. The more bearded men there are, the more others will grow accustomed to being around beards and, with that, acceptance follows. There is strength in numbers.
Of course, when beards are more common, beard-growing pioneers may long for the old days when having a beard made them stand out even more. When beards were less common, those who steadfastly remained bearded often felt that having a beard made them more unique, making them stand out from the rest, and giving them a certain mystique. They have a point when stating that when every man has a beard, having a beard may not make them feel nearly as special as before. However, we still have a long way to go. Even today at large public events I may look out into the crowds and see that beards are few and far in between.
When it comes to the future of beards, I still say that more is better. Adding more beards to the world by inspiring more men to grow their beards is one of the best ways to make the world more beard-friendly. And the more beard-friendly the world becomes, more men will feel free to grow their beards as they see fit.
If you are one of the thousands of men who grew their beards with inspiration or assistance from All About BEARDS, I express to you my hearty thanks. If you grew your beard without inspiration or assistance from All About BEARDS, I thank you for growing as well. And if you have not yet grown your beard, I invite you to visit our guide on how to grow a beard and start growing for the future right now!
At the start of a new year we often focus our thoughts on the possibilities ahead. The new year represents an opportunity for a new beginning. Yet every day is an opportunity for a new beginning.
Every day there is an opportunity to start growing a new beard. If you already have a beard, every day presents an opportunity to improve your beard through better care and grooming, growing it longer or trimming it shorter, or trying a new beard style. Growing your first beard the right way or improving your existing beard can boost your confidence. In that way, you and your beard are growing stronger.
How will beards trend in 2019? No one can predict the future. But we can set the direction for our own futures. I have always urged ignoring fashion and trends when deciding whether or not to grow or keep a beard. You should grow your beard because you want to have a beard. That’s all. The more men who grow beards regardless of fashion trends are the real trendsetters.
Now let’s all have a great 2019 and grow stronger. And if you haven’t started growing your beard yet, get over to our proven guide on how to grow a beard and get started!
Another No-shave November has arrived. No-shave November is always one of the best times to grow a new beard, especially for first-time beard growers. No-shave November gives new beard growers a ready-made justification for growing. Just say that it’s No-shave November!
Even if you miss out on starting to grow your new beard at the beginning of the month, don’t let that discourage you. Start anyway at any time during the month.
And don’t think that the end of November should automatically mean the end of your new beard. Let your November beard growth serve as motivation to keep growing through December and beyond.
Growing a beard for the first time can be daunting. Never fear, however! Growing that first beard should be a fun adventure and a true growth experience in more ways than one. You can learn a lot about yourself and others by growing your beard. One of the most important keys to successful beard growing is to stay committed. Do not let others convince you to give up and shave with their criticism and teasing. Stay strong and grow your beard!
I always welcome new beard growers to the bearded brotherhood at any time. I especially like to welcome them during No-shave November. It is always a great opportunity to add more beards to the world. And that is a good thing!
So, welcome, new beard growers! May your beards grow and flourish and bring you great satisfaction.
To help you along your way, follow our tried-and-true beard-growing guide: How to grow a beard
Please help spread the joy of growing new beards and share this post with anyone who should grow his beard!
