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blog:struggles-of-growing-a-full-beard [2016/08/22 11:02]
Cemmos [Slow Starters]
blog:struggles-of-growing-a-full-beard [2021/06/18 19:24]
Cemmos Hide blogs in favor of articles domain
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-~~DRAFT~~+~~HIDEPAGE~~
 ====== The Struggles of Growing a Full Beard, and How to Overcome Them ====== ====== The Struggles of Growing a Full Beard, and How to Overcome Them ======
 Growing a beard for most men can be somewhat of a struggle. With patchiness, peer pressure to shave, or simply not accepting one's beard for what it is, a man growing out a beard has a lot of reasons to stop growing one. Growing a beard for most men can be somewhat of a struggle. With patchiness, peer pressure to shave, or simply not accepting one's beard for what it is, a man growing out a beard has a lot of reasons to stop growing one.
  
 In this article, I'll lay out some of the problems and struggles that go with growing a beard and some tips on how to get through them. Some of these struggles could also be considered //foundations// to growing out a beard. In this article, I'll lay out some of the problems and struggles that go with growing a beard and some tips on how to get through them. Some of these struggles could also be considered //foundations// to growing out a beard.
-===== Growing a Beard Takes Time and Patience =====+ 
 +If you're yet to grow out your beard due to things like patchiness or indecision, keep reading. Things may not be as bleak as they seem. 
 +===== Time and Patience =====
 Growing out a beard takes more time than the average person realizes. Sure, there are those that are truly blessed and can grow a full, thick mane in just a couple of months. But we need to remember that this is not the norm, it's the exception. Growing out a beard takes more time than the average person realizes. Sure, there are those that are truly blessed and can grow a full, thick mane in just a couple of months. But we need to remember that this is not the norm, it's the exception.
  
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 Awkward stages are impossible to avoid, but you'll eventually get through them by letting them pass. Don't be tempted to shave or trim if your goal is to grow a full beard. It won't get any better that way and you'll only hit the awkward stage again. Awkward stages are impossible to avoid, but you'll eventually get through them by letting them pass. Don't be tempted to shave or trim if your goal is to grow a full beard. It won't get any better that way and you'll only hit the awkward stage again.
-===== Growing a Beard Takes Commitment =====+===== Commitment =====
 If you want to grow out a full beard, you need to fully understand that it's a commitment. Don't let beard jokes, myths, and misrepresentations lead you to believe otherwise. I would take a guess and say that 100% of men, that are reading articles about growing fuller beards, care in some way about how they appear as a person. Sometimes, beards make us look //worse//, and the only way around it is taking the time to let them fill out. If you want to grow out a full beard, you need to fully understand that it's a commitment. Don't let beard jokes, myths, and misrepresentations lead you to believe otherwise. I would take a guess and say that 100% of men, that are reading articles about growing fuller beards, care in some way about how they appear as a person. Sometimes, beards make us look //worse//, and the only way around it is taking the time to let them fill out.
  
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 Commitment is a //must// for guys trying to grow out their beards, and it's a hard thing to do if you're not fully accepting of your beard and its journey ahead. This normally leads to the constant thought of shaving in the back of our minds, causing us to doubt that growing the beard is worth it. This needs to be acknowledged, and then discarded. You want the beard, so commit to growing it. Commitment is a //must// for guys trying to grow out their beards, and it's a hard thing to do if you're not fully accepting of your beard and its journey ahead. This normally leads to the constant thought of shaving in the back of our minds, causing us to doubt that growing the beard is worth it. This needs to be acknowledged, and then discarded. You want the beard, so commit to growing it.
-==== Stop Trimming So Often ==== +====Trimming Too Often ===== 
-//Commit// to rare trims. If you need to trim, do so with a small pair of scissors to accurately snip the split ends that you might have. Snipping the splits early is best so that it doesn't travel up the hair shaft, requiring you to take more length off the hair. Catch them soon, snip them, and then move on.+We should rarely trim our beards, especially in the first few months. If you need to trim, do so with a small pair of scissors to accurately snip the split ends that you might have. Snipping the splits early is best so that it doesn't travel up the hair shaft, requiring you to take more length off the hair. Catch them soon, snip them, and then move on.
  
 Don't use electric clippers because the chances of mistakes increases as the beard lengthens. Take your time and do it right with a pair of scissors. Large ones aren't a good idea either, as you'll need the precision that the smaller ones can only offer. Don't use electric clippers because the chances of mistakes increases as the beard lengthens. Take your time and do it right with a pair of scissors. Large ones aren't a good idea either, as you'll need the precision that the smaller ones can only offer.
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 You'll especially want to trim during the awkward stages, to "even out" the hair on the left and right sides of your face. Unless it looks drastically different, like one side being an inch longer than the other, //don't trim//. As humans we are not symmetrical, so some differences are completely natural. Many men grow more hair on one side of their face, or notice maybe their mustache or chin hair grows quickest. Everyone is different from one another, but nobody is symmetrical. You'll especially want to trim during the awkward stages, to "even out" the hair on the left and right sides of your face. Unless it looks drastically different, like one side being an inch longer than the other, //don't trim//. As humans we are not symmetrical, so some differences are completely natural. Many men grow more hair on one side of their face, or notice maybe their mustache or chin hair grows quickest. Everyone is different from one another, but nobody is symmetrical.
  
-==== Don't Shape Your Beard Just Yet ====+===== Shaping the Beard Too Soon =====
 A lot of guys make the mistake of shaping their beards at only one or two weeks into growth; finding later that it isn't quite what they wanted, or they just messed up entirely and needed to restart the growing process. Be very sure that there is enough hair to start shaping the beard, otherwise you'll find yourself having to restart constantly, losing out on precious time that could be used to allow the hair to grow out. A lot of guys make the mistake of shaping their beards at only one or two weeks into growth; finding later that it isn't quite what they wanted, or they just messed up entirely and needed to restart the growing process. Be very sure that there is enough hair to start shaping the beard, otherwise you'll find yourself having to restart constantly, losing out on precious time that could be used to allow the hair to grow out.
  
 For guys with blessed growth, it may take only about two to four weeks before shaping becomes feasible. For guys that need a little more of a push, it could take about two months. For guys with blessed growth, it may take only about two to four weeks before shaping becomes feasible. For guys that need a little more of a push, it could take about two months.
  
-[[:beard-shape#neck-line|neck line]] can be carved earlier than the cheek line (if you're doing a [[:beard-shape#cheek-line|cheek line]] at all), as there's an easy rule of thumb for it: 1-2 finger-widths above your adam's apple, while the beard is still somewhat short. As it starts growing down with length, you can abandon lining it up and let the additional neck growth fill in the bottom of your beard. Read more about shaping your beard in those wiki links.+So instead of shaping the entire beard, the [[:beard-styles#neck-line|neck line]] can be carved earlier than the cheek line (if you're doing a [[:beard-styles#cheek-line|cheek line]] at all), as there's an easy rule of thumb for it: 1-2 finger-widths above your adam's apple, while the beard is still somewhat short. As it starts growing down with length, you can abandon lining it up and let the additional neck growth fill in the bottom of your beard. 
 + 
 +With a carved neck line, growing your beard looks more intentional and you'll get fewer "forget to shave?" comments.
  
 ===== Dry Skin, Maybe Some Itching? ===== ===== Dry Skin, Maybe Some Itching? =====
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 The oil will help hydrate your face and its hair, softening the hair which is the cause of the itchiness. Dryness can also attribute to itching, and the oil will help with that. All you need is a few drops massaged into a washed and towel- or blow-dried beard (preferably slightly damp, so finish blow-drying after applying the oil). The oil will help hydrate your face and its hair, softening the hair which is the cause of the itchiness. Dryness can also attribute to itching, and the oil will help with that. All you need is a few drops massaged into a washed and towel- or blow-dried beard (preferably slightly damp, so finish blow-drying after applying the oil).
 +
 +Itching should be a rare problem at any stage of a beard's growth. Just remember to keep it moisturized.
 +
 +===== Conclusion =====
 +At the end of the day, growing a beard requires making a decision and sticking with it.
 +
 +If you want to grow a beard but are constantly trimming or impulsively shaving, you're not going to grow the beard you've been aiming for. Don't let excuses like itching get in your way when there are solutions to them.
 +
 +There are going to be a few small struggles, but in the end it's worth it when you look in the mirror one day and suddenly think "wow." And all it really takes is time and a little maintenance along with your daily hygiene routine.
  • blog/struggles-of-growing-a-full-beard.txt
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