Good Facial Hair Can Weather Anything!

Bill Alley, Broadcast Host, Producer & Beard Advocate

I come from hearty New England stock. We experience some of the coldest and hottest of days in any calendar year, with ranges from the minus teens to 100-plus heat with near equal humidity (in Fahrenheit). I also come with 28 years of full bearded pedigree, so every year and in every kind of climate the beard has been a 'best pal' in keeping this face warm in winter, cool in summer, and the best educator to change the minds of those who believe beards are just “seasonal” accessories.

As a newly arrived Texas transplant, the whiskers got an extra month-plus of searing heat due to a prolonged drought and higher than average temperatures. Just recently, days before this writing, the prior weekend brought torrents of rain and a significant cooling. Already the “beard plan” was springing into action.

Out of necessity men who are more “groomed” would be well-timed with a barber or stylist visit, getting just the right look, cut and product to keep facial hair maintenance consistent and easy.  Hotter weather typically means dealing with natural body oils which tend to become excessive on hair, causing many to shower more frequently. In the cooler months more hair might be the norm as “insulation”— protection from wind and chill—with the natural oils in hair being a benefit for weathering the drier chilled air.

In maintaining healthy whiskers, and typical for hair anywhere else, much of the same rules for skin care apply here. Moisture is important to hair in any kind of climate, and part of what makes for healthy hair comes from the balance of understanding your body’s own chemistry. Using products which allow your hair to maintain cleanliness and some of the healthy attributes of your natural hair structure gives it the best appearance, form and vitality. Hydration is not the same for all hair types, and understanding your whiskers in the changing of seasons will help guide you in selecting products which enhance and protect. For me, the cooler months allow for a bit less washing and a bit more conditioning.

Leave-in conditioners are a great resource in simple, effective whisker maintenance and appeal. Beardsley’s Leave-in Conditioner Bay Rum spray application has been a stand-out performer for these time-honored whiskers as a quick, easy routine; the product is the best de-tangler and styles hair with ease. The result: fresh, manageable and pleasant scented whiskers, painlessly achieved in short order. The instant conditioner is one of the best inventions for hair in my lifetime, with Beardsley allowing this full beard a great appearance  and many compliments from admirers.

What’s So Special About Beards?

Facial hair has a presence all its own. Its design is genetics in action. Its character adorns the man who possesses it. In whatever shape, size or color, facial hair is a man’s distinctive mark in the world which gives the mental imprint of a person's individual nature. If the Beard were an accessory (speaking in allegory), it would be the form of art affixed to a face which gives the man a memorable and unmistakable imprint on the onlooker's brain.

Of course, beards are not an “add-on” as one is formed from within a man's own being; from an infant the timing and growth of one's facial hair signals the boy is now a man, and the man is now a figure of adult maturity. A man’s beard is his complete transformation to his genetic imprint. Thereby his whiskers are the reveal of who he is as male as flowers are to plants, distinguished by their uniqueness. This is the allure of what makes bearded men attractive.

How to Fight the Shaving Nightmare, Part One

Bill Alley, Broadcast Host, Producer & Beard Advocate

I’ve spoken with hundreds of bearded men about problems growing whiskers in their initial decision days, and one of the top issues is the “razor nightmare.” I had the dream of waking up to a shaven face more than once, with the cold sweats and the run to the mirror to see if my sleeping zombie had done the gruesome deed.

Fortunately, once the determination was made to grow, I learned how to view myself bearded. The razors were tossed. Ideas were gleaned from other men with facial hair about style, and I found others with my type of growth pattern. The decision was made in 1987 that the beard was to stay forever, and with this confidence the whiskers have enjoyed over 28 years of fullness on my face.

Beard on.

William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, who is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s preeminent dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet, and the “Bard of Avon.” 2016 was the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death.

5 Things All Men With Beards Are Tired Of Hearing

Adam London in LIFE, Elite Daily

Having a beard is something all bearded men take pride in. It is a badge of honor — a marquis aspect of their appearance and a display of brute manhood. As a bearded man myself, I believe I can speak for the bulk of my bearded brethren when I say we are truly grateful for our facial follicles.

Depending on the type of beard you have, onlookers will take notice. Whether you’re at the grocery store, bar or even just taking a stroll through town, it is rare that a good hearty beard will go overlooked. Beards garner attention, and with that attention often comes comments.

Here are a few things that bearded men are tired of hearing:

1. “Dude, how long did it take you to grow that?”

This is one of the more popular questions amongst the facial hair spectators, and rarely ever has an answer. It is not as though there is a specific start and/or end date to the growth process. “The day I started not shaving” is not exactly something one marks down on their calendar. Beards do not come with a birth certificate, nor are they marked with an expiration date.

2. “Can I touch it?”

While this question is generally asked out of pure flattery, it is generally not responded with approval or excitement. Beards are much better left untouched, as opposed to being thoroughly probed by the hands of strangers.

The enthrallment of spectators is indeed appreciated, however the extent of the interest is better left at a non-physical level. Asking to touch another person’s face is typically not kosher, and bearded men should not be exempt from this.

3. “You have (insert food item) stuck in your beard.”

Though this comment is usually verbalized in order to be helpful, it never gets any less embarrassing. A desperate, awkward retort such as, “Oh, I meant for it to be there, saving it for later,” generally follows in a last ditch effort in order to save face.

Or maybe we’re just feeding our beards because they are hungry? Either way, all bearded men have accepted the fact that their beards also double as food Velcro. You just have to take the good with the bad.

4. *While looking at any form of photo ID* “Is this really you?”

Whether you’re at the liquor store scooping up a 30-rack, checking in at an airport or renting a car, there’s a good chance you’ll run into this question. If your current ID is unfortunately in your clean-shaven state, you’re practically begging for the unneeded skepticism or painfully unfunny jokes. Yes, that person is me. I have just taken an extended hiatus from razors; let’s carry on with our business.

5. “Are you just too lazy to shave?”

This question is arguably the most disrespectful question of the bunch. Much to the disbelief of non-bearded humans, there is actually no room for laziness when it comes to growing a beard. Whether it be trimming, styling or even waxing, the upkeep and overall maintenance of a beard requires a very precise attention to detail.

The beard you see in public isn’t simply a product of just rolling out of bed; a lot of time and effort has been put in.

When you grow and/or have a beard, not only have you welcomed all the benefits of facial hair, but you have also opened the floodgates for a laundry list of worn out questions and comments. To all my fellow bearded fellows out there, I wish you well in your quest of taking these remarks in stride and not losing your sanity.