Spyderco Forums

People have thought I'm one of those hipster types a time or two. That's almost enough to make a guy shave.

Once upon a time, in the brief interlude between one uniform and another, I grew a goatee. Try as I might, I can't get a beard to grow. Well done to all here!

Especially your example Bloke!!

Well, I caved again and shaved off my mustache and beard, as I always end up doing. I kept it for 2 months, and that's OK. Some people thought I looked good with it, but in the end, it's easier and less work for me to go clean-shaven. Plus, every time I shave it off, I look about 20 years younger than I do with it! :)

Anyway, any time I decide to grow it again, it only takes a couple weeks or so to grow it back.

Jim

As a woman I obviously don't have a beard but I have grown to prefer beards over a clean shaven face. I never thought I'd like them but now I hate it when my boyfriend even trims his. I prefer it longer and I think men look better with them. Some men can't pull it off because it comes in patchy but a man that can wear a full beard looks better. Just my opinion.

My older brother has never shaved his beard off since he graduated from high school in 1971. He has a full beard, but oddly enough, when I do grow out a full beard of my own, it looks thicker and fuller than his (although I've never kept mine long enough to grow as long as his). Perhaps the reason is because my face has been shaved so many times that it grows back thicker than if it wasn't shaved?

Jim

James Y wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 28, 2019 3:57 pm

My older brother has never shaved his beard off since he graduated from high school in 1971. He has a full beard, but oddly enough, when I do grow out a full beard of my own, it looks thicker and fuller than his (although I've never kept mine long enough to grow as long as his). Perhaps the reason is because my face has been shaved so many times that it grows back thicker than if it wasn't shaved?

Jim

It's just genetics. That whole thing about shaving causing hair to grow is BS. If that worked I wouldn't be bald I've been shaving my head for 20 years, since before it really started falling out. My beard is thicker than both my older brothers and I've got the only hairy chest in the family. If I didn't look so much like my old man I might be the milk man's boy.

I'd have a really thick full beard if that shaving trick worked. I grow a great handlebar moustache and a good goatee. Unfortunately the sides of my face are patchy and my facial hair doesn't get longer than 3".

VashHash wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 28, 2019 5:26 pm

I grow a great handlebar moustache

Bloke wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:55 pm

VashHash wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 28, 2019 5:26 pm

I grow a great handlebar moustache

I'm really curious what your search history looks like. Must have some pretty odd things in there to find all those pictures hahaha.

VashHash wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 29, 2019 5:55 am

Bloke wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:55 pm

VashHash wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 28, 2019 5:26 pm

I grow a great handlebar moustache

I'm really curious what your search history looks like. Must have some pretty odd things in there to find all those pictures hahaha.

I, too, wonder where Bloke finds his images. Some crazy stuff is out there.

Zombie thread, I know, but it's MY zombie thread.

I've had my beard / goatee now, and haven't shaved it off, for the past 4 years or so at this point. I find that I prefer having my beard now, although I like it well groomed and short.

I've seen some YT videos where some guys say they grow a beard because they don't like the hassle of shaving. Maybe those guys' facial hair doesn't really grow much, because having a decently groomed beard takes more work than simply keeping yourself clean-shaven.

I naturally have thicker facial hair, and much more body hair, than men of East Asian descent are known for. To the point that people who have seen it have asked me if I'm part Italian or Portuguese or something. One guy even asked if I might be part Armenian, LOL ... NO. It's the Jomon characteristics from my dad's side.

Jim

James Y wrote: ↑

Sat May 10, 2025 10:48 am

Zombie thread, I know, but it's MY zombie thread.

I've had my beard / goatee now, and haven't shaved it off, for the past 4 years or so at this point. I find that I prefer having my beard now, although I like it well groomed.

I've seen some YT videos where some guys say they grow a beard because they don't like the hassle of shaving. Maybe those guys' facial hair doesn't really grow much, because having a decently groomed beard takes more work than simply keeping yourself clean-shaven.

I naturally have thicker facial hair, and much more body hair, than men of East Asian descent are known for. To the point that people who have seen it have asked me if I'm part Italian or Portuguese or something. One guy even asked if I might be part Armenian, LOL ... NO. It's the Jomon characteristics from my dad's side.

Jim

Jim,
I've spent most of my adult life clean shaven. It certainly takes years off the old clock. I still get carded for tobacco if I'm clean shaven despite being 43.

My mustache and goatee have been grown out for a little over 2 years. I am genetically incapable of growing a mountain man beard. I come from a long genetic bloodline of men, mostly void of body hair, who passed at ripe old ages with a full head of white hair, but barely a mustache & goatee.

I dont find the amount of grooming required for me on a given week any less, honestly it might be more. Trimming edges, etc. I don't know when I might go back to clean shaven though. Mine is slightly less than 50% salt than pepper.

xceptnl wrote: ↑

Sat May 10, 2025 11:12 am

James Y wrote: ↑

Sat May 10, 2025 10:48 am

Zombie thread, I know, but it's MY zombie thread.

I've had my beard / goatee now, and haven't shaved it off, for the past 4 years or so at this point. I find that I prefer having my beard now, although I like it well groomed.

I've seen some YT videos where some guys say they grow a beard because they don't like the hassle of shaving. Maybe those guys' facial hair doesn't really grow much, because having a decently groomed beard takes more work than simply keeping yourself clean-shaven.

I naturally have thicker facial hair, and much more body hair, than men of East Asian descent are known for. To the point that people who have seen it have asked me if I'm part Italian or Portuguese or something. One guy even asked if I might be part Armenian, LOL ... NO. It's the Jomon characteristics from my dad's side.

Jim

Jim,
I've spent most of my adult life clean shaven. It certainly takes years off the old clock. I still get carded for tobacco if I'm clean shaven despite being 43.

My mustache and goatee have been grown out for a little over 2 years. I am genetically incapable of growing a mountain man beard. I come from a long genetic bloodline of men, mostly void of body hair, who passed at ripe old ages with a full head of white hair, but barely a mustache & goatee.

I dont find the amount of grooming required for me on a given week any less, honestly it might be more. Trimming edges, etc. I don't know when I might go back to clean shaven though. Mine is slightly less than 50% salt than pepper.

Thank you for sharing.

I was still getting carded into my late 30s. I'm 62 now. I can look in my 40s now, if I was clean-shaven. I'm in pretty good shape, and most of my head hair (which I now keep very close-cropped) is still mostly black, with some white. But my beard is more salt than pepper. With the beard, I look in my early 50s. But at this point in my life, I no longer care about appearance, other than being well-groomed enough for my online business. I've never really been the type of guy who emphasized (or was ever known for) my appearance, anyway.

Jim

I have a nice thick mustache and connected goatee. I remember in high school I had those big mutton Chop sideburns that were in style back in those days. I can't stand all that facial hair now. Mustache and goatee are very comfortable. But the rest of it I don't care for it. At least not on my face. I don't know how I had those big mutton chop sideburns back in those days. But of course, my hair was an awful lot longer too. Like very long. I was a groovy dude, can you dig it?

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Sat May 10, 2025 11:22 pm

I have a nice thick mustache and connected goatee. I remember in high school I had those big mutton Chop sideburns that were in style back in those days. I can't stand all that facial hair now. Mustache and goatee are very comfortable. But the rest of it I don't care for it. At least not on my face. I don't know how I had those big mutton chop sideburns back in those days. But of course, my hair was an awful lot longer too. Like very long. I was a groovy dude, can you dig it?

Far out, man!

Jim