Beard

There is nothing more natural for a man than to grow a beard. Every bloke tries it at least once. Sometimes it’s a little goatee, sometimes it’s the full Grizzly Adams and sometimes it’s just a couple of weeks growth trimmed neatly like the facial topiary that is currently residing on my face.

You’d expect people to pass comment, things like: ‘You’ve grown a beard’ (obvious), ‘You forgot to shave’ (irritating) or ‘Your Wife must love that’ (sarcastic) – and I kind of get used to those comments and field them in an appropriate manner. The best reaction is actually no reaction at all, those are the ones that let me and my new comfort blanket (well let’s face it, that’s all a beard really is) get on with it.

What is a little more sinister is the reaction of some people both verbally and physically. It seems that having a beard gives people the right to stroke your chin, even when you aren’t thinking deep thoughts, which is obviously when I’d like to stroke my own chin. The other reaction I got recently was the query ‘is it permanent?’ I wouldn’t mind but the comment was passed by someone who has trained in medicine for many years!

My kids have noticed a smattering of grey hair around the chin too. I have a little peppering of grey hair around the sides of my head, where most of my hair lives these days, but they seem fascinated by the grey bits on my chin and always ask why I have grey hair at all. The usual reply is that I didn’t have grey hair until they were born, which is a little harsh to say to their faces, but probably about 95% true!

So the next time you see a manly man expressing his right to grow facial hair, either complement him on his splendid growth or say nothing. And most important of all, don’t stroke it, it’s not a dog!