Our beards often begin with a whim, grow into a major part of our appearance, and finally become part of our identities. But unlike your height, your physique, or your personality, your beard can be altered or removed in a matter of minutes.
Even the most dedicated beardsman might find himself considering going barefaced. But how can any hirsute man be certain that he won’t regret shaving his beard?
When deciding whether you should shave your beard, you need to consider the factors compelling you to do it. You should consider how this big change in your appearance will affect those close to you and whether you will be in a position to regrow it easily.
To fully consider whether a full beard shave is the right idea, let’s explore five different questions you should ask yourself. Once you answer each of these, you’ll have a better sense of whether to go for a smooth chin.
1. Why Are You Considering a Full Beard-Shave?
Let’s get a few things out of the way right now. In the United States, you do not need to be clean-shaven for any kind of photo ID or passport. You are better off keeping your preferred facial hair for those photos as it will be easier for people to match your face to the image.
So, let’s move on to some other reasons you might feel compelled to lose the facial hair:
A Job Interview
Every employer is different, but if you’re looking into a job in a more conservative, old-school field, you might need to lose the lumberjack face. Be sure to do your homework beforehand, though.
A surprising number of offices are embracing a business-casual environment that jives with full beards. Also, you might need to make peace with the idea that if you interview without facial hair, you might be stuck shaving every day while you are in the job.
A Formal Event
If you are a groomsman or a pallbearer, your appearance won’t be your own. You have to wear a specific type of suit and tie, and the person planning the event might insist that you shave your beard. For a funeral, you probably should acquiesce out of respect.
With a wedding, there’s usually room for negotiation. Just get the conversation with the engaged couple started early. That way, you won’t be stuck hacking your beard off the night before.
A Date
Why would you even consider shaving your beard for a date? If you’re a genuine beardsman, surely you take pride in your lush, masculine, rugged facial hair. Taking it off would be doing a disservice to your date, as well.
You want them to see you as you plan to be for most of your life. Don’t show up looking like 1990s Magic Johnson when they’ll be getting modern-day James Harden later on.
A Life Change
This is the most compelling reason to jettison the beard. If you think it’s time for a change on your face, then maybe you should grab the razor and the shaving cream.
A beard is a truly personal thing, and so is the decision to shave it. Just be sure to consider the other questions on our list.
2. Do You Really Want to Take It All Off?
Think about some of the legit reasons we just pinpointed:
- A job interview.
- Groomsman duties.
- You just need a look change.
With every one of these factors, you could just as easily take your voluptuous facial hair and treat it like marble to be sculpted. Maybe your buddy would like his groomsman to rock some stylish stubble.
Perhaps that white-shoe law firm would be interested in a young lawyer with a neatly-trimmed mustache and goatee. And while a clean-shaven face is a big styling change, so is a luxurious handlebar or horseshoe mustache!
Changing your facial hair is not an all-or-nothing proposition. So, consider all your options before razing the whole forest.
3. Have You Taken Care of the Skin Under Your Beard?
If you are a dedicated beardsman, then you probably have a comprehensive beard care set. You also certainly know that beard care is just as much about the skin beneath as the hair above.
Before you start sharpening the razor, be sure that you’ve been maintaining your facial hair with a beard-specific conditioner and oil. These products soothe and moisturize the skin that will be exposed when you shave your beard.
Taking care of this skin while you still have hair on your face will lower the chances of dryness, irritation, acne, and other pore obstructions when the hair comes off.
It’s also a good idea to have some quality post-shave cleanser, balm, and moisturizer ready for your newly naked face.
4. Will This Change Freak Out Your Loved Ones?
While ensuring that you personally are comfortable shaving off your beard, you also should consider the people closest to you. If you have rocked voluminous facial hair for a long time, you need to be prepared for people to be disoriented by your “new” face.
Now, this will be less of a concern for friends, coworkers, and neighbors. You will get some double-takes and perhaps a bit of ribbing, but that isn’t a big deal. The same is true of parents and siblings, who have memories of you without a beard.
Your romantic partner, however, might have more legitimate concerns. Your facial hair is likely integral to their attraction to you. While they might not have a problem with a babyfaced you, it will require some adjustment.
Imagine what you’d think, for example, if your partner came home with a bright blue mohawk. You probably wouldn’t have a problem with it; you might even think it was hot! But it would almost certainly require some serious getting used to. Take that under consideration when losing the whiskers.
Your most intense – and intensely negative – reaction will likely be if you have young children. Kids don’t do well with sudden changes, especially where their parents are concerned. For toddler-age children and younger, their idea of permanence might still be developing. Be ready for some inconsolable kiddos when they see your shorn mug.
Incidentally, these reactions can be pretty hilarious:
5. How Easy Will it be to Grow Back?
The good news is that you can always grow your beard back after you shave it. However, this might require more planning than you imagine.
Some guys can go home on a Friday, not shave all weekend, and return with an even beard on Monday. Many of us still have that awkward growing-in stage where we look scruffy and unkempt.
So, even though you might have the option to grow your beard back, you might need to arrange the actual growth around a vacation or holiday.
In Conclusion
There are plenty of good reasons for shaving your beard, but it also makes sense to be concerned about whether it’s the right choice. If you’re worried you might regret going clean-shaven, look into some shorter, more sculpted facial hair options instead.
We’ve also explored some best practices for trimming and shaving your beard that you might find helpful.