I shaved my beard and moustache off yesterday.

[mac56]

Kind of traumatized about it today.

I have had a moustache and beard for most of the past 28 years. I first grew it back in my first year of college - "just because I could" - and kept it for 11 years. Then I shaved off the beard and kept the 'stash. About a year later I grew the beard back, at my lovely wife's behest, and have had it for the past 15 years. Yesterday it all went bye-bye.

My lovely wife, actually, urged me to do it. I may be job hunting soon, and she's concerned that there's so much gray in my beard that I look older than I am. This is the first time I have been without facial hair (except eyebrows, of course!) since Gerald Ford was president.

I'm not a vain person, but I'm kind of grieving this. You guys with beards, do you know what I'm talking about?

[emad]

1. What are you going to do about the discrepancy between

skin tone/colour? My neighbour did exactly what you've done and went for a job interview the same day, forgetting he'd been sunbathing for the last six weeks. He didn't get the job. Someone suggested fake tan lotion on the paler bits, but this merely aggravated the shaved areas that weren's used to tanning chemicals, and reacted badly by swelling up and going a blotchy pink....
OK, maybe none of the above apply to you....hope your new image gets you that new job!

[mac56]

3. Yikes! One more thing to worry about.

I'm not a sunbather, so probably if I give it a few days..

[Another Bill C.]

2. Sure do.

About 11 years ago, I shaved my beard and mustache and went over to see my married daughter. She had never seen my naked face. When she answered the door, she gave me a quizzical look and said, "yes?" I had to introduce myself. My grandson didn't seem to know me, either.

Eventually, my daughter asked me to grow it all back because she felt as though she were talking with a stranger. I did.

[mac56]

4. Most of the people I know have never seen me beardless.

Hell, I barely recognize myself in the mirror.

[emad]

6. Reminds me of the story of the

gynacologist who had terrible problems remembering his patients' names, but a photographic memory when it came to recognising them by their body hair.....until the fashion for 'brazillian waxing' started.......

[Xandor]

5. I know

My wife of 10 years has never seen me beardless. I'm scared to shave it at this point -- who is lurking under that hair?

[ChompySnack]

7. I've had a beard/mustache for just over a year

and am considering shaving it off. I did it originally because I wanted to know what it looked like and came to like it. But I don't really want to be identified with it, which seems to happen after a while. My father has had a moustache since I was about 3 and it would freak me out to see him without it.

I like growing it in for about 10 days without shaving and it gets all shaggy, then shaving it clean. I'll miss it, it has about another month to enjoy the light of day.

[dofus]

8. Can you post before and after pictures?

My husband had a full, neatly trimmed beard when we met. About three years later he abruptly shaved it off, and I was horrified. I told him if I'd known what his face really looked like, I might not have married him. But I got over it. He alternated between clean shaven and bearded for about ten years, but has had a full beard for the last decade or so. I prefer it that way.

[mac56]

9. Sorry - can't do the pics -

but thanks for asking.

That was one of my fears too. Despite how strongly she urged me to shave, I told my lovely wife I was afraid she wouldn't like me beardless after all these years. We shall see.

[prolesunited]

11. If you can't get used to it

perhaps you can grow it back and color it with the special dyes they have for beards and mustaches to even out the color?

[mac56]

12. good thought - - thanks!

nm

[Aristus]

10. My wife, who is older than me, urged me to grow a moustache and

goatee about six years ago, hoping they would make me look older. I shaved them off briefly about four years back, hated the shape of my face without them, and now wear them proudly. They make me look rascally and rakish. I like it.

[kmla]

13. Me - I have a goatee.

Actually, I think it is called a "Van Dyke". (Although I never saw Rob Petrie sporting any facial hair during the show's run.)

For the past 7 years or so it has come and gone, depending on my whims and moods. I think I will keep it for awhile this time, though. Mostly to compensate for an advancing forehead. (that's a receding hairline, for you glass-half-empty types.)