^ what adam said.

Yeah man, I'm tryin' to grow a new one too. Of course we like people to be pleased with our appearance. It's flattering. But it's more important you can get to a point where you're comfortable - it'll make rude people easier to deal with. If you want to have a beard / if you like your beard, then don't doubt your own intuition on it and get constructive advice from people who aren't just trying to bust you down. Also, I dunno what a 'frontal attack' felt like for you but whether from neighbors, colleagues, friends or family, any interaction in which somebody is aggressive or insulting about your appearance is inappropriate. That's important. If you were walking around the grocery shirtless, in boxers and flip-flops then I could imagine you'd get a couple of glances. I don't think beards and (appropriate) tats don't deserve attitude. Maybe: "I have the decency not to tell you what I think about your appearance. You could extend the same courtesy to me."

My away team's the wife. I gotta live with her. She's been harping on me lately because I didn't sprout a Hollywood beard over night. Just told her (with a laugh) that she can dictate my shaving habits when I can dictate hers. That settled the issue.