Evening gents! Here comes the update, sorry if I kept you waiting but I've been ridiculously busy this week. As you can see, it's back to Riker. In the end I decided to call off the experiment. No doubt the sides would have filled in more given time, but even so, save a major miracle, it didn't look likely to develop into anything I'd be 100% happy with. Cowlicks all over the place, bald patches, the works - the contrast between the sides and the more developed jawline/sideburns area was blatant. It might be worth another shot in a few years, if it develops more, but for now there just isn't enough there.
On the other hand I already know I can do a mean Riker, so that's what it's going to be. It feels great to be on the journey again. My confidence's growing back day by day and I can only look forward to it filling in more in the next few weeks.

As an anecdote, last Sunday I went to a a metal gig here in London and it really hit me how much I missed the old beard - virtually everyone in the venue, band and audience alike, was bearded. Probably even the women

Anyway, pictures:

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As usual, looking forward to you replies gentlemen. Beard on!