Well, Dennis, I'm always happy when I can set the hook, so to speak, on a guy to try beads.  I really think you'll enjoy it and I've no doubt it will look great at the tip of that masterpiece of yours!

Hey, TwoBear, imaginary, and Luke, you're welcome.  

Yes, Webwzrd, the higher you go the bigger diameter you need.  There's just more hair there.  As far as adjusting the perceived length you make a very good point and even though a naturally-worn beard is, perforce, longer, the braid and beard can make the beard appear longer.  I get far more comments about the length when I'm wearing a bead than when I don't.  The other thing to keep in mind is that the closer the braid is started with respect to the face, the tighter the beard is, hence, in my experience, making it warmer, much like wearing a scarf.  Though my beard doesn't make my face hotter in the summer when worn naturally it's much warmer when tied up or braided!

Erik!!  It's always a pleasure to hear from you!  Thank you.  You know I'm always having fun with it.  It's interesting that you mention my barber - I haven't seen him in three months.  I have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow, though.  In the interim I've let the beard and the scalp grow unfettered, as much for laziness as anything.  Now I'm contemplating whether to keep letting the hair grow for a while, what little there is at least (my wife, upon asking, is utterly ambivalent about it) or cut it back to my usual 1/2-inch.  That decision will be made tomorrow in consultation with him.  The beard, however, is in pedal-to-the-metal free grow.  For the first time in, oh my, 32 months, Cory will not be allowed to touch my beard.  I plan to wear it braided so he's not even tempted.

Thank you for that link, norsebeard!  There's much more variety there than the place I bought the first batch!

Thank you for stopping by, lelelez!  Sin?  Hardly!  There are so many threads, and so much information, that I'm regularly getting lost in it all too and I'm always thrilled when someone finds my thread and finds it useful.  As for the beads, you'll be there sooner than you think!

Greyfur, sir, that post was, by far, more than thanks enough.  This isn't the first time you've left me at a loss for words.  I look back at the threads that inspired me and kept me going and I'm still just trying to live up to the example those men set, and many continue to set, and give something back and, of course, have fun while doing it.  The important thing for me is that I encourage, inspire, or whatever, guys to try stepping out of their box and grow their beards.  I want guys to taste just a bit of the child-like glee I've enjoyed in doing so.  

So much for busting my chops, huh Zac!  Now you, like Greyfur, leave me at a loss for words.  It makes me very happy, and jealous, to see young men like you wearing their full, long beards.  I wish I'd had the presence of mind to do it.  Whether you guys keep them or not is irrelevant.  You can say you tried it and made the decision based on what you, not what society, thought best for you.  

Cheers!
Tom


Some helpful links:
Library Central of Beard Growing


Taming the Wild Mustache
Tips for eating and drinking with a big mustache

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit. ~ W. Somerset Maugham
A jerk with a beard is just a bearded jerk, but a bearded gentleman is awesomeness personified. ~ Triibeard