For me, a beard implies intentionality... It's a beard when and if the grower intends it to be. Just skipping shaving for a few days does not make it a beard unless it was intentional. If, after a few days, the guy thinks "well, I guess I need to shave," then that is not a beard. On the other hand, if he maintains it, then I would call it a beard.

Does that make any sense?