If I could get my beard to stay looking that full and neat (as in the last photo) through a day of wear, BW, I'd wear it that way all the time - it's easy and it's comfortable.  Trouble is that it doesn't.  It bunches up or gathers in weird ways after floating around on my shirt, or worse on a wool sweater, and looks ratty to me.  I've talked to other guys with long beards and they say I'm in yet another transition phase where either it gets much longer and this isn't a problem or, more likely for me, it's near terminal length and I just need to figure out how to manage it or cut it back.  The latter isn't an option for me right now.  I'm still learning!  

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So, here goes.  I got 5 beautiful glass and silver beads in the mail this week from rngr and promised to wear them to my group's holiday party tonight.  I made 5 straight braids each with a bead and, well, let's just say it's festive and everyone wanted a picture with me.  I think the compliments were more out of kindness and holiday spirit than anything else though.  To me it looks silly and I felt silly wearing it but, hey, it's a holiday party and people were dressed in all kinds of silly things, so I fit tight in.  

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 That said, I think there's a lot of potential in 5 braids if I bunch the center ones in some way, maybe bring them together and stack a few beads on the loose hair beneath, and leave the outer ones to frame it.  We'll see.  As I write this I've removed all the beads and have braided the center three together and it looks pretty good (sorry, no photo).  Clearly, though, this won't be a regular style for me.  I am really looking forward to how it looks tomorrow when I remove the braids! smiley: happy

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