Tom, I hope your visit with the barber goes well Friday. Your beard and hairstyle look great together, and the near perfect mustache tops it off. Your mustache even looks good in the wet photo. And as Dirk said so well, I really can´t believe that a guy with tatts and tunnels is so critical of his beard and mustache. Tatts and tunnels are permanent, and hair can be changed.

I understand your concerns with maintaining your hairstyle. Maintenance was one of the big influencers in my decision to start shaving my head. The first sign of thinning was just the push I needed to give it a try. In my experience, once your get the idea in your head to shave it, it will eat at you until the day you do it. So I suggest you give it a try, your hair will always grow back if you decide against it, just like Dirk.

My Beard Journey:  http://jefffsbeardboard.yuku.com/topic/25137/Finally-I-have-a-Beard
Beard and Bald Thread:  http://jefffsbeardboard.yuku.com/topic/27831/Beard-bald-head-shaved-head-or-buzzcut
Patchy Beard Success Stories:  http://jefffsbeardboard.yuku.com/topic/33742/Patchy-Beard-success-stories-Before-and-After-photos#.ViujbH7nuM8
Taming the Wild Mustache:  http://jefffsbeardboard.yuku.com/topic/30822/Taming-the-Wild-Stache#.Vj_Mh7erTIU