Azio Beard Growth - Attempt 2: Mustache Training Post #134 in Beard Journey Discussion Forum

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Azio Beard Growth - Attempt 2: Mustache Training Post #134

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Azio

Azio Beard Growth - Attempt 2: Mustache Training Post #134

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Beard Friendly

Posts: 87

Jan 15 12 12:36 PM

Tags : beard growth, new beard, neckline, 6 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 7 weeks, motivated, weak cheeks

So I have been coming to these boards off and on for years now. I have tried growing a beard several times during that time but I could never bring myself to get past the 4 week mark. Because I have been fortunate enough to start working full time from home this gives me the unique opportunity to really see what kind of beard I can grow.

Instead of starting at "week one" with my updates I thought I would start at "week four" which is when the attached pictures were taken. It is at this point that I need the most encouragement. So hopefully you guys can help me get past week four so I can really see my beard's potential.

As you can see from my pictures I have weaker growth on my cheeks and because of that I always thought my beard looked poor after a month of growth. This is when I usually throw in the towel. This is why I need the encouragement from you guys to see this through.

You can see I am learning as I go along from the the fact that I didn't give myself enough of a neckline when I started out. You can see I adjusted the neckline to be lower on my jaw.

So that's it. I am officially giving this beard growing a shot. I look forward to being a part of this beard community and getting any advice I can as I move forward with my beard progress. Thanks guys.

Azio

Last Edited By: Azio Nov 20 12 10:52 AM. Edited 22 times.

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Beardminator

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Beard Legend

Posts: 1618

Jan 15 12 12:44 PM

Welcome Azio, you have a great beard there, the neckline is really nice. Poor cheek growth? Nope, it is really strong enough.
For how long do you want to grow it? Ever thought of a big beard? You can go for any style with your growth.
If you are not sure yet, go for 3 months and look at it again, believe me, you will never think about your cheek growth again lol!

Cheers

wulffpaul

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Beard Wizard

Posts: 7672

Jan 15 12 1:13 PM

Administrator

Azio. Nothing wrong with your beard that I can see. It is not unusual for cheek growth to be less dense than chin growth; in fact I'd say that it is not far from being the norm. However, this difference becomes increasingly less perceptible over time, and I reckon that by the time you reach 8 weeks you'll be wondering why you ever gave up at 4. Also, I think that your original neckline was quite OK, but if you like it a bit lower, that's OK too.

Keep growing. Stay bearded!

wulff

colinday

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Beard Regular

Posts: 164

Jan 15 12 1:16 PM

Your beard is truly amazing, seriously. What you a perceiving as weak cheeks is simply just slower growing areas than your goatee, which is extremely common. Just give yourself another 6 weeks or so and you'll really see it all fill in and come together, you *won't* be disappointed!

Beardenator

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Beard Master

Posts: 584

Jan 15 12 1:48 PM

You are joking, right? Look at my beard. It has nowhere near that type of even coverage when it is at that beginning stage of growth. Let that beard grow, I mean for a minimum of 3 months, stop shaving a neckline and stand by for greatness!

Azio

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Beard Friendly

Posts: 87

Jan 15 12 2:49 PM

Thanks for all the feedback and encouragement guys. It really does help. As far as how long do I want to grow it Beardinator? That's a good question. In the past I have always had the restraint of having to keep it short and nicely groomed for work. But because I am working full time from home I have the luxury of letting go as long as I want. I never thought of myself with a really long beard, but the more I look on this site the more curious I am about how it would look. If my beard could look like yours Beardenator I would love to get it that long, but somehow I just don't feel mine with be as nice of a shape. But who knows until I try.

It sounds like I really need to take it to the 3 month mark to see my beards potential. That means I have two more months of growth to get through. I hope to post new pics once every one to two weeks to give you guys an update and to keep me accountable.

So what is the though on a neckline? I really like to keep that area as clean as possible just because it itches more than anything else. I know some say just let it all go, but I don't think I could do that easily. Just curious what other guys have tried.

Beardminator

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Beard Legend

Posts: 1618

Jan 15 12 2:57 PM

Nice, I am sure the length of the goatee in my avatar should look great on you, long goatee + bald head = 1+

You could try so many styles, but I would go for a 3 month fullbeard and then I would decide what to do, remember, it is your face, you have to like it.

Keep growing!

Last Edited By: Beardminator Jan 15 12 4:21 PM. Edited 1 times.

bearded bicycles

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Beard Legend

Posts: 1481

Jan 15 12 3:00 PM

Certified Advisor

The only problem I see with leaving a natural neck line in your case is that it will give your beard a very bottom heavy appearance and you might get discouraged because the bottom of your beard will look much stronger, however I am a huge fan of natural neck lines and think it would add some great density to you over all beard when it gets to the 3 month mark... Neck lines are a very personal thing though, so I would encourage you to experiment with it and see what you feel suits you the best. Great looking beard btw.

Beardenator

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Beard Master

Posts: 584

Jan 15 12 4:18 PM

Azio, You are working at home with unrestricted growing potential. Let it all grow. The itching will stop once it gains more length. That heavy growth you have up the neck is going to give you unbelievable fullness. I don't have that, so imagine my beard with your added undergrowth! It will take time for it to all reach the same length, then when you trim for shape you will have endless options. I predict epicness! (Is that a word....lol)?

Buckeye

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Beard Elite

Posts: 442

Jan 15 12 6:02 PM

Welcome Azio! You have nothing to be concerned about. Give it time and patience and you WILL be rewarded with an epic beard. There are many on this board who have great beards now that in their early stages had much less density on the sides than you do now. Just stop examining every little thing in the mirror and let it grow! Keep us posted!

Azio

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Beard Friendly

Posts: 87

Jan 15 12 6:29 PM

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice guys. I am already looking forward to updating with next weeks photos.

Going through other photos and posts on the boards I can see that it just takes time and patience to let the beard grow into itself. Thanks @Beardenator and @Bearded Bicycles for the advice regarding the neckline. Since this is all so new to me I may just slowly increase the neckline as my beard grows. I know it is already lower down than when I started. If I just go lower little by little when I shave/trim it may give me the confidence to eventually let it all grow out.

And that is great advice @Buckeye. I need to stop looking in the mirror so much. Too easy to see that it isn't filling in fast enough. But that's why I have you guys to keep me from shaving it off this time around!

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DanoFromCO

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Beard Wizard

Posts: 9516

Jan 16 12 10:51 AM

Administrator

It is quite common to have serious doubts at the 4 week point. This is a very awkward stage for many guys and it is a also the point where the beard improvement seems to slow down from day to day or even week to week. This is simply our minds playing tricks on us...it is still improving albeit not as noticeably fast as before.

The plan should be to pick a date and stick to it. I would say give yourself until March 15th for example. No matter how much doubt you have along the way, commit to reaching that date. Avoiding mirrors will help as will participating more actively on this board.

Patience shall be rewarded!

New beard growers: Check out the Rules of Beard Acquisition.

To upload and post pictures, here are some step-by-step instructions.

Do you believe in these Common Beard Myths?

Sven

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Beard Elite

Posts: 225

Jan 16 12 11:18 AM

Like many of us you're complaining cause you think your beard isn't as dense as it should be. However in your case you shouldn't have any doubts, many guys would kill for your density and coverage. You are off to a great start just hang in there.

kplandes

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Beard Wizard

Posts: 5137

Jan 16 12 2:27 PM

Certified Advisor

All you've got to do is sit back and let your beard grow. You've got plenty of coverage. Having a beard is cool and fun. Growing a beard takes grit and determination. A scruffy stage passes and you start to enjoy it, and then it goes scruffy again. That's all just part of the process of growing in. I've only been growing mine for a little over 5 months, so it's all recent experience for me. Hang in there!

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” — Dr. Seuss

My update thread: Really into my beard - kplandes
Beards in action: Real men with real beards doing real work in the real world

Big mustache: Tips & Techniques for eating and drinking

Azio

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Beard Friendly

Posts: 87

Jan 16 12 3:25 PM

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I know a lot of this is just a mindset. In the past I always worried it wouldn't look good for work, but now with working from home I know I just have to get past the "scruffy" stage as you put it kplandes.

Actually, that brings up a question I have. I notice at this stage that my beard is starting to stick out at odd angles. Seems to be a bit hard to control. Is that just the way it is when it grows out? Will it lay down better when it gets longer or is there some product I can use to help it lay down better. The more it sticks out the more I want to run my beard trimmer through it to even it out, but I know that defeats the purpose. Just curious if, at some point, it just starts to act as a single cohesive "bushy" beard or if I will always have random hairs sticking out all over.

Beardenator

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Beard Master

Posts: 584

Jan 16 12 3:31 PM

Do not trim it! Once you gain some length and everything starts to thicken up it will lay down better. You are right, if you trim now you are back to square one.

Buckeye

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Beard Elite

Posts: 442

Jan 16 12 3:44 PM

I second what Beardenator says! Step away from the trimmers!

Maybe all guys who start growing their beards for the first time should be required to turn in the trimmers or at least lock them up! I've made that mistake before and it just adds more time to get to the point that you are happy with it. Keep coming here and I'm sure someone will talk you down from the ledge. You need to read the "Rules of Beard Acquisition" post at the top of this forum and keep reading them until they are memorized.

callowbeard

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Beard Regular

Posts: 112

Jan 16 12 4:09 PM

Azio, sounds like we're in the same boat. You're a few weeks ahead of me. Looks good btw.
I just ordered a trimmer today because the chin area is growing much faster than the cheeks, and I feel it looks strange. I'm going to try my best to not trim, though, based on what I've read here. My question is this: when is the proper time to trim? Say a guy wants somewhere between a short to average length beard (sort of like Wullfpaul's length, maybe a tad longer).
I'm also not sure I completely grasp why running a trimmer through it at this stage will defeat the purpose. Seems, at least in my case, it would just even out the chin growth but not touch the slow growers on the cheek. That would make it more tidy I'd think. No?

Azio

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Beard Friendly

Posts: 87

Jan 16 12 4:39 PM

That's a good question callowbeard. And I am sure it is better answered by some of the beard board veterans oh here. But, as far as my experience goes, in the past I have trimmed the sides and even the goatee to try and achieve a more unified look during the grow out period. However, it seems no matter what length I put my trimmer at, it somehow keeps the sides from ever filling in.

From looking over the boards and viewing other peoples update pictures I think there is a point (if you really just let your beard grow with little to no trimming) that it begins to fill the gaps in on its own. I still keep a trimmer handy just in case I get a really long flyaway that won't lay down, but I think my best bet is to just let the whole thing go for 3 months and see how well it fills in on its own. I can then shape/trim anything that looks a little off.

Of course, I would love to hear from others on when the best time is to start trimming/shaping the beard.

Beardenator

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Beard Master

Posts: 584

Jan 16 12 5:23 PM

My opinion (and everybody has different ones), let it grow until everything is well past the chin, from the cheek down. That is the ONLY way to see what the natural fullness and shape of your beard is. Then you can shape it, trim back the longer chin growth so that it all grows together in length, etc. This could take months, so you've got to hang tough if you want to see your full potential. Don't obsess about it, it won't make it grow any faster and as I stated earlier, you have no restrictions. Getting past the rough stage should be a breeze.

Also, if you are going for a BIG beard, forget about guides on the clippers. My trimming is all done free-hand with bare blade clippers, no guide. It's like pruning a shrub and you can get creative. Numbered guides are great for the uniform one-length business-acceptable look that some prefer. Also work best with straight beards. If you want the close cropped neat-look and aren't going big, I would still let it grow completely a couple of inches prior to trimming so that evrything fills in. Depends on your preference, but in the beginning I would resist all trimming until you see where it goes.

wulffpaul

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Beard Wizard

Posts: 7672

Jan 16 12 5:53 PM

Administrator

You can't really put a figure on a "proper" time to trim. It all depends on the individual's rate of growth and the length and style he eventually wants for his beard. Too many newbies get alarmed in the earlier stages of growth and start trimming to "even things out", but merely succeed in extending the growing process. The beard must be given time to lay down and find its own shape and grow a bit longer than the owner would ideally like, so that he has something to work on. For the average short beard, I'd say that around 8 weeks is the time at which a beard might be given a very light surface trim, but for longer or really big beards up to twice or more that time might be appropriate. Better to trim later than sooner, and less rather than more, for starters; then, when you have found the length and style you like you can begin to trim more seriously to retain your chosen look. On the other hand it is my personal opinion that neck and /or cheek lines (if you are going to have them) can be carved early on in the growing process, after a couple of weeks or less depending on the density of stubble.

Keep growing. Get bearded!

wulff

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Azio Beard Growth - Attempt 2: Mustache Training Post #134

Azio Beard Growth - Attempt 2: Mustache Training Post #134