Facial Hair and kilts (especially for Rex)

[Yaish]

Many of us kilted brethren sport some kind of facial hair, be it beards, mustaches, goatees (van dykes), mutton chops, etc...

mkmound and I remarked on Rex Tremende's fantastic mustache the other day, and we both were curious how he did it.

So Rex, got any tips of mustache grooming and training? I've tried mustache wax (clubman, in a tube) but it didnt seem to work. I could slather it on and get it to go sideways a bit, but it always straightened back out again.

Does it need to be a certain length, or should some softening agent be used to reduce stiffness?

What about the rest of you guys? General facial hair tips and tricks to post?

[morrison]

Sometimes my whisker hairs go the wrong way. Unlike me, I never go the wrong way. A soak in hot water and a combing to shape it all in the desired direction and I'm good to go.

[Tattoo Bradley]

They recently lifted the policy on facial hair for us. I'm allowed a goatee, but not a full beard. I suppose it's a battle half won. But, I'd sure like to be allowed to grow the full beard. I haven't grown one since I was in High School. It came in, but I can tell it would be SO much fuller in my "adult" years. Oh well. Some day, perhaps. As far as tips: no, I bring nothing to the table.

[Scott Gilmore]

I simply use just a little chapstick; I rub a little on my fingertips and massage the unruly bits. It's just waxy enough to keep things settled without being oily. The trick is to use only a very little.

. . .

Regards,
Scott Gilmore

[Yaish]

How long are the hairs in the 'stache before that starts to work? I had mine about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch, but it would just start straight down again before too long, no matter how much wax I used.

[Scott Gilmore]

You can just barely see in the photo on the left that I also flair my mustaches -- but lower than Rex's. The idea is to blend into and accent the salty muzzle rather than present a distinct element. I've kept my mustaches this way since about 1973. A little chapstick works for me.

Regards,
Scott Gilmore

[Rex_Tremende]

I was at the Ohio Renaissance Fair yesterday (pics may follow sometime today), so I am just now picking up the thread.

A lot depends on how your beard grows. Mine has a wicked curl to it, so I have to use a fair amount of wax to keep it in check. I use the Clubman wax (neutral) that comes in a tube.

When I first started growing it, the shorter hairs did not want to cooperate, so I occasionally supplemented the wax with some very sticky hair product called "Spike It Hair Cement." Also, in the early stages of growing it, I usually could only groom it in loops, rather than straight out.

I couldn't say for certain how long it took, because one day I noticed that my moustache had gotten just a little too long, so I just went with it. It was probably a couple of months before I began trimming the ends back with any regularity.

A friend of mine uses a theatrical eyebrow and beard wax that closely resembles Chapstick but is a little firmer and less oily. First he sets it with a blow dryer and brush, then applies the wax with soft toothbrush to the ends. Using his fingers to shape the curl, he uses the blow dryer again to set the wax. The result is a very soft, pliable, and splendid moustache.

Notice that he trims the hair over his lip, where I do not.

You may also want to peruse the Handlebar Club FAQ for more advice.

I'd say you probably need to be patient with it. As it grows, you'll figure out what looks good and works best for you.

Good luck,
Rex.

[Dirk Skene]

Rex, I used to keep a 'stach like yours but I finally said "the heck with it." Too much work. I admire you for keeping up yours. I still keep a full beard albeit close cropped because of my parttime job at the cooking school.

[Hachiman]

Hi folks!

Whilst I envy Sir Rex's very elegant and 'coiffed' beard, I prefer to keep my goatee more... closely cropped, shall we say?

As for tips for the 'care and maintenance' of facial hair, here are the few I have.

1) invest in a decent set of electric clippers, with a beard trimming attachement or guide. It helps to keep the beard from looking like a privit bush. If you're planning on growing your beard, using a trimmer with different gauge guides will allow a more uniform appearance.

2) wash your beard regularly with a decent quality shampoo. I personally prefer Aveda products, but you decide what you want to use. It's up to you how often you do it. Aveda also have a nice grooming wax, in case you're interested.

3) brush your beard regularly. This helps the hairs grow in the direction you desire, and also exfoliates the dead skin cells. Personally, I recommend at least once a day - your mileage may vary.

That's my $0.02 worth

cheers

Hachiman