http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/05/14/the-easy-five-beard-styles.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/05/06/how-to-strengthen-a-weak-chin-with-a-beard.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/05/02/10-hot-summer-beard-styles.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/05/02/style-of-the-month-the-philly-beard.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/04/26/how-to-grow-and-style-your-first-beard.html

They don’t just look cool – they act as a natural sunblock too. Beards truly are this summer’s coolest facial accessory, as the latest science testifies.

Beards block between 90 and 95% of the sun’s harmful UV rays, according a study recently published in the Radiation Protection Dosimetry journal from Oxford University.

This means your whiskers not only reduce the risk of skin cancer, but also slow the aging process.

In addition, a healthy beard will help your skin retain moisture, and protect your face from abrasive, drying winds.

The study saw scientists put bearded mannequins alongside clean ones in the Aussie outback sun, and checked out how much radiation was swallowed up by each.

The researched confirmed something most bearded countrymen have known all their lives: beards rule!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2013/04/23/beards-keep-you-looking-young.html

Fade, taper, line the front and open-eight on top are all terms used regularly by barbers, but for most men, it’s like a foreign language. The whole barbershop experience can be a nerve racking, especially when you’re not sure of what you want or what to say.

Of course, you can do what most do and show a picture of David Beckham and say “I want this”, but unfortunately we don’t have the same hair texture nor the same face shape as Becks, so improvisation and correct lingo are key.

Instead, I’m going to let you into a few unwritten rules and other things at every barbershop that you must always remember as a customer.

1. No significant others allowed. Just kidding. Everyone is welcome. Barbers not only cut your hair, they listen to your life stories.
2. Leave the negativity outside the shop, however. It’s not good for conversation.
3. Before coming to the shop, try as much as possible to know exactly what you want to do with your facial hair. It will save time and make the consultation easier. On that note, be respectful when explaining it to your barber. They are craftsmen. State what you want and put the rest in their hands.
4. Work out exactly how long it’s been since your last trim. Some men are unsure about how short they want their facial hair, so knowing how long it’s been since your last cut will help the barber know how much to cut off.
5. Pay attention to facial hairstyles wherever you go, whether it be walking to the store or in a magazine ad. It will make explaining to your barber much easier.
6. Don’t be afraid to be specific. If anyone knows the importance of hair, it’s barbers.
7. Knowing the barber verbiage and a few expressions will help the talk too. A chin curtain, goatee, and soul patch are examples of different facial hair styles. Know them. To “taper down the sides” means to blend the sides to the contours of the face. A “sharp line up” will show harder, more definitive edges whereas “keeping it on the natural” will go along its natural shape.
8. Most clippers that use detachable guards use sizes 0-8 and knowing these sizes are crucial. A size 0 is 1/16”, size 1 is 1/8” and from here each size increases by 1/8” to size 8 which is 1”.

So, if you’re rocking a clean shaven head and you have a big, burly hunter beard, and you want to trim it to about half an inch in length, show hard edges and blend the sideburns to your head, you would say, “I want to take it down to a number four, sharpen the lines, and bald taper the sides.”

The barber will take it from there.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/04/19/how-to-talk-to-your-barber-about-the-style-you-want.html

My afro-latino heritage and curly hair growth predispose me to Pseudofolliculitis, or ingrown hairs, and wet shaves are out of the question. I have to take extra care of my facial skin.

Indeed whether you’re white, black, Puerto-Rican or Haitian, what’s important is that you have a skin care regimen. Cleansing, toning, exfoliation and moisturizing are all important tasks to avoid unwanted breakouts and ingrown hairs.

Cleansing is important as it removes dirt and excess oil. You gotta wash that face fellas. Period.

Toning is up next and helps remove excess cleanser, oil and dirt from the pores. Don’t use it everyday as it can strip the face of essential oils. Instead, use it when your face is exposed to harsh environmental conditions or pollutants.

Exfoliation is important in that it removes dead skin and helps to promote healthy skin growth by removing dead skin that can block healthy pores. However, too much exfoliation can damage the skin so be balanced about this part of your routine. Once a week is plenty.

Moisturization is the last key step. It prevents drying and cracking of the upper dermal layer which leads to dead skin cells. Moisturizing is most effective on a damp, warm face. Check out Art of Shaving’s range of moisturizers.

Dry shaving with a set of close-edging clippers instead of using the traditional wet shave is a better way to avoid ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Make sure that you clean and take care of those clippers every third or fourth shave as dirt, grime and hair that aren’t cleaned off the clippers can lead to razor bumps and other irritations. That’s why barbers clean their clippers as well as sterilize them.

Follow this advice, and you’ll be free from razor bumps and angry skin flare-ups. Word!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/04/15/how-to-avoid-ingrown-hairs-and-razor-burn.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/04/11/office-presentation-day.html

For all the sparkle of Sydney, there’s a tarnished and gritty underside hidden behind the shiny shopfronts of Paddington’s Oxford Street and the sunburnt 70’s charm of the Puberty Blues Bondi.

Street-side, there’s a rebellion against the buff, the bronze and the blonde. Sydney will always be touched by an effort toward glitz, but when it comes to men’s style, things are starting to look a little wholesome. Shave Your Style climbs into the chair with two of the city’s barbers that offer Sydneysiders a little bit of old-school pampering.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2013/04/08/blades-of-glory-sydney.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/04/03/style-of-the-month-the-chin-curtain.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2013/03/28/know-your-nose-ferret-from-your-chin-tickler.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/03/25/shave-that-goatee.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/03/20/5-spring-beard-styles.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/03/13/ethnicity-and-facial-hair.html

To keep things in check, consider packing a Braun Cruzer6 or if you’re more traditionally-minded, an Art of Shaving Travel Kit

Here’s three styles to fuel any young traveller’s imagination.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2013/03/08/on-the-road-travel-and-beards.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2013/03/04/style-of-the-month-the-hipster-mustache.html

The contest and rules are explained in the video below.

To participate, click here

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2013/02/27/find-mr-braun.html

Ben Affleck is the man of the moment, having just nailed the Oscars with his flick Argo.

The only thing hotter than his win, however, is his gnarly, burly full beard. It’s sparked a trend in Hollywood that has spread like wildfire, with George Clooney, Tommy Lee Jones, Paul Rudd, and Bradley Cooper among others replicating his style.

Ben’s beard represents his journey. After several movie flops and earning the nickname of ‘The Greatest Failure in Hollywood’, Ben’s road to the top was a rough one. But as Ben stated during his acceptance speech, “It doesn’t matter how you get knocked down in life… all that matters is that you have to get up.”

To grow a full beard, you have to let it grow for a good few weeks or even months - depending on your hair growth rate. Keep trimming the neck line, and crop out any strangly long hairs.

TOP TIP: If you’re a younger gent and your beard’s not growing in certain areas, trim a harder line on the upper part of the beard on the cheek area. By doing so, the contrast will make your beard appear much more full.

If you want a variation on the full beard theme, try a Short Boxed Beard.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/02/27/the-affleck-effect.html

Melbourne men are embracing a revival of the spit and polish of the Roaring Twenties, when waistcoats and woollen cardigans were the pinnacle of masculinity and men hid their woes (and hooch) under party garb. It’s a fun time for guys where fashion is crossing generations and the manicured male wins.

Shave Your Style talked shop with two of Melbourne’s newest barbers to find out what beards men will be wearing this summer.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2013/02/25/blades-of-glory-melbourne.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/02/25/red-carpet-hot-styles.html

“Dear Dr Chop,

Serge, I feel it. A wise man once said that a dude’s hair is his antenna to the cosmos. Cut it off and you’re not just less of a dude – hell, you’re lost to the forces that bind us together. The lesson is, everything is connected. Cause and effect. Beard leads to work. Work leads to success. Success leads to women. Women lead… well, y’all know that part already. 

A great Greek bearded guy called Aristotle once called this idea First Cause. In your case, getting a smart style for yourself. It’s been known in scientific circles for decades that beards equal dominance – in other words: groom it and they will come. Could be that it makes your jaw look bigger and your mouth more fierce, like a crazy gorilla. Could be that it just makes the non-beards quake in your wake. Who knows, but it works, right? 

So hear this. Get the right beard – not too long, not too short, just right – so says my personal barber at SF’s barberlounge.com, Chris Eliares: “A beard that's too thin just makes you look lazy to shave but a beard too thick makes you look like you were hiding in the woods for years. In addition, too-sharp lines can make you look like a douche from the Jersey shore.” Yowch.

My man Eliares says number one length all round – that’s 1/8 of an inch to you - hits the button every time. 

“Trim the food filter, the hairs hanging off the top lip and any baby hairs round the chin area. Trim the hairs along the cheeks to create a harder but natural line and clean shave the hairs on the neck. Remember, long hair gives men a softer look, so having short hair makes Men look harder. Hey, if you have to intimidate people to move ahead at work, so be it!"

This guy knows what he’s talkin’ about. Next!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/02/14/dr-chop-work-it-harder-and-get-ahead.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/02/11/mardi-gras-styles.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/02/08/super-bowl-super-beards-part-2.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/02/04/best-beards-for-valentines-dates.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2013/02/01/style-of-the-month-the-short-boxed-beard.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/01/31/super-bowl-super-beards.html

I love sunglasses, partly because they stop me from squinting, but mostly because they are universally amazing in that every man has the ability look great in them. That being said there is the whole ‘what’s my face-shape’ thing to consider - but relax, I’m here to help!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/01/29/sunglasses-and-beard-styles.html

Dear Dr Chop,

This year, I’m finally going to get my beard mastered. After around 18 months of growing out, shaving off, then growing out again, I need some help deciding how to keep it under control so I stick with the program. Help!

Hey Joe, you’re not alone. Time was once when even Dr Chop trod the lonesome road of indecision. It’s the killer of creativity, dude. My prescription don’t need no degree to give, and you’re going to like it. Joe, my friend, you need to take a little bit of time to look at yourself.

As the Dalai Lama once said, “Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.” Your risk is your beard, Joe, but it’s good odds. Get it right and the world will be at your feet. Get it wrong and all you’ve got to do it cut it off and try again.

There’s no great secret to mastering this, Joe. Begin by working out your face shape, which will lay down the spectrum of beards you can pull off. Then work through successive details like your hair color, thickness, fashion style – eventually the right beard style will appear like a beacon in the mist.

“The shape of your face is the biggest factor,” Bolt Barbers’ Matt Berman explains. 

“Dudes fall into eight basic shapes:  oblong, rectangle, round, oval, square, diamond, triangle and inverted triangle. Choose a style that works with that.”

Stuff like the width of your goatee, length of your sideburns and depth of the chinstrap have an amazing effect on how your face appears. It’s like getting a chance to shade in the parts of your face you want to avoid and getting a highlighter pen on the bits you like. Best of all, you won’t end up looking like a coloring book if you do it right. 

Once you know these things, check out magazines and websites for photos of dudes rocking the face shape you’ve got. How are they doin’ it? Wide? Deep? Long or short? Learn from the masters and you’re on your way. After that, it’s a matter of application. A clip here and there every few days to keep edges tidy, and a weekly trim to keep the length right should be all it takes – far less than the 10 minutes a day it takes to wet shave 

So with all that time on your hands, 2013 is the year to start a new phase in grooming. As the Mayan prophecy foretold, there will come a new dawn: the full body hair trim. We’ll save that for next time.

Yours truly,

Dr Chop

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/01/21/dr-chop-stick-it-out-in-2013.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2013/01/16/golden-globes-diamond-styles.html

Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges emerged on the scene in the 2000 with ‘Back for the First Time’. Seven albums later, we find him on the cusp of releasing ‘Ludaversal’ and rocking a low intensity dirty shave. This is a long way from the moustache and soul patch combo featured in the ‘What’s your Fantasy?’ video. Let’s take a look back over the years at the different facial hair styles of our friend Luda.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2013/01/14/what-a-ludacris-beard.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2013/01/02/hottest-styles-for-2013.html

Electric pros

The big advantage with electric shavers is that they shave much faster than the razor blade. You simply have to roll it across your face, since the shavers roll the hair up first and then shave it. Electric shavers are also very portable, lightweight, don’t require any shave cream. They also reduce the risk of nicks, razor bumps, and ingrown hairs, and  are more versatile in the sense that they can perform more intricate styling. 

Not all shavers shave as closely as razor blades. Many do not shave wet hairs as in the shower, some are loud, and if, used incorrectly they may cause irritation. Of course if not charged fully the shaver may die during the shave, and most importantly for some, electric shavers do not give the experience of a traditional shave. 

Wet shaves are performed using traditional razor blades as they provide the closest shave over longer periods of time. They are fairly simple to use, the blades are easily replaceable, they’re cost effective, portable, and convenient. 

To perform a full wet shave does require a longer amount of time, mainly due to the pre and post skin preparation. It does take some getting used to. In addition, blades do dull quickly and need to be replaced often. Not replacing your blades may result in nicks, cuts, razor bumps, and ingrown hairs, but those may also be a result of having to go over areas over and over again, especially by going against the grain to achieve super closeness. 

Electric shavers are recommended if you have a busy schedule where you have to hurry your shave, if you nick easily and have sensitive skin, and if you have lost elasticity in your skin. Age can be a factor there. If you’re just starting to grow facial hair you may find an electric shaver easier and less involved, too. 

Of course, more and more men now use both an electric beard trimmer and a razor blade to craft their style. This way, you have the best of both worlds. A trimmer to get you just the right length of beard – exactly where you want it, a quick-and-easy electric shaver for those clean areas, and a razor blade for when you want a really tight result to finish up.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/12/27/electric-vs-wet-shaving.html

Did you know you could eat your beard healthy? That’s the news from nutritionists and hair experts who reveal that there are five key things you can include in your diet to get your hair at its best.

1. ZINC 

Number one on our list is zinc: a mineral that research has shown is great to hair health. It’s also essential for things like skin healing, too, so can do your scalp good as well. “Skin and hair are both rich in zinc,” says Heather Carswell of the British Nutrition Foundation. “Rich sources include oysters and pumpkin seeds.” You can also find high levels in milk and wholegrain cereals, so make sure you don’t miss breakfast tomorrow.

Iron doesn’t just make battleships tough: it does the same for your scruff, too. “It’s important for healthy nails and hair,” says Carswell, “Rich sources include liver – plant sources are less well absorbed than animal sources but include kidney beans, lentils and tofu.” If you’re deficient in iron, you’ll probably be pale, tired and lacking in concentration, a lot like a World of Warcraft player.

Eating zinc and iron on their own is a fool’s game: the best nutritionists always lay down two really important rules for you to follow. First, always try to get your nutrients from real food, not supplements or enriched and processed foods. Secondly, make sure you get a spread of nutrients with every meal – because some can’t be digested without the help of others. And that’s why Vit C comes third. “Vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron,” says Carswell. “So try having some orange juice with your meal.”

“Hair is protein,” says top London hairdresser Philip Kingsley “An it’s important to eat [protein] sufficiently, particularly at breakfast and lunch.” He’s right, of course. Your hair is just strands of dead protein cells, constantly growing, and if your diet lack the power of protein, then it shows in your hair. While red meat is the richest source, you can cut down on saturated fats by going for seafood like shrimp – which also contains high levels of iron and zinc essential for hair health. 

Oats ain’t just for the horse, y’hear? Research has found that oats are loaded with nutrition: as well as the zinc and iron you need, they’re crammed with omega-6 fatty acids that your body uses to maintain skin and hair growth. “A healthy balanced diet, rich starchy carbohydrates, containing some ‘healthy fats’, and low in the unhealthy saturated fats and salt, is the best way to ensure you obtain all the nutrients you need,” says Carswell. You can’t manufacture these acids yourself, your body needs to eat them: so get up with a bowl of oatmeal first thing and wait for the bush to sprout.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/12/27/5-ways-to-feed-your-beard.html

Tending your nether regions is an intimate issue but one guys aren’t afraid to discuss. “I do it to make myself more aerodynamic in the water,” claims one keen swimmer we asked, adding that the aesthetic benefits also factor in his weekly hair removal ritual: “It creates an optical illusion.” And there we have it: despite the odd bloke who claims he zaps his hair down there solely to keep his groin cool and dry (yeah, we believe you!), most men will happily admit the real reason they clip, shape and prune their privates is to make their manhood look bigger.

Since chicks dig men with big d*cks, you’d think that less hair – and a more accentuated member – would equate to more sex, but that’s not necessarily the case. A girlfriend of mine had been dating a guy for a few months until one night, “… he said he had something to show me before revealing his hairless crotch. Although it certainly made him look bigger, I just couldn’t get excited by a baby-soft groin – it was weird!” 

Her reaction is understandable. Getting with a guy who chooses to be hairless down there is like sleeping with a pre-pubescent. Or worse. “The first time I bedded my wife, she told me my waxed sack made me look like a sex pest,” explains one hirsute husband, who now prefers to keep his bits in more subtle order with regular trims.

There is a happy midway point between going au naturel (risking the Neanderthal/bum look) and taking it all off (risking alarming your girl) – trimming! With some artful maintenance, guys can strike a careful balance between revealing their manhood in all its glory and looking, well, a little bit scary. 

But when it comes to pruning such a delicate area, it’s vital to carefully select your tools. “Never be too lackadaisical with a pair of scissors; think paper cut times a thousand,” warns a man who found out the hard way. While wet shaving is a sure way to inflict cuts and nicks where the sun don’t shine, electric trimmers, which allow you to accurately control how much you take off, are ideal. Once you’ve chosen your setting - grade zero will take off the lot while a grade one or two will leave you with a flattering stubble that perfectly sets off your love muscle – you can get to work, shaving with, never against, the direction of growth until your pubes are neat and tidy. Then, after you’ve checked your handiwork, brushed off the strays and pulled up your pants, prepare to bare!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/12/27/get-extra-length.html

When women walk into a bar, you’ve got seven seconds to make an impression on them before they walk on by, according to research at NYU. Aside from the obvious – making eye contact, leaning forward and smiling with your eyes, for instance – you have one extra weapon in your arsenal. Your beard. 

It’s like having an advertising hoarding in a prime location. Always seen, always noticed – but have you really understood what it’s saying?

“Unlike the fairer sex, which values the use of highlighting and shadow on their faces, men are mostly ignorant to the possibilities of how a subtle change can improve your lot,” says Louise, dating expert for UK site mysinglefriend.com. 

Her experience suggests that something idiosyncratic, like a characterful and well-shaped mustache, or a clearly defined beard line, are assets that make you stand out from the crowd. 

“As any woman will tell you, accessories and attention to detail can make a world of difference to your look,” she adds.

Having a definite style is really important when it comes to that first impression. Glamour magazine recently asked 2000 women about how they preferred their men – beards or no beards? Over a third of women said they preferred it, but only if the beard wasn’t ‘patchy or shaggy’ – making a clearly cut and well-thought out beard style a must-have for guys. 

It’s a conclusion that’s also drawn by another top dating site, IllicitEncounters.com.

“Our members tell us that while ‘sexy stubble’ may look good, it’s not too practical for many women because of rashes,” they say. 

“On the whole though, it seems that facial hair is a pro for our members, being seen as masculine and sexy, but the unkempt moustache is generally not.” 

Grown-out styles that accent your features, like hunter beards, chinstraps and goatees, would seem to evoke the best responses in these circumstances: different enough to gain attention, and practical enough to be comfortable against the skin. They’re also ideal for you to keep subtly trimming and changing for better and better effect as time goes by.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/12/27/best-beards-for-dating.html

One of the easiest ways to upgrade your holiday style and appearance while maintaining personal expression is to smartly accessorize. Make an effort to style up for any party and you will be the guy… the guy who gets all the looks when you walk in the room; all the compliments on how fresh, fly and fitted your holiday style is.

And often overlooked in the conversation of the dapper man's accessories is his facial hair. However, when done well it serves as an easy and inexpensive way to stand out, for the right reasons. As W. Somerset Maugham explained, "the well-dressed man is he whose clothes you never notice."

A dapper man's clothing and style speak to him and of him, but they do not do all of his speaking for him.  So should it be with your facial hair. Just as you shouldn't (one hopes) want to be the guy with the bedazzled Ed Hardy abomination on your chest, you don't want to be the guy with the perfectly outlined chinstrap or the flames shaved on your cheeks.  The soul of elegance can be found in that which is understated.

For a direct example we look to John and Kyle in these pictures. Both men show a perfect example of how to wear your facial hair the right way. Each man's hair is maintained - we see no gnarly neck beard here, but neither are they so perfectly sculpted that we mistake their face for a holiday topiary. The hair suits the man.

Check Wikibeardia for specific holiday style inspiration, and read more of Tyler’s stuff at thedapperstyle.com

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/12/21/get-dapper.html

The snow is falling, and winter is finally upon us. As changes occur in the outside temperature, the glands of our skin make the necessary adjustments to facilitate the cooling of the body. So what does this mean for the skin on your face? 

Well your skin is probably begging to keep warm. You can keep your face warm by growing out that burly beard that was hibernating during the summer, or at least grow out your mustache and chin patch to stay a bit warmer. It seems farfetched to some, but hair not only protects the skin from the heat, it also protects the skin from the cold.

Now let us focus on the skin underneath our facial hair. When we grow out our hair, we tend to forget about the condition of our skin. Hey, we even forget about maintaining some sort of style to our facial hair as we often just let it grow and get unruly, especially during the winter time. If you’re the type to rock just a goatee, it is important to keep your cheeks and neck hydrated with the use of after shave products and moisturizers.

The Art of Shaving carries several products for all grooming needs. Their after shave line of products come in a balm, lotion or gel form, scented or unscented, they are alcohol-free and most importantly, they moisturize your skin.

For Santa and other bearded men, you can keep that beard looking full, healthy and moisturized by applying a leave-in conditioner during the day. Although conditioner is used typically in the shower, you can drop a small, nickel sized amount of the Art of Shaving Conditioner into your palm, emulsify it, then apply it throughout your beard, leaving it glowing like a Christmas tree.

With a sharp looking beard and vibrant, glowing skin, you can be sure you will not be needing any mistletoe this holiday season.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/12/19/face-protection.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/12/17/fact-bearded-men-are-hotter.html

“Dear Dr Chop, my girlfriend is against me growing a beard because she says it's going to hurt her face. What's the best way to convince her that it's gonna be OK, friction-wise?"David Angelo, Maine

Dave, trust me: once you’re done here she’s going to be begging you to brush up against her face like a cat on heat. There’s no way a guy like me gets to where he is today without understanding a bit about the science of style: you ready? The US male’s follicles grow hair at an average speed of 0.5 inches per month. While that speed ain’t gonna win no NASCAR meet, it’s still enough to get you six inches of scruff every year. 

Ask most women and they’ll tell you that it’s not the beard that hurts – it’s the stubble that’s en route to the full, glorious beard. A guy’s stubble usually comes up thicker around his mouth – the ‘tache and underlip – then on the upper cheek. These are all zones of action, of course. The spikiness won’t last for long – a week, two at the max. As top barber Chris Eliares of barberlounge.com tells it, it depends on your general hair type: 

“For men with straighter hair, it gets really prickly when it's shorter, so it would soften by around three-eighths of an inch to roughly a half-inch in length. For men with curly, ethnic hair, it gets soft early because of its growth pattern.”

My man Eliares suggests a two-pronged attack on spike city: first, trim the goddamn hairs hanging over your lip. It’s just plain lazy to leave those suckers hanging there like Mr. Snuffleupagus, plus it’s courtesy towards your female companion to keep it in check. 

Secondly, get some product in that beard. Seriously – you don’t get a crop of corn without laying down the fertilizer. Myself, I use a leave-in conditioner that keeps working hard all day. My man Eliares proposes unscented shaving oil – totally under the radar, and keeps it good and soft.

Yours, 
Dr Chop

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/12/11/dr-chop-give-it-to-her-soft.html

Most men have never been taught how to shave properly. No problem: Arthur Chan, editor of Hommestyler.com, lists the five most common shaving mistakes and shows us how to avoid them once and for all.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/12/10/5-common-shaving-mistakes.html

Like many, I’ve rocked a ’stache this Movember. But because of my African-American/Panamanian heritage, people have either thought I look like a Cuban baseball player or the arch villain from a Telemundo novella about to enact some serious revenge.

But regardless of how silly or ironic it may look, I was moved to shape my mustache because of my family.

My maternal grandfather died of colorectal cancer, my uncle was taken by lymphoma— and all while my mother had a bout with fibroid tumors.

Now, this is where it got hard. In my experience, most black men don’t have these kinds of conversations because they’re emotionally confronting to have. We just don’t “talk” about testicular or colorectal cancer. And silence has us gotten us into being the highest damn risk group there is.

Suffice it to say that the shadow of cancer has held a dark presence over my family and this was my initial interest in Movember. So I called my Mom and we talked about it.

I soon came came to the realization that not only was I was at high risk for certain types of cancer but according to statistics, about 65,540 African Americans die each year from cancer.

Lung cancer accounts for the largest number of cancer deaths, followed by prostate cancer in men (16%) and breast cancer in women (19%). For both men and women, cancers of the colorectum and pancreas rank third and fourth, respectively.

From what my mother described, the treatment was hard on her. She was in pain most of the time and described to me how it was hard on her to simply sit down. We talked of her fight and how painful it was and how prevention would have been, in hindsight, worth a pound of cure.

This is what the Movember experience was about for me: to shine a light in that darkness and break the silence, allowing us to get us present to preventative health care.

Today, Mom is in good health and for the month of November I’ve rocked a ’stache for her and for my fam as a reminder of what matters most.

GUEST AUTHOR: Tyrone Spencer

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/11/27/movember-my-story.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/11/22/the-top-5-beard-styling-mistakes.html

While researching this story on the latest beard styles from recent fashion events, I noticed a very interesting trend. Regardless of what was happing on the runway, it was the guys attending the shows that were making the really big splash. Are goatees having a serious return to fashion for men? Here’s the evidence… you be the judge!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/11/20/sharpen-your-fashion-edge.html

There comes a time in a man’s life when he will have to teach his son to shave. It is a special occasion that requires preparation and patience. If you’re ready to share this rite of passage with your son, here are a few steps you can take to make the most of it.

Boys are fascinated by shaving and are eager to learn as much as possible. Before your son is actually ready to shave, allow him to watch you. Talk about what you’re doing so he can begin to process the information. It’s never too early to start these lessons. And give him a razor with the blade removed or an electric shaver with no battery if he wants to practice really young!

There will be few times in your life when you will have your son’s undivided attention. Take advantage of this opportunity by extending the conversation beyond shaving. Let your son talk about things that are going on his life. Ask questions, show interest and really listen to the things that he tells you. This small investment of time will strengthen your bond and improve your relationship.

When your son finally starts to sprout some facial hair, make a big deal of the occasion.  Tell him how mature he looks and present him with his own shaving kit. It doesn't have to be a family heirloom - it could simply be an electric shaver adorned with wrapping paper, or a razor and can of shaving cream. 

If you want to teach your kid to shave in the traditional way, allow your son to hold several shavers in his hands to find one that he’s able to grip securely. You don’t want the shaver to accidently slip out of his hand and nick his face. Alternatively, lend him your electric shaver - there’s zero chance of him cutting himself, and if it’s what you use, he’ll probably want to use it as well. Show him what you like to use, and why.

Show your son how to properly hold the shaver and use downward strokes to remove the hair. Demonstrate the technique by doing it yourself and have him mimic your actions. Resist the urge to show off your blindfolded shaving skills.

The days of slapping a few splashes of cheap aftershave on your face are gone. Give your son a soothing moisturizer that will reduce irritation and keep his skin healthy in a manly way.

After he’s freshly groomed, congratulate your son on his first shave. He’s taken a major step in his journey towards manhood.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/11/15/5-steps-to-teach-your-son-to-shave.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/11/13/the-5-baddest-hip-hop-styles.html

"Dear Dr Chop, what's the best way to make my Movember mustache stand out from the crowd and look thicker than it really is?"
Zach Ashton, Denver

Zach, you’ve come to the right place. This Movember, Dr Chop is pulling out all the stops to create a ‘tache as mammoth as Lady Gaga’s shoulderpads. As y’all know, Movember means shaving back to ground zero and starting over again, so you got just one month to make your ‘tache go large. The way I see it, you’ve got two ways to attack this conundrum. 

Firstly, what’s going on inside. That means diet – ain’t no way you’re going to get a luxury piece of lip furniture without it. Stoking the fire with the proper fuel is essential. That means a varied diet to encourage hair growth – plenty of vegetables, and steaks twice a week. 

“While shaving makes no difference to the speed it grows, a varied diet can encourage beard growth,” says trichologist Mary Sherlock. “Red meat that’s high in iron and protein, twice weekly, is very good.”

Well, that’s your trough lined up. But what about the outside, you ask? Well, we’ve asked master barber Chris Eliares what styles you should go for to make the greatest impression with the minimum of growth. It’s all in the lines, he reckons:

“Creating a hard edge along the upper part of the mustache as well as the lower part above the lips, and closely shaving the surrounding areas will bring out your mustache more and will definitely give maximum impact.“

You can even add product to your beard to give it a bit of a boost, too. While coloring your beard might be a bit extreme for some, you can still play around with the finish that a product gives you, says Chris; “Grooming products that have a flat, matte finish make hair appear much, much thicker, resulting with your hair being even more noticeable.”

So, there you go, Mo’ bros: the secret to making 30 day’s growth look like a lifetime. Steaks, hard lines and matte products will all add guts to your mustache glory – get out, get some, and wear yours with pride!

Yours, 
Dr Chop

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/11/06/dr-chop-1-movember-advice.html

Being an individual and showing off your own uniqueness is important as a human being - let alone as a music figure. Most striving artists would buckle or give up on their dreams of a music career if they reach a certain age, or if they are turned down by a major label.

Not in the case of Danny Brown. The 30-year-old Detroit native is of African American and Filipino descent, which he accredits to his passion for music as his father was a DJ. After releasing a record with G-Unit artist Tony Yayo, he caught the attention of 50 cent, but the deal did not pan out. 

As Brown says, "It was a real thing. 50 was with it; he just didn't sign me because of my jeans. He liked the music, but he didn't like the way I looked." 

He later signed to indie label Fool’s Gold records and released his album XXX which earned him Spin’s number 1 album of the year and being described as “one of rap’s most unique figures in recent memory” by MTV. His rap style is unique, his hair is unique, and his chin soul patch definitely speaks for itself.

1. In order to achieve the tight, oval shaped patch around the chin, the beard sides and the portion underneath the chin have to be clean shaven or at least trimmed down using the lowest length on your clippers. You can keep or shave your mustache. For now, we will simply focus on the chin patch.
2. Next, you want to trim down the chin area to a length that is tight to the face, but long enough to see from a distance. You may want to use a number one guard.
3. Now take your trimmers, turn them upside down so the teeth are facing downwards, and carefully begin to trim the upper portion of the patch using downward motions to create a hard line. It may help to stretch out the chin area as you do this by simply biting down on your bottom lip, but not so much to the point where it will distort the oval shape you are trying to achieve.
4. Do the same as you work around the sides of the patch using outside to in strokes with your trimmers.
5. As you work towards the underneath portion of the patch, it helps to point your chin upwards to allow more visibility as you work. Perform the same action as you did in steps 3 and 4 to form the bottom line.

Eureka. You have just stroked gold.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/11/05/fools-brush-in.html

Between July and October 2012, photographer Jonathan Daniel Pryce was on a mission. On the street every day, he would scan the pavements to identify his quarry: men with beards that looked good, that looked fascinating – beards that told a story and did it with style. 

100 beards later, with the results on his blog and a book sponsored by Pall Mall Barbers out November 2, we caught up with Jonathan to ask about how he managed it, and what he’s learned on the way. 

“As soon as I said the title '100 beards, 100 days' I would get a positive reaction,” he tells Shave Your Style.

“Men in particular feel shy or self-conscious when asked to have their picture taken, but on announcing the aim of the project it seemed to override their inhibitions as it was for a greater good.”

Half of the fun of street photography, Pryce explains, is talking to your subjects. The 100 Beards project threw up some incredible tales – one guy was even being paid $2500 by an artist to grow his beard out so he could see its development. 

Approaching strangers on the street gives photographers like Pryce a short window in which to decide if a subject makes the grade – around 30 seconds, by his reckoning: “The only factor that influenced the sort of guy I photographed was diversity,” he says. “I wanted to show all different types of beard, from big and bushy to trendy and trimmed.”

As his book shows, Pryce has achieved a startling catalogue of variety, thanks partly to an overwhelming trend for guys to experiment more with facial hair. “The beard is the oldest and most relevant men's accessory, and in a time of economic uncertainty and consumer culture, it is a statement of strength and independence,” he explains. 

“Many of the bearded men I photographed had new beards and for them, it's more of a fashion statement - following an existing trend with a deeper meaning. Of course, others just look better with a bit of hair!”

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/10/30/100-days-100-beards.html

It’s not easy living in the San Francisco Bay Area. The rental market is one of the steepest in the country, and some cities are known to be some of the roughest around. And if you’re trying to make it big, it’s hard to compete with the east coast bias in terms of media attention, so you have to be different and extra creative.

Iamsu personifies what it is to be a true Bay Area native. Hailing from the mean streets of Richmond, rapper, producer, and writer Iamsu of the HBK Gang is the brainchild behind the nationwide hit single “Up!” by fellow bandmate Loverance.

The hit sparked a nationwide interest as he has been featured in several hip hop articles and also made appearances rapping on hit singles alongside rap legend, and innovator of slang, E-40.

Now, Iamsu’s new mixtape “Stoopid” is breaking ground, stirring up the scene once again. He may be a busy man, but that doesn’t stop him from keeping up his shadow beard, thin mustache and bushy soul patch.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/10/29/get-stoopid.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/10/25/new-james-bond-actors-five-bearded-007-style-guys.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/10/25/10-greatest-horror-movie-beards.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/10/24/braun-destroys-soup-catchers-at-test-lab.html

Ever since Pirates of the Caribbean featured Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom making movie magic with a pair of swashbuckling beards, we’ve wondered who carries it best. Is it Johnny Depp’s boho styling, or Orlando Bloom’s constant beard reinvention? Time to find out…

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/10/22/beard-off-orlando-bloom-vs-johnny-depp.html

Choosing a beard style that really appeals to the opposite sex is tough sometimes – so we’ve made it simple for you by asking real women what they really think about today’s best styles

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/10/16/you-the-beard-jury-1.html

If you want to choose a new beard style that women will love, then you need to consult with the experts: the men who end up dating the world’s most beautiful girls. With their signature beard styles, these guys know what supermodels and actresses really want.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/10/08/5-beards-that-hook-hotties-1.html

Jude Law has been known to wear facial hair in recent times and has definitely been one of the driving forces behind the resurgence for trendsetters around the world. But for his part in the upcoming film Anna Karenina, the British actor transformed for the pre-revolutionary Russian epic by growing a full, thick, bushy beard.

There have been plenty of other actors growing beards as well recently either for film roles or simply during time off between shooting engagements (think John Hamm or Robert Pattinson). While I admire the commitment of a man to fully realize a beard, according to research, most women really like beards also…to a point. Women are apparently more attracted to short-bearded men but feel more secure with long-bearded men. It’s probably because the sight of a full, unkempt neck beard is a quite a deterrent to anyone, let alone an unannounced stranger.

But who would have known that despite the research and setting the trends, it appears that Jude Law is somewhat reluctant to wear his off screen. Several of his most successful roles in recent times have required him to wear facial hair for months on end.

He grew a perfectly shaped Chevron moustache for the role of Watson in Sherlock Holmes (he nicknamed it ‘The Tashe’) but removed it shortly after shooting. While wearing a full beard that he grew for a stage role in Eugene O’Neill’s play Anna Christie, he was surprised that people still recognized him in public and that it didn’t offer him as much anonymity as he had hoped.

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that, beard or no beard, he is still one of the most recognizable actors with a career that spans both Hollywood and Broadway.

“My beard has no trendy roots,” he says; ‘It’s historical.”

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/10/04/jude-laws-look.html

It’s hard to believe, but soon we will be exchanging holiday gifts and ringing in the New Year! But before the festivities kick off, most of us will be working on achieving a great looking mustache for the month of ‘Movember.’

For many of us, growing a mustache isn’t all that easy… A lot of guys wait up to three weeks before they successfully have a mustache that can be styled or shaped. So it’s a good idea to keep this in mind this before November 1st rolls around. Besides, you want to be able take a picture of the finished product to show everyone who supported you, right?

So if you’re one of those guys who’s mustache literally grows at a snail’s pace, here are two mustache styles that are easy to achieve, and will definitely stand out.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/10/02/the-mustache-growers-guide.html

Seasons come and seasons go. And so does much of our facial hair, especially during the warmer times of the year. With fall starting so begins the urge for many men to "don" their protective facial coats for the winter. It's a transition that appears to follow suit with the wardrobe style shift from summer to fall. And it works! Quite honestly, the addition of facial hair seems always seems to perfectly complement a light scarf and a pea coat.

So sure, style plays a major part – check our guide to three hot fall styles here. 

But, what's more obvious reason is the fact that the fall season brings with it cooler and sometimes drier days. And for many men, the cooler and drier the air, the more pain it can be to shave the face on a daily basis. So the choice of wearing a beard or some facial hair gives the opportunity to rest the face.

Resting your face from shaving has its advantages, it provides the skin a tremendous opportunity to heal itself. Men who struggle with ingrown hairs and razor burn basically get a chance to "start over," so by the time spring comes around the average guy's face is restored to its natural state.

The best way to guarantee a fresh start is to grow the beard or beard style to the desired length for the fall and winter months. During this time simply focus on not neglecting the skin underneath. Treat this area the same way you would the hair on your head. This means using shampoos, conditioners and exfoliating two or three times a week. Sticking with a regimen like this one on a weekly basis will not only allow your skin to heal itself, but it will also give your beard an enviable shine.

Read up more on beard care here.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/09/26/its-beard-season.html

Two very different personalities from two very different continents go into a play-off of 18 razor-avoiding holes… But who’s the winner when these clubhouse golf punks go head-to-head? Shave your Style slings the clubs into the trunk to find out.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/09/24/beard-off-ryan-moore-vs-raphael-jacquelin.html

The Turkish are serious about grooming, and in Istanbul, there are more barbershops than you can poke a shish kebab at. Nearly every third shopfront boasts a casual kuaförü (stylist), and for around TL15 (about £5) you’ve no excuse to walk this ancient metropolis without a set of manicured brows and a ’stache that even Ataturk would be approve of.

Like anything in Istanbul, you can expect a sugary tea with your service and you can expect to like it. What you can’t expect, is your barber to order the sweet kid responsible for sweeping up your whiskers to begin caressing you with some throbbing, massage machine that’s not dissimilar to a seafloor-dwelling mollusc. Getting a shave in Istanbul, well, it’s stimulating.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/09/18/blades-of-glory-istanbul.html

For some peculiar reason, athletes always want to be rappers, and rappers want to be athletes. The transition from one to the other, however, has historically been, well, embarrassing, to say the least. Although there have been a few that have been rather successful.

Take Ohio based rapper Stalley, for instance. Once signed to Division IA basketball powerhouse Michigan, Stalley was then stricken by injury, which led him to focus on his music career. He’s now signed to the Maybach Music Group alongside fellow beard mate, Rick Ross. What's even more impressive is that beard! The big, bushy, shaped up, hardcore tight-around-the-edges type beard is very popular right now in the hip hop scene as well as in the barbershop. 

So how would you tame a mane that gnarly?

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/09/14/hardcourt-to-hardcore.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/09/11/the-ten-best-explorers-beards.html

With most sportsmen and sportswomen now looking for any little trick or tip to give them any advantage over their opponents, the removal of all body hair these days is merely seen as gaining parity. 

Since the ’80s, removing body hair has been standard practice across many sports, but what is the actual reasoning behind it? After all, even footballers are largely hairless these days. 

For many sports it’s the increased aerodynamics that a hairless body affords, prompting sportsmen to get those baby-smooth legs and chests. Certainly in swimming and cycling smooth skin reduces drag or air resistance, thus increasing speed.

A study conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine compared freshly-shaven swimmers with a control group in the pool. While performing the breaststroke over 400 yards at 90 percent effort, the athletes with no hair experienced a reduction in blood lactate, a decreased VO2, and an increase in stroke length.

Another advantage of being hair free is the safety aspect. If a boxer, or a cyclist needs urgent medical attention following an injury, the lack of hair makes it easier for the medical teams to find and treat the wounds, without hair getting in the way.

“The main reason cyclists shave is in case of a crash,” former Olympic cycling coach Edmund R. Burke, Ph.D. told Men’s Fitness. “With hair, your skin grabs more asphalt and you tend to get greater tearing or abrasions. Second, it's a heck of a lot easier to clean the wound and bandage it without all that hair to deal with.”

Body builders shave their torsos to increase the definition of their muscles for competition, as hairs tend to shadow the body, decreasing the desired ‘ripped’ effect. The same goes for many wrestlers – except for the more redneck characters – who shave their body hair to reflect the many stage lights. For cyclists, the tight Lycra body socks worn in competition and training could cause severe pain if they were to rub or pull at hairs, a condition known as ‘road rash’. Runners and other athletes also prefer hairless legs when receiving daily massages to remove toxins, loosen muscles and increase blood flow; it just feels better and there’s no hair pulling during a rigorous rug.

So, shaven athletes seem to have it all: a faster body, a safer recovery, and even a more impressive look that can rattle the opposition when the spotlights shine. See the proof for yourself. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/09/07/the-close-shave-in-sports.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/08/31/the-10-best-beards-in-tennis-history.html

According to a recent study by dating site Match.com, one in five relationships have started online. That’s a huge amount, and as everyone knows it’s the first impressions that count – which means that your facial hair is getting heavily scrutinized too. 

“The first rule of growing face fuzz is that it's a bit of a love or hate thing with the ladies,” says Louise, a dating expert with MySingleFriend.com. “You'll either immediately be consigned to the bin or suddenly become the object of their desire. A man who's ready to step outside the bathroom and brave opprobrium from work colleagues is someone who's clearly got buckets of confidence, and we all know how attractive that can be.”

For men who get it right, the rewards are out there, and the best thing of all is that the dating sites do the legwork for you. Each site uses special programming to draw comparisons between members, sometimes without the users even realizing it. 

A feature on tech site Mashable.com looked into the way that dating sites work out these similarities. Even if a woman says they don’t care about hair, their choices online might contradict it – and the computers will then feed the potential dates according to their secret desires. 

As Match.com’s VP of strategy analytics Amarnath Thombre told Mashable: “We are like a bartender who is always observing particularly which types of people are talking to each other and hitting it off.”

The key to getting your profile in the lady’s inbox is care and consistency. You only get one shot, one photo, and a few seconds of attention, and your beard has to match up to the best ones that they’ve seen so far. Louise from MySingleFriend thinks that a few subtle changes can really improve your lot:

“As any woman will tell you, accessories and attention to detail can make a world of difference to your look. An idiosyncratic moustache or carefully grown beard line can provide fantastic definition and complement you in unexpected ways. Once an account manager from Basingstoke, you will look like you're actually a rugged backwoodsman from Manitoba. A real man.”

So they key things to remember are keep it smart with regular trimming and grooming; keep it individual so you broadcast your personal style; and keep your eyes on the kinds of beards that are doing well for other guys – then make them your own. Happy hunting.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/08/27/the-truth-about-beards-and-online-dating.html

One of the difficulties with wearing facial hair with sideburns can be finding the perfect length for both, so they stand out independently. This can be especially challenging when wearing a ‘scruffy beard’. Because the beard is short, almost any length on your sideburns can make them stand out more. 

To master the art of getting a good balance between your beard and sideburns, all you need is a pair of trimmers or adjustable clippers that come with comb guards. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/08/27/how-to-differentiate-your-sideburns-from-your-beard.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/08/24/5-best-music-beards-for-festivals.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/08/10/how-to-style-the-5-best-olympic-beards.html

Oily skin, dry skin and everything in the middle… we all have one or the other, and it changes from season to season. 

Depending on the weather conditions your facial skin will react to protect itself. In dryer climates your skin may feel a bit oily, where in more humid climates the opposite reaction may be more common.

So how do you care for the skin underneath if there is a beard on top?

Many of you would say that there’s no need since it’s covered by hair. But on the contrary, this skin is just as important as the rest of your face. Here’s how you should be looking after it.

An exfoliation of the skin helps to rid the face of dead skin cells while allowing the younger skin cells to reach the surface. This helps to keep the skin looking and feeling young and healthy. 

For bearded men with normal to oily skin, it is even more important to make sure that a facial exfoliation regimen is adopted at least twice a week. A careful focus on the bearded area will help to remove dead skin and oils that can build-up and create skin irritation and, for many, acne.

For the guys with the unfortunate challenge of dry skin, exfoliation is still important. Also, making sure that your beard is not only shampooed but conditioned is very important for health of the beard, and the skin underneath.  

For all skin types, adopting a moisturizer will help to balance the skin of the oily guy and provide relief with an extra boost of moisture for the drier bearded gentleman. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/08/08/beard-care-tips.html

After the The Beatles split in 1970, the band members continued to combine their solo careers with a unique form of music and fashion, and defined a new era of grooming for men. Here is a look at how The Beatles are still influencing fashion even today.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/08/02/style-notes-the-beatles-02.html

The neck beard is long overdue a reclamation from the likes of isolated card gamers and programmers of obscure programming languages. Once the preserve of the presidential (Abraham Lincoln), the inspired (Henry David Thoreau) and, well, the Amish people (okay, they’ve never given up on a good thing), the neck beard has experienced a steady decline in polite society only to be spotted in troubled start-up HQs and sinister smelling bedrooms, usually via a murky webcam.

However, a new breed of neckers is emerging. Jack Nicholson was recently photographed sporting a whispery throat coat, while fellow thespian, Jonah Hill, in 2012 was honoured with an Oscar nomination after years of dedication to the wildebeest’s scarf. 

Meanwhile across the pond, a young producer and DJ – whose pioneering work at the sharp end of the Dubstep movement was equalled only by his commitment to bringing shaggy back – was rocking the British music scene, along with the nation’s approach to manscaping. 

Although Benga, as he is known to his army of listeners on BBC Radio 1, remains tight-lipped about what lurks under his chin, his grooming influence has been evident across the UK, from inner city chip shops to this summer’s numerous festival VIP enclosures.

As well as blasting out his innovative beats from the back of buses through their mobile phones, fans of Benga have been daring to grow forth and justify an exciting variety of facial embellishments. From carbon copy neck beards to flamboyant muttonchops, Benga’s (literally) effortless look is 2012 urban Britain. 

Rewind a decade; back to when Croydon’s then 14-year old Benga, without the pressure of choosing whether to neck or not to neck, mastered his craft. First with a ground breaking series of home recordings made on a PlayStation, then – after having his talents recognised by a local record store owner – advancing to the recording studio.

Benga’s refreshing lack of cynicism and a pop sensibility that can only really be deployed by one so young, gave the teenager an edge that quickly propelled him to the forefront of an entire new wave of British music. 

With his third album, Chapter 2, due to drop on August 27 and his ongoing sideline as one third of Dubstep supergroup, Magnetic Man, expect to see many more neck beards emerge in the next 12 months.

More Info: http://www.benga.co.uk/ 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/07/30/profile-benga.html

The Beatles are probably the greatest band of all time – we all know that. But the strength of their influence on popular culture is less well known. Never before, or since, have four men inspired the direction of men’s style so strongly. 

In fact, the Fab Four revolutionized grooming for men. Until the mid-60s men were traditionally clean-shaven. However, as The Beatles evolved from wearing their mop tops and suits to the Edwardian fashions favored by the British psychedelic movement of 1967, all four Beatles grew facial hair during what became know as the Sargent Pepper sessions.

From then until the band officially broke up in 1970, at least one member of the band wore some form of beard or moustache.

The first band member to start growing facial hair was George Harrison who arrived in India in September 1966 with the beginnings of a moustache that he fleshed out into a full beard in time for the Strawberry Fields Forever single in January 1967. Being the most eager of the Beatles to quit touring and shed the mop top image, he grew a beard just as soon as he could, determined to make a new life for himself.

The others soon followed suit. By August 1967, all four members were wearing moustaches. Paul McCartney and Ringo Star grew chevron shapes (think Jude Law, Robert Downey Jr.), while John Lennon grew the ‘pipes’ for a horseshoe shape and George a full ‘van dyke’ shape - not dissimilar to the one worn by David Beckham on a recent visit to the White House. Though considered by some as part of a counter-culture revolution at the time, nowadays you will find guys styled like this on the streets of Williamsburg, Shoreditch or Schoeneberg at any time.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/07/23/style-notes-the-beatles.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/07/19/5-fashion-forward-styles.html

In the action sports world, few athletes have their fingers in as many pies as the energetic ball of fuzz that is Mike Escamilla. And like Mick and Keef, he can’t get no satisfaction. Chris Moran investigates…

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/07/16/profile-mike-rooftop-escamilla.html

Choosing different beard styles can be so much fun, especially if you are capable of growing a full beard. So in Emil’s case, he’s a lucky guy. He has the option of customizing a beard style that fits his artistic personality - and it works!

Emil is wearing a combination of mutton chop sideburns, a Van Dyke and a chinstrap.

If you want to customize the look, here’s where to start:

1. Take a break from shaving your beard for four days or so days. If your facial hair grows slowly, make it a week or more.
2. Create the mutton chops by first using trimmers to create a line just above the jaw line. To create balance and to ensure that both sides match, use the indention between the bottom lip and chin as a guide.  Or better yet, consider the “pointer finger” test: while looking in the mirror and standing straight, place one pointer finger on each side of the face to get the sideburn sections nice and even.
3. Next, shave your neck with trimmers into a bottom outline. This establishes the lower part of the chinstrap.
4. Then carefully trim below the sideburns to establish the top portion of the chinstrap that should gradually turn into a point along the jaw line.
5. The width of the hair on the chin should fall in the area of three-quarters of an inch to an inch wide.
6. Next, cleanly shave the cheeks to create angled sideburns that also reach to a point nearest to the corners of the mouth. Leave an unshaven moustache area that extends no more than a half inch past the sides of the mouth. 
7. Using trimmers, shave the area beneath the nose, leaving only a quarter to half inch strip of hair just above the upper lip.
8. Once the desired design has been produced, consider using the beard styling tool or razor to create more defined lines.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/07/16/8-steps-to-emils-style.html

In today’s highly professionalised and heavily sponsored athletics scene, beards are few and far between. Grooming is for performance, not style – or so you would imagine. In fact, there’s a long and proud history of the world’s finest athletes sporting some superb beards and moustaches. Far from weighing them down, they’ve acted as their personal brand, and if some athletes can be believed, they’re performance enhancing too. Let’s look at the evidence. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/07/13/olympian-beards.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/07/06/3-sizzling-summer-styles.html

A month ago, we asked you to vote for the best beards ever seen in this year’s Euro 2012 national sides. We trawled the archives to uncover styles that make European footballers the best in the world, and as the Euro 2012 competition continued you voted for the best.

Now the final whistle has blown – and the Spanish side, dubbed “the best team of all time” by British legend Gary Lineker – have taken the trophy in a historic 4-0 match against Italy. But who’s won the beards? 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/07/02/euro-beard-cup-the-results.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/06/29/meet-mr-bee.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/06/25/top-5-timeless-styles.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/06/22/the-beards-that-built-football.html

The 1970s may have been the age of big grizzly beards for footballers, and the 1980s were the time of bleached roots and perms, but after that there was a drought of cool beards on the pitch. Well, those days are gone. Soccer players today are rocking a fierce variety of styles, unafraid to experiment and blaze a trail of individuality. We’ve picked the five key ambassadors for football beards right now…

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/06/12/soccers-golden-age-of-beards.html

We grow beards for dozens of reasons. For some, it’s just because we can. For others, it’s because they know women love it. Now research into beard psychology is proving beyond a doubt that some guys are enjoying the natural boost that a beard gives their authority. 

Sure, some beards can be anarchist. They can be counterculture, and they can be wise. But what links them is that people trust a bearded guy to know what’s what. 

Psychologists at Northumbria University used computer modeling to alter the beardedness of men’s faces. The resulting spectrum of beards were then shown to 76 women, who rated the full beards as being more masculine and socially mature – and also at least five years older. 

Kerry Shields, one of the researchers on the project, concluded that:

“Facial hair, or beardedness, is a powerful sociosexual signal, and an obvious biological marker of sexual maturity. Facial hair may have been sexually selected by females on the basis of associated male success, despite its threatening appearance. Clean-shaven faces therefore may suggest appeasement, as well as being an obvious sign of sexual immaturity.”

Some evolutionary arguments also emphasise that beards give the impression of a larger jaw, a sign of maturity and natural authority, so they lend a guy the respect of a man much older. Weirdly, it’s nothing to do with how good-looking you are already. Even if you have a face like a bag of spanners, a beard is the best way to give yourself a dominant look. 

New Zealand anthropologist Barnaby Dixon studied this and published his findings in the respected journal Behavioural Ecology. Beards, he writes, are how guys amplify their aggressive facial displays, and both European and Samoan women found that bearded guys looked older and higher status than non-bearded.

Whatever the reasons, it’s the simplest way to give yourself a boost. Even if your boss doesn’t admit it, you’ll know you’re the baddest, beardiest man in the room. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/06/01/psychology-of-styling.html

Last week David Beckham debuted a look while at The White House that is bound to have us talking for quite some time.

I have always loved adventure stories of swash-buckling pirates and heroic musketeers, and David’s latest look is one that D'Artagnan or a Dutch master painter might (at the least) raise an eyebrow over.

While some of you may say that it was Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean) or indeed Orlando Bloom (The Three Musketeers) who actually started this trend of 17th century beard shapes, you have to give it to Becks for turning it into a full-blown fashion statement.

What was disconcerting about this beard statement is that, unlike the Beckham we have all gotten to know, his grooming is actually quite scruffy and grown out looking, which makes it difficult to determine exactly what was going on.

He has obviously not trimmed or styled the shape for some days and apart from his neck and cheeks being covered in substantial stubble, his upper lip is actually over-grown by his full moustache. 

Is he in the process of growing out a very distinguishing Anchor chin shape paired with a Handlebar mustache, or had he simply run out of time for a quick trim before meeting the President?

Opening the ceremony for LA Galaxy where they were to be honored for winning Major League Soccer Championship, President Obama said: “I’m not going to flatter myself by assuming these cameras are here for me…”

He continued, “It’s a rare man who can be that tough on the field and also have his own line of underwear…”

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/05/30/golden-balls.html

Some people are just born to skate, and after picking up his first board aged 11-years-old, Florida’s Andrew Reynolds rode so much that by the time he was seventeen he’d turned pro, moved to California, and changed the face of skateboarding. Not bad for a kid who didn’t even have any face fuzz at the time. 

So how did he do it? Instead of adding complications to his tricks, Reynolds simply went bigger, fell harder, and did jumps with tougher consequences than everyone else. Not that he’s a stuntman: every trick he threw was done with the flair and style of a pencil moustached-era Dali.

Skate film maker Patrick O'Dell says that "no one who can skate big stuff like him as stylish as he does. He'll do an ollie or a heelflip down all these stairs and it looks like nothing."

Like giraffes and wildebeest parting for The Lion King, the pro skateboard community moved out of the way: the Boss had arrived. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/05/24/the-boss-can-decide-whether-he-shaves-or-not.html

If you’ve got facial hair, you can probably remember a few times that it looked unruly right before a trim. 

But what if you were trying to grow out your facial hair? This process takes patience in a few ways.

First there is the waiting game... seeing just how long can you hold out in order to achieve the length you're looking for.

And then there are the stares you get from strangers, and friends who ask, "what are you doing with that stuff on your face?"

Of course the reason for this (in both instances) is the speed at which neat facial hair can start to look unkempt by growing out just a little. And shorter beards and mustache styles (i.e. beard scruff, goatees) can have very small windows of looking “neat” compared to the fuller style counterparts as a result of how quickly the hair can curl.

But here’s a trick I learned many years ago on how to keep a curly beard style looking good, while also keeping those wayward curls at bay. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/05/18/the-5-minute-fix.html

You know your beard tells members of the opposite sex that you’re rebellious, uncompromising and in control. But once you’ve got a woman’s attention, you might be surprised to learn that your facial hair can help you seal the deal. Here’s how.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/05/14/the-truth-about-beards-and-sex.html

There are approximately seven face shapes. And out of all seven, the square face shape is the one considered the most desirable among women and other men, and in turn also photographers and film-makers.

Studies have shown that a stronger, more prominent jaw and brow equates more testosterone, and these characteristics are found attractive. The description of a square face - square jaw line, almost as wide as long, straight sides, jaw and cheekbones the same width - successfully create this attractive appearance.

So why am I telling you this? Well, I'm breaking the news to all square faced men, that the world has always liked you for your jaw-line and NOT your charm... Ok, I'm kidding. But in all seriousness, many men struggle with having a ‘weak chin’ or an ill-defined jaw line. So here are a few ways to use your facial hair to achieve this all-around desirable look!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/05/14/weak-chin-toughen-it-up.html

People in this city take great pride in the Bohemian roots of the city. Men use their facial hair to help define their individual style and you often see styles being worn on the street that you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the world. Here are two of my favorites from Shave your style’s recent visit.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/05/07/get-the-edge-berlin-style.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/05/04/the-playoff-beard-phenomenon.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/05/04/whats-your-playoff-beard.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/05/03/you-the-beard-jury.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/05/03/wikibeardia-thursday-05.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/04/26/wikibeardia-thursday-04.html

It’s official: Berliners love beards. Makes sense in a climate so chilly that men would take advantage of the extra insulation. But as the snow melts and the scarves come off, the beard remains. Shave Your Style zoned in on Kreuzberg to find out what kind of beards are in bloom this season.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/04/25/berlin-street-styles.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/04/23/their-beards-are-the-ultimate-logo.html

In Berlin, there’s only one area to head to where you can trust a stranger to hold a blade to your neck: Kreuzberg, or ‘Little Istanbul’ as the locals call it thanks to the mass immigration of Turkish workers in the 1950s.

Old-school black and white Photoautomats litter the sidewalk along with cigarette butts, parked fixies and the guy urinating outside the highly serviced electronic public toilet.

The bearded male can learn a lot from Turkish diaspora here; facial hair will be treated with care and consideration. But when it comes to an über haircut to boot, the clean and clinical Turkish approach may not be your bag.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/04/18/blades-of-glory-berlin.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/04/18/wikibeardia-thursday-03.html

It’s time to think hard about what your choice of beard style is saying to other people. You may not realize it, but your face is a beacon that shines out to the neighborhood – ignore its language at your peril.

When you wear facial hair, it’s there for a reason. Sure, that’s mostly about impressing the opposite sex with your virile masculinity – but it’s also sending a message out to your work friends and bosses too.

Just what that message is was cracked by a social psychologist from the University of Sao Paolo back in 2003. Altay de Souza took 50 personnel managers from the city and asked them to rate photos of guys with different beards for 13 different characteristics.

When he looked at the results, it seems that guys with mustaches seem to come out top when they’re looking for a new job. While 60% of managers prefer their bosses to be clean-shaven, when it comes to picking employees they’ll go for a ‘tache over beards and goatees every time. In fact, twice as many managers preferred a ‘tache to beard in their recruits. 

It’s important to decide what kind of job you want to get. Clean-shaven and goateed guys were seen as more creative, while full beards were identified with nonconformity. If you’re after a low-paid job as a designer somewhere they’re ideal styles – but a mustache will bring home the bacon if you want to get settled into a new firm that really pays.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/04/16/psychology-of-styling-part-3-the-mustache.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/04/13/the-beards-that-built-germany.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/04/12/wikibeardia-thursday-02.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/04/04/wikibeardia-wednesday-01.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/03/29/fading-vs-hard-lines.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/03/28/book-review-moustache-growers-guide.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/03/22/wikibeardia-top-5.html

Porn stars and moustaches go together like coffee and donuts: adult entertainment stars like Ron Jeremy and John Holmes are famous not just for their acting skills but also their stylish appendages. 

Despite notching up thousands of partners in their careers, the question still remains: whose mustache really gets on top? Let’s find out as our two hirsute humpers go head to head…

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/03/20/beard-off-john-holmes-vs-ron-jeremy.html

“Today’s top pro surfers on the North Shore are looking more like Derek Ho in his heyday,” explained a recent Surfline.com article. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/03/16/i-dont-just-surf-i-explore.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/03/08/the-top-10-movie-mustaches.html

The soul patch can be a big hit or a major miss based on its location alone. Positioned directly below the lip, this patch of hair extremely difficult to ignore – especially when someone is speaking. 

It’s a very poplar style for many musicians and athletes. Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Billy Ray Cyrus, Bruce Springsteen, Randy Johnson, Phil Jackson and even William Shakespeare have all worn a soul patch.  Choosing to wear the soul patch can be a fun decision, especially if you have a good amount of facial hair to work with.

The best way to make it work is to find a good balance. First ask yourself is this the only facial hair you’re planning to wear on your face? And this is where the balance comes into play because the less facial hair present, the more the soul patch will stand out. And that may not work for some. 

So the first step is to determine how full your existing facial hair grows. For example – do you have long sideys, or a ’tache as well? This way, as you adopt a much fuller patch, the option of using other facial hair to create balance is a great start. Going “gung ho” and just shaving everything off at once and keeping the patch may be a bit drastic in appearance, not only for your friends but also for you. Trust me! 

Hairstyle can also play a major part in this style choice since long hair seems to bring more attention to facial features. Not to mention, a bald head with no facial hair and a soul patch (think Howie Mandel…) may or may not work for you. So consider how much of a focal point you really want to make with your new lip hairstyle. Because there is a thin line between a win and a bust!

My suggestion is to start subtle and build on the style. This way it gives you and your friends time for your patch to grow on you (no pun intended).

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/03/05/the-soul-patch-keep-it-or-shave-it.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/03/01/the-oscars-2012-get-the-latest-styles.html

Shaun White might be the face of competitive snowboarding, but for those who love the purer, feel good 'freeride' edge of the sport - where powder turns, cliff jumps and huge backcountry kickers showcase snowboarding in its rawest form - Travis Rice is king. And John Jackson? He's never far from the king, with few doubting that one day he'll wear the crown. He is - as one snowboard magazine pointed out - the Shredder-in-Waiting. 

“Travis is so sick. I study his riding and watch how he approaches everything,” says John deferentially. “He's so calculated.”

Not that John was destined to be a fearless conquerer of mountains. Born and raised near the boastfully-titled Mammoth Mountain (it's little more than a hill), John and his brother cut their teeth on the halfpipes and funparks that the Californian resort is famous for.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/02/27/john-jackson-profile.html

This is a great question and one that I get quite often. Wearing facial hair can be pretty tricky to begin with because you have to always consider your face shape, and whether or not it fits your hair style – not to mention those pesky dress codes for some jobs that always seem to throw a monkey wrench into your plans. But with all that to keep in mind, whether or not a full mustache can be grown shouldn't stop anyone from trying to sport facial hair.

So, sure why not? What’s the worst that can happen? If you don’t like the results you can just shave it off. Besides, you certainly wouldn’t be the first to try!

A style that immediately comes to my mind is beard scruff. If a light shadow of a mustache can be grown, it can easily blend with a scruffy beard.  Chin straps is another option to try.  I’ve seen many of them go without mustaches all of the time. And, if you have the confidence to pull it off, just wearing a soul patch with chin hair makes for a style that works for many!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/02/22/no-mo-still-a-go.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/02/20/5-hot-beard-styles-at-the-grammys.html

YAK films are an international video crew who shoot the best in every subculture of urban dance. From small beginnings, their films are now watched by an audience of millions, and give voice to the rising talents of the scene. 

Their mission to bring raw dance content to YouTube, from street-based dance videos, to dance event coverage, sees them travelling the planet to seek elite and supremely talented newcomers.

YAK’s style is uncompromising, documentary and fresh – in both senses of the word. Using filming methods that compliment the dance material, their shoots often use the urban environment not just as a backdrop but also as a symbol of the dance culture that they bring to life. 

Describing themselves as both an alternative to mainstream and a visual wrecking crew, YAK, at its heart, provides a rare chance for talent to shine on a global stage. 

“YouTube has given dancers the tools to promote themselves far and wide,” YAK co-founder Yoram Savion tells SYS. “The platform is still very new, and there's a whole new generation coming on board now that is raised up in this YouTube and Facebook environment. I think the future is very promising when it comes to independent, alternative artists that want to get it on their own, with their crew and in community.”

Savion arrived in San Francisco aged 16 and combined elements of multimedia and journalism in his UC Berkeley course. He went on to teach workshops in the city’s Youth Uprising programme before translating his skills into his own crew. 

Working with designer/musician Ben Tarquin and dancer/filmmaker Kash Gaines, the newly-founded YAK began covering TURF dancing in San Francisco, while Savion returned to his home nation with camera in hand to cover B-Boy events – building up a loyal Euro following as well. “Savion had the foresight to capitalize on his duel French citizenship,” says Rachel Swan of the East Bay Express. “Once Yak Films built its European platform, its videos became hot.”

Now a truly global outfit, YAK are in huge demand and are servicing the needs of urban dance crews with a signature style of filming. Their style – sometimes dark and brooding, edgy and popping – is going international, but Savion knows that it’s born of Oakland. 

“I started by teaching at a youth community center in East Oakland, CA, and Kash was actually my student,” says Yoram. “Through our work at the center, we met many local dancers, some who were a part of the TURF FEINZ crew. We started making videos and soon that's all we could think about and do, and we created YAK FILMS from the need to express ourselves beyond the boundaries of a single dance style, neighborhood or country.”

As YAK evolves, their style has too. From the early days of raw shooting, where they would just shoot on the street as the dancers hit it, they are now moving into a slightly more polished approach. Picking the right songs in advance, developing more elaborate concepts – it’s all part of the style. And style, Yoram admits, is part of the success of dancers who really want to make it. 

“Advertisers and companies are constantly looking for the next thing, the next movement, the next look that will help them connect to young consumers,” he says.  “So you might get projects and opportunities coming your way not just because you're an amazing dancer, but also because of your personal style and the way you carry yourself. 

“But it should never be forced or manufactured. This style comes from within, from your genuine need to express yourself, to free yourself from any hardship in your life, and let the positive energy out into the world, and just dance.”

Check out YAK FILMS youtube channel
See also other SYS profiles!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/02/17/profile-street-dance-goes-global-with-yak-films.html

Do you know what women want? Forget expensive flowers, meals and jewelry: all she really wants is a guy that looks fine. That means giving your smooth face a chance to blossom, or trimming back that grizzly mess into a charming new profile. We’ve examined all the evidence and discovered the five true reasons why women will always go for bearded guys.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/02/13/five-reasons-why-women-think-beards-rule.html

Shooting from the roots of the good work done by Movember, Grow For A Cause is a new charity campaign that asks fans to suggest the craziest beard styles for top X-games athletes. The athletes get to choose the most far out style and shave it in, earning money for their favourite charity in the process.

So, with our four athletes now sporting a new style, let’s have a run down on how they’re getting on…

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/02/08/grow-for-a-cause-a-hairy-success.html

Last week, Shave sour style checked out the ISPO Munich, the world’s leading convention for sports professionals. Nearly 80,000 visitors from 100 countries descended on the exhibition to see the latest word in sports gear, technology and fashion, and we hit the stands to inspect the best of the show as well as see what styles the hordes were flexing. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/02/06/shave-your-style-hits-ispo.html

Spring styles are loud, bold and colourful, according to the fashion shows at this year’s ISPO in Munich. The international trade fair for sports brands showed off a raft of new gear designed to impress, with a heavy accent on clearly defined blocks of colour and relaxed shapes – just the thing to pair up with a beard that does the same thing.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/02/06/spring-fashion-trends-from-the-ispo.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/01/31/beard-disasters.html

We can’t praise Fiddy’s style enough: he’s a real favorite with us here at shaveyourstyle.com. He’s smooth, he’s dapper and he’s beyond cool, proving that a sharp beard is the perfect accessory to a well-cut suit and tie. The chinstrap and goatee work well together to accentuate his strong jawline, while keeping the lines both trim and sharp.  It’s the look of a modern day business mogul, who has his nose right on the money again.

Fiddy has been very clever to pair a chinstrap – which is difficult to wear by itself - with a goatee to give him just the right amount of definition to his facial features.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/01/23/fiddy-wins-beard-awards.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/01/23/how-wide-should-my-goatee-be.html

Full beards are worn for many reasons: to create a specific style, to shape the face, to avoid shaving and even to cover a double chin!  Whatever the reason may be, proper beard maintenance is the key to always making sure it looks great. 

The first thing to make sure of is that your beard is never described as dirty or smelly. So the best way to make sure that’s never the case is to treat your beard the same way you treat the hair on your head with shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizer. Following, these three steps will put you in the ‘all clear’ status right out the gate.

The next steps are focused on the neck, the upper cheeks and the mustache, regardless of the length. Without these three areas properly maintained, you don’t have a beard - you just have hair on your face. 

“Sharp lines” or the “natural look” are two of the most common choices when deciding on how to style the upper cheeks. Which style fits you best falls in line with personality and, oftentimes, career choice. The more popular of the two, “sharp lines,” can make an attention seeking statement, however it will also require frequent clean-ups (two to three times a week) at home or at the barbershop. 

Also the sharper the lines, the more important the hairs on the upper cheek are in order to create a complementary face shape because the higher the lines are on the cheeks, the rounder the face will appear. In the same way, the lower they are trimmed (towards the jaw-line) the slimmer the face will look. The natural choice helps to downplay the beard, and allows for the upper cheeks to be less of a focal point, allowing maintenance to be on a weekly regimen.

The most challenging area to maintain can be the fast-growing neckline. Not only does it reveal quickly that it needs to be trimmed but it can also be the area where shaving irritation can be most common. My favorite solution is to skip a defined line and go for the “faded” neck area. This creates extra time in-between trims because the hairs grow out similarly to how it was originally cut, which is more “faded.” 

• Use the lowest clipper setting on the bottom quarter inch of your neck to give you the shortest length. Adjust the clipper setting every quarter inch or so to achieve a smoother visual transition as you move up the neck. 

• Adjust the blade settings to blend any lines.

The last step will keep you from tasting your food later… the mustache trim. Every beard wearer should keep the hair trimmed close to the top of the lip, without it hanging over. This allows for the least amount of attention to be brought to the lips, guaranteeing that everyone notices what’s most important: your beard! 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2012/01/18/the-full-beard-keepin-it-trim.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/01/18/beards-that-built-america.html

In the Lower East side corner is plucky Frank’s Chop Shop. Up in the East Village, just spoiling for a scrap, is the tiny but feisty Neighborhood Barbershop. This winter, Shave your style dropped in on each unannounced to compare like with like.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/01/10/blades-of-glory-manhattan-nyc.html

Robert Pattinson makes women swoon the world over. The Twilight Saga star is an international celebrity and sex symbol thanks to his epic love story on screen with Kristen Stewart and cool, louche style. 

Off screen, Robert Pattinson is now moving away from the smooth-faced vampire look and edging into new territory with a more rugged, stubbly style – so what do real women make of him now?

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2012/01/04/the-beard-jury-robert-pattinson.html

So, are you going to keep your New Year’s Resolutions? We’ve researched the most common aims most guys have to change their lives, and found out that each resolution has a beard to match. Get the beard in shape, and you’re much more likely to keep your resolution – and look the part while you’re doing it. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/12/30/new-year-new-beard-new-you.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/12/22/key-styles-for-2012.html

No doubt: Abe Lincoln would have been proud to see his signature chinstrap still being worn today. 

The worlds of Hip Hop and sports are defined by confidence and extraverted personalities, and many of those at the top of their games are choosing to wear this look – including LeBron James, David Ortiz, David Beckham, Big Daddy Kane, Lloyd Banks, 50 Cent and Kanye West.

Sure it takes balls to sport this style, something they all have in common. And as Abe Lincoln himself said, “That some achieve great success is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.”

However, confidence isn’t the only prerequisite for making a chinstrap work. The right face shape also plays a major part. Because the chinstrap traces the jaw-line outlining the face, a round face will always end up looking “rounder” with this beard style. The same unfortunate fate awaits those with rectangle, triangle and diamond face shapes. 

If you’ve got an oval or square face you’re in luck. The chin strap will suit you best, just like it did for old Abe. But, when all’s said and done, it’s your own style and you have to decide what works best for you.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/12/21/get-the-style-the-chinstrap.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/12/20/blades-of-glory-brooklyn-nyc.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/12/19/shave-your-style-beard-awards.html

Hip Hop owes a lot to the barbershop, says Spanish rapper Mucho Muchacho. Back in the day, these places were the spot where up and coming guys would get shaved and clipped while listening to mix tapes of the latest hopeful MCs and DJs.

It’s the same principle that Mucho, who originally rapped with the legendary Latin Hip-Hip crew Seven Notes Seven Colours, is recreating in Cream Barbershop, Barcelona.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/12/16/fusing-hip-hop-in-mucho-muchachos-cream-barbershop.html

Grow For A Cause is a new charity competition that invites you to submit your craziest beard and mustache styles online. Four X-athletes have signed up to get the best styles shaved into their beards – surfer Mike Gleason, skater Andrew Cannon, moto rider Todd Potter and snowboarder Eric Jackson will all get their facial hair trimmed into the styles voted most fierce by you, the public. There’s also prizes to be won for the public’s most outlandish beard and ‘taches too, courtesy of Braun, Dakine and Transworld. 

Mike Gleason explains the rules on the official site: “Over the next month I need you to send in the funniest, craziest, weirdest beards. I’ll get my beard shaved in the best style and our chosen charities get $2500 each. The more people that view our videos, the longer we keep the beard – one minute for every view!” 

Each athlete gets money for their charity, with Make A Wish, Surfrider Foundation, Protect Our Winters and the Athlete Recovery Fund all up for donations courtesy of the competition’s sponsors. So get busy carving your craziest style and send in your photos!

Go to http://transworld.net/growforacause for more

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/12/15/get-crazy-beards-with-grow-for-a-cause.html

The Goatee can create a look of mystery or distinction. It can also do a great job of hiding the double chin (well, maybe just from the front)! Regardless, it’s a beard style that carries a commanding tone because it brings attention to the mouth, especially when speaking. And for men that like to be heard and noticed, this is a great beard style choice.There are many variations of the goatee, but there are truly only three standard styles. Two of which - the Musketeer and the Van Dyke - are very popular among men and movies of many eras. The third, the French Fork, is a style more likely to be found in period films and paintings however, and not often worn today. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/12/12/the-goatee-variations-on-the-style.html

Sebastian Vettel wore a Nigel Mansell moustache this week after celebrating smashing the F1 Pole Position record in Brazil.

After securing fifteen poles in one season, the Red Bull driver had cause for joy. The 24-year old driver took the record from English legend Mansell after it had stood for nearly 20 years. 

Vettel told reporters afterwards: “There has been quite some talk about this record and the best thing was not to think about it at all.

"I am enjoying the moment. I put everything in the last lap and I was very emotional when I crossed the line as I knew that was all I had.”

Although Vettel admitted that “It took the master in the discipline a couple of races less,” – Mansell achieved his record in just 14 races, against Vettel’s 19 – there was no doubting his happiness at taking this historic pole. Or indeed, taking on the moustache in Mansell’s absence.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/11/29/sebastian-vettel-dons-mansell-moustache-in-pole-record-smash.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/11/28/mustaches-of-the-month.html

B-Boying is all about expressing yourself, however you are and whoever you are, and the Battle of the Year was one huge sound clash of styles and looks. Shave your style roamed backstage to shoot these fresh looks sported by competitors, spectators and event crew.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/11/24/battle-faces.html

Letting go: often easily said but not so easily done. But watching Ronnie dance, it’s like he’s never held on. This is what B-Boying is all about: a kind of primal freedom of expression rarely seen in today’s modern world. Ronnie is one of the ‘original generation’ of B-Boys and is now one of the world’s most respected dancers.

Shave your style caught up with him at the Braun Battle of the Year, the annual show-down between international crews of B-Boys in Montpellier France. Despite his powerful presence on stage, Ronnie is something of a pocket rocket: diminutive in stature and with an easy-going nature, he immediately puts you at ease.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/11/23/profile-ronnie-abaldonado.html

So you've grown a beard - but don't go forgetting that under all that fuzz you've still got a face that needs some love. 

Once you’ve grown a beard out to where it’s at least an inch and a half to two inches thick, it really needs to be cared for in the same manner as the hair on your head. 

Many men choose to grow beards as a low-maintenance approach, so it’s not uncommon for them to believe that a subtle splash of soap and water or a few drips of shampoo will do the trick. Sorry guys, not this time!

But it doesn’t have to be a drawn out affair either. Using a dab of the same shampoo and conditioner already in the shower will get the beard thoroughly clean in the same time it will take to wash your hair. There you have it, simple and easy! 

But keep in mind that there can be times when shampoos and conditioners can be a bit too strong for the face, so sticking with milder versions for both head and beard will make it much easier!

Here are a few that I like: 

* Seaweed Mild Marine Shampoo and Conditioner By Bumble & Bumble

* Aveda Men Pure-Formance Shampoo and Conditioner

* Bluebeards Original Beard Wash  

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/11/18/beard-skin-care-tips.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/11/11/mustache-inspiration-03.html

With Lady Gaga manning up and sporting nice sideburns at the August MTV Awards, all eyes were on Belfast on Sunday November 6. Shave Your Style’s fashion team pulled up a sofa next to the stage, stroked their beards and filed this report…

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/11/07/mtv-euro-music-awards.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/11/04/beard-off-brian-wilson-vs-brett-keisel.html

He's called Beardyman but he no longer sports a beard, he's an award winning musician but has only just got round to releasing a record, and he's equally at home at a muddy European festival as he is on Conan O'Brien's sofa.

This pile of alluring contradictions is 29-year old Darren Foreman – champion beatboxer, improv comic and internet sensation: quite simply, there's not a pigeonhole big enough in which to plant this performing polymath.

When asked recently by dance music bible, Mixmag, how he describes what he does, the now clean shaven Renaissance man simply remarked: "For your average inquisitive cabby over 50, there are several hurdles to comprehending what I do. So for the older generation I tend to just say "I'm a musician" and wait for any follow-up questions."

But frankly that's like saying the late Steve Jobs just liked tinkering with computers.

Inspired by Michael Winslow's unique ability to orally create sound effects in the Police Academy movies, the three-year old North Londoner set about emulating this unusual idol. However, it was seeing former Roots member, Rahzel, beatboxing that really set him on course.

"Rahzel’s album was a revelation. I'd always beatboxed but never before thought that it could be anything other than a vaguely annoying habit," he told Example magazine.

Beardyman dedicated himself to his talent and in 2006 battled it out to win the title of UK Beatbox Champion – an award he retained in 2007 before being invited onto the judging panel in 2008 to give someone else a shot at the title.

As for his name, the artist formerly known as hirsute gave the matter a little less attention: "I chose the name just before one of my shows. I didn't know what else to call myself and they needed a name for the event artwork and that's all I could come up with so I'm stuck with it," he recently admitted to Who's Jack magazine.

As a truly 21st century star, Beardyman's strong presence on YouTube has catapulted his talents to a global audience. His residency at Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival in 2009 has enjoyed over 4million hits, while the numerous clips on his YouTube channel have amassed nearly 20million views.

In addition ‘I Done A Album’, Beardyman’s debut long-player, was released earlier this year and although the beard maybe gone for the time being, it looks like Beardyman is here to stay.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/11/02/profile-beardyman.html

Movember, the month formerly known as November, is a month-long celebration of the mustache. And since its inception as a formal charity in 2004, Movember has raised $174 million US Dollars globally. 

Every November, where men of all ages - AKA Mo Bros - shave on November 1 and spend the remaining 30 days growing a 'tache.

The goal of this global campaign is to raise awareness and funds for carefully selected charitable organizations with a focus on men's health and specifically prostate cancer.

It’s a great opportunity to grow a Mo where you are only limited by your imagination. Many men secretly want to know what they would look like sporting a mustache, but never considered giving it a chance – until Movember. Growing a mustache is something that most men can rally around. The fun and irreverence of it taps into that masculinity and the desire or excuse to see what you would actually look like wearing a mustache. 

The movement’s origins did not start with the medical industry, as many may guess. The idea was conceived by a group of Australian lads who were inspired by what women were achieving with breast cancer fundraising efforts.

I caught up with Movember founder Adam Garone to ask where the idea came from?

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/10/31/the-story-behind-movember.html

OK, so we all know that David Beckham is a great-looking guy. Whether he’s sitting with his kids at a basketball game, or showing his stuff on a Times Square billboard, it’s hard for any guy to ignore his influence. Always one to push the fashion envelope a little (think black sarong) or causing controversy (see WTF beard below) he’s still giving us men room for thought.

He’s also never been afraid to sport a few beard shapes and sizes over the years, which has only ever added to his masculine style appeal. Never mind that there have been a few misses over the years… generally Becks has it all down in the facial hair department too.

Lets go over a few of David’s bearded moments and see how you too can get the look.

Firstly, like all of us, you can only work with what you have. David has a rather unusual natural beard growth, in that his mustache does not join up with the rest of his beard on his cheeks or around his mouth. Therefore it would be impossible for him to grow a handlebar moustache or full goatee. Also, he has a medium thickness and density of growth that is at least a shade darker than his actual hair color.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/10/28/beard-it-like-beckham.html

For some men, facial grooming comes naturally. Their 'staches and beards are an extension of their characters – nay, their facial hair channels their character. We’ve found some men on the street whose facial hair tells us a lot about them. If you haven’t found the style that expresses your true identity yet, this little guide may help you. After determining how to let the fuzz on your face show the world who you are, a beard trimmer can help you actually perfectly achieving it.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/10/25/the-vice-guide-to-facial-grooming.html

Retire your razor and ready yourself for Movember! Join thousands of men across the world as they don mustaches in an effort to raise funds for prostate cancer awareness.

Since I know many  - including you, right? - will be joining in the fight, here are a few tips and tricks to help you get the best looking mustache in your group! 

The first step is to find a way to take advantage of as much facial hair as possible in order to get the style you want. The easiest way is to start by growing a full beard and mustache. This way you will get an idea of what you’ve got to work with. The next step is to pick a style that you like!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/10/25/mustache-inspiration-02.html

In the first of a series for Movember, we take it back to the '70s and '80s with David Glover's take on three classic mustaches as worn by three iconic figures of their generation.

You'll need some time to grow out the styles shown here - that's why we're posting this piece nice and early!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/10/24/mustache-inspiration-01.html

Your beard is a secret code that’s being unconsciously read by everyone who sees you. Unlock its mystery and master it for your benefit.

For men, growing and styling a full beard is a big deal. Aside from the envious wisecracks from compadres, and the arched brows of parents as your rebellious fuzz blooms into being, you get the feeling that you’re really saying something. 

But what, exactly, is that?

Well, it’s not just that you like to keep your cheeks warm. In fact, others see men with full beards as being dominant, courageous, and non-conformist. In other words, you’re as cool as can be. 

These were the exact findings from a landmark psychological study by Robert J Pellegrini back in 1972, and they still hold true today. The experiment, dubbed ‘To Beard or Not to Beard’, took eight young guys with full beards, and photographed each of them as they were progressively shorn. 

Each guy ended up with a selection of shots of themselves wearing full beards, a goatee, a mustache, and finally, clean shaven. When men and women volunteers were asked to rate the personality of each photo, they all rated the beardiest guys as being the strongest in certain traits. 

Rebellious. Uncompromising. The guy in charge. That’s what your full beard tells people, without the need for words. You’re a tough guy, after all. Who needs to talk?

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/10/19/psychology-of-styling-02-the-full-beard.html

Old-school barbershops are on their way back, reports the Economist, with the number of listed barbers in the UK doubling since 2001.

The magazine interviewed Caroline Cox, fashion historian and consultant. She wonders if the economic downturn has led to a return to old-fashioned masculinity. “If we worry about the future, we tend to take refuge in the past,” she said. And there’s nothing more manly than a barbershop.

In the USA, where barbering is more strictly licensed, salons are also seeing a demand for barbering. Ray Middleton of Joe’s Barbershop in San Francisco describes barbering as the in-and-out, short and sharp end of the trade, and it’s here that business is booming.

But the top-end salons are doing well too. The Economist reports that big French firm L’Oréal believe the British market for men’s grooming gear is growing twice as fast as that for women’s.

Did you know? In times long past, in addition to grooming services, barbers used to double-up as doctors and dentists. They would pull teeth and therapeutically bleed their patients. This service is said to explain the red and white striped poles often displayed outside barbershops – a reference to bloodied bandages. Nice!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/10/12/barbershops-boom.html

Sideburns draw attention to your facial features and need to be given as much consideration as the rest of your mug.  

Just as there are men who can't grow a full beard, there are those who face the same issues with their sideburns. But there are remedies to every situation.

For many short to medium hairstyles the best way to cover the lack of sideburn growth is to fade or "taper" the sideburns.

The taper can range from subtle to severe, depending on the preferred style. Either way, it creates a sense of individuality in an otherwise common hairstyle and camouflages a lack of sideburns.

The other option is to "grow" a pair of sideburns. This trick works best for men that enjoy wearing hairstyles anywhere from medium length to long. Here's how: Separate a small portion of hair that grows just in front of your ears and trim to your desired sideburn length. 

Determining the length of sideburns should be based on two things: face shape and personality. Sideburn lengths can range anywhere from short (top of the ear), extra-long (bottom of the ear), to mutton chops, and anywhere in between. If the look is more conservative the width of sideburns shouldn't exceed 1 ½", Wider (greater that 1 ½") sideburns assume a more creative look in style - and most likely - career choice.

The face shape is another factor to consider. The longer the face the shorter the sideburns should be. Consequently, the shorter the face the longer the sideburns can go (within reason). Medium length sideburns (just above the center of the ear) and penciled (or pointed) styles are among the most common and popular. Mutton chops can be found in smaller, more creative circles. But, personality is always a factor as to what look works best.  

Last but not least is maintenance. Let's start with how to keep these sideburns even. My famous "pointer finger" test works flawlessly every time! Take both index fingers and place them at the bottom of your left and right sideburn.  Have a look in the mirror, and take notice of which finger is higher on the side of your face than the other.  If you like the length of the higher one, trim the longer one a little at a time (while continuing to use the "pointer finger" test) until it's even with the other.

The easiest way to keep them under control (no matter the shape or size), is with a pair of trimmers. These will not only let you create, but also maintain your desired length. Because sideburns can be a combination of beard hair and head hair, consider trimming them every 2-3 days.

To keep them close, start with the highest number guard and work your way down the numbers to get the desired length, trimming up (jaw to temple) to remove the most bulk.  To keep the bulk and remove the stray hairs, trim downward (temple to jawline), which also gives a smoother appearance.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/10/07/know-how-sideburns.html

Word Magazine from Belgium collaborated with us to make a series of three short videos which paired three different hair stylists with three models. Film-maker Tine Claerhout creates a statement in less-is-more facial fashion.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/10/05/the-style-challenge.html

You already know that your beard gives you a deeper understanding of human nature and makes you irresistible to women. But how much do you really know about what makes your ’tache tick? What lies under the beard? 

We’ve asked top hair expert Marilyn Sherlock, the chairman of the Institute of Trichologists, to explain away the many misconceptions people may have about their hair.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/10/05/beard-myths-exposed.html

The decade that saw rock music reach a new pitch of perfection was also a bountiful harvest for the beard in music, with post-hippy, pre-metal styles displaying counter-culture credentials that are hard to beat. Best of all, they’re all looks that have come full circle today, so turn up your clippers to 11 and get grooming to achieve these three classic rock beards…

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/30/musician-styles-1970s-rock.html

When you see what other guys are wearing on their faces, what you think is only half the story. What womankind are judging them on may be way different to your expectations. Here’s where Shave Your Style’s Beard Jury comes in. 

Every month, we quiz five real women to find out what they really make of beard styles, as worn by some of the planet’s most eligible guys. Read up and learn the secret opinions that you won’t find anywhere else…

Ashton’s been papped for months with a confident display of facial hair, a look he’s reined in during the last few weeks to create a well-crafted and controlled beard that appears to revolutionise his boyish image. Or does it? 

“He looks much less boyish than he used to. I couldn’t take him that seriously before, his chin was so big and obvious – this beard looks cooler straight away.”

“No way! He looks like a young rabbi. It’s just too much beard for me – maybe if he took it down a notch and just had light stubble he could carry it off, but it’s a bit full-on for him.”

“I think it looks better on him than being clean-shaven. He looks more mature, less impish, but still with a bit of an edge. I bet his wife loves it as well!”

“I’ve always liked his style, and this looks good on him. It’s quirky but makes him seem a bit smarter, too – just as long as he doesn’t get crazy with it like Joaquin Phoenix did!”

“It’s hot. Looks way better like this. He’s got to start playing round with his look some time, hasn’t he? I’m all over this, really – though I don't know whether he's really steady boyfriend material these days."

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/30/the-beard-jury-ashton-kutcher.html

Born Ahmir Khalib Thompson in 1971, the man known professionally as Questlove (or even ?uestlove, if you want to be cryptic about it) has spent decades at the top of his game. 

Drumming with The Roots, he’s won Grammys and inspired a host of hip-hop acts to break free of the negativity and materialism of the gangsta tradition. Behind the production desk, he’s sent stars like D’Angelo, Jay-Z and John Legend stratospheric.

With a trademark 'fro and full beard, Questlove rocks the quintessential rhythm section look: big, solid and sweet. His look, and his music, was honed not in the states but over the pond, as he reveals.

“We wanted to do what Jimi Hendrix had done by bringing an idea that we had cultivated in the United States to the UK and working out there until it was the right time to come home,” he told K-Mag’s Aaron Jackson. 

“That speaks volumes of our appreciation of music and art from the UK; in the states at the time there was such a drought of outlets for musicians, everyone was a DJ and venues didn’t have the facilities to accommodate live bands.”

It’s perhaps an strange choice of nickname, but it was D’Angelo that decided he should dub Questlove Chewbacca – at least in private.  

"D says to me, 'The way I see it, the radio stations and the media is like the Death Star, and I'm Luke Skywalker.' It was this while revolution that was going to save music. Q-Tip was gonna be Harrison Ford, Lauryn Hill was gonna be Princess Leia. Erykah Badu was Queen Amidala. I said, 'Who am I gonna be?' D said, 'You're gonna be Chewbacca.' I said OK. I accepted the role – without even knowing who the hell Chewbacca was!"

As Believer mag stated definitively back in ’03, the guy’s hair is an icon in itself. Yet it’s something that Questo is pretty chilled about. “It’s neglect,” he suggests. “It’s not a statement – but now it’s a marketing angle. If I did what I was supposed to do my hair would be the size of a lion.”

His styling regime is pretty simple, as you’d expect. “What I do is, I spend five seconds in the shower so it can shrink and then just let it go. I’ll shape it however I want it to be designed and then go on with my day.”

There you have it. Hair dynamics from the most dynamite drummer in music today – just don’t go overboard, now. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/30/profile-questlove.html

Fresh to the pro stage of skateboarding, Pennsylvania’s Andrew Cannon’s signature bearded profile isn’t the only striking thing about his style. In a world populated by cool guys, Cannon fires on all cylinders: writing, presenting and generally larking about, he’s been signed up to create videos for Transworld and ESPN too. You wonder how he finds time to compete at this level. 

“I'm just trying to learn some new tricks, lose some weight and be the best skater I can be,” he told ESPN’s Adam Salo this summer. “Chris Nieratko bet me $100 that I can't get down to 180 pounds by Christmas. Nieratko's one of those dudes, he's awesome but he's someone you don't want to lose to because he won't let it go and I'll never hear the end of it!”

Now living in Tempe, Arizona, the World Industries-signed Cannon has been riding pro this year on a 8.25 World Board. “There are ditches everywhere in Arizona so I skate them. It’s funny to me that people ask ‘why all the ditch spots? Well, because it’s fun. When are we going to start asking people ‘Hey, why all the rail spots?’”

As a fresh pro, he’s also awarded the greatest accolade of all: his own board graphics. As with so much in Cannon’s life, there’s a story attached. The apocalyptic bear wearing a helmet riddled by bullet holes was inspired by a Slayer T-shirt, but it seems that Andrew’s mom was more than a bit concerned. 

“She tells me: ‘I don't understand the helmet. Your father said that was a Nazi helmet." "Mom, it's not a Nazi helmet. It's from a Slayer T-shirt, whatever." My mom is super worried that I'm into the devil or some evil stuff and I keep telling her, "Mom I don't believe in anything! Don't worry about it."

So what does Andrew believe in? Well, try the power of the beard. As reported on ESPN, he’s got five primo reasons to rock the fuzz. “1. My wife loves it. 2. It makes you look older. 3. Not everyone can do it. 4. They cover up double chins. 5. It's fun, duh!”

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/30/profile-andrew-cannon.html

A beard is a style choice. Facial hair is a natural phenomenon for men and close attention to styling this can transform a man’s look. As we anticipate the mustache madness of Movember by paying homage to all styles of upper lip facial growth, we also celebrate the hair that wanders anywhere else on a man’s face, and most importantly, what the ladies think about them.

We spoke to numerous young women about their favorite beard on a guy, and here’s what they had to say:

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/30/the-styles-ladies-dig.html

The shape of your face is the biggest factor determining the right beard style for you. Dudes fall into eight basic face shapes as listed below. We recommend some specific styles for each of the eight facial shapes. So figure out your shape, choose a style that works with that shape, and get going grooming your whiskers into something that looks and feels like it belongs on your mug. 

Stretched at the forehead and at the chin, this facial structure likes beards which fill in at the sideburns, cheeks, and 'stache without chin hair. Styles like “Mutton Chops”, “A La Souvarov”, “Dali”, or even “Friendly Mutton Chops” work to balance your oblong-ness into an attractive and attracting attraction.

Rounding out the right angles is crucial to soften rectangularity. We highly recommend the “Chin Curtain”, “Short Boxed beard”, “Ducktail”, or “The French Fork” for dudes cursed with right angles. 

Circular faces need angularity so you don’t look obese. Focus your facial frontier on your chin, with styles like “Chin Puff”, “Van Dyke”, “Balbao”, “Sparrow”, “Goatee”, “The Zappa”, or “Soul Patch”. All of these styles will take the wobble out of your weeble and square up your roundness.

Congratulations, homies. This is the best face shape to have, because it can literally host ANY beard style. Take your pick. Change it up often. Gloat at dudes with other shaped faces. Try something strange like “Imperial”, “Hulihee”, or “Old Dutch”. You lucky SOD.

You’ve been called this before. Time to lose your right angles. Soften yourself up so you become more approachable. Try “Petit Goatee”, “Anchor”, or even the “Hollywoodian”. Focus growth on the chin, with or without a 'stache and sideburns. Avoid full beards. They will simply square your square-ness.

Strap on a chin strap if you’ve got this shaped face. Anything from “Rap Industry Standard” to “Chin Curtain”  to “Anchor” will work as will extended 'stache styles like “Fu Manchu” & “The Winnfield.” Diamonds are a girls’ best friend. Strap on one of these beard styles and you’ll be even better than that!

Avoid chin hair and focus your growth on your 'stache and side burns. “Mutton Chops” (or The Friendly Version), a “Fu Manchu”, or even “Franz-Josef” would be a totally engaging look and a real head turner. Conversely, inverted triangular-faced dudes can simply sport a “Soul Patch” and call attention to the inversion. Just make sure the soul patch is also triangulated for maximum attention-grabbing looks.

Grow some chin hair. A “Goatee”, “”Anchor”, or even “”Van Dyke” is perfect to grace your isosceles triangle. The “Hollywoodian” or “Old Dutch” would also work. For an 'unserious' presentation, highlight your triangularity with a “Petit Goatee”, but be prepared for stares and head scratches.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/09/30/face-shapes-and-beard-styles.html

Getting started on growing a beard requires some knowledge and advice on the basics. So we focus this month on how to stop shaving. That’s because NOT shaving is essential to successfully growing a beard and becoming a hairy beast.

Ninety percent of the adult male Homo sapiens species shaves daily and each spends on average 10 minutes per calendar day on whisker removal. Now that you have left that club, we offer the following:

1. Stay: Remain in the bathroom. Do not under any circumstance release your ten-minute shave break and create a bathroom vacancy. The bathroom is a private space and you need that time away from others and from the rest of your abode to selfishly keep your own.

2. Ponder: Think time is good time. Sit down on the commode during your ten-minute no-shave break and think about how great it is to be a guy. 

3. Silence: What happens in the bathroom stays in the bathroom. You need not convey and communicate your decision for beard growth. It is obvious that something is happening to you.  Let others wonder and try to figure it out. Enjoy the bewilderment beard growth provokes.

4. Admire: Don’t resist the urge to check yourself out. Frequently. If men did not admire their own bodies, then there would never be such a thing as m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.i.o.n. So yes, 100% of men admire their own bodies. Be one.

5. Donate: Give time to other manly grooming activities. Consider beginning shoe shining, nail & cuticle clipping, nostril hair snipping, ear haircuts, and other manscaping activities such as shoulder & back hair grooming, and/or pubic trimming. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/09/30/school-for-hairy-beasts.html

But with just a bit of prep, you’ll be able to quell the emotions of others and continue more peacefully down the path of your beard quest.

This month, we offer some thoughts on dealing down the discouragers. 

Your response: “Mom, I’m still your son. But I’ve grown now, and need to project my own style. My own pizzazz. I still love you, beard or no beard.”

Parents need reinforcement that your facial hair does not change the context of your relationship. Give them love and they will dismiss your growth spurt. Works every time.

Your response: “It’s a bit awkward, I realize that. But once it grows out, I intend to keep it neatly trimmed so as to project an enhanced image for the firm. I also think that the beard will help modernize our image so we are not seen as old fashioned or outdated.”

Sell your beard as a benefit to the firm. These are old cronies and they need to get with it, so remind them the favor you are doing for them. And perhaps ask for a raise when they see you were right!

Response: “The grow out is always itchy, sweetheart. And I know how much you hate that feeling against your velvet-like, voluptuously soft skin. Tell you what, I’ll work to soften the beard with your conditioning creams, and if you still hate it after two months, I’ll shave it off.”

Women change their mind as often as the weather. Lean into this in your response and you’ll be fine. Plus, using her potions makes her feel somehow needed. And loved.

Response: “Actually, it only looks that way because the hair isn't grey like yours.”

Throw it right back to your homies. Never give an inch. It is a sign of weakness. They’ll admire you for your singularity as you flatten their attempts to humiliate you. Have fun with these junior roasters. They have no idea how strong-minded you’ve become with becoming bearded.

Response: “Please, no brown-nosing.” The team working for you will be flush with compliments. They’ll rush, ooze, and gush over the new hair. Ignore their idiotic clamor. Send them on their way. Use expletives in your language. Make sure they know you can spot their misguided attempts to jump onto your train. Above all, be skeptical of anyone who compliments too much or too early in your beard-growing odyssey.

Response: “You do. Why don’t you join me and grow one too?”

Colleagues will show emotion in your beastly endeavor for a variety of reasons, ranging from jealousy to envy. Rather than firing back at colleagues, you can turn the tides of their jealousy and envy by becoming that bearded leader that can help an organization grow. Oh yes. Think of all the bearded leaders of history, and saddle up.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/09/30/the-ultimate-comebacks.html

John Galliano's show illustrated a barbaric and bold seasoned look, captivating us with masculine beards, mustaches and trims: a look I have definitely seen in the streets of New York’s most trendy spots. In fact, I think every hipster and movie star I know has this look. I'm talking Paul Bunion lumberjack chic. Give me a well-shaped long-to-medium beard any day. Not only do you catch any crumbs you miss and scare off unwanted visitors, you look pretty damn cool too!

But if a lot of facial hair is not your thing this season, don’t fret. Leave it to Mr. Armani to come to the rescue. Giorgio Armani reminds us why we love our 5 o’clock shadows. Trimmed up just the right way, your back-to-work look becomes your back-on-the-dating-market look.

Just the right amount of hair keeps you edgy yet classic and stern. So who cares if you miss a day or two from shaving? What the heck... miss a whole week. It makes a statement. Paired with a great suit, you're in business, literally. This is one of my favorite looks and one I wear myself: a close trim mimicking a 5 o’clock shadow. It's a look thats just for the grown up and sexy... not to mention it gives me an extra 10 minutes of sleep in the morning!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/09/30/hair-to-stay.html

To keep your beard in check, you should really visit your barber once a week. However, no one has the time, so the first rule is to get the line-up you want from your barber, and then continue to maintain it in the convenience of your home.

If you have a wide beard, tell your barber to keep the line on top as natural as he can. Doing this allows you to have a well groomed look, while the bottom depends on your personal style preference.

If you are a large guy, I prefer a lower fit because it makes the face look skinnier. If you are a smaller guy, I prefer to keep it at the jaw bone or half way down because if it is any lower, it will make the face look longer. 

If you’re going to the barber shop, you should be comfortable with your barber and ask any questions you may have, for example, “Is the straight razor OK for my skin type?”

For an African-American man, a razor is not a good idea because razor burns and ingrown hairs occur. If you’re doing a chin strap or a goatee, your barber can put the blade only on the moustache lines that connect with the goatee, then must follow with the clipper, getting it as close as possible. 

Then you should finish up with the electric shaver. Not only is it needed at home, it is used everywhere. Finishing with the electric shaver gets you a clean, sharp finish without any nicks or scratches from the razor, especially for the guys with sensitive skin. When you get the idea how to do it, then you can maintain your style at home. You can purchase an electric clipper to maintain the look you want to achieve after your visit to the barber — it’s very easy to use to get the perfect finish.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/09/30/what-to-ask-your-barber.html

If you’re looking for a concise, pocket handbook of beard styles and how to achieve them, look no further: The Bearded Gentleman is here.

Written by facial hair fans Nick Burns and Allan Peterkin, this is a light-hearted yet practical look at everything whiskery. 

Most men growing beards just let it happen, yet this book picks out the subtle tweaks and tidy-ups that’ll set you apart. 

It could also be used as a source of inspiration, with over 50 styles to choose from, from the Fu Manchu to the Horsehoe, the Lampshade to the Soul Patch.

‘Respect the shorn – they have not yet found their way,’ advises the book. The Bearded Gentleman is surely set to become something of a bible for those among us who are convinced that beards are here to stay. 

We caught up with Nick Burns to ask him a few questions…

Where did the idea come from?
I was interviewing Allan in 2004 about why mustachs lost favour in the 1980s and so on, and we became friends, and the idea of a ‘how to’ book on looking after your beard grew out of there.

Who’s it aimed at?
A hip younger audience, I guess guys aged 25 to 35 who are fashion focussed. The book’s a little cheeky, a little fun but we didn’t want the humou to overtake the strength of the advice in the book.

So – in three sentences or less, to what do you attribute the recent rise of the beard?
That’s a tough one. I think we’ve seen a slow progression. We had the whole clean shaven, waxed chest thing in the 90s and very slowly the pendulum then started to swing the other way – Colin Firth with his stubble and so on. Now people are rebelling against the whole metrosexual plucked-chicken look, trying to go more masculine.

Stubble is probably going to be the easiest. Most guys can’t grow a full beard until you’re 25 or 26. But you can start experimenting, trying a soul patch perhaps - your first experiment doesn’t have to be a full patch of growth. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/30/the-bearded-gentleman.html

When it comes to glamour, today's actors can leave a lot to be desired. They should learn a few lessons from the big shots of 1950s Hollywood: Clark Gable, David Niven and Errol Flynn. The link between them is simple. Their mustaches rocked. 

The slim 'tache of the 50s is a superb look for today. Dashing, jaunty and a symbol of a cavalier disposition, it speaks volumes about the wearer and their confidence. Shows like Mad Men may celebrate the era, but there's not a mustache between them - a huge historical error. 

Getting the look is simple, but requires a bit of experimentation to get the shape that best fits your face, says award-winning New York stylist David Glover. 

"Try angling the outer corners either up or own, following closer to the upper lip line contour or shaving a small space in the middle under the nose," he advises. 

1. You'll need a straight razor and trimmers to perfect the lines.  

2. Hold the razor blade horizontally and start by shaving down from under the nose toward the upper lip, to the position where you want your mustache to begin. 

3. When you have created a straight line in the middle under the nose, continue to extend the line out toward the outer corners of the mouth by shaving down from the left and right nostril to match the existing line. 

4. Next, continue to shave the upper lip (under the new line) working from the center out to the corners of the mouth and the rest of the beard growth.

5. Use the wide trimmer option to sharpen the straight lines and the smallest trimmer to fine-tune the shape according to your face shape. 

6. In some cases, a little brow pencil can be used to darken and sharpen, shape or fill-in the lines where needed.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/29/vintage-style-01-1950s-hollywood.html

OK, so neither of these pretty boys require their facial hair to work very hard. But with both Ryan Gosling and Ewan McGregor suffering symptoms of baby-face syndrome, it’s understandable that they’ve turned to the beard for help. 

Gosling’s baby-blues and peachy complexion render him prepubescent at best. His beard helps take him from Musketeer to Man. The heavier side of stubble, his growth appears untamed, although actually if you look closely there’s some clipping keeping things on the straight and narrow. The look is natural and allows Gosling added ruggedness.  

Meanwhile, McGregor’s current balbo is one part Metallica’s James Hetfield, two-part circus master. With a thick head of hair, he doesn’t need much weight down below. The detailed tailoring of this beard is evident and deserves praise for its bare sides and cheekline, allowing for McGregor’s apple cheeks to do the talking. 

However, it is perhaps this obvious effort of the finely manicured moustache and goatee that is working against him – the beard does not seem a natural extension of McGregor’s face, nor his style. Verging on freaky magician it unfortunately requires an open smile to avoid offence. 

For this celebrity Beard Off, it’s Gosling, by a hair’s breadth. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/29/beard-off.html

Grizzly Alaskan Contest

There’s more than just oil and fish to celebrate up in the Alaskan Arctic. Fairbanks is home to the hairiest competition ever, the annual Grizzly Alaskan Contest. Part of the week-long Fairbanks Golden Days festival every July, bear-like guys are judged on beard, moustache, chest and even leg hair to find the fuzziest dude in the north. It all goes back to the gold prospectin’ days, when men were men and beards were like blankets – so don’t go overboard on grooming for this championship.

Find out more from the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce http://www.fairbankschamber.org/

North American Beard and Mustache Championship

This year, Team Beard USA fell at the final hurdles in the Internationals, so competition at the national level to select a team for the 2013 event will be crucial. Taking place October 13 in Lancaster, PA, there’s not just national pride at stake: $5000 in prize money is up for grabs. 

Judging beard and mustaches across five categories (moustache, partial beard, full beard groomed, full beard natural, and freestyle), the event is taking place in the heart of Amish country, a beard Mecca for those in the know. 

Captain of Beard Team USA is 62 year-old semiretired lawyer and conference judge Phil Olsen, a great advocate for competitive bearding: as he told one Seattle Times reporter at last year’s nationals, “"I get compliments on my beard every day. I've never heard anyone say anything negative about it. I'm sure some people don't like it, but they can keep their opinions to themselves or I'll send them to jail."

Find out more at http://beardteamusa.org/nationals/

The World Beard Championships

In the white heat of international competition, it’s the World Beard Championships that witnesses the fiercest challenge. Held every two years at beard-friendly locations, the contest attracts competitors from across the planet, pitting their hirsuite skills in categories such as Fu Manchu, Dali and the creative Freestyle event. 

With men travelling from as far afield as Russia, Australia and Canada, it’s the benchmark event for beardiness. Germany has long ruled the leaderboard, but a surprise upset came in the 2009 event when the US contestants swept the trophy cabinet, when Team USA member David Traver was crowned overall champ with a beard styled to resemble an Alaskan snowshoe. Winners require patience and utter dedication to their styling, as the wife of Partial Beard Freestyle Winner Dieter Besuch told the press: “He can only drink through a straw and can't eat anything when he's got that beard on."

Find out more at http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/

The Ernest Hemingway Lookalike Contest

Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West, Florida, hosts the annual Ernest Hemingway Look-Alike contest. It’s a ruthlessly competitive beard-off, with hundreds of guys emulating the Nobel-winning author’s famous fisherman stylings. This year the trophy was taken by biomedical engineer Matt Gineo on his 12th attempt. 

As Gineo told reporters on his win, “This was something that I had in my heart to do, but I didn't know how many years it would take.” 

Part of the celebrations include a mock-running of the bulls and a short story competition, but it’s the white-bearded, cable-sweater-wearing tributes that always capture the imagination. 

Find out more at http://www.sloppyjoes.com/lookalikes.htm

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/29/the-worlds-greatest-beard-contests.html

In the 1980s, the outlook for beards was decidedly dark. Designer stubble and the luxury mustache of luminaries like Tom ‘Magnum’ Selleck, signaled a move away from full-face growth. A move that was almost universal in popular culture – except for one awesome exception. We’re talking 'bout BA Baracas, fool. 

The ex-bouncer and bodyguard to Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier was rocking a look that cried aloud: “POWER.” Gifted to the world via his role as Clubber Lang in Rocky III, and subsequently as BA Baracas in the A-Team, Mr T’s signature chains, Chicago attitude and feathered earring was only the icing. The cake was plastered all over his face already. 

Full beards like BA’s are hard to master. Mr T excelled because he owned his outright, and it showed. His Mandinka warrior haircut (often mistaken for a Mohawk, but rarely mistaken twice) meant the beard simply ended above the ears, leaving a sideburn standing proud, reaching for the sky. It was about attitude and toughness. But that’s just half the story. 

As T himself explained, “For the women and children, T stands for ‘tender’. For the bad guys, it stands for ‘tough’. So, I’m tough and tender. I’m tender when I need to be. I’m tough when I should be.” 

Despite the aggressive, full-on impact of his beard, BA was still a God to kids and helpless women, who saw through the act. It’s a role that T has still mastered to this day, as protector of the innocent and guardian of the misguided. His head is your proof. Sometimes smooth. Sometimes rough. Always cool. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/29/mr-t-get-a-beard-fool.html

Have you ever tried to grow a full goatee and learned the hard way that the hair on the sides of your mouth couldn’t connect? Or tried for a full beard, but found you couldn’t seem to get the hair on your cheeks to grow in enough?

If this is the case, don’t worry – you’re not alone. And besides, worrying about what you don’t have will get you nowhere, and it certainly won’t spark a magical growth spurt of hair on your face. So relax, and trust me when I say that if you focus on what facial hair you do have versus what is missing, you’ll be in much better shape!

For clients who have limited or missing facial hair in these areas, I always suggest the Van Dyke beard variation. The Van Dyke is perfect for these men because the mustache and the beard don’t connect, not to mention it is a very popular style right now. 

And here’s even better news. Because the mustache and chin hair tends to grow in thicker and fuller, shaping these areas will deliver a stronger looking style that will stand out and help define the face. The same applies for the beard that just can’t fill in. Whether your facial hair is sparse on the cheeks, the chin, the upper lip or even the neck, there are plenty of styling options to consider. 

The bottom line is that if you focus on how your hair specifically grows, then you can open your mind to ideas that best suit you, not simply trying to emulate someone else’s look. Because, at the end of the day it’s your style – and no two beards are alike!

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/09/29/make-your-beard-style-stand-out-naturally.html

Nothing says ‘adventure’ like a big-ass beard. It goes hand in hand – or chin in chin, perhaps – with the frontier spirit, pioneering wanderings and extreme temperature. When a guy is sporting the full grizzly, you know he’s got a story to tell. But it’s more than just advertising for the soul. Why do explorers really need them?

'It's impossible to overstate the value of a beard when on expedition,” says adventurer and aid worker Ricky Munday, who leaves this October to climb Indonesia’s Carstensz Pyramid (www.aus3peaks.com). 

“During an expedition in 2006, my team-mate and I were snowed in for two weeks. Comparing beards for length and coverage became almost more important than our climbing objectives!”

Beards keep a man sane when brought to extremes, clearly. But there’s science as well as sense behind it. In the cold, or at altitude, a beard keeps you warm. In hot conditions, it acts as a water reservoir that absorbs excess sweat. And, as Ricky points out, growing a beard gets even more useful. 

“It’s easy to nick yourself shaving. In a tropical environment, any laceration can get infected quickly and become a serious issue. The second reason is convenience: on expedition, my routine is eating, hydrating and packing kit. 

“Shaving would use up time and energy, which you can’t afford to squander at altitude. Conserving energy like this is what makes the difference between success and failure when you’re pushing yourself to the limit.”

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/18/the-beard-ultimate-survival-tool.html

Not only will you get a bang trim, you’ll learn more about this vibrant city and it’s people than you will from any tour guide.

From an authentic old-world experience downtown to a cut in the heart of Castro, we reveal the city’s top three barbershops.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/15/blades-of-glory-san-francisco.html

As temperatures dip this fall, get ready to sprout whiskers. As equal parts protection against the elements and a style statement, facial hair proves indispensible this season.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/09/09/three-key-fall-styles.html

It isn’t hard to see how the hipster culture has infiltrated the mainstream fashion in New York, especially when it comes to the way men are grooming themselves and their facial hair.

Looking reminiscent of Victorian gentleman or New England lumberjacks, men on the streets from Soho to Williamsburg are wearing full beards, moustaches and chiseled goatees, and turning their backs on the previous trend that was metrosexual conformity.

Old-world shapes and styles revive a sense of masculinity that is refined and sophisticated while being commanding and distinctive, much like the images of lost explorers from the 1800’s. Are these men also out to explore a new frontier of masculine values through the urban jungle of a modern digital age?

Fully-fledged mainstream fashion labels like Ben Sherman, H&M and French Connection are using full bearded models in their latest campaigns that depict an image of manhood and masculinity that is rough and manly, yet relaxed and worn in.

The days of magazine pages covered with youthful, clear skinned boy scouts who could shave with a towel seem to be numbered, giving way to a more mature image of a man who is both stylish and self assured in ways that that we have not seen for some time.

On the fashion runways, designers have moved towards men with different facial hair variations – everything from unkempt stubble to neatly trimmed moustache to fully grown beards that fit perfectly with the upcoming collections that are layered with texture and depth. 

Beards have done a 360-degree cycle, having once been relegated to history as part of the 70’s post-hippy culture (think Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, John Lennon) that gave way to the buffed, smooth ‘Adonis-like’ icons of the 80’s. Rarely has it been truly acceptable to wear a beard in a corporate surrounding, indicating a move towards freedom of expression, artistic inclination and a backlash against ultra-conservative values and economic woes.

Gay or straight alike, men are reclaiming a masculinity that was diluted by the merging of the sexes through the ‘Unisex’ 90’s and the ‘Metro’ millennium to redefine an identity that is based on a belief rather than a trend.

Beards are distinctly masculine, primal and sexy, and men are discovering that they bring a whole new dimension to their looks as well. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/09/09/metrosexual-is-dead-bring-on-the-beards.html

You like the way it looks. For most men, that’s all you need to know. But everything about your appearance is sending out secret messages, and beards of every description are part of that coded message. 

Grooming your facial hair into a controlled, stubbly look says a lot about who you are. In fact, it’s been found that light stubble is the most desirable look to women.

Psychologist Dr Nick Neave asked a large group of young women to rate different types of facial hair for masculinity, aggression, dominance, attractiveness, age and social maturity. The results showed stubble to be the ideal look for finding a partner.

While full beards were connected with dominance, maturity and aggression, clean-shaven men were associated with sexual immaturity. The stubbly look came right in the middle – not too dominant, but still mature enough to be masculine. 

"In desirability for a short-term relationship, a female preference for male faces with stubble or light beard was found, with clean-shaven and fully bearded faces being the least preferred,” says Neave. 

“It seems women are not selecting faces displaying relatively high or low masculinity, but prefer males who are clearly mature - but not too masculinised. 

“The same pattern was found for preferences for a long-term relationship."

For men who feel their faces are too young looking, or want to accent their jawline to underline manliness, then stubble is the way to go. 

A light beard would work just as well, especially if it’s well groomed to emphasize a lightness of personality. 

So, leave the grizzly look to the bears – unless you’re hoping to stay single for a while.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/08/psychology-of-styling-01-stubble.html

It’s been said before that the age of the beard has arrived. You can measure it by how guys look in magazines. Or how they look in the barbers. But the best way is to check out the world’s most beautiful women first – and see what their guys are doing. They’re working the baddest beards because they know it’s what their women want: find out how it works right now.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/08/5-beards-that-hook-hotties.html

California’s most vibrant city has a long record of non-conformity. 

It’s a record that’s most true in the Mission district, where bearded hipsters vastly outnumber the clean-shaven.

The Mission is a mash up of old Mexico and modern America. Beautiful murals preach peace and harmony in a neighbourhood with a history of gang wars. 

We prowled the taquerias, fixed-wheel bike shops, ice creameries and co-op bakeries to shoot some of the local hirsute heroes, where the full beard reigns supreme.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/08/mission-statements.html

Your style is about more than just personal preference. Ask any man who’s lived, and he’ll tell you the importance of matching your look to the job in hand. It counts even when you’re going to college – whether you’re a freshman or not. We’ve uncovered the five styles that match the five big subjects, and found out how you can get the look yourself.

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/08/hot-college-styles.html

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/09/01/stuff-we-love.html

I have pretty much always worn a beard for as long as I’ve been able to grow one. I remember as a boy watching my father shaving in the mirror. He used to use an electric razor and I never saw him wet shave. My father was already middle aged by this time and I remember him telling me how he had to shave twice a day. I thought this was fascinating and really strange, but my father obviously didn’t like the 5 o’clock shadow, so he would shave once in the morning and again in the evening. 

I don’t remember exactly when I began to shave, but I have a very strong full beard growth, one that I could easily shave twice a day.

Luckily I was a teenager of the 80’s and the George Michael stubble was the height of fashion (along with some blond streaks in the hair to complete the look) so shaving cleanly has never really been my thing. I have always kept stubble at various lengths but never really successfully grown a full beard because of the incredible thickness and density of  the growth. It simply gets too think and bushy. Instead, I have always trimmed and groomed my stubble into different shapes and styles. 

Recently I decided to shave cleanly as a bit of an experiment, or rather, after turning 40 I was looking for a younger edge to my look. The question is: does a beard make a man look older? Well in my case I don’t think it makes me look older so much as it adds shape to my face and makes me look less ‘naked’. It’s not that I feel younger or look more adolescent without my beard, but rather too groomed and fussy. Mostly I miss the contouring effect the shadow creates on my cheeks and jawline. The stubble still requires upkeep and a very precise trimming pattern. Therefore, until I had a Braun, I always carried two trimmers. One smaller to cut closest to the skin on my neck, up to my jawline keeping enough to create a light shadow effect under my chin, then a larger clipper with wider blades to remove the bulk and thin it down on my cheeks, chin and mustache.

Now the challenge is on. I am going to attempt to grow a full beard and write about my experience. Maybe it will help some of you out there who have always wanted to grow one too? Maybe you want to join me so that we can share our experiences?

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/experts-corner/article/date/2011/08/22/the-beard-challenge.html

From Mayfair in the west to Shoreditch in the east, London is buzzing with nightlife and oozing with style. 

The cool Londoner’s secret to looking good is the art of the perfect shave and trim. No matter how short your stay in the UK capital, it’s always worth making time for their world-class barbershops. 

http://www.shaveyourstyle.com/news-stories/article/date/2011/08/22/blades-of-glory-london.html