Mind answering some beard related questions for an ethnography study?

How old are you? 25 When did you start growing your beard? I started growing this beard in the summer of 2014. I was 25 What inspired you to start growing your beard? As a powerlifter, Brandon Lilly did How many times have you fully grown out your beard? Just that one time

Why did you cut or shave your beard? I had to get rid of it for a job in Law Enforcement.

What does your beard look like? Is it straight, curly, thin, thick? My beard was thick and curly

What does your beard feel like? Is it soft, coarse? Coarse in the beginning soft after 2months. What is the color of your beard? Dark Brown Has the color of your beard changed over time? yes went from light brown/ redish to dark brown. Is your beard the same color as your hair? It was at the end How do you maintain, trim, or shave your beard? Just shaved the sides to keep the lenght of curls in check. Do you wash your beard? If so, with what? I wash it with water Do you style your beard? If so, with what? Not really, just trimmed the sides ( around the sideburns). Besides your beard, did any other of your physical features appear different? Nothing when I had the beard but when I shaved oh boy I forgot what my face looked like. I was convinced my chin had become smaller. Do your friends or family members have beards? Lots of people I know have beards but few have nice thick ones. What kind of feedback do you receive from family, friends or significant other about your beard? Everybody under 50 loved it, the rest hated it: " you look like a hobo and terrorist, shave it"

Do members of the opposite sex treat you differently with a beard? Do members of the same sex treat you differently with a beard? All around was about the same, just a lot more comments on my face.

Do you treat someone with a beard differently? No not really

Do you feel a connection with other people who have beards? No, but I will nod to a guy with a solid thick beard.

Do you feel the need to compete with fellow bearded men? No

Did you discover anything new about yourself when you grew out a beard? I did, I discovered that I could grow a full thick beard.

Are there any downsides to having a beard? None

Are there any advantages of having a beard? Lots. No more shaving being the most obvious.

/r/beards Thread