The Beard

   Contributor: Jordan Stancil

       Deep within the Old Testament, there is a portion of Scripture about David’s Mighty Men. They were the best warriors in the land and they fought for the honor of their King and Yahweh. My favorite verse describing them comes from 1 Chronicles 12:8. It says they were, “Mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were swift as gazelles upon the mountains.” These men not only were the best warriors in the land, but had the beards to back it up.

      One of the greatest perks of being a guy is the ability to grow a beard. Facial hair is a gift that not only benefits the one who possesses it, but all those around who get to see it. Honestly, it is hard not to admire a great beard.

       I imagine Jesus had the best beard the world has ever seen. In Luke, Jesus says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” This principle applies to every area of life. God has given people varying gifts, talents, and abilities and he asks us to leverage these things for His kingdom. Facial hair is no different. If you are a guy, at some point in your life you’ll have facial hair and you’ll have to learn how to manage it.

There are a few critical aspects of having facial hair.

     1.  Know your limits. Good facial hair doesn’t just happen over night. You’ll probably go through years of patches. Work with what you have.

     2.  Keep it groomed. If you are growing it out, please take care of it. It is hair and needs to be groomed. Shampoo and condition it. There is no need to make it look like you glued a carcass to your face.

     3.  It could define you. This is so true. Have you ever seen a man with a mustache. I’m not talking about the 24 hour mustache or a shark week mustache, but the mustache some guy has been sporting for as long as you remember. It has almost become as much his identify as his name. Just be careful with what you pick.

     4.  Humility. If you have a good beard, people will know it. There’s no need to talk about it. Facial hair is for gentlemen, not insecure boys. 

Styles

       There are dozens of styles of facial hair. Some look great and others not so much. Here are a few options to work with.

1.  The Beard. This is the most timeless facial hair a man can have. It’s the full montague. It has been displayed by Grizzly, James Harden, Duck Dynasty, and Dads that go on vacation.

2.  The Mustache. This might be the trickiest of all facial hair. It is simply a gift. Men respect it. Women don’t understand it. The mustache must be well maintained and cared for. Timing is crucial. If you try to grow a mustache before it is ready, you’ll just look silly. The best things in life are worth the wait. It will be. Mustaches have been flaunted by Walt Disney, the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line, and your dad during the nineties.

3.  The Goatee. Many people think they have a goatee, but they do not. A goatee is simply the facial hair on a man’s chin. It has been sported by goats, Abraham Lincoln, and medieval art of Satan.

4. The Van Dyck (or Van Dyke). This was made famous by Anthony Van Dyck, an artist and innovator of watercolor. The Van Dyke is simply the combination of a mustache and goatee. It has been worn by Tony Stark, Bob Mehlenbacher, and youth ministers across America.

5.  The Clean Cut. This is also an alternative. Clean cut is a classy look and might be your best shot at marriage. This is especially the case if you only have twelve hairs on your chin. Do what you have to do. After all, this was the look of Han Solo.

     

Whatever you decide to do with your facial hair, the most important thing to remember is hygiene and maintenance. I wish you the best of luck in all your facial hair endeavors.