Propwash wrote:When I was in my 20’s and posted to drive Q cars for 12 weeks at a stretch, I used to forego shaving on each tour. I thought it gave me a certain buccaneer look after a few days because my beard grows very fast and I just trimmed it. I was always glad to get rid of it when I went back to uniform duties. After I retired, and 3 decades or more after my last growth, a friend invited me for a sailing holiday on his pride and joy. Water was at a premium so I gave up shaving again. I was horrified by the result. Gone was the Dan Tempest buccaneer and Worzel Gummage had replaced him in the mirror. Never again.
PW
I first grew a beard when serving in GMP in the 80's, our boss was the one and only James Anderton who was known for sporting a full set. To me that was an invitation, if the boss can have one so can I. There was some initial resistance from the ranks immediately senior to me, but that was soon put to bed. I've been bearded ever since.
I still shave most days to keep the edges neat and to keep it comfortable, it is the stubble that itches not the full growth. As the years have gone by and I've become somewhat less interested in any 'style' for my hair I've moved onto clippering myself down to a No4 on a regular basis. It's now a very easy low maintenance job to maintain a neat appearance.
I was horrified a couple of years when I did visit a barber (part of daughter's wedding preparations) and the young Turkish guy cutting my hair told me my beard was trendy ... because I kept it very neat .... that's the nearest I've ever come to shaving it off
Interestingly Mrs A will not entertain the idea of me shaving it off.