“Two guys with full beards passing each other on a sidewalk don't even need words—there is a quiet, mutual nod of respect that says 'I know how much patience that took.'”
The Top Three Questions You Hear Every Week
When you have a landmark beard, you quickly realize strangers feel comfortable asking questions before they even say hello. Number one is always: 'How long have you been growing that?' Closely followed by: 'Is it hot in the summer?' and 'What do you put in it?'
Fair enough—people are curious. Most of the time, those quick questions in an elevator or coffee line turn into genuinely fun two-minute conversations with people you'd never otherwise talk to.
The Unspoken Sidewalk Nod
Just like motorcycle riders wave to each other on a two-lane road, there is an unmistakable nod that happens when two guys with well-kept full beards cross paths. Neither person has to say a word. It's just a quick head tilt that acknowledges the months of patience and maintenance involved.
Stepping Outside into a Crosswind
You can spend ten careful minutes getting the shape just right in the bathroom mirror, step out the front door, and immediately get hit by a twenty-mile-an-hour gust that parts your beard straight down the middle. All you can do is laugh, smooth it back down, and keep walking.