Army Considers Lifting Beard Ban

by Bill Alley, Broadcast Host, Producer and Beard Advocate

Does the name Naval Admiral Elmo Zumwalt ring a bell? If you were part of the Bearded Navy or other branches whose divisions allowed facial hair, you served during the mid-70s through the early 1980s. He was the point man for whiskering the Navy. It just so happens that was the same time Hasbro went pro-Beard on GI Joe's Adventure Heroes.

The Army Times reported earlier this month of progress being made to whisker up US Army personnel. They have had a minor dalliance with facial hair, and about the only members officially allowed to have a beard did so under religious observance. They were of the Sikh faith. For many years Army men have been petitioning high command to allow for more exemptions, or a complete turning over of policy.

In February, the discussion advanced to the stage where societal culture has gained respect for the Beard. With other things like tattoos finding relaxed regulations, plus the very successful Special Forces operations where full Bearded personnel mingle and infiltrate potential hotbeds, those who set regulatory policy have been weighing the issue in their quest to maintain readiness and the perception by the American public that Beards do not mar the appearance or the mission of this branch of the US Military.

The greatest concern regarding a Bearded military for almost all nations over many decades has concerned applying gas masks during chemical or biological warfare. The problem may have a solution in most cases as advancement in helmets and protective head gear accommodates for head and facial hair. According to the Army's researchers testing should yield the evidence they need for optimal protection for our bearded servicemen late this spring.

Meaning of the Beard

Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist who developed a treatment for mental illness known as psychoanalysis, was born in 1856. Through a study of dreams, he derived a theory of human consciousness that divided the mind into three parts which he called the id, the ego, and the super-ego. Freud fled Austria in 1938 to escape the Nazis and died in England the following year. His ideas have permeated contemporary Western thought..

Your Whiskers As Filters: Warding Off Allergies and Wee Beasties

by Bill Alley, Broadcast Host, Producer and Beard Advocate

What could be more beneficial than having your manliness adorned proudly on your face and get added health benefits, with proof existing in the 19th Century annals of British Medicine?

Let’s begin with the conditions best suited for bearded men to take full benefit of health, then we can get into specifics. In order for the positive effects of allergy reduction, pollutants and other irritants entering through the mouth and nose, the two reports being revealed admit that—although there has been skepticism for many decades—full bearded men do acquire optimum relief simply because a full and thicker moustache and longer beard filter out particles as one inhales and exhales. The less dense the whiskers in these areas, the less trapped particles there will be, thus lessening filtration. Also, cleaner whiskers are better able to handle foreign airborne matter than facial hair needing a wash.

Doctor Alun Whitey, British Historian, introduced an article entitled The Medical Case For Beards in the 19th Century which explored the experts of the day and their belief that a full set of whiskers had the ability to keep men healthier. There, as in the US, attitudes were moving quickly from the shorn face to Beards as awareness of the spread of germs found that Bearded men fared better at avoiding allergens and pollutants (early byproducts of an emerging industrial revolution which degraded air quality). It dovetailed with attitudes; prior to 1850 shaven faces were seen to have an openness and approachability; the latter half of the century Manliness—rugged determination, strength and virility—were embraced as higher male qualities. Adoption spread to that of higher thinkers, revolutionaries and men of considerable wealth, with the visage of Charles Dickens fitting well by his goatee.

Several years ago during the Movember fundraisers in 2014 a British medical concern entitled Yorktest Laboratories hitched the health benefit claim to help men understand both the implied benefit of whiskers and what their allergen testing could further disclose if one had annoying symptoms. Theirs was an outreach to newly whiskered men to keep growing and enjoying their beards.

Distributor Profile: Andreas Doppelmayr, barbershop.no of Oslo, Norway

From our continuing series on the Distributors and Shops where Beardsley products are found worldwide. Bill Alley is our moderator. Andreas Doppelmayr of Barbershop.no, is our expert and distributor of Beardsley and Company’s line of Beard Care products in Norway.

BA: Barbershop.no as seen on the Internet is a quality shop for the needs of male grooming; what were the first years of operating a barbershop like in Oslo?

AD: I started Barbershop.no in my student dorm primarily as a hobby. During the first years I learned a lot about e-commerce and focused on building up customer base and providing the best possible service. Word of mouth recommendations were crucial during that time, since I didn’t really have any money for marketing. The selection was very small at first, but I re-invested all the earnings into expanding with more products. After some years both the number of customers and products had increased quite a lot.

BA: When did you notice growing to the point of needing to change your business and expand?

AD: I hired my first employee about three years after starting Barbershop.no in 2006. However, since I was still studying it was difficult to expand more and the shop still felt a bit like a hobby. I had always wanted to start a physical shop where customers could try all the products, but doing it alone was a big challenge. In 2012 I began to plan a physical store in Oslo with two colleagues and we opened Dapper in April 2013. During the last few years we have expanded quite rapidly, and now operate three barber salons in Oslo. We also do wholesale for some of the best grooming brands and in total we are over 30 employees. It has all gone quite rapidly, but luckily I still have as much fun at work as in the early days in my dorm.

BA: Shops like yours developed a strong EU presence and wide selection.  How has the Internet impacted growing new services and customers?

AD: Since we started as an online store and it still is a big part of the revenue, the Internet has and is definitely important for us. Since Norway isn’t in the EU it has been a challenge for us to expand more into Europe, but we hope to reach more of this market in the coming years.

BA: What kind of unique services are offered at your shops?

AD: In our shop Dapper in Oslo we have a sink so that customers can try products and get good advice before purchasing. There we sell grooming products, clothing and bicycles. A quite special combination, but it has worked so far! We also have three barber salons, one inside Dapper, PelsPels and Schüszler. There we provide beard trims, shaves and haircuts by our roster of expert international barbers.

BA: With some of your clientele being bearded, moustached or goateed, how did you happen to form a distribution with Beardsley as a way to service these type of men?

AD: We noticed a big increase in the popularity of beards a few years back. I even saved my beard for well over a year in order to test as many products as possible on a proper beard. I think it’s very important to know the products you sell. When I tried Beardsley I knew that it was quality stuff and was very eager to introduce it to more men in Norway.

BA: What are your customers saying about Beardsley's fine product lineup of Shampoos, Conditioner, Beard Oil & Lotion?

AD: We definitely get excellent feedback in our shop and the products reviews online are also very positive. Although there are a ton of new beard brands that have emerged lately, Beardsley is still a staff and customer favorite!

BA: The 21st Century man significantly embraces an historic return to his hirsute appearance. Do you see more whiskered men seeking services and purchasing product, and is there a growth market?

AD: We have seen big growth for several years actually, and were perhaps thinking that demand would flatten out a bit after the “beard hype” was pronounced to be over. Luckily, we haven’t experienced any decrease and I think men have become a lot more comfortable with growing a beard. Rather than it being a trend, I think most men just like having a beard, no matter if it is trendy or not.

BA: Looking back to Scandinavian history and folklore, can you tell us what the Beard means to a man in terms of status, a fellowship of men or strength?

AC: You definitely get associations to the Vikings when you see a large full beard. Although the status associated to having a beard probably isn’t the same as during the Viking age, it is still a sign of masculinity. The fellowship aspect seems to be important and there are some great beard clubs in Norway such as Skjeggmenn who also have an annual beard contest in Oslo.

Audio Podcast:
Whiskers in the Halls of Justice

Our beard-wearing professional this month has a lot to do with the law, but to say Justice Ben Brady is that one-dimensional would be discrediting. He is much more than his profession on the bench. Serving the citizens of Caldwell County, Texas is quite an honor. But what does a Judge do without a Gavel? Career aside, Ben is talented, neighborly, and approachable. For someone of his stature having whiskers, this sets Brady apart from many others. Join us in this month's edition of Radio Beardsley.