From Clubs to Catwalk, Beards keep Growing

by Bill Alley, Broadcast Host, Producer and Beard Advocate

Beard Advocacy is a bit sleuth and part watchman; instincts kick in whenever someone attempts to “trend bend” our whiskered nature by making up a story to fit an alternate agenda. Our agenda is always to Promote, Protect and Preserve the bearded nature of mankind. Beardsley products have been around since the early 1990s when trends in facial hair were absent in dialogue and scarce in society. Today, in nearly a quarter century, facial hair is a dominant mainstay in practically all circles of society.

Since 2005 men have been prone to attempt and keep their facial hair in growing numbers, and no matter how much certain people and groups protest, their narrative is in “shear” free-fall. Very recently a Pinterest pin emerged to once more convince that whiskers weren’t as popular anymore. Manufacturing industry statistics from ibisworld.com counters with a byline, Razor burn: Facial hair trends have weakened revenue growth1 and a 5 year trend showing sales were down—not dramatically, but notably. That led me to a Google search entitled pinterest beard trend and I got about 1,150,000 results

Trying beard & moustache clubs at Google, which would include actual and virtual clubs and members, products they sell, causes they care for, the numbers got very large about 14,800,000 results

First of the Clubs: He calls himself “Steve,” the creator of Beards.org. Since January 1996 he's been the first and longest lasting facial hair posting website that is “all about Beards.” Steve’s beard group site continues to be beard pure in its approach to the subject of facial hair and mission to give men understanding and knowledge to grow and maintain their whiskers. Warning: Site photos are habit forming!

Latest Trends: Modern Hairstyles (.net)2 had the new year off and running with Beard models still promoting full sets of whiskers and varying styles of hair and other adornments. Pinterest also promoted with added gusto the 'refined' bearded man at their dressed best: the finest suits draped over some of the most excellent facial hair growth and extension in photography. It took some time to capture the bearded man dressed to impress at the wedding altar, but then I was fully bearded going down the aisle on Valentine's Day 1993.

Beardsley and Company has been trending the co-existence of barbershops, whisker styling and maintenance in keeping with product development, all in discovering solutions for men who seek style choices that best suit their needs.

1. https://www.ibisworld.com/industry/shaving-razor-manufacturing.html  posted June 2016

2. http://modern-hairstyles.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Men%E2%80%99s-Beard-Styles-for-2017.jpg December 2016

Philosophy of the Beard

Socrates, who lived in Greece, was probably the most influential thinker of his age, and is widely considered to be one of the founders of Western philosophy. His teachings were designed to bring the student to discover truth by a process of  dialog and rigorous questioning with the teacher. After taking an unpopular political stand, Socrates bravely endured death by poisoning at the hand of the Athenian authorities in 399 BC.

How to Achieve Your Best Whiskered Look

by Bill Alley, Broadcast Host, Producer and Beard Advocate

This article appears from time to time in different forms under different titles because at some point some of us will make the mistake of “starting from scratch.” As one whose whiskers have enjoyed nearly 30 years of fullness and comfort to my face, it always seems a pity to see a guy get decent growth one day only to find the scraped face of the past emerge the next.

Some of those rash decisions come from not achieving satisfaction. It might be driven by impatience, over things like patches that don’t grow in so well. There's a solution for that. It could be the conflict a spouse, attraction, family or job foists at you because they are not comfortable with your appearance change, and conformity will restore harmony—but at a price—one you pay against your DNA.

The Beard Advocate in me can easily make the case for you that it is definitely possible, even needful, to go forward with your bearded plans and achieve the look you've desired to create:

• You owe it to yourself to discover your fullest male capacity and whiskered lineage
• You can ease into a step-by-step growth regimen maintaining shorter whiskers, then growing them over time to decide how much, deep, thick they should appearance
• You can encourage those around you to cheer you on—easily done if you are fundraising for a worthy charity by your beard growth
• Feeling better, more complete about yourself will make you happier, and will spread that joy to others that matter to you.

What you do in whisker maintenance can be the head-turning deal maker when your regimen attracts your facial hair to others. Grooming and using products that promote healthy and strong whiskers with a manly fragrance and relaxed, soft feel make beards very hard to resist!

Interview: Nasir Alnasir, Beard Model from the Middle East

by Bill Alley, Broadcast Host, Producer & Beard Advocate

BA: How the world has changed; Beard Modeling was only an idea 10 years ago. What kind of reactions and thoughts do you get from people when you tell them your profession?

NA: Oh Yes, wherever I go and travel, I see many guys wearing beards now. It was more for older men, but now all ages are doing it. People have never heard of Beard Modeling, they really get surprised when I tell them I am a beard model.

BA: As a Beard Model, do you find yourself on the cutting edge of modeling, or is there more development of the Beard Modeling concept that needs acceptance?

NA: Well, I have done a lot of commercials acting and modeling, but most of it was with a light beard or clean shaved. I consider myself new to Beard Modeling since this is my first year to have a thick beard and I am still learning about how to take care of a thick beard like mine and what to do before shooting, but I can see that many photographers and entertainment industry people like a thick beard. It makes me unique among all male models.

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BA: Bearding often comes easier when there are whiskered men in your family or if some bearded man inspires you. When did you know you were destined to be bearded?

NA: I think both my family and bearded men inspired me. Most men in my family have a light beard and that kinda helped me, and some of my friends have medium beard. I used to shave once every weekend. Actually I grew a beard by accident. I was really busy with some work for one month and did not shave it, and liked the look of it, and kept it.

BA: What kind of family lineage do you have when it comes to whiskered men?

NA: I have a very big family from both my mother and my father’s side. All older generations like my grandfathers have beard. Many of my cousins do have medium to light beard.

BA: As your profession also includes voice-over work, film and pursuits such as 'animal trainer', when were there situations where the beard was not accepted on projects and how did you deal with that restriction?

NA: Fortunately, I have never faced any problems in my work and was encouraged to keep it, but was asked only two times to shave it for photoshoots. I did an interview one time for an administrative position and was asked if I get accepted, would it be OK to trim my beard? They made me an offer, but I did not accept it.

BA: With your having dual American / Saudi citizenship, which culture is more supportive and how does that offer you more opportunity?

NA: I consider myself very lucky to have a dual citizenship. As an American I have lived in California and Ohio, traveling to all major states, and I love the American culture. As a Saudi I have lived most of my life in Saudi Arabia and I like how traditions are kept alive today.  It is hard to choose, because there was a lot of support from both countries in my education.

In the K.S.A. (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), we do not have taxes, so I can save more. In the U.S I have many doors to open a new business, because it is big and more diverse.

BA: You dedicated yourself to being represented by some big names in international modeling agencies. Has this strategy given you a direction as to where you want to grow as a Beard Model, and what projects are you currently working?

AN: I am still looking around, but I can see myself going more into the mature ads, beard cosmetics, trending toward a classical style.

BA: Beard Modeling is by its very nature advocating the advancement of Beards in society. What is it about the Bearded Community and Brotherhood that helps you grow in your profession?

NA: I have asked and read a lot about beards online and in person, gathering a lot of info. Without their help and support I would have never been as good of a beard model as I am today.

The Many Beards of Arabia and Persia

Third in a year-long series devoted to the ethnicity and culture of the Beard.

by Bill Alley, Broadcast Host, Producer and Beard Advocate

Whenever considering the Middle East, there are certainties—even with facial hair.  Rule One is a man living in this part of the world, or being from this region, more than likely has a deep religious lineage.  Whether Coptic Christian, Muslim or Jewish, or of any other faith persuasion, there are ancient realities about whiskers found in holy books like the Bible, Qu’ran, and other companion texts.

With our focus being Arabic in this part of our series, we will get to understand more about how faith plays a large role in facial hair, and it is not always consistent within the masses.

Islam contains conditions for how whiskers should be worn, kept and grown.  Some of that reality is based on teaching in the Qu’ran stating what is permissible.  As one main example, the prophet Muhammed made clarification in one specific set of personal hygiene duties: "Whoever does not remove any of his moustache is not one of us," and by further clarifying the dictate permitted a short whiskered above the lip effect. Yet, the Muslim world has plenty of evidence from history and today of whole nations (and their sects) wearing nothing but robust moustaches.  Generally speaking, the Beard is acceptable as a holy, manly adornment with the only restriction being such facial hair is to be kept neat and clean.

What is clear?  Each sect has determined specific edicts on hygiene, conduct, and appearance which establishes its region of influence, and upon reading everything from the Qu’ran to clerics writing on the specifics of the sects they represent, it is akin to the levels of difference and division found in many faiths.  It is why clean-shaven men have acceptance despite the strong encouragement from centuries of writing about the blessing a beard makes for confirming the adult male.

A few historic beards of mention include the regal facial hair which existed among the men of the Ottoman Empire Similar to other kings and nobles, rulers such as Sultan Selim III were admired for their manly whiskers, luxuries within their houses of rule, and skill in battle.  A fuller, grander beard can be found on Persian ruler Mihr Ali as the whiskers are very long and broad, lifting past the natural beard line well upward into the cheeks.

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It is in the spirit of this short treatise that a secular look be mentioned, specifically because one Egyptian writer of no particular faith origin adds some insight to the modern day dilemma of how sects and groups of Arab men determine both their need to be correctly perceived and aligned.

On a Biblical moment, we remember many are descendants of Ishmael, first born of Abraham and Sarah, also aligned with Esau (the 'ruddy hairy man' and brother of Jacob).  The DNA sides to the good for the men of Arabia having great beard pedigree.