bare-faced

[frandroid]

Because I had to be on a plane with a few hundred other people twice (and then also through immigration twice, which seemed even less safe), I finally bit the bullet and completely shaved my face, so that I can have a proper seal. I had already shaved down the thick bushy beard some time last summer, so I was just sporting a light layer, but I think it's been nearly 10 years since that happened! I was planning on letting the beard grow back when we got back, but with Omicron being so much more contagious, I decided to stay shaven until that waves passes through. Maybe I'll grow a small goatee? The goatee was my natural state before I went fully-bearded in 2015 I think.

Because a Certain Revolutionary Podcaster keeps flogging Harry's razors, and I had never really hand shaved in my life, I decided to take that plunge too... I'm so smoov now. My chin still feels exposed to the cold sometimes, even a month into it. I have 4 moles on my face, so I'm still learning to not bleed myself to death when I do it.

I had a video chat with one of my sisters. She took one look at my face and said "oh wow, you've got no <mother's family> in you!" Growing up, it was always said that I looked a lot more like my mother's family's type of face, but now I undeniably, specifically look like my (departed) father, minus the curly hair. My mother LOVES it. She's always complaining that my bearded passport pictures will get me in trouble at borders (!) My facial hair possibly being the thing she comments the most on when she sees me...

Comments

[sabotabby]

I'm trying to envision you clean shaven. I know I've seen it but in my head you're always bearded.

[frandroid]

I could not recognize myself the first times I was looking at myself in the mirror. It was so weird.

[zoefruitcake]

My mother-in-law prefers my husband clean shaven but I prefer him beardy so I win

[ironed_orchid]

It was so weird to see a photo of you without your beard, but it totally makes sense to do it for the reasons you outline and I hope being masked outside can help a little bit with the cold.

Beards can grow back, and if/when you decide to do that you'll have plently of opportunities to experiment with different beard and moustache styles ;-)

[thewayne]

I tried Harry's, I didn't like the handles. I want some mass to them, and I like a more square design. Easier for me to hold and orient. But I know what you mean about rarely having had fully shaved my beard.