To you guys on the forum who do not habitually shave or otherwise destroy their beards - this is your thread. Smoothskins can participate too, if they have anything to say on the matter.
1.) Are you a beardy or a smoothskin?
2.) Is your beardedness (or lack thereof) by choice or due to some medical or genetic restriction?
3.) Did you wear a beard before you were self-employed?
2.) Is your beardedness (or lack thereof) by choice or due to some medical or genetic restriction?
it’s genetic, my father had a beard also
3.) Did you wear a beard before you were self-employed?
i had phat sideburns and a goatee for 9 years but then my boss at my last job required his employees to be clean shaven, when i went self employed i grew the sideburns and goatee back and then 11 months later let the hair grown in between while still shaving my mustache (it’s a lincoln beard)
1 Beard.
2 I prefer a beard on myself. I don’t like shaving everyday, and they way mine grows, I’d need to shave everyday.
3 yes
4 No effect.
5 No
6 I keep my beard trimmed. No ZZ top look alike here. I also dye the grey. My grey does not blend throughout my beard, but rather concentrate in other area’s at this point. I don’t like that look.
I grew a beard a few years ago because I never had before . It hasn’t effected my business at all, I worried that it would. If anything I get more compliments then anything. Plus it’s my winter face wrap lol.
I’ve had a beard since I was 17. Tattoos too. I don’t think it’s ever hurt me. It’s also nice to have a beard here in northern MI. My old boss that taught me how to clean is the only person to ever really say anything about it. He’s also balding so that could be why. And no one could talk me into shaving. Not even the queen.
Always used to be clean shaven. Yea, whatever, life is short, try different things.
Two customers said “Oh, you grew a beard. Might as well, everyone is doing it.”
Sure, I’ll shave for a client, but she better marry me and be the love of my life.
A beard should look purposeful, just like the clothes you put on. Take the time to trim it so it doesn’t look scraggly, and shave a neat line where the hair ends.
Enhances. I certainly FEEL more confident as a bearded man, and I believe others are more likely to perceive me as mature and trustworthy. I do get frequent compliments.
5.) Would you ever shave your beard to appease a client or business associate?
Nope! I once dumped a girlfriend because she insisted that I shave. As a window cleaner I can’t imagine a scenario where killing my beard would be worth it.
6.) Please share anything else you think is relevant to the discussion. (pictures, random opinions, etc.)
It took forever before I could grow a decent beard. Combine that with the gray hair gene that runs in my family, by the time I grew one, it was even more gray than the hair on my head. Still, I liked having one and not having to shave. People I had known my whole life told me it looked terrible, and I just assumed they were jealous of my awesome new look. Then my little girl told me “you don’t look like Daddy”. Ouch - arrow through the heart, and the razor came out about 10 seconds later.
I have a pretty long beard, longer than my profile pic. I keep it groomed regardless of length though. I also make sure it is in as many advertisements as possible and that it is visible on my website, (plug… www.augustawindowsandgutters.com ) that way customers have an image of me before I meet them.
It hasn’t stopped any sales as of yet and when customers are hesitant it actually builds a closer connection ex…“I didn’t know what to expect from you with that big beard, but Im glad your my cleaner, and you’re so much different than the other service men I work with.”
You are selling yourself, IMO, never imitate insist on originality
I choose to shave daily. Mainly due to current career, but will continue to do so if self employed.
I think it shows a level of professionalism, dedication, and discipline. Window cleaning is a luxury service, with mostly elite clients with high AGI. Chances are they all shave daily as well, and I would want to relate to them on every level possible.
It sounds minor, but many minors combined creates something major.
This is well worded as how to present yourself. If you do or don’t have a beard, it shouldn’t matter as long as it looks purposeful and not just because you didn’t shave. Same with a polo shirt. No need to button all of the buttons, but at least one or two depending on shirt design. Make it look like you actually put some effort in it instead of just pulling it over your head as you walk out the door.
