Hey guys. I decided to grow a beard for the first time in my life at age 47.

[Denninmi]

Last time I shaved was last Friday. Coming in very salt and pepper, but I knew that would happen. Matches the gray temples and the mostly gray chest hair.

Weird, huh? Just wanted to see what I would look like. Probably let it go another 4-5 days just to see, then adios.

I got over the worst of the 3-4 day itching, wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Of course, people in my life now think I'm nuts. I already ran out of the excuse that my razor was out of battery life, or broken. They're on to me now.

OK, yeah, just looked at myself in the men's room mirror. Looks pretty bad at this point. But I guess it deserves a little more time, they all go through an ugly duckling phase from what I understand.

[Hoosier]

1. let it roll

give it time --- did the same thing about 3 years ago -- my sideburns/cheeks never came in well, so took it down to the 'stache/goate
still got it, and won't go back

[ZenLefty]

2. Once you get a little length grown in, clippers help

Get all the whiskers down to the same length and it looks a little neater. Depending on the look you're going for, of course. The robinson crusoe look is never a good one, in my book.

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. I've pretty much always had a beard.

When I was young, it was pretty scraggly. Now it looks pretty good... because it has infilled by migrating from the top of my head.

[Warren DeMontague]

4. I shave about once every 3 days or so.

Had a very brief beard phase in my early 20s. That's about it.

Hippie, yes, beardo no.

[Denninmi]

5. I never shave on the weekends.

My skin needs the break from the irritation, whether it's electric or manual razor.

So it wasn't that hard to try this, I just didn't shave on Monday and let it go.

I have to admit, I look pretty scruffy now. At least it's full and even all over, not patchy/blotchy.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Eh, give it a chance.

I mean, the nice thing about a beard is, you can get rid of it in about 15 minutes if you really want to.

I haven't had short hair since the early 90s. Were I to decide to cut it tomorrow I have no idea what I would look like.

[Denninmi]

7. No offense, but that would drive me nuts.

My hair is always pretty short. Not military buzz cut short. But short. When it gets just long enough in the back to even think about touching my collar, it drives me crazy.

Yes, I'll give it some time. I'm in this thing a week, why not let it go and see? I need a change in my life, this is kind of a fun and different thing for me. Besides, who knows, maybe women will start throwing themselves at me? (OK, probably not, but I can dream).

[Warren DeMontague]

8. None taken.

Hey, to each his own.

[Broken_Hero]

9. Good luck, I've been thinking of shaving mine off....

I haven't shaved since Jan 1st of 2008, and been sporting the full beard. I'm getting kinda tired of it, been thinking of chopping it all off, but have held off so far.

[Denninmi]

10. Hey, guys, it's getting really itchy again. I thought I was past that.

How long might this last? If its more than a few days, razor beckons.

Maybe if I used some hydrocortisone cream on it?

I would still like to see this through a while, scruffy but I kind of like it.

[Broken_Hero]

11. mine lasted about a week, to ten days, nt

[Denninmi]

12. Well, I'm trying to ignore the itching. But I have another question -- what look once it grows in?

Definitely short to very short, I detest those long "Grizzly Adams" mountain man look ones.

But I'm not sure if I should just leave it the full natural pattern, or shave it into some other look? Don't know.

If it helps, I look an awful lot like David Hyde Pierce, the actor who was 'Niles' on Fraser. Blond but graying, kind of square jawed.

Hmmm????

[LeftofObama]

13. OK, you're probably going to laugh,

but after you wash your face, rewash the beard area with dandruff shampoo. I have a goatee and I'm used to it, but I tried to grow a full beard once and couldn't stand the itching. A friend told me to wash it with dandruff shampoo so I tried it and it stopped itching. Maybe it'll help and maybe it won't, but at least you'll be able to tolerate it while you're going for your new "look".

[Denninmi]

14. Hey, thanks, I was just about to go take a shower and change anyway.

I'll let you know if it works. I have a bottle of Selsun around here somewhere.

[Denninmi]

15. Hey, I do think that helped.

It still itches, but not as much as it did before the Selsun. I let it stay on for 2-3 minutes. Thanks for the tip!

[LeftofObama]

16. You're welcome.

After it fills in the way you want it, set your beard trimmer to the desired length (I use a 2 on my goatee because it looks neater) and after the first few trimmings you'll forget it's even there. Good luck!

[NRaleighLiberal]

17. So I met my wife in April 1979 - she said "you should try a beard" - was head over heels about her,

so I did. And here it is Sept 2012. We've been married since December 1980. I've not been without a beard since her initial request!

Yes, it is mostly grey/white, and yes, I keep it pretty closely trimmed...but I wouldn't know what to do without one!

[Denninmi]

18. Well, going on 32 years, it sounds like she's worth it.

And the not shaving thing is great, 5 minutes of my life I get back every day.