The Road To Beardtober 2010: The Wrap-Up

It's finally here! Beardtober has begun! And just in time for some lovely fall weather, too! But now begins the long, arduous quest through No-Shave November, Beard-mas, and of course, Manuary. So here's the final photos... (click for full size)

September 27

September 28

September 29

September 30

October 1

And, for good measure, here's the photo of me from way back on September 1st, when I started this journey:

And now, your final tips.

• Now would be the time to shape your beard, if you intend to do so. First, study your beard to determine when the natural lines are. For the standard beard, you'll want to shave your upper cheeks of those stray fuzzies, and take care of the wings under your ears, by bringing them in line with your sideburns. You may also wish to shave around your neck; in that case, you'll want to bring it up about an inch, or about the same distance as your aforementioned ear wings.
• If you're nervous about messing up your beard shape, procure an eyebrow pencil and trace the preferred shape in and around your beard before cutting.
• Maintaining your beard is SO much easier with an electric trimmer. Get one.
• If your mustache is starting to grow into your mouth, pick up a travel grooming kit from your local drugstore. This should contain (among other things) a small pair of scissors and a comb. Comb the mustache straight down towards your lips, and trim the ends from the corners of your mouth to the center. Use the top of your upper lip as a guide for length, and keep combing as you trim. You'd be surprised how easily stray long hairs can hide.

Until next fall, fellow beard fans.
- Josh