what to do with this face?

[mellowtigger]

I got my 2nd Pfizer dose this morning, which means it's finally time to rid myself of this excessive "covid beard".  I knew this was a long haul event, so I promised myself at the beginning of lockdown that I wouldn't shave until I was finally vaccinated.  The last photo I have of me pre-covid is the thumbnail for this post, back in 2018 with my hair tied back at work.  In contrast, this photo is me now.  (As usual, click the photo to see the larger full image.)

Assuming my reaction to the vaccine this time would be like the first dose, I got home and started doing some gardening before the very sore bicep takes effect this afternoon.  So this is me today after about 2 hours of digging and hauling transplants around my yard.  Behind me in this photo are patches of 2 different raspberries, some fruit trees, some mullein and other native wildflowers, and a few bayberries (from which I hope to make at least 1 Christmas candle one of these years).

Now, what should I do with this facial hair?  I am NOT a fan of the very hairy upper lip.  It's in the way of eating and drinking, and I dislike it mightily.  It needs to go.  Does that mean just a very short buzz over my face once a month like I did pre-covid?  Or one of those things I call a Quaker beard, with the lip shaved and the rest of the beard short?  Or something else in between?

Meanwhile, one thing I learned during the covid lockdown is that my ear hair grows just as fast as my beard.  I'm not really a fan of that hair either.

I remember as a kid when my mother took me to the barber.  After he cut my head hair with scissors, he would take an electric shaver to the back of my neck and then finally around the curve of my ears.  I was in my 20s somewhere when I finally realized that other people aren't like that.  Oh, well.  Sometimes I referred to them as my werewolf ears or my hobbit ears.  I know, hobbits are known for hairy feet, not ears.  Maybe it's just some of my Neanderthal lineage expressing itself?

I think after seeing how they natively grow, though, that from now on I will call them my werelynx ears.  The hair on top slopes backwards to meet the other hair growing upwards.  They'd definitely form a lynx point if they weren't this fragile, so they could grow longer before breaking.

Anyway.  Time to shave some parts of my face... and all of my ears finally.  But in what pattern?  I can't decide.  I didn't get the fashion gay gene.

Comments

[bitterlawngnome]

If it doesn't matter to you, why not go for convenience? The once-over with the wahl is eminently convenient.

[mellowtigger]

There's a fair chance that I'll end up back there. Without other ideas, I may follow a suggestion from MeWe to just slowly carve it downwards to try out different styles. If nothing catches my fancy, then I'll eventually end up back at the monthly short trim. Definitely more convenient than doing nothing at all. I don't understand why walruses haven't gone extinct. Hair-in-front-of-mouth is a terrible design for a human body.

[bitterlawngnome]

That does make me wonder what walruses use it for though.

[mellowtigger]

I went searching. Apparently the whiskers help them probe the muddy ocean bottom for food.
https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2016/05/19/10-things-to-know-about-the-walrus/

The current popular theory of human facial hair being face armor for male-on-male combat is... depressing. At least it makes more sense than being purely ornamental.

[bitterlawngnome]

Silly people. Always making everything about war. Why shouldn't it be decorative? Colourful plumage.

[mllesatine]

You look like one of those hardcore climbers, the kind that conquer Everest.

[mellowtigger]

I can see that interpretation. :) I think it's the headband? I have to wear it when gardening, otherwise I just end up with long hair in my eyes and mouth and covered in dirt.

[mllesatine]

I also have to really fix my hair when I garden. Otherwise it's constantly bothering me when my ponytail swings around my head.

[pink_halen]

Personally I like your Covid Beard. But then I would wouldn't I!

[mellowtigger]

Since high school, there have really only been a few weeks when I've lacked any facial hair at all. I've never had a beard this long, though. Yours is surely another year or two of growth beyond what I've got now. Quite an achievement too. :)

[pink_halen]

The last time I was clean shaven was 1974.
The last time I trimmed by beard was 1989.
I have achieved terminal length.

[mtbc]

I don't know what to suggest but I'm curious to see the outcome!

[barak]

I have a $10 battery operated trimmer that I use to weed-whack those ear, nose, and mustache hairs. Its really helpful in keeping the mustache even and shorter.

Why not locate a local queer-friendly barber to help you shape your beard into what you want? I know there's a couple in town that The Bears talk about all the time. I imagine asking around will get you several suggestions. Have a good idea of what you want before hand, maybe with photos. A very competent barber should work with your needs and give you advice on how to maintain your beard.

I don't advise going into a chain like a Great Clips. Couple years ago, I needed a quick hair cut, I went into a nearby GC and while she was cutting my hair, I asked her to do a beard trim. She took the electric razor and cut the upper beard (from even with my nose/mustache) down to my jaw line, exposing most of the cheek.. I was pissed. "I said a trim, not shave it off!"

I'm still convinced she did it purposely because I refused to buy her $60 "special conditioner" to "treat hair thinning"...