WHY do you shave?

Note: I'm mostly about to discuss shaving in regards to facial hair. Those of you, men or women, who wish to talk about leg shaving, chest, or whatever...feel free to add your thoughts.

I've been off work for a couple of weeks and I've let my beard grow. I absolutely LOVE it, and I absolutely HATE the fact that I must shave it now before going back to work. Now I've gotta go back to daily shaving, but those are the rules and I cant quit.

Here's a question: why do we men have facial hair? what is its purpose? anyone knows? most people I asked couldnt give me an answer. "That's just the way our body is" is something I've heard a lot.

Here's another question: is it really a manly act as it is often portrayed? I mean in the sense of "I remember the day my dad taught to me to shave. I've become a man" - that kind of manly image shaving possess. Basically once you reach 15 or so, it's a new thing in your life that you never did as a kid but what makes it more 'manly' is the image of father teaches son. Come to think about all this, I'd say that shaving is the OPPOSITE of a manly act since we actually lose one of our manly characteristics (ie beard/mustache) during that act. Having a beard seems more manly to me than shaving it. What do you think?

One more question (I'm on a roll): the act of shaving is often cosidered to be part of 'required personal hygiene'. I understand that it's part of social acceptance, appearance, image of tidiness. But is there anything unclean about it? if not, then why the term "clean shaven" exists? that term associates cleanness with shaving.

Finally, I'm curious to know WHY each and every one of you guys shave (if you dont mind answering). I shave because that's a rule where I work. I wouldn't have shaved otherwise...not daily anyway.

So why do you shave:

1) because of work?
2) because you like the 'clean shaven' look better?
3) because you think it's a necessary hygiene?
4) because of social acceptance, the need to be like everyone else?
5) all of the above?

End of quiz

Maybe it keeps a mans face warm in the Winter?

The Col is not allowed to have a beard with his work but he does have a moustache. Do you at least get to have a stash?

Wearing a full beard or even a goatee is almost as much work as shaving everyday. You got to keep it trimmed and shaped to maintain a professional appearance (if needed in your line of work - like mine). I will always wear a full beard or at least a goatee. Some men look goofy clean shaven (Me!).

I do 'cause it makes me feel better inside. There were times I didn't for weeks 'cause I was blue. There's an old country song by Lefty Frizzell called "I Never Go Around Mirrors." In the song he says "he can't stand a man who never shaves his face so i never go around mirrors because i have a heartache to hide." He was talking about how he hates seeing others that look like crap so that's why he don't wanna see the person he just became. I'm not that big on C&W, but It's a really cool song. The old singers like Frizzell, Nelson, Cash, Haggard and old Hank are great.

A beard won't keep your face warmer; in fact, it may even make it feel colder because your exhaled air may freeze on it.

Dear SC,
I was a cable splicer for 6 years, outside, up on poles, always exposed to the weather. I had a full beard and it kept my face warm and my lips weren't chapped. In the summer it did not make me hot either. When I was promoted to engineer I kept my beard, but trimmed it. My daughter was born and only knew me with a beard. When she was two or three I shaved the beard. She wouldn't talk to me and was mad at me.

If you look at a pictorial succession of Presidents, you see many with beards or mustaches. Could you see Obama with a beard?

I shave every other day. Mainly because its gray.

I thought a wiseguy ain't supposed to have facial hair?

I shave every day because my beard would grow in gray, and make me look older. I alraady feel older--no need to look older. Also, as Mark said, keeping a beard or a stash trimmed neatly and attractively is more work than being clean-shaven.

I get mad at the Col when he shaves his stash. I make him grow it back.

I find if i don't shave for a while, food and drink etc get all over it, especially the mustache...kinda gets pretty effed up.

1. There's hair there.
2. I don't want hair there.

I hate having to have to shave -- all those kids out there wishing/waiting for it, don't!

In any event, I shave often enough, but mostly when I have to - I can, since I work from home. But I still do, often, since it's sadly mostly grey. But at the same time, since it is light colored (plus I have fairly light hair texture to begin with), I can get away with every 2-3 days anyway.

I had a beard in the 90s and it wasn't any less work. I've almost always since had a goatee or soul patch, and that's no problem really. I'm an electric razor guy and thanks to Norelco I've been told I have the closest shave ever (when I bother )

Oh, the question is WHY... Well, cuz I look younger I guess. That's enough reason when you're, um, 29ish, righ?

I could not grow a beard no matter what so no worries there. I do shave mustache regularly and face about three times /week.

As far as why men have facial hair in the first place it's because women like it.

As why do men shave this facial hair?
It's because women like it.

I can't not shave for more than a day, or two at the most. It just makes me feel dirty. I'm not judging anyone else, that's just how it is for me. My facial hair grows in fast and thick (I only wish that were true of my head ), so unless I want a beard (which I don't), I have to shave every day to avoid looking like a bum.

Footnote: I've been using the Gilette Mach III for a few years now. It is by far the best razor I've ever used. My barber can't give me a closer shave with a straight razor.

My wife hates me with stubble cos it itches her when i am licking her neck

So i shave every day. However i am a bit of a werewolf and by early afternoon look like i need another scrape

Of course i hate shaving so on a rare full day off i don't bother shaving and just refrain from licking pieces of my wifes anatomy. Which is hard

I shave every day so I can look sharp, feel sharp and be sharp.

I shave regularly during the weekto maintain a clean appearance, but i seldom shave on weekends unless I have a formal engagement or something. I used to use an electric shaver, but prefer the results of a razor. The worst part of shaving for me is under my chin, which is sensitive.

I had a beard several years ago for a short time. Like Turnbull, my beard is flecked with gray. But my hair is still dark brown. Also from 1985-1992 I almost always had a moustache. I forgot why I shaved it, but have no plans of sporting one in the future.

I also agree with the premise that a good beard is more difficult to maintain than a clean shaven face.

I'll pick up on a few of your points FAME but I'd be here an age taking on all of them

Like JG I hate shaving. Absolutely detest it and I'm lucky I can get away with looking alright with a slightly unkempt look for 2/3 days. After that it looks scruffy. If I could safely wax my face I'd do it!

As well as you FAME I recently had time off work and sported a beard for a while. To be honest I could have kept mind as I'm not working in a customer facing role - and to be honest it looked neat and good (I think anyway). I did have fun in shaving it off though.

As for why do we (men) have facial hair? Without wanting to raise an evolution/creationist debate I think it's from the former. If your follow up question was 'why men and not women?' I haven't given it much thought but off the top of my head I can think of a few different species, Lions for example, that have much different hair patterns between genders.

<-----I keep a full beard so I can look like him! Too bad I never had his paycheck!

i don't really need to shave for work (most of the time) but do every couple of days. there's a few reasons:

• if i see clients i like to look clean shaven
• it hurts more when i have to shave after letting it grow for a week or so
• my wife hates stubble, i tend to like to keep her happy
• my beard is like a freaking rainbow, colour wise

Well I don't shave. I quit doing that about 18-19 years ago, I just hated shaving so one day I just quit cold turkey I keep it trimmed.

At first my family gave me a lot of hell for not shaving, but now since I've had it for so long. They all tell me don't shave it off they'd never recognize me.


When my favorite cousin got married she told me she wanted me to be clean shaven, and I told her then I wasn't going to be at her wedding. She gave in

I haven't shaven for two weeks, which may be the longest time since I started eighteen years ago when I was 15.

Quite a bit more gray than I was expecting, but it has stopped itching for the last few days. Aiming to have a proper beard and keep it until the Summer.

It seems to have stopped progressing much in the last few days.

Question to the guys that have grown beards.

Does it feel like beard growth stops and starts?

Little surprised at the slowdown, because I'm one of those guys who used to shave twice a day on the orders of the former lady in my life.

My god Wiseguy, a few of us have cropped out the woodwork and here you are too. It's really good to hear from you mate.

But...

Shave twice a day because of a lady? You've gone soft pal. We don't even know you anymore!

Turi,

My weakness for fit women is the one thing that has never changed.

My stepson came to me the other day and said he wants the both of us to stop shaving and grow our facial and head hair for a long period of time to see who's hair is longer. I wanted to laugh, but I just said okay knowing I'll look like a hippie gorilla and he'll have long peach fuzz on his face blowing like a wind sock in a hurricane during every slight breeze.

There's a tennis player who goes by the name of Andy Murray - he's no.3 or 4 in the world and sometimes he's got no beard at all and sometimes he'd let it grow for a week or 2, even during the biggest tournaments. Personally I don't think it's a pretty beard or even half pretty, but I admire him for doing what he feels like even tho he's got millions of people watching him play, and many will surely say that it's inappropriate.

The commentators will always say something about it. If he's doing well they'll say: "well, looks like that beard is helping, maybe that's why he keeps it" and if he's not doing well they'll say: "looks like he needs to shave that beard and pick up his game again". But they have to say something about it either way.

Taken from a postgame interview at Wimbledon just a few days ago, minutes after winning his quarter-final:

Q. You've kept the beard after saying you weren't superstitious on Monday. Do you think we'll see it on Friday?

ANDY MURRAY: I'm not thinking about it at all. It's not something that keeps me up at night, or when I wake up in the morning I'm not really that fussed about it.

Q. It was painful on Monday, though.

ANDY MURRAY: Painful?

Q. Yes. You said it got to that stage.

ANDY MURRAY: No, it gets to a length where it's sore to shave it for me. So it would be sore for me to shave it. That's why I sort of put it off a little bit.

Q. So we could see it Friday?

ANDY MURRAY: I don't know. Yeah, there's a chance that I might still have some facial hair on Friday, yeah (smiling).

---

Gotta love this guy

Personally I think Tennis players or any other athletes, or anyone you see perform, should choose for themselves if they want to shave or not. It should remain a matter of personal taste. If people say he looks like a monkey then that's for him to worry about. Dressing code at Wimbledon says you should wear white clothes, but thankfully there's nothing on shaving.

Your thoughts?

If i have to go to work i shave, if not i don't.....

I heard Mrs. Yogi has you shaving your pubes.

Very American of her .

And very itchy for me........

I can get away without shaving for 2-3 weeks still as i have fairly young skin for a 29 year old where as most guys would have a full on beard..

Interesting topic. I have a goatee and believe me it is a lot of work -- use a trimmer to keep it closely trimmed and then the razor to make it straight is time consuming. So why keep it?? I dont know my wife likes it an maybe if people focus on that they wont focus on other flaws LOL

I do remember I was on vacation for two weeks and came back to the office with a full beard (of clurse it was trimmed neatly. I am thinking '01 or '02. Our dress code was "professional" dark suit - white shirt typeof code and no one had any facial hair. SO I kind of did it as a joke. I was the number 3 guy there. My boss gave me a hard time about setting the example blah blah blah and I told him I dress better than he does so shove it. Told him I was planning to shave it off anyone - just wanted to see peoples expressions. So he kept giving me a hard time and the more crap he gave me - the longer I kept it.

Then finally my wife said enough. SO I started shaving the sides and she came in and said keep the goatee so I did and have ever since.

Now color -- that's another story LOL

Why in God's name does a woman shave?

Dandruff.