Image via Complex Original
Shaving a beard is one of the toughest decisions a man can make in his life. A beard is an identity—a way of life that, to some, is the ultimate sign of masculinity. Despite knowing that a beard will always come back, deciding to shave it off isn’t an easy decision. But know this, fellas: getting rid of the facial hair will improve the quality of your life and the lives of those around you. So grab a razor and rush to the nearest bathroom, as tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life. These are 10 Ways Shaving Your Beard Will Improve Your Life.
Catch the Wind
Whether your beard is short or long, groomed or wild, it stops that gentle breeze from getting to your face while you’re relaxing on the beach during the summer. And though it might seem minimal, the extra contact with the wind will make you wish you’d never had a beard at all.
Feel Like a Man Everyday-ish
Remember the days when you’d stand in the bathroom with your father and pretend to shave, despite being 10 years out from your first real whisker? You did that because shaving is a sign of being a man. The whole ritual—from the application of the gel to the sting of the aftershave—is something you’ll now get to take part in on a daily(ish) basis.
Save the Trees
You didn’t think of the environmental impact of shaving your beard, did you? When you have a beard, you tend to use a copious amount of napkins to mop up the cheese, milkshake, fries, noodles, or what have you, that get stuck in your flavor saver. Those types of things won’t be happening when you shave, thus saving the planet from paper product abuse.
Wear Plaid Again
Some guys with beards stopped wearing plaid a few years ago when the “Urban Lumberjack” archetype became a cliché ane joke of the general public. A beard by itself screams woodwork and is only augmented by the addition of a good red-and-black buffalo check. Now that your beard is gone, the plaid shirt can be worn without any repercussions or snarky remarks from the dudes in blazers sitting at the end of the bar. Wear it loud; wear it proud.
Female Injury
How many times has your girlfriend mentioned that your beard scratches her face when you’re “getting intimate?” This should have been reason enough for you to shave that beard years ago, but you stuck with it and kept the facial hair anyway. When your beard is gone, your girlfriend’s face will be happier and, more importantly, she’ll have one less thing to complain about.
“The Guy With the Beard”
How many times have you overheard this conversation?
Girl A: “Did you meet Johnny last night?”
Girl B: “Johnny, which one is he?”
Girl A: “You know, the guy with the beard…”
When you shave your beard, gone will be the days of having only one physical attribute or personality description. People will find new ways to describe you that speak to the person you truly are. So get to shaving and let’s try this again:
Girl A: “Did you meet Johnny last night?”
Girl B: “Johnny, which one is he?”
Girl A: “You know, the sweet handsome guy who volunteers at the elderly home each Sunday. He was wearing plaid.”
More Energy
It’s true that some guys grow a beard to look older. If you’re 20 and really want to get into the bar with your of-age friends, then growing out a beard for a few days might increase your chances of getting through the door so you can take that coveted shot with “the boys.” But when you get a little bit older, that sentiment begins to decrease and we tend to want to hold on to that youthful spirit. Shaving will make you look younger, which in turn will make you feel younger, which might just give you a bigger boost of energy throughout the day.
Five O’clock Shadow
One of the best parts about going through puberty is the addition of the five o’clock shadow. It’s a giant bolt of masculinity. The stubble comes in all shapes and sizes, and all lengths and variations, but every five o’clock shadow is a reason to celebrate. When you have a beard, you lose this sense of accomplishment, which can diminish anyone’s self confidence. So go home, shave off that beard, and wait a few hours for the stubble to come back.
Halloween
If you have a beard, then you know that Halloween is never easy. You want to be Waldo? Nope, he didn’t have a beard. You want to be a zombie? Well, you can do that, but getting all that makeup and fake blood out of your beard is a total pain. If your girlfriend insists on doing a couples’ thing, then your options are almost zilch. Shave your beard and you can spend the night dressed however you want. James Bond? Of course. Superman? Obviously. Don Draper? Yep, that’ll do.
Cleaner Floor and Sink
If you’re a bearded fellow, then you know about the hair in the bathroom from all the times you’ve used your clippers to trim your face. The stubble around the sink and on the floor isn’t easy to clean and it always becomes a point of contention if you have roommates. When you shave your beard, you can be confident in knowing that all the “He’s a good guy but he gets hair all over the bathroom” conversations will come to a giant halt. You’re now the good roommate—the perfect, clean, always-pays-your-rent-on-time guy down the hall.
