In many of today’s modern and stylish men’s magazines, many of the models sport a now fashionable scruffy look on their faces with those 25 millimeter “shadow” beards. So do many big name athletes. In fact, this has been a male-specific facial hair style statement since the 1980s, when Miami Vice was the biggest and most popular television show and featured one of the main characters, Sonny, sporting a “designer beard.” “.
Then there are my male patients, of a certain age, who want to maintain a clean-shaven appearance and find they just can’t. By the time mid-afternoon rolls around, they’re pulling out their personal shaving kits from their desks and lockers for a quick shave to get rid of that 5 o’clock shadow.
I have to laugh a little when thinking about men and their facial hair problems, as the subject always reminds me of that old favorite song, Me and My Shadow. Whether you see it as a fashion statement or an annoyance, it always accompanies you wherever you go and you have to deal with it one way or another! Believe me, I know, I go through the same problems as you every day dealing with my shadow. That’s why I’d like to offer you some options for handling this particular male grooming dilemma, whether you want to grow it or lose it!
loving the shadow
For those of you who enjoy having that chubby, dark sandpaper shadow around the lower part of your face, here are some specific grooming tips that you may find helpful in growing out your shadow.
• Good facial hygiene: First of all, a clean face with healthy skin is the best backdrop for an eyeshadow to look its best. If acne, blackheads, and whiteheads plague the skin on your face, it would be best to work on getting rid of those problems first and restore your skin to better health. Excess facial hair can trap dirt, oils, debris against the skin and make these breakout conditions worse.
• Keep length: The trick to having an attractive shadow is to maintain the right length. This can be done using a trimmer with the guard removed. There are also specific beard trimmers available that have “stubborn beard guide” settings that calibrate different lengths so you can try out a few different styles to see which one looks best on you. Remember, you want to look elegant, not sloppy.
• Face/Head Shape: Let’s face it, not all of us look like Clint Eastwood or Andre Agassi, who can sport pretty decent shades on their familiar faces. Consider the proportions of your features, the size of your nose and eyes, whether your jaw is strong and angular or soft and receding, you have a lot of facial weight with round cheeks, or your face is slimmer with a sleeker, more elegant look. sculpted look? All of these issues can determine how good a shadow will look on you.
lose the shadow
For those of you who don’t want that 5 o’clock shadow reappearing on your jawline by mid-afternoon, you’ll likely need to shave at least twice a day to maintain a truly clean-shaven look. Some men, particularly after the age of 45, just don’t look good with a dark shadow around their face; it can literally make them look “dark” and tired.
In fact, political historians have said that Richard M. Nixon, our former president, lost the race to John F. Kennedy because of the deep, dark shadow of Nixon’s 5 o’clock that kept showing up on TV debates. In fact, later in the days of Watergate, Mr. Nixon’s dark facial shadow did little to build trust and credibility with the American public.
Men whose careers require them to deal with the public, in customer service roles, may have a hard time convincing management that they want to wear the latest style of shadow on their faces. In general, business clients and clients respond more positively to a clean-shaven man. The 5 o’clock shadow, whether deliberate or accidental, at any age can appear to others as a person who does not care much about his personal hygiene. In fact, it can serve to undermine trust in the man or the company he represents and put a damper on customer friendliness.
The best way to maintain a clean-shaven appearance is to:
• Use a good quality razor or electric shaver. Razors tend to give the closest shave, but good quality electric shavers can work quickly at your desk without water or shaving cream to keep your face looking smooth. Alternating between the two, razor in the morning and shaver in the evening seems to be the best combination for many.
• Protect yourself against beard rash: Aftershaves or shaving creams, soaps that contain alcohol or other drying ingredients can irritate skin and make it look red and bumpy, as can razors that are too dull. You can develop a case of folliculitis, where the hair follicles become inflamed and irritated causing itching and even infection. This condition may require treatment by a dermatologist. Keep razors clean and try not to share them.
• Shave up versus down: Some men shave in an upward motion, against the growth pattern of the beard, for a cleaner shave. Sprinkling it with cold water, witch hazel, or an astringent-type aftershave lotion will close your pores and make your skin look smoother. Also look for a good skin moisturizer that will also help heal cuts and abrasions.
• See a hairdresser: Sometimes you may want to visit a professional barber who can give your face a closer shave that can last up to 10 days!
There you have it, really simple common sense advice. It all depends on what your preference is, what kind of look you want, and what kind of image you want to project. Also, your partner may have a lot to say about whether or not you keep your shadow. Shadows can be dustpan-like, scratchy, and cause “beard burn” on someone who rubs against them. Experiment a bit with the look first, perhaps on vacation, to see if you and your shadow get along and if you’d like to have it with you all the time.
