Dear Department of Deportment,
My boyfriend is 25 years old and has grown himself a beard and, well… I really hate it. The problem is that he’s really proud of his flourishing follicles, and insists on telling everyone within earshot about every little detail of his beard as though it’s his first-born child.
How can I convince him that being fashion-forward is not the ‘way forward’ for our relationship?
Many thanks,
Miss Gillette
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Dear Miss G,
Not a fan of the beard, huh? That must make leaving your house in 2014 somewhat difficult. I could have sworn I saw a dog tied to a post outside Lonsdale Street Roasters the other day that was sporting a well-groomed goatee.
We really need to know what you don’t like about your man’s manliness? Is it a bit sparse, therefore not pulling off the real beard look, or is it the fact you’re not keen on a daily exfoliation as a result of his amorous advances?
Too Thin on the Chin?
If he can’t quite pull the beard off then you’re acting in everyone’s best interests. There’s simply nothing worse than an attempted beard that looks as sparse as Garema Place on Christmas Day. Perhaps he simply needs to wait a few years until he becomes truly hirsute – it happens to most men in their 20s at some time or another. Until then, perhaps gently point that the beard simply looks old, and that you miss his boyish charms that are now hidden under his hair. Tread carefully, though!
Itchy & Scratchy
If the issue is the harshness of the beard, then help is at hand. To keep even the wiriest beards soft and kissable, there is all manner of products available to keep him primed for your skin. We asked Craig, the resident barber at QT Hotel for his advice on getting your man’s beard soft and fresh.
1. Use the cleanser to clean the beard and skin beneath. I love the Uspa supernatural for men – with sandalwood and grapefruit extract which provides the fatty acids protection the skin needs.
2. Oils are a good way to soften the beard and remove the dry/fizziness of the beard. A neutral cooking oil (like grapeseed) will do the job – but use very sparingly!
3. A scissor-trimmed beard feels softer than a clipper cut on a beard. Plus, he’s always going to look much sharper!
4. Hair conditioner would also soften the hair. You could even try a leave-in conditioner and blow-dry it in! It’s easy that way!
There you go, Miss Gillette. hopefully we’ve help you out.
If you’ve got a question about style, dating or general life skills, send an email to The Department of Deportment via [email protected].
