hazard an opinion that women these days are
leaning heavily towards the bearded kind. Cont-
rary to the tired belief that a beard is a sign of
unk emptness and lack of hygiene, women have
been led to believe, under the veritable blitz of
clean-cut, bearded fellows straddling Boll ywood,
adv ertising, fashion and sport, that keeping and
nurturing a beard is a process requiring pat ience
and attention. They also recognise the self-
awareness and confidence behind it all. Says
Pande, “The bearded look is a fresh take on men’s
appearance. Since a beard is a natural accessory
for a man, it adds a lot of character to his appear-
ance. A man who takes care of himself can never
go wrong in matters of the opposite sex.”
A well-groomed beard needs to be lavished with
attention--apart from applying available beardgrooming products like beard oils, beard balms
and shampoos, one should never neglect the
ess ential role of a good beard comb. The secret to
a well-groomed beard, say those in the know, is
timely trimming and styling. Good diet—reputed
to consist of almonds and eggs--is important too,
as is a hydrated body. Unlike scalp hair, beards
take some more time to build their natural oils,
so it is necessary to just let them be and let them
grow out naturally, say experts.J
AGAN Mathew, a sports photographer from
Coimbatore who sports a combination of a
Garibaldi and a V-shape says, “Beards can
never go out of style. My beard sets me apart
in a crowd and has become my identity.” The
Garibaldi look being slightly unkempt, only
those with thick facial growth can grow it. The
trick, say experts, is to grow your hair for a few
months and then trim it.
Experts also urge men to keep in mind their
personality and facial structure, especially the
jaw line, before plumping for a style. Describing
his beard art, Rohan Shrivastava, a student from
Bhopal, says, “It is a combination of a ‘mutton
chop’ and ‘neckbeard’ and I have also added edgy
cut to it to make this a unique style. I call it the
‘golf stick beard’.”
Wine Sommelier Ravi Punia has an eye on the
beard’s illustrious history: “If you read history
you will realise that in late 19th and early 20th
century it was considered aristocratic to keep a
heavy beard and moustaches.” Talking about his
style, Punia mentions that his facial hair is a
complete look—handlebar moustaches and a
V-shaped beard makes his face look long and
gives him a distinctive look.
The beard, in its manifold varieties, seem to
rival women’s coiffure for influence and atten-
tion. Will its resurgence see such a spurt that it
ultimately threatens the shaving industry?
Going by the beard’s consummate hold over
stylish Indian youth, do not bet against it! OWith men in
beards
abounding in
Bollywood,
fashion and
sport, it is
recognised
that the look
requires care
and projects
confidence.THE LOOK
Clockwise from left,
Ravi Punia’s
composite look,
various beards at
barber
Nizamuddin’s,
Rohan Shrivastava’s
‘golf stick beard’54 OUTLOOK 8 July 2019
TRIBHUVAN TIWARIIN HIS HAIRS