Me and My Beard
Klipsun writer, Mark Hartley, searches for meaning tangled within the growth and maintenance of beards
STORY BY MARK HARTLEY | PHOTOS BY NICK DANIELSON
(Above) A beard-grower holds tools of the trade for beard management.
ROBERT YORK
What is the birth story of your beard?
I moved to Bellingham from Sacramento, California a couple of years ago and wanted a
new look.
What are the struggles of having one?
Eating food and brushing your teeth is frustrating because I am always getting
things caught in my beard. Also the wind, it makes makes my beard look like it just
got off the pillow.
What are you closer to — your best friend or your beard?
I put more time into my beard and so I would have to say my beard.
If you treated people as well as you treated your beard would you have
more friends?
Yes.
What is the end goal with your beard? When have you made it?
I am growing out my beard until I graduate which should be next winter quarter.
ZACH GILLIS
What is the birth story of your beard?
I grew my beard because I can.
What are the struggles of having one?
My beard has a mind of it’s own and doesn’t listen very well. It’s always trying to
jump down my throat and brings unwanted flavor with food.
What are you closer to — your best friend or your beard?
Well my beard sleeps with me, always helps me stay frugal with food, and is the best
wingman. I really don’t think that I can find a better friend than my beard.
If you treated people as well as you treated your beard would you have
more friends?
Probably, I get impatient a lot less with my beard.
What is the end goal with your beard? When have you made it?
I thought about growing my beard out for Locks of Love to help people that are
follically-challenged (bald on the face).
KEVIN BAILEY
What is the birth story of your beard?
I don’t like shaving and I think I look better with a beard. There is a possibility that
my subconscious persuaded me to believe that I would be more confident with a
beard however that is not at the forefront of my mind.
What are the struggles of having one?
The food that’s the most delicious can be the messiest, like ribs.
What are you closer to — your best friend or your beard?
My beard is just a part of me and not something that deserves more attention
than any other body part.
If you treated people as well as you treated your beard would you have
more friends?
No, I don’t spend that much time on my beard.
What is the end goal with your beard?
Whenever I wake up one day and decide I no longer want it I’ll cut it.
CODY STACY
What is the birth story of your beard?
I had a girlfriend that liked the scruff, and three months later we broke up but I kept
the beard.
What are the struggles of having one?
Having a beard is much like being pregnant, the see they beard but they don’t see you.
What are you closer to — your best friend or your beard?
My best friend, but my best friend is more attached to my beard than me.
If you treated people as well as you treated your beard would you have
more friends?
Absolutely, I spend a lot of care and time with my beard. I sleep with it and it’s the first
thing on my mind when I wake up in the morning.
What is the end goal with your beard? When have you made it?
It’s never good enough, I always feel like it can be better. When someone says, “I just
have to tell you, your beard is epic,” that’s when you know you’ve been accepted by
the masses.
CHRIS BOE
What is the birth story of your beard?
My parents bought me a beard trimmer for Christmas, and in order for me to use it I
had to grow a beard.
What are the struggles of having one?
After I get out of the shower I have to scrub my beard violently to get it dry because
of how thick it is.
What are you closer to — your best friend or your beard?
My best friend. I see my beard as an accessory and my best friends as necessities.
If you treated people as well as you treated your beard would you have
more friends?
No, I would have less friends, since I have a love-hate relationship with my beard.
What is your end goal? When have you made it?
The end goal was to use the beard trimmer, and in order to do that I needed to grow
a beard worth shaving.