A beard will not hide a queer or hipster
That simple
Blunt and to the point, FRiend. Thank you.
Twenty-something dudes with beards look like idiots, for the most part.
I read somebody opine somewhere that “you gotta earn that beard.” This appeals to me. Beards are symbols of maturity, male authority, and patriarchal wisdom.
Your grandpa probably looks distinguished with a full beard. Your collegian nephew probably looks like a soy boy.
I agree that facial hair should be kept neat, although this does not necessarily require the services of a barber.
My personal preferences are all over the map, mainly because I act in a lot of community theater shows and my facial hair comes and goes depending on the part.
I had a neatly trimmed moustache for the comedy I did in early November, then quickly grew a Hemingway-style beard for the Christmas pageant I finished last weekend. Next up, I will have to be clean-shaven to play a clergyman early next year.
My conclusion — anything works as long as it’s kept neat.
However, there is one style I don’t much care for — moustache and goatee. You don’t get much of a break from shaving, and the general look gives me the feeling that “this dude is trying too hard to look cool and impress the ladies.”
The paradox of masculine style is that you should never look like you’re trying too hard.