size matters
When it comes to record holders, what man has the longest beard in the world? The title belongs to Shamsher Singh of Punjab, India.
Back in 1997 his beard was officially measured from chin to tip and it came in at an astonishing 1.83 m (6 ft) To put this in perspective, the average male adult in the United States is 5 ft 10 in.
But the true title for the world’s longest, although no longer alive, belongs to Hans Langseth. His Norwegian beard was stretched to 5.33 m (17 ft 6 in) in 1927. The legendary beard made its way to Washington, DC to be stored at the Smithsonian Institution in 1967.
history lesson
Home of the Free
It's been more than a century since a US President donned facial hair. On March 4, 1913, William Howard Taft and his monstrous 'stache were replaced by the clean-shaven Woodrow Wilson in the nation’s highest office.
Make Stache, Not War
In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt was the first American to win a Nobel Peace Prize, proving mustaches are downright presidential!
Presidential Beards
Abraham Lincoln became the first U.S. president to sport a beard in 1860. Yet this historical moment wouldn’t occur until a 11-year old girl named Grace Bedel first wrote to Lincoln. In her message she wrote, “You would look a great deal better, for your face is so thin.” And so he grew and grew. People certainly took notice, as did the tabloids.. Shortly after the Illustrated News of NY touted claims Lincoln had used Bellingham’s Stimulating Paste. Only it would later prove to be untrue as Bellinghams was merely an advertiser of the newspaper.
Don't tell the I.R.S.
Beards were once taxed, it’s true. Peter the Great encouraged cleanshaveness and for those who didn’t comply, he taxed them 100 rubles a year for a medallion. This medallion served as a license to wear a beard. Although the principal at hand wasn’t about merely money.. His inscription on the beard license read, “The beard is a useless burden.”
Damn C.I.A.The government is always up to something.. Back in the early 60’s the CIA came up with a plan to put thallium salts into Fidel Castro’s shoes. Thallium salts are what women use as a depilatory in case you aren’t’ familiar with them. By using them, the goal was to ruin Castro’s public image by making his beard fall out. Of course, the plot failed to take action and his shoes nor beard were ever tampered with.
tips for growing a fantastic beard
make a commitment
Growing a beard requires a commitment. The experience can even be a test of character as well as a surprising process of self-discovery. Do you have what it takes?
stop shaving and start growing
When starting to let your beard grow, just stop shaving — completely. Do not shave at all for at least the first four weeks of growth. One of the most common errors is to attempt to start shaping or sculpting the beard too early in the process. Even if you are just planning to grow a “Van Dyke” or goatee, you should let everything grow for the first four weeks. WHY let your beard grow for four weeks before you start to shape it — even if you are just growing a goatee? If you don’t wait, you might cut off more than you really wanted. Also, you might not have thought about going for the striking effect of an oversized goatee. You can always trim it down to a smaller size later.
tame that mane
After four weeks, you can start shaping the beard. Usually, you’ll want to define a “neck line” along the bottom of your beard around the neck. This is probably best done by a professional barber or stylist. The hard part may be finding one who has a lot of experience in beard styling. If you are located anywhere in Rhode Island, I recommend the best, @Mike_MuyBarbeiro at Details Barber Shop. He is second to none. Check them out here.DETAILS BARBERSHOP
treat your beard right
Beard oil is an important beard grooming tool that every man serious about growing a healthy, handsome beard should use. Quality, healthy beard oils are typically composed of two key ingredients: carrier oils, such as Jojoba oil, argon oil, sweet almond oil, and essential oils. When combined with a carrier oil, essential oils provide great benefits and great scents. Many beard oils will include a few different essential oils to create unique scents and affect specific results. In addition to beard oils, there is a whole product line of beard care out there. From mild to wild, I use and trust the the products from Gibs Grooming. Great guys, great products. Check them out here.GIBS GROOMING