Ben.

Name: Ben
(Beard) Age: 12 months.
Do you miss your chin? Yes. But I can’t shave, my girlfriend won’t let me. She’s never seen me without a beard and she likes it.  
Beard grooming routine: I don’t have any tips, but I would like some.

This wonderful gent was the first grower I’ve approached who’s told me I was a little bit creepy. Oh Ben, if only you knew the half of it. That aside, he was quite lovely and a little bit embarrassed to be having a camera shoved in his growth, when all he wanted was a nice sip of pre-mix G&T (golly, don’t bearded folk love their gin!).

Ben’s girlfriend seems to be the reliable sort too, she can see Ben for far more than his chin. Ben, may I bring to your attention Samson? Sure, he got a sweaty neck in the heat with all that hair hanging about and his shampoo bill was astronomical. But without it, he died an incredibly painful and slow death. Don’t shave! There’s strength in those follicles.

Jason II.

Name: Jason
(Beard) Age: 2 months.
Do you miss your chin? I don’t, but others do. I used to be a model and have spectacular chin and jawline.  
Beard grooming routine: I don’t groom. 

I’m pretty sure this guy made a very rude suggestion when I asked to take a picture of him. Thankfully, Alt-J’s soundcheck meant that I could pretend not to hear and ploughed ahead with the capture. Let’s just say, no tessellating.

Jason here not only appears to be  channelling Sean Lennon, but is also demonstrating dexterity with his beverage control. And that’s something so often overlooked about the facially-furred: they’re really good with their hands. Want to know why? They encounter so many daily high-fives from admiring onlookers that this crew develop super-human paw strength.

Just never, ever wrestle a bearded man.

Mads.

Name: Mads
(Beard) Age: The beard is a year old, but I’ve shortened it for the heat.
Do you miss your chin? Not at all. In fact, it’s better to not have it. There isn’t anything wrong with my chin, you can just create a better shape with a beard. 
Beard grooming routine: I have three rules. 1. Symmetry on the sides. 2. It’s nice to get a 90 degree angle under the chin. 3. Never should it stick out further than your nose.

Imagine if you will: you’re sat eating roast capsicum infused humus when a beard so  noble strolls past that you choke on your rice cake. Fortunately for the Daily Beard, it wasn’t the death knoll and I got to have a chat with this wonderful Dane, fresh off the boat from Copenhagen. Mads and I didn’t actually discuss his mode of transport into the country, because we didn’t need to. That beard not only fits the face of a man who got off a boat, but one who rowed that boat from his native land. Mad-props to Mads’ beard etiquette, he’s the first grower to comb his chinwares before the shoot. Not so mad-props for me forgetting everything my YouTube tutorial taught me about taking someone’s picture. Excuse the blurriness, I was giddy.

A few minutes later Mads and I met again – the intrepid explorer returned for some Melbourne tips cementing our belief that beards form social bonds. I’ve got a beady eye and noting Mads’ trendy watch, I sent him off into Fat. But Mads, I want you to know, there’s nothing in Melbourne’s shops so cool as that face-rug you grew yourself.

Liam.

Name: Liam
(Beard) Age: This one has been going since November, but before that I had a four year old. 
Do you miss your chin? Definitely not.
Beard grooming routine: No rules, just keep it tidy around the edges. 

To snap Liam’s face-growth I bolted across Little Bourke street without checking for traffic, which serves to highlight the dangers I’ll go to to bring you beard. Luckily, once I’d coerced Liam into a safe laneway, he was a charming chap and well worth risking my life to capture his hirsute chops. Thanks Liam!

Prior.

 

Name: Prior
(Beard) Age: 2 months
Do you miss your chin? No. No.
Beard grooming routine: I shampoo and condition, maybe around once a week. But it’s weird because it makes it go all soft.

Prior has a lovely depth to his beard, with a myriad of shades in amongst that bush. Every beard featured gets to pick the location of their shot, and I like how Prior chose an actual bush backdrop for his hella natural beard. Props for authenticity!

Arnie.

Name: Arnie
(Beard) Age: 3 weeks
Do you miss your chin? No. Not at all
Beard grooming routine: Not much, you just gotta keep the neck tidy.

Thanks Arnie for being bearded and for being the first bearded entry. Keep up that excellent growth.