I’ve always had aspirations of having a righteous beard. You know the like… burly, rugged, manly clumps of hair, styled just right to actually appear as almost beautiful. There’s just something that intrigues me about the whole absurdity of it, because I always thought my clean-shaven face wasn’t quite the best representation of myself, so a beard has since become the working goal. The problem isn’t that my hair doesn’t grow fast enough, it’s that I have a patch on my cheek that automatically pushes whatever-you-wanna-call-this-bush-on-my-face into vagrant territory because it doesn’t fill in like the rest when it all grows out. So I’ve sought out a fix for the savage in me.
A righteous beard, I say! Well, wait. That doesn’t go far enough. It’s more than a singular detail of personal outer manifestation that I’m envisioning. It’s a whole image, a lifestyle, that seems to call to me. For as long as I can remember, I’ve written stories, and for years I’ve been gravitating away from the corporate 9-to-5 world that’s consuming everyone in my country, and have found a truth and love and a sense of belonging in the natural world unlike anywhere else. So when I say I want a righteous beard, it’s more than that. It’s the vision I want. And that vision is me getting back to basics, living far out in the wilderness in a small cabin that has no electricity, and is heated by firewood. Because there, with deep peace, I’ll be able to focus on nothing but my musings, and my writing.
I’ve always loved the idea of being that wild mountain man writer who chooses the peace of the wilderness over the current way of things, where a touch of madness breathes life into his works. While that would be impossible currently in my life, the day still may come one day. But until then, I will continue to work on my novel, while balancing the demands of modern life. And I will work to at the very least succeed at having the righteous beard, if nothing else. Though, I am closer to that vision than I’ve lead on, as I live in the country of rural Ohio, up against the forest, and regularly focus on writing in seclusion. Another one of the key aspects of my vision is also something I’ve incorporated into my life, which is that of working with the land, and even though I’m a simple gardener of vegetables, and not so much the cut down trees and slice up firewood every-damn-day sort of work, the activity still feeds my appreciation and understanding, as well as connection to the natural world.
I’ve always loved the idea of being that wild mountain man writer who chooses the peace of the wilderness over the current way of things, where a touch of madness breathes life into his works. While that would be impossible currently in my life, the day still may come one day. But until then, I will continue to work on my novel, while balancing the demands of modern life. And I will work to at the very least succeed at having the righteous beard, if nothing else. Though, I am closer to that vision than I’ve lead on, as I live in the country of rural Ohio, up against the forest, and regularly focus on writing in seclusion. Another one of the key aspects of my vision is also something I’ve incorporated into my life, which is that of working with the land, and even though I’m a simple gardener of vegetables, and not so much the cut down trees and slice up firewood every-damn-day sort of work, the activity still feeds my appreciation and understanding, as well as connection to the natural world.
To properly maintain and grow a ‘righteous’ beard, I’ve learned that you must properly clean it and condition it, or else you will have bum results. And stimulation of the skin is what inspires new growth; like that of being lazy and letting your muscles waste away, your hair follicles won’t grow without a need for protection, so you must brush and massage your beard regularly. Vitamin supplements are a good way to go, but essentially, I’ve found that working with high quality botanicals as doing the most good; well, that and a lot of patience. That’s why I teamed up with The Roosevelts Beard Company to try and solve the dilemma I was having with my beard and they sent me their Ultimate Beard Care Kit, which consists of a variety of beard oil samplers, beard wash and conditioner, as well as a pair of very fine sheers, a comb and a nice dopp kit to store everything in.
RBC’s specializes in beard care and grooming products, among the finest that I’ve had the pleasure of trying out. I sampled the Grand Canyon wash and conditioner (a smooth, spicy ginger scent), which works wonders on a grimy, dry beard, as well as their beard oil in Big Bend (worn leather, campfire), Grand Teton (vanilla, citrus, sandalwood - my favorite!) and Acadia (fir, clove, cedarwood). Not only do the names and the branding speak to my heart and preferences, but so do the beautiful earthy scents of the products. The beard oil conditions the skin, the hair follicles and keeps my beard shiny, styled and itch-free, which is huge because when you’re first growing out a full beard, dryness can be brutal.
RBC’s specializes in beard care and grooming products, among the finest that I’ve had the pleasure of trying out. I sampled the Grand Canyon wash and conditioner (a smooth, spicy ginger scent), which works wonders on a grimy, dry beard, as well as their beard oil in Big Bend (worn leather, campfire), Grand Teton (vanilla, citrus, sandalwood - my favorite!) and Acadia (fir, clove, cedarwood). Not only do the names and the branding speak to my heart and preferences, but so do the beautiful earthy scents of the products. The beard oil conditions the skin, the hair follicles and keeps my beard shiny, styled and itch-free, which is huge because when you’re first growing out a full beard, dryness can be brutal.
As far as the grooming products go, The Roosevelts Beard Company cut no corners, including a pair of really fine sheers that assist with beard maintenance like no other, as well as a handmade pocket comb, which is a must if you’re serious about your beard. All in all, Roosevelts is one of my favorite beard care companies, because as far as I’m concerned they nailed the brand, the scents, the quality of their botanicals, and the same is true about their grooming tools. After a month of working with their oils and toiletries, I’ve noticed that my beard is happier overall, shinier for sure, and growing fuller than before, and while my spot is still visible (at least to me), it’s shrinking and soon, maybe the righteousness of my beard will no longer be in question.
If you would like to learn more about The Roosevelts Beard Company, click here.
Article written by Brandon Scott
(Photo by changweimx via Flickr)
If you would like to learn more about The Roosevelts Beard Company, click here.
Article written by Brandon Scott
(Photo by changweimx via Flickr)
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