Rufus Cavendish - The Little Book of Beards

The How-Tos and Wherewithals of Successful Beard Growing While any gentleman stranded in the wilderness without his straight razor and strop may endeavour to grow a certain sort of facial addendum, it takes the cultured man care, precision and specialist equipment to grow a beard to be proud of. Here are some crucial tips and tools to help you go beard or go home. BEARD TOOLS Scissors A well-styled sir is no one without his silver snippers. The best friend of the fuller-bearded gentleman, its impossible to go too far wrong with a pair of quality, sharp, straight stainless-steel blades. It is possible to obtain beard scissors for no great expense from high-street shops. Mini Clippers Smaller than clippers, but no less useful.

If your style demands subtlety, miniclippers are perfect for navigating your devastating jawline and fixing the fiddlier follicles around the nose and mouth. Comb Every beard has big ideas of its own and a comb is essential for encouraging it in the direction you want it to grow. For most, the ideal comb has a handle, finely spaced teeth and is made of strong enough material that it wont break down at the first battle. Some prefer to tame their bearded beast with a brush, taking care not to fluff it by brushing more than once a day, but a comb is essential for cutting and styling. Beard Oil As the old beard proverb goes, cleanliness is next to manliness. Although the upset porcupine appearance from a lack of beard styling may have once been fashionable in certain circles, true men know finely groomed face fur is the only way to wear a beard.

Beard oil moisturises the face and hair, lending welcome assistance to hair growing in challenging climates and helping to prevent unwelcome afflictions such as beard itch. Smoother and fuller to the touch, your bristles will also be less likely to bristle when it comes to styling. THE BLACKBEARD #xa0; EXACTING A REIGN OF TERROR OVER THE HIGH SEAS, THIS BEARD IS RECKONED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING OF ALL TIME. BRISTLING, PLAITED AND STUFFED FULL OF SMOKING FUSES, THE FACIAL FUZZ WAS SO INFAMOUS THEY NAMED ITS WEARER AFTER IT. #xa0; Grow DIFFICULTY: Grow your beard and ends of your moustache out until your beard comfortably reaches your chest. During the growing period the beard requires no trimming, but it is necessary to apply beard oil and a comb daily, as the hair needs to be in good enough condition for styling.

Divide into four to six large sections and loosely plait, tying off at the ends with a small hairband. Dye your beard black, to match your dark soul. Add beads to your plaits for a dash of piratical swag. #xa0; Make YARN BEARD DIFFICULTY: REQUIRED: 1 LARGE BALL OF BLACK YARN, WHITE PIPE CLEANER, SCISSIORS, PEN, PAPER, FELT Draw a Blackbeard template, cutting a space for your mouth and punching a hole either side. Cut the template from felt. Tie ribbon through the holes to fasten round your head when ready.

Cut the yarn into many separate pieces, each at least a metre long, and combine into at least four bunches. Loop the sections of yarn in half, divide each bunch into three and plait loosely, tying off at the bottom. Glue to the template at the top of the plait the plaits should cover the entirety of the template and hang off the jaw, ideally to the chest. #xa0; How to wear The Blackbeard charms and delights when paired with smoking fuses, to give that fresh Ive just stuck a bottle of rum in my beard and boarded your boat summer look. Surprise your friends by accessorising the Blackbeard with a cutlass and musket, bursting into the room and offering them the choice of surrender or death. #xa0; DONT POINT THAT BEARD AT ME, IT MIGHT GO OFF.

GROUCHO MARX THE BLESSED #xa0; BEHOLD THE MAGNIFICENCE AND MIGHT OF THE BIG BUSHY BEARD! THE PERFECT ATTENTION-GRABBER FOR THOSE UNAFRAID TO ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES, THIS JOLLY GIANT OF A BEARD IS FOR THE BOLD AND EBULLIENT. #xa0; Grow DIFFICULTY: The Blessed, like a fine wine or cheese, is best when its been matured over many months. The starting point is all-over stubble. As the hair grows, develop the shape. The beard should be trimmed along the sides, but not too closely, maintaining the length at the bottom. The Blessed varies between 1 and 3 inches off the chin; once you have found a length that suits you, trim with scissors to maintain.

This beard is too free of spirit to require any grooming products merely maintain with brushing. Jump on a table to appropriately display your finely furred face to your audience and regale them with acts of derring-do. #xa0; Make BLESSED BEARD DIFFICULTY: REQUIRED: FELT, SCISSORS, PINS, NEEDDLE, THREAD, SEWING MACHINE (OPTIONAL), PEN, PAPER, RIBBON Draw a Blessed template on the paper. Ensure the template reaches your ears and has two points that sit either side of your mouth, to fasten the moustache to. Pin the templates to the felt and cut around them. Sew back stitch around the edges of the felt shapes for a decorative effect.

Sew a length of ribbon to the sideburns of the beard shape, long enough to tie around your head. Pin the moustache to the points of the beard and sew the two shapes together to complete the Blessed. #xa0; How to wear Charm unsuspecting onlookers by pairing the Blessed with thigh-skimming leather armour and a generous pair of golden wings. Not only a fascinating facial accoutrement, the Blessed amplifies your voice up to ten times its usual volume, lending your conversation a helpful dash of drama and excitement. #xa0; WHEN MAKING A SINCERE VOW, OTTO THE GREAT, HOLY EMPEROR OF ROME, SWORE BY HIS BEARD. THE EASTWOOD #xa0; THIS BEARD IS THE MOST STYLISH ANTI-HERO OF EVERY ROOM.

BELONGING TO A GRITTY GOLDEN AGE OF GRIZZLED FACE GROWTH, LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND IT WILL REQUEST YOU AKS YOURSELF, DO I FEEL BEARDY? WELL, DO YA, PUNK? #xa0; Grow DIFFICULTY: Grow your beard and moustache to about a centimetre in length, or until your face is fully covered with no patches. If you have a high-growing beard line, shave it down to cheekbone height, but do not worry too greatly about neatness. Maintain the length with beard clippers. If you are unsure you are wearing the correct length, go for two weeks hard ridin on the trail, without shaving. This should create the desired effect. #xa0; Make STETSON N BEARD REQUIRED: FELT, COWBOY HAT, STRING, NEEDLE, THREAD DIFFICULTY: