Photo by Jessica Kaminski
This week's blog post was written by Milwaukee Native and professional writer, Jenna Kashou. She recently completed a six-month residency at the historic Pfister Hotel where she wrote about and photographed guests and events. You can check out her website at www.jennakashou.com, or see some of her work online at Milwaukee Magazine .
Photo by Jessica Kaminski
I never cared for facial hair. In fact, I disliked the sensation of it on my face. But I’ve since learned to love the beard.
I now realize that it’s an indispensable extension of a man, like his nose, ears or mouth. Some may even call it a measure of his masculinity.
I am a sucker for a well groomed, robust beard. I still get scared away a bit by the beards that look like they are sheltering a small family of animals or warrant their own zip code. A beard that falls no more than an inch from the chin and protrudes a half an inch from the face is what I like to see. But that’s not to say that the right man can’t rock a beard of any length, style or color, if it fits his persona.
I learned to love the beard when I realized how it became part of a man’s identity. Let me back up, what really happened was I fell in love with a man named Ramsey and then fell in love his beard – his lumberjack, L.L. Bean, bountiful beard that shouts to the wind that the wilderness is no match for him. Until I met Ramsey, I didn’t know any other men who wore a beard so well or had such an iconic facial feature.
The color of the beard is almost as important as the length and texture. If the beard is a different color than a man’s hair, all thebetter. I have the pleasure of nuzzling up against a coppery red beard juxtaposed on an auburn head of curls.
My husband obliges my newfound fixation with his beard daily. I find myself inspecting it and searching for variances in color, follicle length and pliability. I even concocted my own oil blend to assist him in keeping it soft and supple throughout the winter months.
As we approach the depths of winter, I look forward to seeing those frosty-tipped beards on men all over Milwaukee.