Mustasches & Facial hair

[Rev. Jade]

I have to say that my taste in facial hair is far more connected with my love of the Norse than it is from steampunk.
As such, I am well on my way to having a full-on Viking beard.
It also helps that I am far too lazy to shave on a regular basis.

[Peter Brassbeard]

Scraping a sharpened piece of steel across your face is a barbaric habit.

[MWBailey]

That's why I use brass...

[Capt. Dirigible]

Scraping a sharpened piece of steel across your face is a barbaric habit.

Would you call Alexander The Great 'a barbarian'?

Alexander the Great strongly promoted shaving during his reign in the 4th century BC to avoid "dangerous beard-grabbing in combat", and because he believed it looked tidier.

[Lachlan_MacAuslander]

Hm. I supposed I should contribute, as well... This was taken last year, but it's a representative image.



I'm beginning to play with mustache wax. I've got a bit of scar tissue on one side, so it's a bit uneven if I just grow it out willy-nilly, so since I have to engage in regular maintenance anyway, might as well have a bit of fun with it, no?

[Camellia Wingnut]

Dear Sirs,
I wonder, have you ever seen a Sikh beard net?
As you know, Sikhs are supposed never to cut their hair. I think the bundling of hair in knobs under turbans, and the rolling-up of beards in nets, is to prevent grabbing in battle.
The first time I saw one, I thought the poor fellow had had his throat cut, and the black line where the net showed was a scar.
The effect is quite masculine, however.
C.W.
P.S. There are also sanitary beard covers - quite a fashion statement!
http://www.harmonycr.com/Beard-Covers-s/78.htm

[Rev. Jade]

Ah yes, sanitary beard covers...
They were the main reason I quit working in a deli.

[Argus Fairbrass]

Now this is commitment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23687651

[IGetPwnedOften]

He'll have someone's eye out with that 

[Argus Fairbrass]

Hmm, or someone might have his out.  

I don't think I'd risk my life and family for the pleasure of wearing a moustache personally. I certainly admire his guts but I dunno. I'm not much of a fan of the Taliban, I think if they ever took over my area I'd feel a strong urge for fight or flight.

It's a strange deal with moustaches though, and what they represent to certain people. I only found out fairly recently for example why the Amish wear those curious chin curtains of theirs. They believe a man should grow a beard when he's married, but they are pacifists, and moustaches historically have a connection to the military, hence they shave their top lips.

[Capt. Dirigible]

I believe that in the Indian (or Pakistani) Army..or is it the Police? (I really should habve checked this..) it is compulsory for those above the rank of Sergeant to have a moustache..the bigger the better. But don't quote me on that.

[Madasasteamfish]

I believe that in the Indian (or Pakistani) Army..or is it the Police? (I really should habve checked this..) it is compulsory for those above the rank of Sergeant to have a moustache..the bigger the better. But don't quote me on that.

Well according to the 'reliable' forum of Mr Stephen Fry on the BBC's most excellent QI the Indian police (it may depend on the province/state) are willing to pay a Policeman and extra 5 rupees per day to grow a mustache since mustaches/facial hair (generally the bigger/longer) as mustaches are seen as a sign as a sign of virility/manliness (actually being the reason for the adoption of the Mustache into the British Military due the tendency of the East India Company of appointing British officers to command Sepoy units).

Actually, according to information from a 'personal friend' who traveled a great deal in his youth, men without mustaches/facial hair are almost NEVER seen outside of Western Europe (anywhere west of Cyprus almost EVERYMAN has a mustache and or beard).

[Vagabond GentleMan]

I believe that in the Indian (or Pakistani) Army..or is it the Police? (I really should habve checked this..) it is compulsory for those above the rank of Sergeant to have a moustache..the bigger the better. But don't quote me on that.

Ah, how the mighty have fallen...Kudos to the Indian/Pakistani Military/Police...
I work tattooing in DC (also, I'm apparently a broken record), thus Pentagon, thus the American Military is nigh part of my daily life.  And the poor boys, they've complaints this way and that about tattoo restrictions (towards which, of course, I'm empathetic, and not necessarily altruistically), but worse, the complaints about facial hair restrictions.  In the U.S. military and, to my admittedly limited knowledge, the majority of the various State Police forces, nothing is allowed in these realms aside from the intentionally ambiguous "well-groomed moustache".  I suppose there's one exception:  Submariners are allowed a beard, but only whilst on the actual submarine.

Regardless, these rules suck.  I look at photographs from the American Civil War and all of their creative, well-groomed but individualistic facial-hair coiffures and wonder, essentially, "why the hell not?"

Is one less likely to follow orders, to fight or die for one's country, or in any way less-a-soldier because of ink and beard?

Dumb.

[Rev. Jade]

I believe that in the Indian (or Pakistani) Army..or is it the Police? (I really should habve checked this..) it is compulsory for those above the rank of Sergeant to have a moustache..the bigger the better. But don't quote me on that.

Ah, how the mighty have fallen...Kudos to the Indian/Pakistani Military/Police...
I work tattooing in DC (also, I'm apparently a broken record), thus Pentagon, thus the American Military is nigh part of my daily life.  And the poor boys, they've complaints this way and that about tattoo restrictions (towards which, of course, I'm empathetic, and not necessarily altruistically), but worse, the complaints about facial hair restrictions.  In the U.S. military and, to my admittedly limited knowledge, the majority of the various State Police forces, nothing is allowed in these realms aside from the intentionally ambiguous "well-groomed moustache".  I suppose there's one exception:  Submariners are allowed a beard, but only whilst on the actual submarine.

Regardless, these rules suck.  I look at photographs from the American Civil War and all of their creative, well-groomed but individualistic facial-hair coiffures and wonder, essentially, "why the hell not?"

Is one less likely to follow orders, to fight or die for one's country, or in any way less-a-soldier because of ink and beard?

Dumb.

Well the reason that beards and facial hair aren't allowed in the US military anymore is because a gas mask cannot get a complete seal if there is facial hair in the way.

[Xenos]

Speaking of beards, in the process of growing my first full beard.

My wife LOVES it thus far, and I've got to say, it does make me look...  Well, older, more distinguished, and just damn sexy!

[Camellia Wingnut]

My Dears,
The Victorians had a saying: To kiss a man without a moustache is like eating a boiled egg without salt.
Discuss.
C.W.

[Capt. Dirigible]

My Dears,
The Victorians had a saying: To kiss a man without a moustache is like eating a boiled egg without salt.
Discuss.
C.W.

There's another 'quote' that I use on another forum " A man without a moustache is like tea without sugar"

[Duellist]

Well the reason that beards and facial hair aren't allowed in the US military anymore is because a gas mask cannot get a complete seal if there is facial hair in the way.

I'm told that the RAF allows anything that will not interfere with the seal of a mask (so no handlebar moustaches, sadly) within reason and the USAF just has a blanket ban on facial hair. I am not sure about the other branches of Her Majesty's armed forces, but I think I remember someone saying that HM Navy officers earn the right to a beard at a certain rank, but with the same 'gas mask' template for beard coverage.

[Madasasteamfish]

Well the reason that beards and facial hair aren't allowed in the US military anymore is because a gas mask cannot get a complete seal if there is facial hair in the way.

I'm told that the RAF allows anything that will not interfere with the seal of a mask (so no handlebar moustaches, sadly) within reason and the USAF just has a blanket ban on facial hair. I am not sure about the other branches of Her Majesty's armed forces, but I think I remember someone saying that HM Navy officers earn the right to a beard at a certain rank, but with the same 'gas mask' template for beard coverage.

If I remember rightly the Brylcream boys are allowed a mustache (provided they have their CO's permission) that does not extend beyond the corners of the mouth (again so it doesn't interfere with the seal of their oxygen masks), and the RN remains the only branch of HM armed forces that permits it's members to grow beards (other than operational allowances made by the Army).

[Xenos]

Well the reason that beards and facial hair aren't allowed in the US military anymore is because a gas mask cannot get a complete seal if there is facial hair in the way.

I'm told that the RAF allows anything that will not interfere with the seal of a mask (so no handlebar moustaches, sadly) within reason and the USAF just has a blanket ban on facial hair. I am not sure about the other branches of Her Majesty's armed forces, but I think I remember someone saying that HM Navy officers earn the right to a beard at a certain rank, but with the same 'gas mask' template for beard coverage.

If I remember rightly the Brylcream boys are allowed a mustache (provided they have their CO's permission) that died not extend beyond the corners of the mouth (again so it doesn't interfere with the seal of their oxygen masks), and the RN remains the only branch of HM armed forcesv that Penis
it's members to grow beards (other than operational allowances).

PLEASE tell me that's an autocorrect mistake...

[Madasasteamfish]

Well the reason that beards and facial hair aren't allowed in the US military anymore is because a gas mask cannot get a complete seal if there is facial hair in the way.

I'm told that the RAF allows anything that will not interfere with the seal of a mask (so no handlebar moustaches, sadly) within reason and the USAF just has a blanket ban on facial hair. I am not sure about the other branches of Her Majesty's armed forces, but I think I remember someone saying that HM Navy officers earn the right to a beard at a certain rank, but with the same 'gas mask' template for beard coverage.

If I remember rightly the Brylcream boys are allowed a mustache (provided they have their CO's permission) that died not extend beyond the corners of the mouth (again so it doesn't interfere with the seal of their oxygen masks), and the RN remains the only branch of HM armed forcesv that Penis
it's members to grow beards (other than operational allowances).

PLEASE tell me that's an autocorrect mistake...

OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD! YES IT IS. Corrected.

[Ceir]

A brief note, albiet belated, from the recent cold snap - there is nothing quite so strange as the sensation of feeling one's mustache freeze.

[walking stick]

As a woman I can't do a direct comparison but I have had damp hair freeze and start clinking as I walked and once my nasal hair froze, really weird sensations.

[Sludge Van Diesel]

Condensation in your tache isn't particularly nice either.

However.....

[Camellia Wingnut]

My Dear Fellows,
A souvenir of the old-fashioned sport of Moustache Tweaking, 1907, and rather handsome lads, too.

Courtesy of Retronaut.
C.W.