Beard Tax?

While beards to day are freely grown my men willing to take the challenge, this was not always the case. I wanted to share with you a little history of the cost of growing a beard.

In Russia

In 1705, Emperor Peter I of Russia instituted a beard tax. Those who paid the tax were required to carry a "beard token". This was a copper or silver token with a Russian Eagle on one side and on the other, the lower part of a face with nose, mouth, whiskers, and beard. It was inscribed with two phrases: "the beard tax has been taken" and "the beard is a superfluous burden"

 

In England
In 1535, King Henry VIII of England, who wore a beard himself, introduced a tax on beards. The tax was a graduated tax, varying with the wearer's social position. His daughter, Elizabeth I of England, reintroduced the beard tax, taxing every beard of more than two-weeks growth.




I just stubbled upon this great information and thought I would share... enjoy!:)

Beard of the Week

Alright folks, I know I've been on a bit of a hiatus with the beard of the week but I am back and truly inspired. This time we've got three styles for the price of one, so it makes up for all the weeks I've missed. This week's winner is the lovely Ryan Gosling. He's experimented with all types of facial hair, and I beleive he hasn't yet gone wrong. You know it's a good beard because blonde facial hair ususally freaks me out, but I'm oddly ok with his. I can even handle the child molester mustache he sometimes rocks. Whether it be long, short, full, or 'stached, you can't deny that Mr. Ryan Gosling has got some mighty fine facial hair.

Beards with Babies

Brad Pitt and David Beckham
Two wicked hot dads with beards

A fellow blogger and I were recently at a mall here in Pittsburgh, aimlessly shopping along we spot a hot young dad (aka a DILF) and his young daughter, we note how adorable they are, notice that the dad has a pretty nice looking beard and keep on shopping (there was mission at hand here people!). Then we see another young dad and his adorable daughter and that dad has a beard as well and he's wicked hot too!

I myself am all about patterns and signs and such so seeing two hot young dad's with beards and adorable daughters equates to one thing for me... Dad's with beards are totally hot! They have the sexy facial hair going for them, they are young, usually pretty well dressed and they have cute children! As a fellow blogger notes on a continuous basis, men with beards are hot because you know they can make a long term commitment hence the beard and the maintenance involved. At first I thought this theory was... shall we say flawed but more and more I am starting to believe it! At least believe it at face value.


So men, this week's advice from me is to keep that beard up and treat your woman or man right! And if you are sans beard and sans partner... You best get a beard so you can get yo freak on!

Hello, and the meaning behind "GroomedNStyled"

Hello, or as the Romanians say: Buna.

My name is GroomedNStyled and I've been a member in hiding for quite some time. I can't promise quantity on this blog, but what I can promise is quality.

Speaking of quality, let's move to the name. GroomedNStyled refers not only to beards, but also the attire of those who sport them. Does a beard need grooming? Perhaps...at least after mealtime. The occasional styling? Maybe...but in my book, less is more. Regularly maintained or not, however, a beard loses its character when the style below it doesn't complement.

Each time you see a GroomedNStyled blog, you will learn one rule from the female perspective regarding appropriate attire for bearded and non-bearded men of a certain age. Today's rule: NIX the POPPED COLLAR.

Spring is here, and I can already anticipate 20-something "men" feeling giddy with excitement in preparation to break out those polos. My advice? If you must wear them, do so as RL planned it - folded.

My Southern blogger counterparts may disagree, but the popped collar, whether of the neon pink or the more traditional version, is never a good frame for your mane. If you must don the collar, take a tip from Chuck: let it ride folded, with confidence, and allow it to pop a swedge only when you're performing your own stunts. (Beard Talk Brownie Points goes out to the person who guesses next week's tip related to this photo.)

Peace.

Minnesota= Beard-tastic!

I recently went back home to Minnesota for spring break and I realized something... Minneapolis is not only the home to a large hipster population but home to many beards and various styles and amounts of facial hair!

At my favorite record store of all time, The Electric Fetus is home to some much local music, bongs and the smell of incense but they also have various different displays of whats "happening" in MN at the time and this month the theme is Mustaches!! Ok, I know this is not beards but it is facial hair and some women might love them some mustaches and I don't want to neglect possible mustached readers!

Bearded Friends

Hello all!

Sorry for the neglect blog readers but between midterms and a much needed trip back home to Minnesota I have gotten lazy! But, at the same time I have been keeping track of my ideas for the blog! So let's get started!

I have recently observed that bearded fellas usually have bearded friends as well and that there is a pattern arising as well! On the bus (per the usual for me) I observed two bearded friends chatting and having a joyous time. They were also very similar in beard size/length, which was short. I thought nothing of it at first until I saw a another two bearded friends and their beards were also really similar in length but longer this time.

Something like this can't be coincidence so I have decided something I personally consider to be epic! Little beards are friends with other little beards and big beards are friends with other big beards and medium beards are "beard mixers" aka they can be friends with all beards.

Now, I understand that this statement is not true for all bearded friends but I think there is something to be said for groups of friends who all grow beards and how they all seem to have similar beards!

More thoughts to come soon!

Sincerely,
StraightUp

Live from New Orleans

Its been a crazy few days down here in New Orleans LA... but many fine beards have been spotted.  On that note, I want to just point out some highlights.

I have been impressed to hear that while boys in Pittsburgh seem to have limited maintenance routines the fellas we have encountered here have stated they both shampoo and condition, as well as have trimming kits. 

These beards are strokeable. This is the best quality in a beard, and lets be real here for a moment, beards want to be stroked. 

While this is short and poorly written, I felt as though it needed to be said. more photos coming soon from the beard encounters of Mari Gras

Happy Fat Tuesday!