# Masks and Facial Hair. I'm exploring interesting opportunities **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 9, 2021, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387 "2021-09-09T16:14:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/1 "2021-09-09T16:14:37Z")
I’ve had several beards. I kept one for seven years. Got rid of it after the Grey appeared. I’ve grown a pandemic Goatee. It works great with masks. I’m your typical, boring and _clean shaven_ office work wearing a mask. Take it off and I’m a dude with a goatee. 😃 It’s my little secret that I can keep or share. Any one else grown a goatee? I’m still learning to shave around it. It takes longer to shave. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/2 "2021-09-09T16:40:43Z")
The standard or the extended goatee? Or one of the other myriad styles that may be mistaken for goatees, such as the Anchor, Balbo, Van Dyke or Imperial? A handy public service guide from the CDC: > **[This CDC infographic lets you know if your facial hair won’t work with a mask](https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/26/21155221/cdc-infographic-facial-hair-mask-mustache-beard-coronavirus)** > > If you have a beard, you might need to shave it off. > **[facialhairwmask11282017-508.pdf](https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/facialhairwmask11282017-508.pdf)** > > 5.10 MB ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/3 "2021-09-09T16:56:18Z")
Mine is the classic style. I don’t have any hair around the edges of the mask. It can seal OK. I will keep it trimmed close. I used this photo when I quit shaving my chin and lip. My stash is still brown… Got some Grey on the chin. Salt & pepper [https://www.menshair.style/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/goatee-styles-71.jpg](https://www.menshair.style/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/goatee-styles-71.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/4 "2021-09-09T17:12:29Z")
Dude! I pictured you somewhat older. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/5 "2021-09-09T17:44:24Z")
😃 I wish that was my picture. I have T shirts older than that guy. I miss my beard. But I’m in computers competing against men 25 years younger than me. I have to stay fit and look OK. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/6 "2021-09-09T19:33:42Z")
Last summer, I stopped shaving for about 5 weeks while I could hide under a mask. I could _maybe_ get away with a scraggly thin moustache but any other facial hair is out of the question. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/7 "2021-09-09T19:42:08Z")
My employer is not hard-over on shaving. I alternate between a winter Santa Clause beard and a summer goatee (with connected 'stache) because winter is cold but summer is hot. It’s still mostly about shaving as little as I can while still tolerating the seasonal climate. I don’t personally care at all about how it looks. I’m kinda old. There’s nothing I can do to change that. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/8 "2021-09-09T19:50:53Z")
I haven’t seen my upper lip since 1963, having various beards, 'staches, goatees, etc. For the last few years I’ve had a full gray beard, totally eliminating the need for a razor. I trim it with a #3 trimmer, and the area under the jawline closer. The hair on top of my head is still dark brown, so the gray beard makes me look my age. Who cares? One strange thing: For the past few years I haven’t had to trim my 'stache. It just doesn’t grow any longer. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/9 "2021-09-09T19:52:43Z")
When the pandemic hit, I let my beard grow unchecked for about five months. It’s pretty much solid grey at this point. It wasn’t really intentional, I was just lazy and didn’t have any better ideas. Then I decided to try copying Kenneth Branagh’s epic 'stache from the _Murder on the Orient Express_ remake, because, dammit, if I can’t steal the look of a fictional Belgian detective during a pandemic, when can I do it? [http://dailynewsgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/murder-on-the-orient-express-2017.jpg](http://dailynewsgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/murder-on-the-orient-express-2017.jpg) Mine isn’t quite as neat and tidy as that, but I think I’ll stick with it a little longer. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/10 "2021-09-10T01:14:36Z")
I’ve never been a fan of goatees for myself, but I keep a short-trimmed beard and recently I’ve been experimenting more with trimming the sides much shorter. I would feel naked with bald sideburns/sides (when clean-shaven I’ve never had sideburns shorter than mid-ear) but trimming shorter on the sides and under the chin seems to suit my face. Take your example picture of the goatee guy and add maybe 1/4 inch everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/11 "2021-09-10T01:21:15Z")
My husband did this. He enjoys using mustache wax and twirling his extravagant facial hair. Eh, whatever makes him happy. I do need a picture though. For blackmail, er, posterity. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masks-and-facial-hair-im-exploring-interesting-opportunities/950387/12 "2021-09-10T17:35:44Z")
About 15 years ago I decided I was tired of shaving every day so I decided to just grow a beard. Didn’t work out too well as I discovered I like neatly trimmed facial hair so I end up trimming it every day anyway. Can’t win.