Today is officially Day 1, and I had my beard shaven off about 2 hours ago by a professional barber from Floyd’s Barbershop.   I went to The Brixton on East 6th Street in Austin, TX to participate in the official shave-off event with the Austin Facial Hair Club for a 6-Month Sprint competition.  Those participating and signing up will be competing in the annual Come And Shave It event in February 2017 before a panel of judges.

the-brixton-austin-afhc-6-month-sprint-beard

The Brixton is a local pub located at 1452 E. 6th St., Austin, TX and is where the kickoff for the official 6-Month Sprint took place today on August 27, 2016.

It is a HOT Texas Summer, so the lack of facial hair doesn’t bother me too much, but I do miss the glorious beard that I had earned over 8 months of sheer patience and craftsmanship.  When I started growing my first full beard less than a year ago, I had no idea about beard competitions or anything further than just letting it grow.  So when I learned about the 6-Month Sprint category, I was disappointed that I had missed it.  I have waited a long time to be able to enter this category, and today is the day!  But I took my own full beard off before I came here, because…  If anyone is going to kill my beard and art, it’s going to be by MY hand!  So I came with some thick 5 o’clock shadow.

Me being shaven by Adrian Dominguez of Floyd's Barbershop at The Brixton in Austin, TX.

Me being shaven by Adrian Dominguez of Floyd’s Barbershop at The Brixton in Austin, TX.

After making a few new friends in the Austin Facial Hair Club and enjoying some free food, I sat back and watched others get shaven.  There were a few longer beards than the one I had, and they had been growing theirs for much longer than I grew my first one.  Everyone had a great time, and even Vice President of the Georgetown Beard Club Steve Stratton made it out to support my endeavor and see Austin at work.  As the President of the Georgetown Beard Club, it is strange chairing meetings without a beard, but everyone knows why.

Good Texas Burgers, free to all attending the shave-off. You should've been there!

Good Texas Burgers, free to all attending the shave-off. You should’ve been there!

The first brave soul to have his beard shaven off.

The first brave soul to have his beard shaven off.

Beard go bye-bye. A few manly tears may have been shed.

Beard go bye-bye. A few manly tears may have been shed

Over the next 6 months, you will hear my stories of my beard growth and the effects it has on life.  It is only my 2nd time to grow a beard, so I do not claim to be an expert, but as a newcomer, I still remember what it’s like to not have a beard.  I am still very perceptive to all of the concerns that a man has when wondering if he should grow a beard or not.  I hope we become friends, and I hope you can glean something from My Beard Journey.  But for now, I have 6 months to get back to this…

Me on the last night of having a full beard. A little less than 8 months. I used nothing but my own handmade beard products by Brewtastic Soaps the entire time.

Me on the last night of having a full beard. A little less than 8 months. I used nothing but my own handmade beard products by Brewtastic Soaps the entire time.