Make me pretty...[Update on page 4]

Forkes

Hey H/A, here's the deal. I need to get a new look I think. Is it to pick up the fairer sex? Probably. But I have kinda had the same look for some time now.

I am including pictures, and am ready for the backlash of any negative comments, as long as they are constructive. So, here we go.

This is about 5 years ago.


Last summer.


Sometime during college.


2 Years ago at New Years.


This past December (I do not wear glasses, it was just for the photo)

I am since been hitting the gym, and have lost about 20 pounds since the picture in front of the fountain. I am at about 230 now, I am about 5'11.

My hair is short now, inch long at best, and my beard is actually trimmed, just to the point of being a beard. Just past scruff.

So, be honest. I'm ready for it.

Belruel

well, you should probably show us a picture of how you look now, not months or years ago. You say you're trimmed more, and that was going to be my suggestion, because that beard is odd. it looks especially horrible in that third picture.

the last one is a good look on you though.

Perpetual

You're a good-looking guy, but you look significantly better without your facial hair.

Also, I'm kind of biased due to my profession, but you should start going to the gym. It will improve your looks significantly AND make you healthier.

Check out the fitness thread, in my opinion.

ihmmy

As much as I love red hair, I do not love the giant red beard. It's ok trimmed down, but honestly I think shaved would look best (at a minimum, not gigantic-clown-hair-on-your-chin, like on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th pics)

Perpetual

I also agree with Belruel. Maybe a full-body picture of you *now* and not wearing super-baggy clothing would give people a better idea.

Improvolone

Your beard hair is way too different from your head hair to look good. Either dye or shave.
How old are you? What is your job? Who do you want to look like?

Esh

Completely lose the beard.

admanb

Esh wrote: »

Completely lose the beard.

Gym, exercise, blah blah blah. You're a good looking guy and your style is not bad at all, but that beard has got to go.

Forkes

Ok, I apologize for the shitty pic, but this was taken about 5 minutes ago.

edit: and I am hitting the gym, I just worded it weirdly in the OP

Aurora Borealis

echo the need for a recent picture, since my first words were gonna be 'try trimming the beard to just past scruff' and 'cut the poofy hair'.

Don't dye the beard, that red is wonderful. You just gotta be okay with that being the thing people remember about you. If you don't wanna be 'the guy with the crazy red beard' then shave it, that looks fine too.

That dark purple you've got on with the suit there, that's a good color. That pic makes you look pretty good actually, with the exception of that really weird shape your beard has going on. I wanted to take a trimmer and mow it all down.

The last pic makes you look a bit like Chief Tyrol.

Improvolone

His beard is so orange and different from his head hair that it looks weird no matter the length (not that color is seen in the recent photo, I'm extrapolating here).

iowa

that picture quality is so bad that it's useless. it's like one of those paintings that forms a coherent image from a distance then when you walk up close it's just a bunch of blotches.

you just say you want a new look but can't you point us in some direction? it appears that you're a pretty normal dude and that's fine. You want to form a unique style or something?

Topia

Is your hair naturally semi-curly/poofy? You look like you have a nice full head of hair.... have you ever looked into using a straightener and trying out other styles?

To be honest, you got a good look, just lose the beard (the picture with light scruff isn't bad), and mess around with other hairstyles. (you hair isn't bad, but a change in hairstyle is always nice)

Forkes

My hair has one thing, and it's pretty much afro. Or short.

Belruel

there is hair product you can use that will make it into more manageable curls (which are ) instead of afro if you experiment with it.

celandine

I'm emphatically pro-beard. It's a conversation point and it shows personality.

Keep it up with the gym (that literally makes ALL the difference to the fairer sex; you could dress in garbage bags if you were jacked.)

Sooner or later buy shirts that are less loose on you. A leather jacket would be awesome.

Esh

celandine wrote: »

I'm emphatically pro-beard. It's a conversation point and it shows personality.

Keep it up with the gym (that literally makes ALL the difference to the fairer sex; you could dress in garbage bags if you were jacked.)

Sooner or later buy shirts that are less loose on you. A leather jacket would be awesome.

One piece of good advice in a sea of bad.

Elin

If I weren't happily married I'd hit on you. Keep the beard, is the white shirt and tie thing work related? Cause that's a real Shaun of the Dead vibe there.

And the women in this thread all seem pro beard.

mully

the beard trimmed closely sort of works, but the lack of moustache just makes me think "amish"

in that first picture you look like a decently attractive dude - but like in the other pictures i am distracted by your beard which, and i am sorry for the graphicness here, reminds me of pubic hair that you have collected and glued to your chin. please never grow it out like that - you could be the cooky friend but it doesn't really scream "i take care of myself" in any way.

i like your clothing choices in general but of course these are all just my opinions and i am but one female in the sea of chromosomes.

OVERALL .. you look like a friendly, warm dude, beard or no beard, and that's what's most important so hoorah for you

oh and ps, i agree with belruel - loving the curly hair. short curly hair on a dude is pretty lovable.

Rent

Forkes wrote: »

Seth Rogen, is that you? :P

Elin

He looks too young in the first pic, but that could be due to it being 5 years old. I dunno, the first thing I see is the beard, and then his eyes. It's a nice effect for me.

Aurora Borealis

I dunno, the first thing I see is the beard, and then his eyes. It's a nice effect for me.

Me too. But red hair + brown eyes has always given me a massive girlboner.

Quid

Short beard at the end is nice. Don't let it get wild.

Topia

Forkes wrote: »

My hair has one thing, and it's pretty much afro. Or short.

No it doesn't. It just takes work. Hair is magical. Thats why I said use a hair straightener.

Grid System

You could keep the beard. You have the facial hair density to make it work. But if you decide to go that route, just grow a conventional full beard, with the moustache and connectors and all that. Keep it well-groomed and not too bushy.

Forkes

Rent wrote: »

Forkes wrote: »

Seth Rogen, is that you? :P

This is something I get ALL THE TIME. I don't even think I look that much like him.

Blake T

Get rid of the beard.

Beards are for dudes that enjoy being single and men in long term relationships who know that their partner will not leave them any time in the next four months.

Blake T

Saying that.

Your beard is awesome.

Chaotic Descent

Rent wrote: »

Forkes wrote: »

*image snipped*

Seth Rogen, is that you? :P

Yeah. It's too bad he DOESN'T wear glasses. I like that look. The trimmed beard looks pretty decent. I'm not a fan of mis-matched beard/mustache though, but at least the trimmed beard looks alright. I'd say it's personal taste. I'm sure some people even love a big bushy beard like you're sporting in some of those photos, but I imagine that's less common these days in North America. Not sure about other areas. but then again, North America (and Japan?) seem to be big on the metrosexual look, so I wouldn't buy into that TOO much unless it lines up with your tastes.

Blaket wrote: »

Get rid of the beard.

Beards are for dudes that enjoy being single and men in long term relationships who know that their partner will not leave them any time in the next four months.

Man, that statement gets my panties in a bunch. >:P
I think that depends how much personal expression means to you. but I'm sure you could turn people off by being too conformist just as much as if you showed a little personal style, although I don't know the statistics. :> I imagine the right attitude, health, and hygeine are really what's most important. Personal style only matters in specific cases. (like when you gotta wear a suit and tie.)

Blaket wrote: »

Saying that.

Your beard is awesome.

and yet you can say that?


I wish there were some way to get advice on your physical appearance without ruining your anonymity. You could post pictures from an anonymous account, but your pictures would still be on the internet.

proXimity

Maybe try trimming the beard to a goatee so the color change from brown hair to red beard isn't so harsh

bsjezz

if you want the beard, you have to keep it short and you gotta go the mo.

Belruel

goatees are always a bad idea, don't listen to him

proXimity

Belruel wrote: »

goatees are always a bad idea, don't listen to him

Hey now. Goatees are a great idea. Sometimes.

Blake T

Chaotic Descent wrote: »

I think that depends how much personal expression means to you. but I'm sure you could turn people off by being too conformist just as much as if you showed a little personal style, although I don't know the statistics. :> I imagine the right attitude, health, and hygeine are really what's most important. Personal style only matters in specific cases. (like when you gotta wear a suit and tie.)

Blaket wrote: »

Saying that.

Your beard is awesome.

and yet you can say that?

Yes, I am a man, I can appreciate beards for their masculinity, personal expression and awesomeness.

I'm also acutely aware that if you want to pick up women they do not help very much.

A) most women do not appreciate how awesome beards are.

being kissed by a dude with a beard and being kissed by a dude without a beard I am told is a completely different experience.

C) It's the same as but even more so when you go downstairs.

Sure you can find the 5% of women that dig beards, but you are immediately limiting a lot of potential women out there.

I like beards, I grow one occasionally and I like it a lot, in fact most dudes think I look great with one. My girlfriend however, and the vast majority of lady friends I have out there do not.

Robman

Ditch the beard

Hit the gym for six months

Etc.

Don't go out and buy clothing until after you've lost all the fat.

Feels Good Man

Chaotic Descent wrote: »

Man, that statement gets my panties in a bunch. >:P
I think that depends how much personal expression means to you. but I'm sure you could turn people off by being too conformist just as much as if you showed a little personal style, although I don't know the statistics. :> I imagine the right attitude, health, and hygeine are really what's most important. Personal style only matters in specific cases. (like when you gotta wear a suit and tie.)

clearly if this man shaves his beard he is a conformist. He needs those pubes on his face to express himself.




shave that beard and take up fingerpainting to make up for the lost personal expression

celandine

Okay, there are a lot of anti-beard girls, I'll admit that. You may have better odds if you get rid of it (you can always grow it back.) I, personally, always gravitate to the person who stands out -- the guy with a beard, or the redhead, or the guy who talks a lot and has outspoken opinions, or the guy in big cowboy boots. Many girls are exactly the opposite.

Ryna

The three day growth is in style right now.

If you can keep the beard to that length that'd be cool

edit: probably 6 day growth for early 20's

Visti

Ryna wrote: »

The three day growth is in style right now.

If you can keep the beard to that length that'd be cool

I concur.

Usagi

Forkes, I like the beard provided you keep it trimmed to a length that it doesn't look such a dramatically different color than your hair. A good barber can show you the proper way to maintain it so it doesn't look scraggly and wild, which seems to be it's natural tendency.

And I'm going to second a good curly hair styling product just to see what happens, AskMen has some good suggestions, but don't be afraid to rock the short hair as long as you take care of it!

That said, you have a really nice smile and your personality shines through that, so keep up with the gym and buy some shirts that fit you better. Put This On is a great resource for guys who want to learn to dress better, so check it out.

Kistra

Shave the beard and let your hair grow out to the length in the black and white picture. Your hair looks really nice in that picture.

Beards hurt when you go to kiss a guy. Especially those stupid three day stubble beards. It is like you are trying to kiss lips surrounded by needles. Not going to help you with the girls if they look at your face and cringe in pain at the idea of kissing you.