Beards are Bad for Business

If you’re self-employed, your beard is unlikely to pose you any problems. If, however, you are an employee or you’re currently looking for work, there are still a lot of business owners and HR staff who are prejudiced against the beard. It’s not fair, and really, it’s a bit silly, but many individuals would still rather hire a clean shaven one than someone who has a little grizzle.

More Women Prefer a Clean Shaven Man

If you’re dating and you’re struggling to get people to swipe right on Tinder or agree to a second date, could it be the beard that’s getting in the way? There is some evidence to suggest that, although beards definitely have their female fans, men are more likely to turn heads when they’re clean shaven and dressed to impressed than they are with a big bushy beard. Again, it’s not really fair, but it’s something to think about.

Everyone Has One

If neither of those things was enough to convince you to head over to Manly Matters and pick out a great new razor to get rid of the facial hair, perhaps the fact that the trend for growing the biggest and best beard one is capable of has become so ubiquitous that it seems like everyone who can grow one has grown one at this point. That makes it a whole lot more difficult for you to stand out from the crowd, and since women and employers both prefer the clean-shaven look, on the whole, standing out isn’t just about being unique, it could actually be to your advantage too.

It’s Not the most Hygienic

If you’re scrupulous about cleaning and oiling your beard, then it’s probably in pretty good condition, the same goes for those of you who have a less bushy, more manicured beard, but for those of you who are perhaps a little lack with your beard care, it could be a different story. So many beards are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, what with them being so easily contaminated by food and anything else that you might put in your mouth or get near your face, that they are often not the most hygienic option. They’re certainly not as hygienic as a clean-shaven regularly washed face!

Of course, if you love your beard there really is nothing wrong with keeping it for as long as you still love it, but there is no denying that there really are some very good reasons to get out your razor and get rid of it, or at least cut it down to size some. The choice is yours!

The post Is It Time to Ditch the Beard? appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Above is my travel kit, tossed into my bag every week as I head out on my next work trip. I take the same things with me on every trip, matching what I have in my home bathroom to be consistent. I even make sure that the products I use have travel friendly options, letting me grab and go even in my carry on, at a moments notice, but again, I live on the road so that might not be necessary for everyone.

Recently, I have not needed to carry a razor with me though. As a bearded man, I tend to rely on the every-now-and-then trim up of my beard and the neckline while home, but when on the road, it was not as big of a deal. That was then. Now, I am on the road almost every week, in multiple cities, meeting more people than ever before. It’s part of the new gig, and with that, comes the expectation of a professional look. So my kit had to change.

I needed a razor that not only was inexpensive and available wherever I might need to get a replacement but would not cause razor burn and red marks after use on a daily basis. And after some trial and painful errors, I found the Schick Hydro® Razors. These new designs from Schick hit the nail right on the head of what I needed.

So what caught my eye? Well, it was the reduced blade span in the new design. Blade span, or the space between each individual blade on a multi-blade razor, is one of the leading causes of irritation from shaving. So to find a product that has reduced that spacing to help minimize was key.

Also, the new Schick Hydro® series has options available that fit the needs of the skin. For me, the standard brand was fine, but for those with sensitive skin, the Hydro 5 Sensitive is available as well. So if for some reason, I start to get those little bumps, I will be able to switch to the Sensitive to ensure I am still maintaining my clean trimming.

So after a week of daily use, I was sold. The Schick Hydro® Razor was my newest addition to my kit, with the disposable for my carry-ons and the refillable cartridges at home. And alongside each one is my Edge Shave Gel, which lasts me forever and never irritates my skin. Overall, that’s a winning combination.

So the final reason I went with Schick Hydro®? Well, it’s accessibility. I can pick these razors up at almost every grocer big and small, as well as overseas when needed. And there always seem to be great coupons, like the Meijer mPerks discount. where shoppers can save up to $11 with their mPerks (Expires: 3/12/16). Now that is true value for a clean shave.

So there you have it. Beyond my normal, a new addition to my essentials. The rest of my kit will continue to adapt, but until then, I am set to keep that professional look even when on the road.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of HYDRO. The opinions and text are all mine.

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