There comes a time in every man’s life where, standing before the mirror, he asks the question: “To beard or not to beard?” With a discerning eye he appraises his features; the cheekbones, the structure, the shape of his nose and the jawline. To carry a beard is one of life’s little joys. If you’ve ever sported one – whether it be a chunky beard to the beginnings of what could have been something quite majestical – you’ll be familiar with what it does to your character. Suddenly you’re walking taller, there’s a pep in your step, morning routines prove exciting, especially when it involves time before the mirror.
Just recently, the bearded harbinger of deep belly laughs, Seth Rogen, shared an image of him sans beard. The image was all kinds of shocking, leaving many in disbelief that the famed comedian would do such a thing to the facial hair he’s come to be known for. While it doesn’t seem to be a personal decision – the actor is preparing for his latest project, Pam & Tommy – it does go to show that shaving the beard changes everything. No, really. Were it not posted to his own personal account, the actor would be barely recognisable. One person commented on the post, “The f*ck am I looking at? Is that you Seth??? That’s a different person I swear.”
Though the beard certainly changes your profile, the good news is that at the end of the day…it’s just hair. Whether you’re looking to grow one or shave it off entirely, it grows back. A hairstyle or colour change might be one of the more dramatic choices when it comes to changing your look, but a beard can be grown and nurtured until the day you simply decide you’ve had enough, in which case head for the razors. With that in mind, we’ve selected some of the best transformations that have come from actors who have either gone for a close shave or decided to grow it longer.
