UrbanUpdate

Has the workplace become a facial hair free-for-all? Is there such a thing as a business beard? We asked 12 New Yorkers what, if any, are their office beard rules?

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Armando

Where do you work and what do you do?

I'm the chief ecutive officer of a Canadian Bank in Brazil.

What are your office rules about facial hair?

There aren't rules for me. But I try to be careful with my presentation generally speaking. My employees can't have a beard. There are strict rules but they are easy to follow.

Describe your beard maintenance regimen.

I shave often.

**Does your significant other enjoy the beard?

**My wife loves it.

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Arnaud

Where do you work and what do you do?

I am a happiness expert. We go into companies and do happiness building.

Do those companies have rules about facial hair?

No rules.

How long have you had a beard?

About 20 years.

Describe your beard maintenance regimen.

For me, I like to have my beard for up to one month to six weeks. Then I shave it.

Do you use a regular razor?

I love to go to those places where for like 40 bucks they give you a real shave. It's like a massage, a time for myself.

With the hot towel?

Yeah, I love it!

Does your significant other enjoy the beard?

** **She loves my beard. She thinks I don't look handsome without it. She doesn't want to kiss me, but she loves it.

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Ben Sinclair

Where do you work and what do you do?

My wife Katja Blichfeld and I are the co-creators of a show called High Maintenance.

Are there any work rules about facial hair?

I have to keep it. It's become part of my character, I play a pot dealer so it makes sense to have a big beard.

**How long have you had a beard?

**For about five years.  

**

**Describe your beard maintenance regimen.

I trim around the cheeks and taper a little bit from the chin to the neck because that's where it grows faster. I also condition it about once a month. Otherwise I don't use grooming products.

Does your wife enjoy the beard?

It was her idea. The beard grew during a brief pause I took from acting, and she advised me to keep it when I felt like auditioning again. And it helped a lot.

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Assaf

Where do you work and what do you do?

I'm the chief creative officer for Haiku. It's a startup down in Tribeca.

Are there rules in your office about facial hair?

Not at all.

How long have you had a beard?

It's been 18 years now. I haven't shaved it once, but usually it's very short.

Describe your beard maintenance regimine?

My friend at Fellow Barber in Williamsburg takes care of it for me.

Do you use any product?

I have beard oil that I didn't rub in today. I don't use it often.

What does the beard oil do for you?

Just makes it smell nice, and it makes it softer.

Does your significant other enjoy the beard?

I don't have one, but that person used to like the beard.

Did you ever date anyone who wanted you to shave it?

Yes, but I didn't shave it.

**You stand by the beard?

** It's just the way I look now.

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René Huitema

Where do you work and what do you do?

I'm a designer and I teach design in Rotterdam.

Any office rules about facial hair?

No, there aren't.

Describe your beard maintenance regimen.

I use regular shampoo and I do the trimming myself.

Trimmer or scissors?

Trimmer and scissors, both.

**Does your significant other enjoy the beard?

**Yep, yeah they do.

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Gray

What do you do?

I'm a photographer and I live in Los Angeles.

What are your work rules about facial hair?

It's pretty open for me.

Describe your beard maintenance regimen.

I'm pretty lax with it, but I try to keep it pretty tight. I have a trimmer and I use moisturizer.

**Does your significant other enjoy the beard?

**My wife prefers when I have the beard but not when it gets too shaggy.

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**NYPD

**

These officers wouldn't speak on the record, but let us know they're not allowed to have any beards unless they have a medical note from the district surgeon or a dermatologist. Short beards are permissible if you suffer from razor burn or ingrown hairs. Mustaches are allowed. Pretty much the same as the Yankees.

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Chris

Where do you work and what do you do?

I'm a banker for Capital One.

Does your office have rules about facial hair?

Not really no, as long as it's groomed. The company's not very intense about stuff like that. They kind of allow you to be you as long as it's professional.

Describe your beard maintenance regimen.

I do a mid-week shave. But mostly it's the barber shop every week to make sure it looks good.

**Does your significant other enjoy the beard?

**I've never gotten any complaints. But you kinda adapt to the person you're with I guess. So if they say they don't like it, you might consider that.

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Jordan Canino

Where do you work and what do you do?

I own a fitness studio, The Movement Fitness. We specialize in group fitness

Are there any rules at the studio about facial hair?

No, there aren't. As long as people come to work looking clean and wearing nothing offensive, they can pretty much look and dress however they want.

How long have you had a beard?

I haven't had it shaved down to my skin in like, six months.

Describe your beard maintenance regimen.

I have a few different tools. I use a regular razor, a trimmer that a man would use on his body, and a third device that's like an electric razor.

Any product?

I just moisturize.

Does your significant other enjoy the beard?

** **Most of the reason I have a beard is because she loves the beard.

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Yusef

Where do you work and what do you do?

I'm a credit manager in Beirut.

What are your office rules about facial hair?

Beards are only allowed for the top management. Below this, it's forbidden. I am top management, so I am lucky. I can have a beard.

Describe your beard maintenance regimen.

Sometimes I trim it at home, sometimes at the barber.

**Does your significant other enjoy the beard?

**Yeah, it's good.

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Quentin

Where do you work and what do you do?

I'm an architect for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Does your office have rules about facial hair?

No.

Describe your beard maintenance regimen.

I trim it and shave it everyday.

Does your significant other enjoy the beard?

They like me having facial hair. My face is rounder, and the goatee makes my face look longer. So in some ways it adds height to my overall look.

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Verinder Sharma

Where do you work and what do you do?

I work in financial regulation at the International Organization for Securities Commissions.

Are there any office rules about facial hair?

No, none that I know of.

Describe your beard maintenance regimen.

I trim it anywhere from daily to weekly, it depends. I use an electric trimmer.

**Does your significant other enjoy the beard?

**I know that some girls don't like it very much, but I haven't had any complaints.

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