About Beards
I went thru a similar consideration about growing a beard as this guy:
Daily Kos: I'm thinking of growing a beard
There is something primitive and assertive about growing a beard. At times a feeling of defiance and adolescent rebellion, at times the feeling of being an outlaw.
Vanity in men. One could say that shaving is a sign of vanity, as well as one could say a man's pogonotrophy is a sign of laziness. Neither is exclusive, both could be either.
One positive thing came from my growing a (months-old) beard: I learned the meaning of the word pogonotrophy.