Shaving, a prickly predicament and something most professionals are expected to do. It shows that you care about your image and that you have respect for your workplace. Some workplaces are lenient or allow facial hair to a certain extent, but some do not. Its a funny world we live in where personal preference may not matter so much when you are trying to lock down a job, especially right out of college.

Ever since I have been able to grow facial hair, I have been told that I need to shave and look presentable. Getting my secondary education in a Catholic high school this rule was very strict. If you disobeyed you could be sent home for the day, or worse, be forced to shave in the bathroom with their cheap fifty cent razors and possibly no shaving cream. I learned my lesson quick to be clean shaven everyday to school. I wonder though what is the huge importance behind this. They told us that we were supposed to be professional and look like young professionals. Well, upon graduation and settling into college I grew my first beard quite successfully, and I really enjoyed the freedom. I was saddened though to find that some were not as enthusiastic about my beautiful facial hair on my face as I was. It seems that employers are not so eager to hire young men with beards, loan officers are not jumping at the gun to give you a loan, and some girls find it downright gross to have that hair on your face. I learned quite quickly the sacrifices you might have to make to have facial hair. Who knew that people really cared this much about the hair on YOUR face? I would have never guessed that even my dad would one day tell me, "that I looked like the Devil," when I tried to add a new trim and style to my facial hair.

People, the hate is really real! No amount of sunglasses can block this hate! The enemy of your style may even be related to you. No matter, I was always comfortable with my facial hair until I got a professional job. This is when I ran into the high cost of razor prices and the infamous art of getting insane razor burn, once again. So guys, here are a few tips you might want to use.

First, try Dollar Shave Club to save on the high cost of razor prices.

Second, go seek out a local master barber. The guys over at CHOP SHOP on 1 Court Square, Suite 102 in downtown Montgomery do a pretty good hot shave. I saw them personally at Southern Makers 2016 and was very impressed. Here is there Facebook link, https://www.facebook.com/CHOP-SHOP-627719494002982...

Third, you can invest in your very own straight blade razor with sharpening kit. If you have the confidence to do this then my hats off to you. Be careful around the jaw! A good shave always looks good, but a bad shave with nicks and cuts all over your face probably looks worse that just keeping the facial hair.

Finally, make sure to invest in some aftershave! This isn't like the "Home Alone" movie where it looks like you're putting some toxic material onto your face. This will actually save you from razor burn and will ease the irritation that you may experience throughout the day after a shave.

Guys, we may be better off just getting our faxes waxed or investing bottles of Nair (do not actually put this on your face) because of the complications with shaving. But once you get the hang of it, there's nothing to it. Just go slow at first and with time you'll be a shaving master. Good luck in your shaving endeavors, gentlemen!