“BEARDS CONTAIN FECAL BACTERIA” – THE PUSHBACK

The story circulated earlier this week that men’s beards can contain the kind of bacteria found in feces. Now bearded men are pushing back. Some examples:
Brett David, a 35-year-old creative director, says: “I shower twice a day and use a beard wash in the shower and a beard butter after. It cleans, conditions and makes it shine. Upkeep is key, but that’s universal.”
Madison McGaw, a 29-year-old photographer, says: “I promise I do not have poop on my face. I take care of it – I go to a barber every other week. I comb it and wash it with special products a couple of times a day and I wash my beard whenever I shower. And, yes, I shower every day.”
Demo Perez, 29, of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, a brand ambassador for beard-care company Maestro’s Classic, says: “Our beard wash gets all that dirt that everyone is talking about out of the beard. Everyone always smells my beard – probably about 15 times a day – and they love it. They comment how well-kept it is. I’ve gotten really good at avoiding getting food stuck in it.” He also doesn’t mind advising other men on proper beard hygiene, saying: “The majority of men don’t know how to take care of their beard. I’ll take them aside at the bar and talk to them about their non-conditioned (beard) hair.”
* That’s not creepy at all.
* He’s “gotten really good at avoiding getting food stuck” in his beard? Way to set the bar high.
* So that’s three guys with beards. Are we going to be hearing from all of them?
* I didn’t realize having a beard makes you so sensitive.
* One thing we know about the guy who showers twice a day – he doesn’t live in California.
* Anyone else grossed out by the term “beard butter”?
* When the point is to keep a food out of a beard why name it after a food?
* Enough already. Let’s move on to armpits.
* PHONE TOPIC: Beards – what’s the verdict?