No business like mo' business

Having dwelt in fashion purgatory for nigh on 30 years, it's becoming clear that facial hair is back on the agenda. If David Beckham or Johnny Depp can do it, well, you can too. After being dealt an almost fatal blow by the Village People, the moustache has recently been the choice only for daring bon viveurs, but thanks to Movember's efforts in raising awareness of prostate cancer there has been a welcome resurgence in its popularity. So if you've elected to to join the fun (and further an important cause) by deciding to propagate the hair under your nose into something more substantial than a transparent caterpillar, you are entering a brave new world. One in which only the daring and adventurous can prosper.

The first rule of growing face fuzz is that it's a bit of a love or hate thing with the ladies. You'll either immediately be consigned to the bin or suddenly become the object of their desire.  A man who's ready to step outside the bathroom and brave opprobrium from work colleagues or open ridicule on public transport is someone who's clearly got buckets of confidence, and we all know how attractive that can be.

The sad truth is, however, that we can't all pull it off. Some of us are folically challenged in the face region and if six months hard growth amounts to what looks like a teenager's embryonic bum fluff then it's probably best to forget it. If, on the other hand, you have the potential to match George Clooney in the five-o-clock shadow stakes, then it's definitely worth embracing change and going for it big style. Why not reach for that beautiful, bushy beard? You'll save yourself the pain of shaving every day and enter a new, fun, invigorating and bristly phase in your life. The only hurdle is the slightly itchy stage early on, but push on through, it will be worth it.

One of the most important factors in growing a moustache or beard is that you must look after and nurture it, unless of course you think you can win over that special someone with the unkempt wildman look. Invest in a quality beard trimmer with appropriate attachments and a high quality razor and, if you want to go truly traditional, go for a badger hair brush. Depending on levels of growth, trim at least every other day to achieve an elegant look. For the truly sartorial or those dreaming of a career in the RAF, wax can be applied to the end. We recommend www.executive-shaving.co.uk for supplies.

Unlike the fairer sex, which values the use of highlighting and shadow on their faces, men are mostly ignorant to the possibilities of how a subtle change can improve your lot. As any woman will tell you, accessories and attention to detail can make a world of difference to your look. An idiosyncratic moustache or carefully grown beard line can provide fantastic definition and complement you in unexpected ways. Once an account manager from Basingstoke, you can now fool them into thinking you're actually a rugged backwoodsmen from Manitoba. A real man.

For those with stamina and guts, your final port of call will be the World Beard and Moustache Championships, a competition that seems to be dominated by Germans with truly anarchic displays of facial hair. C'mon chaps, get growing and lets see if we can beat them at their own game.

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