“One small act of kindness, one beard at a time” – Liam Patrick
We at BoxHuman take time to celebrate the expert founders behind the businesses. Especially the ones who are inspiring, helping, and bringing light to the world. We do this in order to rebalance some of the negative messages we often hear, see, and receive on a daily basis. We met up with one of these amazing individuals…
Hi Liam, it’s awesome to meet you. Thank you for being our first grooming expert and founder. Let’s get straight into it…Can you please tell us a little bit about you and what you do?
I am the founder of Beard Culture London. The Urban Hub for the Kings take pride in their beards, hair, and appearance. BCL was created at the end of July 2019 with a focus on men’s grooming. I wanted to grow a space where men could come together to feel inspired and supported to look good and feel great. I am employed as a Deputy Head Teacher at an Inner London Secondary School and I have been teaching for over fifteen years. I entered into the teaching profession because I wanted to be a teacher I unfortunately never had as a child. I wanted to try to make a difference in the lives of young people. I am a family man, married with three children and another due in January. Family is everything to me, but it runs closely along with my love for Tottenham Hotspur. I love positive vibes and I believe that we can make a change with at least one small act of kindness each day.
Wow-what an awesome and inspiring start! Can you please tell us a bit more about your business and why did you get into beard grooming – What inspired you to do this?.
The name of my business is Beard Culture London. I was taught from an early age to take care of my physical appearance and mental well-being.
My beard journey began after becoming fed up with having to shave constantly. I found that the dedication and patience necessary to grow a beard as a way of life complemented other aspects of my life where discipline and focus were needed.
I have been inspired to enter into the world of men’s grooming as I recognise that most men from urban backgrounds like to look good but rarely talk about it. I wanted to create a safe space where that was possible while at the same time, cultivating a platform that could showcase the very best in men’s grooming products, grooming tips, and great beards.
That’s very interesting and as a bearded man myself I can certainly relate! Tell me, what is your proudest achievement so far and what is your vision for Beard Culture London.
Great question. I have a few moments that I am particularly proud of:
1. Reaching 7k followers in less than five months of setting up my page to be able to spread nothing but positive vibes.
2. Being interviewed on BBC Radio London ‘The Scene’ by Aurie Style.
3. Having positive, supportive & constructive conversations with men that are battling with ‘men’s issues’.
Responding to DM’s of such a nature and celebrating the appearance of normal guys as a source of upliftment and brotherhood. At the moment we are attracting various brands and product ranges to be featured on our Instagram shop.
We are also building our e-commerce site to become the Urban hub where you can purchase the very best in men’s grooming products. The future looks bright. We never expected to be in the position that we are currently in. It sounds crazy but we would love to be the Amazon for men’s grooming products. At the same time, what is important to us is the evolution of our space as a positive one that can support men’s issues and make a difference in our communities’ social, physical, and mental well-being.
I have also had a number of investors who approached me to develop my own beard care product range… Who knows, with the right offer, we may even get involved in that too.
What an exciting and inspiring business with a great mission too. As we have the privilege to be able to speak with a beard expert…Can you tell us why more men seem to wear long beards now? And what inspired you to grow your beard?
I don’t have the exact reasons why men are growing their beards and unfortunately, there is no conclusive data suggesting a real reason. However, some men claim it makes them feel more masculine, some claim it attracts the opposite sex. For me personally, I feel longer beards are and should be an accepted part of a person’s culture or way of living.
Growing a beard takes an incredible amount of patience and dedication. It’s a way of life. The dedication and commitment together with the accomplishment of being able to do something specifically for myself. There are so many men with great beards on our Instagram page that can be revered. I frequently use the phrase/slogan #nobeardshallgounnoticed meaning any and every beard is an achievement. Regardless of shape or size, wear your beard with pride and confidence.
“Be kind, be useful, and shoot your shot!”– Liam Patrick
Thank you Liam for sharing that! I like many other beard men would definitely be inspired by that hashtag, so thanks for creating it. Okay, so I’m going to fire some quick questions for this next part…Can you tell me 1) What are the top 3 beard grooming tips a man should know when growing his beard? 2) What are the three top products for beards? 3) What top advice would you say to a man who is struggling to grow his beard?
Tip 1: Healthy hair growth starts from within. A healthy balanced diet with plenty of water is essential. Consuming food rich in vitamin A&E is key.
Tip 2: Trim any loose hairs. Trimming your beard every 6-8 weeks helps to maintain a healthy beard and eradicate any split ends.
Tip 3: Never apply an oil or balm to a dry beard. The best time is while your beard is damp. I couldn’t possibly comment on what are the three top products on the market however I am a fan of natural products and those that are cruelty-free and vegan.
I do love the properties of black castor oil and I have found that argan oil has been beneficial to my facial hair too. I dislike toxic chemicals on my skin or hair. I would advise any man that is struggling to grow facial hair to be patient. Beard growth takes time and some people are blessed with genes that allow easy hair growth.
Maintaining a clean face and healthy skin is essential to allow hair growth. One thing that I always ask Kings to do when trying to grow facial hair is to own what they can grow and wear it with pride. I don’t claim to have the biggest and baddest beard out here but I strive to maintain good health in whatever I can grow and wear it with pride and confidence.
Whether it is a full beard or a patchy beard, own it and be proud of the growth you have.
Wow, that is some great advice, thank you! So being a beard expert what advice do you think people should know from your own inspiring business story?
I’ve always played safe. I was never a risk-taker. I do know that you miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take so here I am just shooting my best shot!
The hardest part of my process so far was simply just starting. I was waiting for the perfect plan before executing and it never came. I just simply started by posting my first picture online with the company name Beard Culture London. Everything that has evolved from that has been down to investing pure positive energy into what I do and who I meet. What binds my business and my beard growth is dedication, discipline, and the desire to create the best version of myself.
Thank you, Liam. It’s so good to hear how someone who had thought has created such a great and inspiring platform. Can you tell us…How long have you been growing your beard and what challenges have you faced when ‘growing-out’ your own beard?
My current beard growth is a result of just over a year of growth. I reduced its length over the summer but I plan to grow it as long as I can. the biggest challenge I have faced with my beard is definitely that initial growth phase.
Overcoming the rough look with the itchiness is a hard slog. At the same time a great accomplishment. One of my biggest hurdles was finding the right products to use on my beard. Learning what oils cause dryness or hydrate my hair together with identifying what my hair responds well to.
The biggest challenge was fighting with myself to not cut it off. The early stages make you think, what’s the point but the odd comment from total strangers or people that you least expect that say “I like your beard” gives you hope to battle through to a stage you’re happy with.
Wow, that’s totally relatable! Can I now ask what empowers you on a daily basis and who inspires you and why?
My family empowers me daily. They are my motivation. My wife and my children fill me with the sense that anything is possible. I want to show my children that hard work and being committed to something can make a difference in life.
That is so awesome, thank you for sharing that. And last but not least… A BoxHuman is an empowered individual. They will not be defined by society’s labels. They show the better qualities of humankind, such as strength, kindness, and inspiration. Can you please tell us what makes you a BoxHuman?
I am a BoxHuman because I do what I do for the betterment of others. Whether it’s teaching and inspiring the youth of today, providing an online platform for men to look good and feel great, trying to be a positive role model, and spreading pure, unconditional positive vibes. I am my brother’s keeper! The only way to make a true difference is to put yourself in a position to do so. One small act of kindness at a time.
“Thank you, Liam”
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