Everyone seems to have a different opinion for what qualifies as having a beard

badgerbadger

I haven't shaved in four weeks and a couple of people called my facial hair a beard after six days, for others it was two weeks, but a few people still say "growing a beard" which to me sounds like they're saying that I don't have a beard yet.

Dord

For me I don't think of it as a proper beard until around the 4 - 6 week mark (once it has filled in), but obviously it depends on the person, style and how quick their facial hair grows.

OldGoat

Interesting thread. Is a beard measured by the length of hair or the length of time it's been growing?
For me a beard is anything more then a few days without shaving. It may not be a full beard but it is a beard none the less. Some men trim and shape their beards to the 'designer' stubble length (hate that term) hence any stubble should then be concidered a beard.

Perhaps the defining criteria should be when You concider it a beard and not when others concider it so. For example, I am currently changing my 'tache. It needs another 5 or 6 months growth before it gets to what I want it to be and as such I feel it's not a PROPER moustache.
However everyone else cannot fail to see the rather large and bushy growth under my nose and it is always refered to as a 'tash by them. For me it's a work in progress.

another1

for me 4 weeks is definitely a beard. now matter trimmed or not for this period it is a beard already.