All week, we're celebrating GQ's 2017 Grooming Awards. Mostly, that means we're highlighting the brands, concepts, and grooming products—47 of them, to be exact—in the world of men's grooming that we're most jazzed about. But it struck us that we need to think about how guys take care of themselves, too. A dude with permanent stubble doesn't really need a shaving-cream recommendation—and the guy shaving every day isn't exactly in need of beard oil. Which brings us to the fundamental question here: to shave or not to shave? Does a guy need to shave every day? Should he? Here, writers Adam Hurly and Cam Wolf take up the debate.
Point: Shaving Is Overrated
Co-signed by the fashion world long ago, perma-stubble has finally won acceptance in the workplace. And thank God. It obliterates all the attendant concerns of shaving—redness, razor burn, ingrown hairs, parched skin, nicks, and those damn razors—in one fell swoop.
Just pick the length: anywhere from one to three days of growth. And then, with a single device like the Grooming Award winner Panasonic Beard Trimmer, keep your facial hair standardized, sans agony. It's short enough that the word “beard” doesn't occur to people. Plus, it works even if your facial hair is patchy as hell. But the best part is that you never have to use a razor again. R.I.P., shaving. You had a good run. —Adam Hurly
Counterpoint: Perma-Stubble Is Perma-Annoying
There are two types of men in this world: Ryan Gosling and not–Ryan Gosling. The former pulls off stunts like “permanent stubble,” pleated pants, and winking at people without looking creepy. The rest of us should accept that stubble makes us look like we spent a couple of days eating cereal directly from the box and “forgetting” to shower.
A clean-shaven face shows respect for your romantic partners who, because they aren't auditioning for some extreme game show, haven't volunteered to rub their cheeks against sandpaper. And most important, you won't have to spend all day scratching the new growth on your neck like a Chappelle's Show character. —Cam Wolf