Intro Post and Question About Facial Hair in Close Embrace

[oncnawan]

Hello everyone! This is my first post on these forums. I attended a drop-in AT class last Friday and, based on that experience, am now enrolled in a 10-week AT beginner's course beginning October 13. I live near Salt Lake City, Utah (USA).

How does facial hair impact the cheek-to-cheek aspect of full embrace? I have a full beard and am curious about how that will affect followers with whom I (eventually) dance in close embrace. I assume there has to be some tickling involved, especially with shorter followers, that may be distracting. I wash, condition, and brush my beard, and utilize beard balm, etc. to keep my whiskers clean, soft, pleasant-smelling, etc., so it is not so much a hygiene issue (for me at least, I imagine that is not universally true).

Anyway, just something I am curious about. Thanks!

 

[pianistamediano]

Welcome to DF, oncnawan!

I will firstly note that I have seen many, many leaders with facial hair in the past, and that they don't seem to have trouble getting dances. I know of at least two professional couples — Maja Petrovic and Marko Miljevic, Adrien Bariki-Alaoui & Iro Davlanti-Lo — where the man has a full beard.

That said, followers may or may not have reservations about facial hair. If it is as soft as you say, then it shouldn't be too bad, at least when you compare it to stubble (which has a sandpaper-like texture in comparison). Only danger I can see is that it might be very ticklish — but then, hair is ticklish in general. While followers are generally very appreciative of top-notch hygiene, a few might associate your facial hair with uncleanliness, because they don't know what your routine is like. It is what it is.

So it will vary from follower to follower. Ask your teachers and (experienced) followers about their opinions.

 

[oncnawan]

Welcome to DF, oncnawan!

I will firstly note that I have seen many, many leaders with facial hair in the past, and that they don't seem to have trouble getting dances. I know of at least two professional couples — Maja Petrovic and Marko Miljevic, Adrien Bariki-Alaoui & Iro Davlanti-Lo — where the man has a full beard.

That said, followers may or may not have reservations about facial hair. If it is as soft as you say, then it shouldn't be too bad, at least when you compare it to stubble (which has a sandpaper-like texture in comparison). Only danger I can see is that it might be very ticklish — but then, hair is ticklish in general. While followers are generally very appreciative of top-notch hygiene, a few might associate your facial hair with uncleanliness, because they don't know what your routine is like. It is what it is.

So it will vary from follower to follower. Ask your teachers and (experienced) followers about their opinions.

Thanks! I understand and agree with your point regarding some followers having preconceived notions about facial hair and uncleanliness. I will have plenty of time to figure it out while learning in open embrace. I'll definitely ask my teacher and the more experienced followers for feedback.

 

[opendoor]

...have a full beard and am curious about how that will affect followers with whom I (eventually) dance in close embrace..

Hi oncnawan, welcome to DF !

That really is a problem. Anyone who has sensitive skin on their face will react with redness. This is especially true if you sweat while dancing. Of course, a full beard is less scratchy, but some followers won't be able to dance with you in close hold.

I cultivate a three-day stubble. But the problem doesn't matter to me because I dance so well that there still are enough followers around who nevertheless take take the risk. But of course I tell unknown followers in advance: I'm not shaved!

However, experienced dancers do not apply pressure with their heads. Every step is also projected so smoothly that there are no fluctuations in body height when walking. Sometimes the cheeks don't even touch at all, even though it looks like that from a distance. Often you touch your temples and not the entire broad side of your head as well.

 

[Miradamiranda]

Long beards - most definitely not a fan. I might push the embrace a bit more open. It doesn’t happen very often in the tango world. A soft 3-day stubble - just fine. A small very well-trimmed beard is ok - if I like the dancer, I don’t think of it. A sandpaper’ish barely visible 4-o’clock shade - ouch, but I’ll accept it and try to not glide around too much. One of my favorites is always scratchy so I glue my cheek to his at one point and only let go at the end of the tanda.
But the winner is absolutely a fresh shave.

 

[Brummbaer]

How does facial hair impact the cheek-to-cheek aspect of full embrace? I have a full beard and am curious about how that will affect followers with whom I (eventually) dance in close embrace.

I used to have a 'full set' - fitted in with work with the navy and an outdoor life back then...but my wife-to-be insisted it went as far too tickly. Sad to see it go but definite advantages and compensations.

Now I go for another clean shave before a milonga. Sandpaper-like stubble isn't going to endear you to most followers, although some may like the look of a beard (but maybe not the feel). It probably depends on your height relative to most followers (much taller?) and the embrace you, and they, adopt. I suppose if you think that you have to ask, then a clean shave. But I guess it's best to get some honest opinions from your cohort and experienced followers and dress to please.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Hello everyone! This is my first post on these forums. I attended a drop-in AT class last Friday and, based on that experience, am now enrolled in a 10-week AT beginner's course beginning October 13. I live near Salt Lake City, Utah (USA).

How does facial hair impact the cheek-to-cheek aspect of full embrace? I have a full beard and am curious about how that will affect followers with whom I (eventually) dance in close embrace. I assume there has to be some tickling involved, especially with shorter followers, that may be distracting. I wash, condition, and brush my beard, and utilize beard balm, etc. to keep my whiskers clean, soft, pleasant-smelling, etc., so it is not so much a hygiene issue (for me at least, I imagine that is not universally true).

Anyway, just something I am curious about. Thanks!

You'll have to ask the ladies about that one. I'm clean shaven. Don't see too many men with full beards at the local milongas. Depends which you value more--your beard or your tango.

 

[oncnawan]

I am posing the issue out of ignorance (obviously) about how much cheek contact actually occurs, and where specifically on the face. Can the cheek-to-cheek contact angles be adapted to avoid giving the follower a face full of whiskers? Some of these pictures show versions of close embrace that would work for a bearded leader. I suppose it really will depend on the height of the follower.

 

[Bailango]

Welcome to DF, oncnawan!

I will firstly note that I have seen many, many leaders with facial hair in the past, and that they don't seem to have trouble getting dances. I know of at least two professional couples — Maja Petrovic and Marko Miljevic, Adrien Bariki-Alaoui & Iro Davlanti-Lo — where the man has a full beard.

That said, followers may or may not have reservations about facial hair. If it is as soft as you say, then it shouldn't be too bad, at least when you compare it to stubble (which has a sandpaper-like texture in comparison). Only danger I can see is that it might be very ticklish — but then, hair is ticklish in general. While followers are generally very appreciative of top-notch hygiene, a few might associate your facial hair with uncleanliness, because they don't know what your routine is like. It is what it is.

So it will vary from follower to follower. Ask your teachers and (experienced) followers about their opinions.

I have never heard a follower bring up facial hair as an excuse not to dance with anyone. I seen followers dance with everyone from full-on flowing beard to prickliest stubble. In general population in the last decade to decade and half it seems to me that facial hair has become a fashion. Not as many in 20s and 30s used to sport it as they do today.

Thanks god I am not a follower. I would be put off dancing in close embrace with facial hair. The OP’s question is one I have often pondered on.

 

[Bailango]

A soft 3-day stubble - just fine.

Whether a 4 o’clock shadow or 2-3 day stubble, mine feels prickly like sandpaper.

But the winner is absolutely a fresh shave.

I almost always shave right before going out dancing. If I had shaved in the morning and I am going to 6pm or 9pm milonga, I will definitely shave.

 

[opendoor]

..Can the cheek-to-cheek contact angles be adapted to avoid giving the follower a face full of whiskers?

Well, what you lumped together as close embrace are actually two different substyles. In the milonguero style, the right side of the leader's face is held against the right side of the follower. In the salón style, the right side of the leader's face is held against the left side of the follower's face.

 

[Brummbaer]

Well, what you lumped together as close embrace are actually two different substyles. In the milonguero style, the right side of the leader's face is held against the right side of the follower. In the salón style, the right side of the leader's face is held against the left side of the follower's face.

And, whilst those styles are used, it depends on the AT abrazo used where you are, and amongst your cohort, at your stage in your AT journey. Don't forget that the images you posted are posed, professional couples, or selected performance. Real life with strangers can be different.

For whatever their reasons, and yours, some followers (novices?) won't dance in close hold - or maybe not initially.That's their choice and you don't force close hold if undesired (see other threads and discussions). It's the follower's choice. Even then some may not want any facial contact, although short distance from a ticklish beard may be worse - like a follower's hair in your face.

 

[Violetas]

I have never once chosen not to dance with a leader because of his facial hair. In fact, a well-groomed full beard can feel rather nice. That isn't to say that some women won't refuse a tanda because of facial hair, but among my tanguera friends, I don't know of a single one - and it's much more common to decline a dance because of body odor and/or hygiene issues.

I usually don't mind some stubble, but if the leader has poor posture or is actively pressing his chin into my forehead... well, let's just say it won't be my favorite tanda of the night.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

like a follower's hair in your face

 

[Rabbit]

that type of hair isn't a problem, stiff curls can be though