Solid advice

Pete from Natick wrote to Boston Globe style columnist Christopher Muther, expressing fears that, if he let his scruff approach critical beard mass, he would be considered a hipster wannabe.  Muther quite correctly reminded him that a beard should be an independent venture, a growth of self-expression, and something that should be pursued with pride.  Huzzah.  I would add that a half-assed beard, the sophomore scraggle, should always be a faux paus.  Own it.