NEW BEARD enthusiasts who have used lockdown to grow facial are being urged to ensure it both looks and does good thanks by buying a British grooming brand launched by a cancer survivor which raises money for charity.
Surveys suggest as many as one in three men have been growing a beard since lockdown and with some people starting to return to work, as restrictions ease in England, ThatchFace founder and CEO Ben Cleaver is asking these new beard owners to give their hairy chops a chance before shaving them all off and see how easy they can be to maintain with simple grooming.
Ben explains: “We know there are some men who aren’t able to grow their beards because of work or other who have wanted to but been afraid to take the plunge until now.
“Lockdown has allowed lots of men to experiment with facial hair as not really going out for weeks means they won’t see anyone during the early patchy phases and they don’t have to put up with the teasing that often comes with a new beard, whilst they try and get a sense of it it suits them and whether it is something they want to keep long term.”
Now lockdown, is starting to ease, very slightly in England, Ben is urging these men to give beard grooming a try for a month before giving their new hairy chops the chop.
Ben said: “I know from experience that a beard can be both a personal statement and also a facial friend – as mine saw me through cancer treatment so I asking people to remain loyal to their new beard for at least a month after lockdown, and try a good beard oil, ideally one like ThatchFace which donates some of its profits to charity before shaving it all off.
“A beard can be for life, not just for lockdown so if anyone needs any tips of how to keep their new beard well kept we are always happy to offer support on the website to customers and non-customers alike.”
ThatchFace was founded by Ben, who knew from the outset he wanted his beard care brand to be about more than just a great product. So he donates ten per cent of all profits to charity; a decision influenced by a cancer diagnosis he received when he was 21.
In 2009 Ben, who was in the final year of his degree studying Marketing at De Montfort University, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Following surgery to remove the original tumour, he then underwent a nine-week course of chemotherapy to cure the remaining cancer that had spread to his groin.
The surgery and treatment were successful, but it was an experience Ben has never forgotten and it provided the driving force behind his decision to set up his own business and donate one tenth of profits to male cancer and mental health charities.
Ben, 32, who lives with his wife in Leighton Buzzard, said: “I remember during treatment despite losing all my hair the one thing that wouldn’t stop growing was my beard, so I became really focused on caring for it, and although a good few years have passed, my passion for all things beard has remained!
“Creating ThatchFace is my way of coupling my passion with supporting a really worthy cause.”
The idea for the business came about after experimenting with different oils and scents in their kitchen. Ben and his wife Leanne soon realised they were onto something, however, and set about creating a range of homemade male grooming products.
They now offer a selection of three premium beard oils, made using a range of natural ingredients for subtle yet distinctive scents as well as wooden beard combs and brushes.
ThatchFace support Testicular Cancer UK (a Checkemlads funded project), who are a charity focusing on supporting men with a testicular cancer diagnosis as well as raising awareness of testicular cancer.
Ben said: “I’ve been involved with Checkemlads for a number of years and they are a truly fantastic organisation that is run by volunteers who work hard to raise awareness of Testicular Cancer but also help to deal with the mental side through a support community on Facebook. I’m extremely glad to be able to support their incredible work, community.”
To find out more about ThatchFace or to purchase any of their products, please visit www.ThatchFace.com.