I’m a bearded woman — grooming my facial hair takes love and dedication

Beauty is in the eye of the beard-holder.

A bearded lady who’s embraced her unique countenance has described how she grooms her facial hair in the summer — a routine that requires “love and dedication.”

“The hair on any part of your body gathers heat and sweat, so that applies to my thick beard as well,” South Africa’s Khosi Nkanyezi Buthelezi, 43, told Jam Press of her meticulous mane-tenance routine. “Unlike the hair on my head, I wash and moisturize my beard and then detangle knots twice a day.”

In order to keep her mane at full mast, the Johannesburg resident also trims and hydrates her facial fluff instead of greasing it. That allows her to stay comfortable and also “comb the beard during the warmer months,” the freelance book editor claimed.

Beard beautification is particularly crucial in hot weather when Buthelezi feels her beard is most noticeable due to her choice of clothing.

“Winter outfits include beanies, polo necks and jackets, which offer more coverage and can obstruct people’s view of my chin,” she theorized. “But summer means dresses and more feminine clothing that might look awkward accessorized with a beard.”

Buthelezi has suffered from excessive hair — which affects her chest, back, arms and legs in addition to her face — ever since she was a child.

She first noticed her extreme tufts when she was a teen, but it dismissed her visage as normal because her family members were similarly shaggy, the Daily Star previously reported.

It wasn’t until last year when a doctor finally diagnosed her with hirsutism — a condition that causes people to sprout extra tufts across their body, often due to an excess amount of male hormones.

Buthelezi’s well-forested chin has unfortunately made her a target for awkward stares and cruel remarks from trolls, one of whom allegedly told her she’d just need a penis to “be a male.”

The unwanted attention understandably made Buthelezi want to tame her mane. Unfortunately, despite attempts to remove her beard via shaving, waxing and even laser removal, her hair would grow back with a vengeance each time.

Eventually, she decided to stop trimming and embraced the beard despite the bullying.

“I stopped shaving and instead started to love myself,” said Buthelezi, who’s chronicled her journey to her over 28,000 followers on TikTok. “I learned that self-acceptance is a crucial aspect of self-care.”

And while maintaining her mane can be grueling at times, she’s learned to treat it like any other cosmetic routine.

“Beard care requires love and dedication,” she said. “Some ladies focus on taking care of their hair, nails and skin.”

Buthelezi continued, “But a beard is a combination of hair and skin on a different part of your body. That should also look and feel soft and smell great.”

She’s also learned to pay no mind to haters, declaring.

“I walk around anywhere and everywhere including the mall, restaurants, and events and I have learned to ignore stares and comments as much as possible,” she declared.

“If someone is particularly rude or offensive, I speak up and assert boundaries. I deserve respect and dignity,” she continued. “Unfortunately, people can be judgmental and cruel towards someone who looks different in some way, so it’s important to remember that their opinions and comments do not define my worth.”

Buthelezi says her experience ultimately taught her to “be comfortable and content with how you look, whether you remove all the hair, trim it short or let it grow out.

“Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms, and I am bringing body hair to the beauty equation,” she said.