I HAVE something of a love/hate relationship with my own facial hair. But it has absolutely nothing to do with the perception that men who sport a beard are somehow not trustworthy, as if they have something to hide or disguise.

It is more to do with the fact that I can’t decide whether I actually want to have the thing attached to my face or not.

The hirsute look seems to have enjoyed a rise in popularity in recent years and sometimes this has led me to question my own facial fungus – not that I would go as far to say I’ve ever experienced a case of real beard envy.

Every so often when out and about I see a beard that looks so ridiculous, or just plain rubbish, and it makes me wonder if my effort is looked upon in a similar manner.

It can then lead me to take the rash decision to get rid of it and then more or less every time I do choose to go clean shaven, I regret the decision pretty sharpish.

This is partly because I end up looking like a 12-year-old and also as it is normally quite some time since I will have wielded a razor towards my face, I end up covered in a collection of small cuts.

For example, just last week I opted for the clean cut look and I am now already willing the return of full coverage.

In a bored moment, a quick straw poll among my friends suggested this would be the best course of action – maybe they just don’t like to see all of my face at once?

After it has been reinstated it won’t be an elaborately pruned facial adornment, there isn’t much point when daily shaving sessions are part of the reason why I regularly sport a beard.

One day I would love to have the perseverance and patience to create a waxable ’tache and beard combo, for the simple fact that I will be able to say I have I done it.

As a questionable and slightly pointless ambition to have in life, I get the feeling it would only serve to help spark the love/hate cycle all over again.