How to Perfect the 5 O’Clock Shadow

My step-father is one of only a few men I’ve ever known that can grow an actual 5 o’clock shadow in the truest definition of the term. He could shave with a safety razor first thing in the morning and, by 5 PM, have an outline of a stubble beard.To put things in perspective, he also could practically grow facial hair all the way up to his eye sockets (that’s the kind of crazy beard-growing genetics we’re talking about).But for the vast majority of men, having a 5 o’clock shadow eight or nine hours after shaving isn’t realistic. Most of us just don’t grow facial hair at that rate.So when we talk about the 5 o’clock shadow as a beard style, we’re really talking about a short stubble beard—the kind that takes a few days to form after shaving. And when it’s done right, that tiny bit of stubble can send a powerful message regarding your masculine capabilities (however you choose to define those).But like time itself, the 5 o’clock shadow is elusive; hard to hold on to. It’s a cycle—you get...