Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

For the last five years, during which I have learned to blow shakuhachi, and made over 250 flutes,I have had a beard.
I trim it monthly with electric hair clippers using attachments that enable an even, but not close, cut.
so though a Full beard and moustache, it is not heavy or overly thick.

I always wondered how this influenced my blow or the sound produced. I had read an article somewhere that discussed how a thick moustache may act as a baffle. I didn't let my moustache get too thick, trimming it to keep my lip revealed. I also kept the hair just below my bottom lip trim, this is where the shakuhachi rests in my chin, somewhat cushioned.

A week or so back, I got out my electric hair trimmers to trim my beard, with its plastic attachment and began the job. After a few moments I noticed something different, the plastic attachment had fallen off and I had cut the section of beard almost to the skin, perhaps half a millimeter.
Oops, well I had to take it all off now, so I did.

My curiosity then was, "how might this affect the sound of the Shakuhachi ?"

Over the last week I have made two Shakuhachi and have blown my Monty 1.8 and Kono Gyokusui 1.8 for many hours, and my conclusion to this point........

No difference !

And I have been looking for anything subtle, blowing all notes, sustaining long notes, I actually felt a little disappointed not to notice some dramatic change.

Now I'm letting it grow again.

Kel.