I grew one in 10 days over Xmas and NY last year. Admittedly it was mostly grey with a few hairs that were worryingly bright coppery ginger (even though my hair is/was brown), but I was rather proud of it.
The conversation with Mrs Slowwww went something like this:-
Slowwww: "I rather like having a beard; I might keep it"
Mrs Slowww, looking at me like I'd gone mad: "Well, it's definitely more Phil Mitchell than George Clooney"
Slowwww: "I take it that means it's going?"
Mrs Slowwww: "Oh yes!!"
...and that was me off to the bathroom.