Connie Herman noticed that her husband, Travis, had all but given up in the looks department. He was too busy being a working father to put any time and effort into his appearance. Connie and Travis were happy together, but Connie had pretty much forgotten what Travis looked like under his huge, unkempt beard.
Travis decided to call in some backup to help him look a little neater for his wife. Once the transformation started happening, there was no turning back. Keep reading to see how the entire makeover happened and to see how Connie reacted to the new Travis.
She Had A Problem With His Beard
Connie and Travis had a near-perfect relationship. Connie adored Travis and thought that he was an excellent father, provider, and friend. Unfortunately, there was something about Travis' face that Connie just couldn't bring herself to love.
Connie hated Travis' giant bushy beard. Every time this couple hugged, Connie would get a face full of beard hair. It wasn't the romantic embrace she was hoping for. Connie asked Travis to shave his beard multiple times, but Travis had grown attached to his facial hair— literally and figuratively.
Meet Travis Herman
This is Travis Herman. He has quite a large beard. Connie and Travis live in Atlanta, Georgia. Travis works as a brewmaster at the craft ale brewing company that he co-founded.
Travis works long hours and he rarely has to meet with customers or sales reps, so his appearance didn't affect his job that much. Because he worked in a large warehouse, he could get away with looking messy and unkempt at work.
Travis Definitely Looked The Part
Travis definitely looked like a brewmaster. He worked in casual clothes that made it easy for him to move around, lift heavy equipment, and do his job properly. He grew out his beard because— why not? Shaving is a lot more work than not shaving.
Every now and again he would shave off the hair on his head, just so it wouldn't fall into his eyes. He didn't pay much attention to styling. His friends at the brewery were all sporting similar looks, so Travis fit right in.
There Was No Taming This Beast
Even Travis admitted that his wife thought his beard was unruly. He knew all of that hair drove her crazy. Travis did take pride in his beard, though. He would at least brush it.
When he brushed his beard, he would brush it over the sink. That would create a trail of little beard hairs all over the bathroom that he and Connie shared. It drove Connie insane when Travis left all those little beard hairs in the sink.
Travis Decided To Make A Change
Travis knew that he had let himself go in the looks department. He wanted to do something drastic to show Connie that he still cared about looking good for her. So Travis contacted the Rachel Ray Show. He knew that the show had a makeover team that often helped out people in his situation.
Kyan Douglas was the staff member from the Rachel Ray Show who was put on Travis' case. The makeover was supposed to be a surprise, though, so Kyan had to work very sneakily.
A Midnight Arrival
Kyan arrived at Travis's house in the middle of the night when Connie and the couple's children were asleep. Kyan has a lot of experience helping men look their best. He gained international popularity while he was on the first installment of the TV show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
Now Kyan regularly does makeovers for the Rachel Ray Show. This was the first time he did a secret transformation at 4 AM.
It Wasn't Just Kyan Who Had To Be Sneaky
Kyan didn't arrive at Travis' house by himself. He had a whole camera crew with him. Everyone on the team had to be super quiet to avoid waking Connie or Travis' sons.
The camera crew worked all night to make sure that they captured every bit of Travis' makeover. Travis knew that Connie would want to see the whole process after the big reveal. Clips from the makeover eventually made their way onto YouTube which caused this heartwarming story to go viral.
Meeting Each Other For The First Time
Somehow, Travis managed to get the whole crew into his home without alerting his wife or his kids. Travis was excited to start working with Kyan. As soon as the two men met, they shook hands and hugged each other.
Already, Travis knew this was going to be the start of a beautiful friendship. He knew Kyan would be able to help him surprise Connie with a whole new look.
The Whole Team Got To Work
Kyan was ready to give Travis an entire makeover, but they had to tackle his beard first. That was the part of him that was most in need of a change. Kyan brought hairstylist Patricia along with him to Travis' house. Her job was to cut and style Travis' hair.
Kyan and Patricia had a little talk about how they were going to proceed, and then Patricia began her work.
Everyone Was On The Same Page
Kyan looked at Travis' hair and guessed correctly that Travis had just been taking clippers to his head himself whenever he felt like his hair was getting too long. Patricia started cleaning up Travis' hair before they addressed his beard.
Kyan looked at Travis for a minute and then told him that he wanted to see the whole beard gone. Travis immediately and enthusiastically agreed and said, "let's do it!"
Patricia's Haircut Of Choice
The facial hair transformation was going to be the most dramatic part of Travis' makeover, but his haircut was also going to be quite important to his overall appearance. Patricia decided to give Travis a fade cut, which means she left his hair longer on top and shorter near his neck.
Kyan agreed that a fade cut would enhance Travis' natural bone structure. After the cut was done, they added some styling product into Travis' hair s a finishing touch.
Time To Get Rid Of The Beard
After the haircut was finished, it finally was time for the beard to come off. Travis' face was ready to be reintroduced to the world. Patricia carefully shaved the right side of Travis' face.
With just one half of his beard gone, Travis could already feel the difference. His right side felt a lot lighter than his left. Travis was happy that this transformation was almost complete. Pretty soon he'd be able to show Connie his new look.
Feeling Like A New Man
The beard was coming off slowly but surely, and pretty soon everybody in the room could see Travis' smiling face. Travis thought that he looked pretty awesome without all of that facial hair.
Travis looked a lot younger without his scraggly beard. He wasn't hiding behind all of that hair anymore. His face was finally visible to the rest of the world. The whole look was coming together. Patricia did an excellent job.
Completing The Look
After all the hair had been shaved off, Travis had a clean new look that any man would be jealous of. Now he just needed some new clothes to go with his new face and hair.
Kyan planned ahead. He already found some clothes that would go perfectly with Travis' freshly shaven face. Kyan opened a suitcase he had brought with him that was full of outfit options for Travis to try on.
Clothing Tips Every Man Should Follow
Travis didn't have much of a wardrobe other than the casual T-shirts he wore to work, so he had a lot to learn from Kyan. Kyan has a few simple rules for how to dress well as a man. Firstly, he thinks all guys should have a well-fitting pair of dark jeans.
He also thinks that dark boots go perfectly with dark jeans. They're comfortable and practical. Kyan added a dark denim shirt to the outfit to create a slimming effect.
Will Connie Even Recognize Him?
The transformation was a huge success. The makeover took hours, and by the time it as over, it was almost time for Connie to come down for breakfast. It seemed like Connie was taking forever to come down. Travis was so excited to show off his new look to his wife.
Travis had a feeling Connie was sleeping in, so he sent her a text to wake her up and get the ball rolling.
The First Look
The scene was set and everybody was waiting for Connie to make her entrance. Cameras were in place to capture her first reaction to Travis' new look. Finally, she walked down the stairs with her sleepy son in her arms. The first thing she said when she saw Travis was, "Oh my gosh!"
Connie ran down the stairs and wrapped her arms around her husband. She said that she thought he was at a poker game all night.
Connie Was Overjoyed About Travis' New Look
Connie was completely surprised by the transformation and she was delighted by the results. She told the crew that they made Travis look like the man she first met all those years ago before they got married. She said she loved being able to see his face again.
Connie couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that Travis didn't have a beard anymore. She kept touching his face in disbelief. She said that she absolutely loved his new look from head to toe.
Connie And Travis Got To Appear On Television
After the secret transformation was over, both Travis and Connie were invited to appear on the Rachel Ray Show. When Rachel asked Connie how she liked Travis' new look, Connie was almost in tears when she answered.
She said that she missed seeing Travis' beautiful face, and she thanked both Patricia and Kyan for all of their hard work. Ray joked about the fact that Travis and Connie met when they were teenagers before Travis could even grow a beard.
Travis' True Feelings About His Beardless Face
When Rachel asked Travis if he liked his new look, he said that he liked it, but that it was a bit more work to maintain than his bushy beard. That probably wasn't what Connie was hoping to hear. It looks like the regular shaving routine was too much work for Travis to stick to.
Just one year after he appeared on the Rachel Ray show, Travis posted this photo on his Facebook page. It looks like the giant beard is back. Hopefully, Connie didn't get too used to his bare face.
Travis' Looks Over The Years
Travis' transformation went viral on the internet thanks to the Rachel Ray Show, but that bare-faced look wasn't the only look that he's sported in recent years. While he was buzzing his hair himself prior to appearing on the show, once upon a time he had long flowing locks that he tucked behind his ears.
Even though Travis let his beard grow back, I bet Connie's pretty happy that he didn't let his hair grow back too.
A Family Photoshoot
In this photo that we found on Travis' social media, he looks a bit more put together This could be because he's dressed up for a professional photo shoot. It looks like somebody with some photography experience took this photo.
Travis still has long hair in this photo, but it's not as long as it once was, and it's slicked back in a neat and tidy way. The whole family looks like they put in some effort for this photo.
A Blast From The Past
Travis and Connie's kids look a bit younger in this photograph. Back in the day, Travis had a full head of hair, but he didn't keep his hair long. He still had his beard and mustache, but his facial hair seems a little shorter and tidier in this photo.
Do you think Travis looks better bare-faced, or with a little bit of a bushy beard? The clean look might be more professional, but the beard seems to be more him.
A Mohawk Just For Fun
After his makeover, Travis decided to experiment with his look a bit more. In this photo, he looks like he's trying out a mohawk, just for fun. The mohawk didn't last too long. This hairstyle takes a bit of work to maintain and we already know that Travis doesn't like to put too much effort into a grooming routine.
I wonder if Connie liked the mohawk more than the long hair.
How Travis Looked On His Wedding Day
Connie said that when she first met Travis, he didn't have any facial hair. Well, on his wedding day he did have a bit of a soul patch under his lip. Could this have been a sign of what was to come?
Let this be a warning to all the ladies out there: if a man has a soul patch on his wedding day, he might just be open to growing a giant bushy beard a few years down the road.
He's Still A Success Story
Even though Travis Herman didn't successfully maintain his new look, he did successfully build his brewery into a thriving business. In the past few years, Scofflaw Brewing Co. has expanded, and Travis was even able to open a second location.
Travis clearly loves his job, and he's passionate about promoting his business at festivals, events, and tours. Travis seems to get along really well with all of his co-workers and he loves going to work every day— beard or no beard.
The Beard Is Now Part Of The Business
You may have thought Travis Herman looked a bit more handsome when he was clean-shaven, but his big bushy beard is now a huge part of Scofflaw Brewing Co. The company took a picture of Travis with the beard and turned it into a mascot of sorts. It's now part of their brand.
In the picture, Travis the brewmaster looks like a mad scientist who's mixing up some special potions.
What Style Tips?
Travis also seems to have forgotten all those style tips that Kyan taught him. There are hardly any photos of Travis on Facebook wearing dark jeans or dark boots. Mostly he's gone back to his original look.
Travis doesn't feel like he needs to be fashionable to do his job properly. Nobody can see him brewing bear anyway unless he posts a photo of himself brewing beer on social media...
Connie And Travis Are Closer Than Ever
Even though Travis didn't maintain his new look, he and Connie are still happily married. She never asked him to change (although she was thrilled when he did change). Connie may have been disappointed when Travis let his beard grow back, but she wasn't disappointed in any major way.
These two are still going strong. Connie is a huge supporter of Travis' business and Travis works hard to support Connie and his sons.
It's Hard To Make A Change
Humans are creatures of habit. We get stuck in our ways and it can be hard to make a change. Travis went out of his way to do something nice for his wife. He left his face bare for a little while, but then he decided that he had to be true to himself.
Now we know what his face looks like without the giant beard, and Connie knows that her husband will do anything to make her happy.
A Marriage That Was Going Well
Iris and Thomas had a great married life together. They'd gotten married two years ago, looking after each other and enjoying each other’s company every day. "Where are we going to go on our next vacation?" was a common topic of conversation.
But it wasn’t smooth sailing forever. The two were soon going to face insurmountable problems that they never would have foreseen. A single photograph would change their destiny.
The Beautiful Wife, Iris
This is actually the photo that Iris sent to her husband Thomas. As for the photo, at a glance, it looks like a regular selfie. From the picture, we can see that Iris is young and very beautiful.
But Thomas wasn't just mesmerized by her beauty when he saw the photo. There was more to it than that. This single photo infuriated Thomas and even led to his decision to divorce Iris.
They Were The Couple That Everyone Envied
Iris was a beautiful woman who was the envy of many, and Thomas was a handsome man. Their relationship appeared so perfect in the eyes of those around them that no one would have thought that there would be such a major obstacle there.
What most people wouldn't have suspected is that the main problem between them was the job that Thomas held. Of course, Thomas always cared about his wife, but that wasn’t where Iris’s frustration lay.
Thomas Traveled Around The World
Thomas had a very eventful life as a salesperson for an insurance company. Almost every week, he toured different parts of the world on business trips. Every day, he worked late at night and left home early every morning. Thomas's working life did not change after his marriage.
Thomas had always been one of the best salespeople in the company, gaining new policyholders almost every day. But his success meant that they couldn’t spend enough time together.
Thomas Was Also Ready To Change This Situation
Thomas himself had a problem with not being able to easily spend time with Iris. No matter how different their working hours were, Iris was there to support him as much as she could.
His business results were excellent, so of course, his pay was high and he accumulated a lot in savings since they got married. And just when he had saved a ton of money, Thomas made a decision to prove his love for Iris.
Would This Be A Turning Point For Thomas?
His life was busy with his job, but Thomas had enjoyed it. However, when he got married, he began to wonder if he could keep that way of life.
He was always apologizing because there were some days that he was only home while Iris was sleeping. They could only spend weekends together. They tried to have as much fun as possible, but he was too tired to do so at times.
He Made The Decision In Paris
Although they rarely argued at first, the more the days that Thomas was away on business, the more they bickered. Iris, who had tried not to complain for so long, was slowly reaching her limit.
On the day of the photo text, Thomas was in a hotel room in Paris, where he was on a business trip. Iris had just sent him a message of annoyance. That's when he made a final decision.
He Decided To Quit His Job
Thomas had continued to devote himself to his work since his marriage. However, now that there was someone important in his life, he began to think that he needed to focus on the future. Fortunately, he had built a sales record all these years, so he had enough money to get a loan and buy a house.
He was going to quit that job and find new employment where he could spend more time with Iris. He had a number of qualifications in addition to his many references, so he would have no problem finding his next job.
Passionate About Work
Thomas was considering quitting his job, finding a new regular job, and even buying his own house, an idea he liked very much. With this plan, he thought he could finally give Iris back all the loneliness he had caused her so far.
The day he decided to quit his job, Thomas wanted to tell her as soon as possible. But he waited until the following weekend to tell her because he wanted to surprise Iris. It was hard to keep the surprise to himself, but he managed to keep the secret.
The Ways In Which Couples Interact With Each Other
On weekdays, the only way to communicate with each other was by email, as they couldn't physically be together. They kept in close contact with each other on every topic, no matter how trivial.
Now, a weekend to spend with Iris was just around the corner. Thomas used his free time on that fateful Paris business trip exchanging emails and photos, picturing how happy Iris’s face would be when she got the news.
A Thursday Afternoon Changed Their Lives
It was now Thursday afternoon. The previous week had been a good time for both of them to take time off work, but Thomas was now in Paris on a business trip. The couple exchanged messages on WhatsApp, as usual.
They happily talked about their plans, like what they wanted to do for the weekend and how the workday was unfolding. It was business as usual while they awaited their weekend. Until she sent this photo…
Pay Attention To The Bed
Now let's take a moment to look at the photo Iris sent on Thursday afternoon. She had come home tired from work, changed in her bedroom, and sat quietly on the bed next to a guitar.
At first glance, it just looks like a snapshot from everyday life, but Thomas saw something strange. When Thomas saw the photo, he was so angry that he regretted his decision to quit his job.
Thomas Couldn't Believe His Eyes
At the end of that bed, there was a reflection of something that should never have been photographed. Maybe Iris wanted to share a photo of her at home, relaxing, with Thomas.
And Thomas had probably seen pictures like this before too, and didn't pay much attention. However, this time the photo was too glaring. And what was in that photo made Thomas change his mind and even decide to divorce his wife.
A Photo Can Change A Person's Mind
The moment he saw the photo, his feelings started to simmer. The memories of their good times together so far now seemed miserable. Normally, the brightly colored streets of Paris made him happy, but now he only saw run-down buildings.
Thomas had tears in his eyes. Their union, which had only been for just over two years, was about to completely fall apart.
What Is Wrong With The Photo?
So what's the reason this photo changed their lives? What was it that shocked Thomas so much that he decided to divorce his beautiful Iris on the spot?
Let’s take a closer look at this photo. There are messy blankets and clothes on the bed– signs of an ordinary room in an ordinary home. So what was so wrong with this seemingly innocent photo?
It Didn't Take Thomas Much Time To Figure Out What Was Going On
Just a few minutes ago, the couple had exchanged pleasant messages between them. In one fell swoop, the whole thing turned into a meaningless conversation. His face in the photo with the guitar no longer looked like the Iris Thomas knew.
The overly careless photo of Iris tormented Thomas and turned his own life upside down. All because of this detail overlooked by Idris.
Details, Details
The hand of a man was visible in the photo. In fact, his wife, Iris, had been living a double life with her longtime partner and Thomas.
Until now, Iris had tried to hide this cheating partner from Thomas so he wouldn't find out, of course, but she hadn’t been careful enough this time around. It’s also possible that he was destined to find out about it sooner or later.
He Decided To Divorce
Thomas couldn't forgive Iris, so he immediately decided to file for a divorce. The fact that he had been betrayed by his beloved for so long plunged him into a deep valley of grief.
Besides regretting all his time at work, various emotions filled his mind. He wondered what he had done wrong. After the divorce, Thomas really spent some time reflecting on himself. And what a turning point this turned out to be for him!
A Turning Point In Thomas' Life
A few months after the divorce, Thomas decided to go on a trip to think through everything. His mind had reached its limits with the changes that had taken place in his life over the past few months.
Thomas had not yet quit his job. So even though he was on vacation, he sometimes had to open his laptop to check his email. That night, Thomas had gone to a cafe with his laptop.
Of All The Cities He Could Have Traveled To…
The city that Thomas visited was not a place he had any special feelings for. Thomas wanted to be alone in a place he did not know, and one that was not filled with feelings and memories of Iris.
This city had a strange atmosphere that seemed somewhat run-down, but which was also somewhat nostalgic. Later, Thomas would be glad about selecting this location.
A Coffee That Would Change Everything
The cafe was full of people having fun, including a couple and a group of close friends. It was an easy-to-access cafe, so Thomas continued to check his emails throughout the day as usual.
Then, something suddenly caught his attention and he looked up from the screen he had been focusing on. And he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw what was going on. He could feel his heart beating faster and faster.
Time Had Passed, But The Past Was Not Forgotten
Thomas was still very close to a friend of his that he'd had since he was a child. They had such a great relationship, like best friends, almost like family. This childhood friend was known for always having a smile on her face.
She had encouraged him and always made him laugh. This friend and Thomas had precious memories together of the past, which could never be forgotten.
Her Name Was Angela
A young woman about his age walked into the cafe and he stopped what he was doing. The expression on the woman's face made him doubt his eyes, but it was not a misunderstanding or a mistake. How could he forget this face?
The woman was Angela, the childhood friend of Thomas who he knew very well. They grew up together and even became lovers when they were in high school.
The Streets Looked Different To Thomas
It was his first time in this town and, unlike the gloomy conditions of the day, he now looked outside and saw beautiful lights shining in the streets. The effect was gently pleasing.
He had felt lonely in the city, but before he knew it, that feeling was gone. He felt his heartbeat for the first time in a long time. Thomas rose from his seat in the cafe.
Facing The Past
Thomas and Angela became lovers in high school, but then Angela had to move abroad because of her parents' jobs. After the physical distance between them, they did not keep in touch and went about their lives separately.
It was a miracle that they found themselves in the cafe they were now in. Thomas hadn’t thought of Angela since he had married Iris, but when he saw her in front of him, he felt his memories burn deep inside him.
A Fateful Reunion
Thomas decided to follow his sincere emotions and wave at her, despite the fact that he had a lot of thoughts and feelings going through his mind. As Angela was by herself in the cafe at the time, it wasn't that hard to get her attention.
At the sound of his voice, Angela looked at Thomas, then immediately smiled. She clearly hadn’t forgotten about Thomas. This was quite a reunion.
They Talked Together For Hours
Angela just wanted to stop by this cute cafe for a drink on the way home from work. She was a little tired from work and wanted a change of scenery. She certainly didn't expect her childhood friend, Thomas, to be there.
It had been a long time since they last saw each other, so they chatted non-stop. Angela had heard about the divorce from a friend and felt sorry for him. And she had also broken up with her boyfriend a few months earlier, which turned out to be the right time!
Angela Dreamed Of Being Reunited With Thomas
A few months after breaking up with her boyfriend, Angela enjoyed her independence, but when she was alone she began to reflect on her past relationships. Those were the moments she thought of Thomas, whom she had dated when she was a student.
They hadn't broken up because they didn’t love each other, but because the physical distance had become a huge obstacle. Angela still hadn’t managed to get Thomas out of her mind.
Time Flies
Angela and Thomas had a very pleasant evening, absorbed in their stories and smiling at each other as if they were bringing the past to life. For Thomas, these few hours seemed to make him forget all the bad experiences he had endured in the past few months.
Before they knew it, there was no one in the cafe and it was around 2 a.m., closing time. They both left the cafe with a sigh of relief. Then Angela said something unexpected to Thomas
The Start Of A New Life
As they left the cafe, Angela looked Thomas straight in the eye and asked him a question they would never have dreamed of just hours earlier.
She asked him, "Would you like to come home and have a drink with me?" Of course, Thomas answered without hesitation. Then they took each other's hands and returned to his home hand-in-hand. What happened during their new life together is a story for another time.