That was also my experience, I grew my beard a couple of time, just to see how long it goes and also laziness. I never cared with specific beard products or trimming it and stuff. I washed it with the same head&shoulders I use for my hair. In my country is normal to great with a kiss in the cheeks so it was a somewhat common occurrence that a woman would feel and comment how soft it was. But that was it, their are impressed by the softness not the looks of how long it was, this was only guys, guys were impressed by the size of the bears and all. That is not to say that woman necessarily prefer shaved face, in my experience mostly (in my country that is) prefer a trimmed beard. I guess it is more mature or mainly. My now wife certainly preferred me to just trim down the beard instead of shaving it.