There are other, even better reasons for wanting to grow a mustache, however. It’s fall, after all, and that means Movember – that lovely, charitable movement which asks men to grow a ‘stache for a good cause.

Let’s take a look at everything Movember, including what it is, who it helps, and other interesting facts.

So, get ready to put down your razors, gents. Movember is almost here.

What is Movember and what does it support?

It all started in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia. A couple of friends, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, met for a beer and part of their conversation concerned the humble mustache’s lack of popularity, at least when compared to years past.

Garone, who’d just come back to Australia from Canada, also mentioned to Slattery how Canadian women loved men with facial hair. After a few beers, they challenged each other, and some 30 other mates, to grow out their mustaches for an entire month (November).

“Movember was kind of a throwaway idea,” Garrone said in a story in news.com.au. “But there’s so much method to our madness.”

Indeed.

How the challenge turned into a cause

Creating a challenge was one thing, but the Movember idea took off after Garone saw a television ad for prostate cancer check-ups at a local medical facility.

Unsure of what prostate cancer entailed, and its prevalence, Garone googled it and was taken aback by what he learned.

For one, prostate cancer is the male equivalent of breast cancer, including in its rate of death and diagnosis.

And from there, Movember took on a whole new meaning.

Movember, and the new meaning of Movember

The first Movember, held in 2003, was described as more of a party than a charity event. But then Garone, Slattery, and their friends decided to take things to a different level because of the initial event’s success at inspiring conversation among men.

The next year, the Movember crew attached a cause to their challenge by raising money to help increase awareness of prostate cancer. They raised $54,000 in 2004 and the rest is history.

Since then, the Movember Foundation has raised over $850 million and funded more than 1,200 men’s projects around the world.

Funds raised by the Movember organization help a wide range of projects from scientific and clinical research to medical technology and government initiatives.

It not only raises money for prostate cancer research and programs, but also for testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.

How much has it grown? Well, Movember is the largest men’s health movement in the world today. Since its beginning, Movember has had over 5.2 million participants while raising record-breaking sums of money for men’s health projects.

How Movember works

The main premise behind the Movember movement remains the same: take the challenge and grow a mustache for the entire month of November.

If you decide to participate, simply make sure that you’re clean-shaven on November 1. You’ll then “donate” your face, so to speak, for an entire month while not only raising funds to important men’s health initiatives, but also while serving as a billboard for these issues.

You can raise money in a variety of ways, including asking for a donation from family and friends (such as an amount of cash for each day you grow your ‘stache), and you can donate money that you’d normally spend on shaving supplies.

Or, you can take bids on what color to dye your mustache and donate the money raised from that (don’t worry, the pink dye isn’t permanent).

You needn’t worry if you can grow a “perfect” mustache either. Some men struggle to grow a mustache, just like some men struggle to grow a beard. However, how your mustache appears isn’t as important as growing one for worthy men’s causes.

What programs Movember supports

While Movember’s original charitable focus was on raising awareness and money for prostate cancer, it also focuses now on testicular cancer awareness and programs, as well as mental health and suicide prevention.

Here’s a brief look at each part of the Movember Foundation’s focus:

Prostate and testicular cancer

It’s safe to say that men’s health is in a crisis mode today. Men are dying, on average, six years earlier than women. Meanwhile, prostate cancer rates will double over the next 15 years, experts say.

Thanks to preventive health screening, slowing the death rate of men with prostate cancer is an attainable goal and one that the Movember movement makes part of its focus.

The Movember Foundation hopes to reduce the number of prostate and testicular cancer deaths by 50% in the next decade.

It also wants to help reduce the number of men who suffer serious side effects from prostate and cancer treatments. In the United Kingdom, 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer during their lives.

Regular health screening is vital in helping men to avoid prostate and testicular cancer, but also for catching it in its early stages to reduce the death rate caused by the diseases.

And a recent study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine showed that men who’ve had testicular cancer have an increased risk of also getting prostate cancer.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology confirms the link between testicular and prostate cancer, which shows that men who’ve had testicular cancer are nearly 6% more likely to get prostate cancer.

Studies also show that men are 2 ½ times more likely to develop prostate cancer they have a family history of it.

Mental health & suicide prevention

There’s no denying the numbers:

• 75% of all suicides in the U.S. are men.
• In the United Kingdom, suicide is among the most common forms of death for men under 35-years-old.
• 800,000 people die from suicide each year according to the World Health Organization.
• Suicide is the leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds.

Clearly, addressing men’s mental health issues – and the tragedy of suicide – borders on crisis proportions. And Movember, the movement that started with a mustache, hopes to reduce the rate of male suicide by 25% by 2030.

To do so, the Movember Foundation focuses on areas such as education while helping men and boys stay mentally healthy, form communities, and encourage men and boys to have the kinds of conversations that aren’t always easy (but sometimes life-saving).

The Man/Art/Action Tribute Pole program in Canada, for example, helps Canadian military veterans deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What does Movember mean?

Movember refers to a movement, initially started in Australia in 2003, that challenges men to grow a mustache during November.

The word “Movember” is a combination of the words “moustache” and “November.” It is a movement in which men stop shaving their moustaches for the month of November.

The goal is to raise awareness and funds to combat prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and other health problems that affect men. What started as a challenge among friends grew into a movement to raise money and awareness for men’s health issues and projects.

What is Movember about?

Movember encourages men to grow a mustache during November but also much more than that. It’s a way to raise awareness and money for men’s health causes, such as prostate cancer research.

What is the Movember Foundation?

The Movember Foundation is the charity that promotes men’s health and raises money for men’s health projects. The foundation has funded 1,200 projects in more than 20 countries.

The Movember Foundation is a global charity that was founded in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, by a group of young men who were inspired by the cause and wanted to make a difference. In its first year, only 30 men took part in what was called the Movember Challenge, but the movement gained traction in the years since and has expanded worldwide.

Last year alone, over 5 million people participated. The foundation raises funds through donations made by participants’ friends and family members online; funds are also raised through merchandise sales and partnerships with companies like TOMS shoes.

What does Movember raise money for?

Movember’s initial focus and fundraising efforts focused on prostate cancer but it also raises money today for testicular cancer and mental health & suicide prevention.

How does Movember work?

Men who participate in Movember agree to, starting from scratch, grow a mustache in November. They can ask family and friends to donate money for every that they grow out their ‘stache, take bids on what color to dye it, and more.

Why do they call it Movember?

Movember gets its name from the challenge of growing a mustache, the original impetus for the movement, in November. Or, you can simply say it’s an important movement that happens in November.

When does Movember start?

Movember starts on the first day of November and ends on the month’s final day. This year’s Movember movement begins on Friday, Nov. 1 and ends on Saturday, Nov. 30.

What’s the difference between Movember and No-Shave November?

While Movember’s focus is on growing a mustache to support men’s health initiatives, No-Shave November asks men to not shave for a month while raising cancer awareness.

Conclusion

Movember represents a win-win situation in every respect.

It not only asks participants to grow and rock a mustache – and many have never grown a mustache before – but also helps raise money and awareness for important men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer and suicide prevention.

If you’re unsure of what kind of mustache to grow for Movember, check out our guide to 26 mustache styles.

Do you participate in Movember? If so, we’d love to have you share your experience with other readers and us. We’d love to hear from you.

Why November? Because it’s the launching pad for No-Shave November, a rallying cry for men everywhere and the chance to grow a beard for a worthy cause.

No-Shave November represents a month-long journey in which participants put down their razors, let their whiskers take over, and raise cancer awareness. In other words, it’s the perfect time to grow a beard, all while helping a vital cause.

No-Shave November and how it all began

No-Shave November’s roots trace to 2009 when a Chicago family of eight siblings, who saw their father succumb to a lengthy battle with colon cancer two years earlier, created a foundation to help raise money for cancer awareness and cancer-related organizations.

No-Shave November, a family-run, web-based organization, raises money for cancer prevention, research, and education. It’s raised over $2 million since its inception.

The movement encourages people to “embrace their hair” – particularly their whiskers – to honor cancer patients who lose their hair during vigorous medical treatments.

Even if you can’t grow a beard, either because of genetics or other roadblocks, you can still participate in No-Shave November.

For example, some hair salons offer discounts on haircuts and even donate some of the funds to an appropriate charity. Women can participate by not shaving their legs or by helping to raise cancer awareness.

No-Shave November rules

It’s not complicated. If you want to grow a beard in November as part of the No-Shave movement, you put down your razor for 30 days and let your facial hair run free.

You can donate the money you’d normally spend on hair maintenance to the No-Shave November cause.

While none of the rules are etched in stone, per se, participants are encouraged to start with a clean slate on November 1. And that means being cleanly-shaven before the calendar turns to November.

For the rest of the month, that means no shaving, trimming, or grooming your beard. Again, the money you donate should be equal to or more than the cost of shaving products you’d normally use.

Participants also are encouraged to use their new beard as a starting point for a conversation that raises awareness about cancer and cancer research.

The bottom line is that you’ll have the perfect excuse to grow a beard – or mustache, for that matter – whether you’re a first-time grower or someone with a bearded past.

Whether you let your whiskers run wild or choose one of the many popular rocking beard styles today, you have a month for which to indulge your inner beardsman.

Are you undecided on what style of beard to wear, perhaps after the No-Shave November movement concludes on Nov. 30? Our handy beard style guide will help you to choose.

How No-Shave November is different from Movember

November is a hairy month, thanks to No-Shave November and Movember. The latter, created in 2003 by a couple of gents in Australia, also helps raise money for worthy causes.

Movember, powered by the Movember Foundation, focuses on the mustache and encourages participants to grow a mustache during November to raise funds and create awareness for men’s health.

Specifically, the foundation raises money for projects, research, and programs related to prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s mental health issues, including suicide prevention.

The Movember movement has participants in over 20 countries, raising $710 million over the years. It provides funding for over 1,200 men’s health programs.

Participants raise funds, and awareness, in a variety of ways through the Movember initiative, including by getting family and friends to donate money for every day they grow their mustache in November.

Like the No-Shave movement, Movember lasts from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30.

It’s fair to say Movember has helped the mustache become more popular after nearly vanishing, figuratively speaking, in many countries.

And it’s all about the mustache: Movember members suggest shaving your beard, or at least trimming it, to shift focus onto the mustache.

To learn more, check out the Movember Foundation website.

The organizations benefiting from No-Shave November

The No-Shave November movement works with three organizations: the Prevent Cancer Foundation, the Fight Colorectal Cancer foundation, and the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Prevent Cancer Foundation

The PCF is among the leading voluntary health organizations in the U.S. It’s a non-profit organization focused on cancer prevention and early detection.

The PCF also emphasizes cancer research and awards grants and fellowships to promising scientists who have novel ideas for the prevention and early detection of cancer.

Fight Colorectal Cancer Foundation

Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of death (in men and women) in the United States, and the Fight Colorectal Cancer organization funds and promotes advocacy and research.

Among the many reasons why the FCC group focuses its energy on colorectal cancer is that the latter is a preventable disease, thanks to screening.

While 1 in 3 people aren’t up to date with colorectal cancer screening, a 2014 American Cancer Society report showed the colon cancer incidence rates dropped 30% in the U.S. over the previous decade, because of increased and improved screening practices.

Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital treats and defeats childhood cancer, including the most aggressive forms of the disease, and families never receive a bill from St. Jude’s, whether it’s for treatment, housing, travel, or food.

What to expect when you’re growing

Many men who participate in the No-Shave November movement are growing a beard for the first time. Good for them – and for you if you fall into that category. The beard journey is one to be enjoyed.

While growing a beard isn’t complicated, necessarily, there are some stages in the process that many men experience – stages which you may or may not have anticipated. Here’s a closer look:

Week 1

Not a lot goes on during the first week of No-Shave November, or anytime that you start from scratch and start growing a beard. You stash your razor and favorite shave cream, gel, or foam and let nature do the rest.

While your beard will grow at a different rate than a lot of men, you’ll start to notice the difference, both in how your face looks and in the time you save by not shaving every morning.

You may even notice that your new beard is a bit patchy or too thin. No worries, because you’re not alone, and it’s no time to panic.

Most men have patchiness and thin roots at this stage of the game – patchiness and thinness that’s likely to go away as your beard becomes longer.

Week 2

Something you may notice during the second week of beard growth is itchiness. Beard itch is common and, honestly, often uncomfortable enough that many men reach for their razor and shave away the issue – and their new beard.

Don’t do it.

Remember, you’re growing a beard for a good cause, and, in most cases, beard itch will vanish in a week or two. Why does it itch? In part, because your new growth of facial hair pulls the body’s natural oil (sebum) from the skin and leaves your skin feeling very dry.

All hair starts off as a fine, fuzzy hair that can be quite itchy. This is because the ends of these wispy hairs are sharp and pointed (kind of like porcupine quills). As the hair grows longer, it curls back onto itself, which makes it softer and less irritating to the skin.

You don’t have to suffer in silence, however. Week 2 is an excellent time to start applying beard oil to your whiskers.

Beard oil, a magic elixir for any beardsman, moisturizes the skin underneath your beard while relieving the dryness that leads to itchiness.

Week 3

Beard itch may persist – or start – during Week 3, but a bottle of beard oil in your grooming arsenal is a go-to option to help you get through those periods when comfort is in the rearview.

It’s important to keep your facial hair well moisturized at this point (it helps to use a product with a mild exfoliating effect), so that the dry skin underneath doesn’t cause any irritation. Try to avoid shaving during this phase, as you may end up with patchy areas and ingrown hairs.

You may also notice a few scraggly hairs, but you can keep them in check with a good beard balm. The latter helps train your whiskers to lay down instead of sticking out like a porcupine’s quills.

Week 4

The fourth week of No-Shave November represents the home stretch, and at this point you’ll notice your beard starting to take shape.

It’s a good idea to start washing your beard at this step – if you already haven’t – and we strongly recommend using a beard shampoo or wash, rather than the shampoo you use on your scalp hair.

At this point, it’s also a great idea to look ahead and start shaping your beard. Just because No-Shave November ends on Nov. 30 doesn’t mean it’s time to shave off your facial magnificence. Keep on growing, friends.

Eventually your facial hair will become softer and less prickly. That’s because the coarse outer layer of your beard has been worn away by abrasion from rubbing against your clothing or from using products on it.

When you’ve reached this point, you can start styling and shaping your beard.

Conclusion

Whether you’ve always wanted to grow a beard – and are looking for an excuse to start – or think it’s time to grow another, No-Shave November provides the perfect excuse to do it.

By putting down your razor for a month, you can not only rock the bearded look but also raise money for cancer-related organizations while raising awareness about the potentially-fatal disease.

Many men, and women, will take part in 2019, and there’s no stopping you from joining ranks. Why not jump on board?

We’d love to hear from you, as well. Have you ever participated in the No-Shave November movement? Do you plan to do so this year? As always, we welcome your feedback.

No, that incredible mass of facial hair you so proudly wear is history, science, psychology, emotion – and more – all wrapped into one.

Of all the men’s hairstyles that exist, the beard is by far the most fascinating. Beards seem to be more popular now than ever before. In regards to the history of beards, they have been around for centuries – dating back several millennia. In fact, up until fairly recently, most men considered it perfectly normal to sport a beard. 

Not convinced? Just check out these 51 beard facts:

1. You Are Not Alone

Don’t worry fellow beardsman – there is a large brotherhood that stands with you. That’s because 55% of men around the world sport a beard or some facial hair. Enjoy the company, friends.

2. Most Beard Compliments Will Come From Other Men

That’s right. Once you grow out your beard, particularly if you have good genetics, most compliments will come to you from other guys.

Now, now, you’ll still get a good degree of positive remarks from women, as long as you keep it well-groomed.

But women don’t notice beards as much as other men do.

Full beards are considered to be an alpha trait. Guys who can’t grow a thick beard will be envious.

Not to mention, growing one out takes courage, and they look charming as hell.

3. The World’s Longest Beard Ever Was … Wait, How Long?

Let’s all rise and give a hearty round of applause to Hans Langseth. The Norwegian-American’s beard stretched to 5.33 m (17-feet, 6-inches) in 1927, earning him the title of Man With The Longest Beard Ever.

Langseth’s beard eventually made its way to Washington, D.C. and was stored in the Smithsonian Institute in 1967.

Hans, we are not worthy.

4. …Which Leads Us to the Next Question

So, how long would your beard grow if you stopped shaving forever? Scientists and facial hair experts estimate that it would top out at 27.5 feet.

5. You Weren’t Anyone Unless You Sported a Gold Beard in Ancient Egypt

If you wanted people to take you seriously in ancient Egyptian times, you dyed your beard gold. A gold beard was a symbol of someone who held a high-ranking position and had lofty status.

And you sure the hell weren’t without your gold beard if you were a queen, king or other royalty during special occasions. Even royal cows sported an artificial gold beard.

6. A Beard Will Save 4.5 Months of Your Life

The average man wastes 4.5 months – or 139 full days – shaving. Imagine what you could do with that time instead?

Instead of shaving, why not travel, exercise, learn a new skill, scuba dive, mountain climb, or even spend some quality time with your loved ones?

7. Your Beard Will Scare Some People

There’s no question that beards exude confidence but they also strike fear into the hearts of some people. Yes, there’s even a phobia for beards.

People who have a fear of beards suffer from Pogonophobia, and it’s often triggered by a variety of factors, such as a negative or traumatic event in the past with a bearded person.

For some, a beard comes off as untrustworthy and may trigger a phobic effect because it’s associated with religious fanaticism, homelessness, or even uncleanliness.

8. Beards Are Good For Your Health

Beards have a positive effect on your health and well-being for a variety of reasons, including that they protect you from the sun’s harmful UV rays – up to 95% in most cases.

9. The Taxing Reign of Peter the Great

Russian Tsar Peter the Great wasn’t all that great if you had a beard. After all, he preferred a clean-shaven population and imposed a tax of 100 rubles on anyone who had facial hair. You also got a medallion, which served as a beard “license.”

Even with a medallion, there wasn’t any doubt how Peter felt about your beard. His inscription on the medallion read, “The beard is a useless burden.”

10. The C.I.A. Tried to Overthrow Communism in Cuba by Making Fidel Castro’s Beard Fall Out

Yes, it’s true – an operation known as The Cuban Project included a plan to contaminate Castro’s clothing with thallium salts which would, in turn, make his beard fall out.

The project, devised during the first year of John F. Kennedy’s presidency, was full of nefarious plans, including spraying hallucinogens into the broadcast booth before Castro gave a speech, placing explosive sea shells at his favorite hangouts, and coating cigars with botulism toxins.

11. Abe Lincoln & His Beard

No U.S. President has worn a beard with such distinction as Abraham Lincoln. And the advice of an 11-year-old helped spur him to grow his famous mass of facial hair.

In 1860, while Lincoln was campaigning for the presidency, he received a letter from Grace Bedell, a schoolgirl who urged him to grow a beard.

Not only would Lincoln attract the attention of ladies, Bedell reasoned, but she would also convince her four brothers to vote for him should he grow a beard.

After he was elected, Lincoln met with Bedell to say that her advice convinced him to join the bearded brethren.

12. Beards Do Not Commit Treason

…And, therefore, should not be punished.

On July 26, 1535, right before his execution, Sir Thomas More stated that his beard had not committed treason and therefore should not suffer the same fate. So, right before the executioner chopped off his head, More put his beard aside.

A noble hero, indeed.

13. Want to Win a Staring Contest? Grow a Beard

Maybe the beard serves as a distraction. Or, maybe it’s intimidating. In any case, men with beards are 63% more likely to win a staring contest.

14. The Professional Study of Beards is Called “Pogonology”

Do you read and do a ton of research about beards? If so, that makes you a pogonologist. Don’t forget to put that on your resume. After all, every company needs a beard expert.

15. The Beards & Baldness Link

If your hair is thinning on top, your beard may be part of the reason. A study in 1988 suggested that some men lose their scalp hair for thermoregulatory reasons because of the additional heat retention provided by their beard.

While women and children lose more heat through their lips, cheeks, chin, and neck, and less through their forehead. In contrast, men who can grow a beard lose 40% less heat through their face and secrete more sweat from their scalp.

16. Don’t Touch My Beard, Man

If you touched another man’s beard during the Middle Ages, it was grounds for a duel.

17. Slow But Steady

The average man’s beard grows 5.5 inches a year – which goes to show that you can’t rush great work.

18. Beards Symbolize Wisdom

Beards and wisdom seem to go hand-in-hand, and have for hundreds of years, if not more. Just check out the likes of Socrates, Marcus Aurelius, and Shakespeare – who all sported beards.

19. Alexander the Great Ordered His Men to Shave Their Beards

Beards are sometimes considered dangerous in hand-to-hand combat because, for one, they give the enemy something to grab. With that in mind, Alexander the Great had his men shave their beards before the Battle of Arbela.

Not to worry, though, because Alexander’s men grew their beards back and many kept them to display their lack of fear during war.

20. But Beards Aren’t a Total Disadvantage During Combat

True, a beard is easy to grab in hand-to-hand combat, but there are some psychological benefits: by wearing one you suggest to your enemy that you don’t care if he can grab of a fistful of facial hair because you’re more of a bad-ass than him, anyway.

21. Why the Dudes in ZZ Top Grew Beards

The iconic American blues rock band ZZ Top is synonymous with long beards. But that hasn’t always been the case.

In the late 70s, the band was taking a break and guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill – unbeknownst to each other – decided to grow beards.

When the band reconvened, Gibbons and Hill were surprised to see each other with fine facial fur and decided to keep doing what they were doing.

And there’s no turning back.

Gillette once offered Gibbons and Hill $1 million to shave their hard-rocking beards, but the two men declined without hesitation.

“The prospect of seeing oneself in the mirror clean-shaven is too close to a Vincent Price film…a prospect not to be contemplated, no matter the compensation,” said Gibbons.

Ironically, the band’s drummer – Frank Beard – wears a mustache.

22. Tired of Skin Disorders? Grow a Beard

If you suffer from acne and other skin disorders and irritations, just put your razor down and grow a beard instead. Shaving can spread bacteria around your face, irritate the skin with the dreaded razor rash, and cause hair follicle infection.

23. The Reasons Why (or Why Not) You Can Grow a Beard

Some men can grow a thick, luxurious beard with the greatest of ease. Some can’t.

While many theories abound, the success of your beard growth generally comes down to two things: genetics and testosterone.

Genetics say that if your father, and his father, had no trouble growing a beard, then you’ll have no trouble, either.

The testosterone theory says that men who can grow a beard respond better to testosterone than those who struggle to do so.

The key word is “respond,” because studies show that men with the same levels of testosterone have varying degrees of success for growing a beard.

24. BYU and Beards

While beards aren’t allowed at Brigham Young University, you can get away with wearing one if you have a valid medical reason.

Interestingly, Mormon leader Brigham Young did, indeed, wear a beard.

25. The Longest Beard in the World Today

Canadian Sarwan Singh is said to have the longest beard currently in existence. Singh’s beard measured in at 8 ¼ feet long in 2011.

Singh may be no Hans Langseth, but still …

26. Speaking of Langseth …

In his later years, Hans Langseth joined a traveling circus to show off his world record beard, but eventually quit because too many people wanted to pull on it and ask if it was fake.

“You won’t believe the day I had at the office,” Langseth (may have) said, after returning home each night.

27. The (Longest) Bearded Lady

Vivian Wheeler of the United States holds the distinction of having the longest female beard ever. Wheeler grew a full beard that measured 11 inches following the death of her mother in 1990.

28. That’s a Lot of Hair

There are an estimated 30,000 hairs on an average man’s face.

Our advice? Use some of that abundant hair to grow the beard you know you’ve always wanted.

29. Where Did the Time Go?

The answer: It probably went when you were in the bathroom. After all, a man spends over 3,000 hours of his life in the bathroom.

30. A Beard Keeps Your Face Moisturized

Everyone’s face gets dry from time to time, but it has built-in moisturizing capabilities because of sebaceous glands that secret oils.

Alas, sun and wind can dry up these oils, but facial hair – such as a beard – provides a layer of protection that helps keep your skin moist and prevents skin conditions related to excess dryness.

In other words, your face will thank you if you grow a beard.

31. Oh, and Beards Improve Your Sex Life

We apologize for waiting so long to list this fact, but better late than never says an old cliché.

While there’s no definitive proof that a man will have more sex after he grows a beard, there’s just too much information available to dismiss the thought entirely.

A 2008 study in Great Britain, for example, showed that women found men with facial hair to be the best romantic partners.

Of course, many men with beards would say that they knew that all along.

32. Beards Reduce the Chance of Bacterial Infection

There’s nothing we can do about bacteria on the skin – it’s there and will always be there. But shaving can create nicks and cuts that bring in bacteria, which increases your chances of getting an infection.

Shaving also places you at a greater risk of getting painful in-grown hairs and can worsen acne.

33. Shaving Can Be a Drag

…And not just because shaving can cut, nick, and irritate your face. But considering that it takes from 100 to 600 strokes to shave your face, it also eats up a lot of your precious time.

34. It Wasn’t Just For Looks

Perhaps prehistoric men – who were ruled by their primitive brains – figured that a beard looked good, would attract women, and thus fulfill the goal of continuing the species.

But historians agree that they also grew facial hair for warmth, protection, and as a means of intimidating their enemies.

Maybe they were smarter than we think.

35. If You Saw Beard Hair, You Knew it Was Important

If you saw three beard hairs attached to the wax seal, you knew that the king’s correspondence was important, indeed.

36. If He Swore By His Beard, You Knew it Was Important

Roman Emperor Otto the Great didn’t always wear a beard, but when he did, it had an impact. It seems that the venerable Otto swore by his beard when saying anything serious.

37. A Quick – But Important – Note About Mustaches

Did you know that the average mustache absorbs a pint and a half of beer every year?

At least happy mustaches do, that is.

38. Grow a Beard, Breathe Easier

Let’s face it, allergies are usually a pain in the ass (and, not to mention, make it difficult to breathe). But a beard may act as a filter to keep pollen and other allergens from reaching your nose.

39. The Sad Plight of Wilgefortis, The Female Bearded Saint

Legend has it that the Christian daughter of Portugal’s king – way back in the day – was ordered by her father to marry the pagan king of Sicily.

Rather than lose her virginity to a man she didn’t like or want, the daughter prayed to God to become disfigured and scare her would-be husband away.

Indeed, she grew a beard and drove her fiance away, but her enraged father had her crucified. She became known as Wilgefortis, the patron saint of unhappily married women.

Ah, the endless struggle between some parents and their kids.

40. His Beard Meant Everything

The Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus said that all external events were out of our control but that individuals were responsible for their actions. And he was particularly responsible for the status of his beard – which he said was an integral part of his identity.

So integral, in fact, that Epictetus said he’d rather be executed than forced to remove it.

41. You Better Shave Before You Step Into the Ring

The International Boxing Association prohibits amateur boxers from having beards. The same rules don’t apply to pro boxing, as evidenced by the bearded Conor McGregor taking on Floyd Mayweather in their recent mega-fight.

42. The Things You Do in the Name of Religion

Anglo-Saxon men were all about beards until Christianity came along to their world made its way to their world in the 7^th century. But then clergy stepped in to declare that a clean-shaven face was the law.

43. The Most Famous Movie Beard of All-Time

OK, it’s next to impossible to pick the most famous movie beard because there are so many contenders.

Where to start? Gandalf the Great from Lord of the Rings? Jules in Pulp Fiction? Captain Jack Sparrow of Pirates of the Caribbean? Or, Hagrid from Harry Potter?

So many choices, so little time.

44. The Amish and Their Beards

The Amish and long beards go hand-in-hand for a variety of reasons. For one, Amish men quit shaving when they get married because a beard is a symbol of becoming a man.

But there’s also a deeply-religious aspect regarding Amish men and their beards, including the fact that most men in the Bible wore beards.

However, you’ll never see an Amish man with a mustache.

Why?

The Amish see themselves as a pacifist group and mustaches were common of men who went to war during the early days of Amish settlements in Europe.

45. Don’t Expect Overnight Results

Fact: Your beard grows faster in the daytime than in the evening. That said, don’t expect to be the next Hans Langseth upon awakening each morning.

46. Gettin’ Fancy With It

The Ancient Greeks were fond of curling their beards with tongs to produce lush, hanging curls.

47. And Then Came More Styles

Men started to get serious about styling their beard in the 16^th century. Popular trends included the forked beard and the stiletto beard.

Today, of course, there are many, many beard styles.

48. The Van Dyke & The Painter

The Van Dyke is a centuries-old beard style still favored by many men. It gets its name from 16^th-century painter Anthony Van Dyke, who painted aristocrats with pointed beards. And it soon became all the rage.

49. Grow a Beard When the Ladies are Available

Studies show that men are more likely to have facial hair when the marriage market is on an upswing.

50. A Beard Doesn’t Necessarily Imply Wealth

Considering that nearly all of those listed on the Forbes 100 richest men are clean-shaven, a beard isn’t likely to make you a billionaire.

Nothing is impossible, however.

51. Beards as a Sexual Characteristic

According to biologists, beards are considered a secondary sexual characteristic since they’re (mostly) unique to one sex.

What’s your take? Do you have a favorite or little-known beard fact you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you and welcome any and all feedback and comments.

Until next time, friends.

Throughout history, beards have been worn in various styles, influenced by everything from religion to fashion trends. They have come to symbolize a wide variety of characteristics, such as masculinity, wisdom, and strength.

Historians believe that beards were grown by prehistoric men at the early stages of evolution to protect their faces. During winter and in cold climates, a beard would provide warmth, and in hotter climates, it shielded their faces from sand, insects, and the hot sun.

Beards also enhanced a man’s appearance, making him appear more intimidating, which helped him survive.

Some historians and scientists have theorized that beards have been found more attractive by women throughout the ages, which would have helped propagate their prominence.

As for beard grooming, there is evidence as early as 100,000 BC that men plucked facial hair from their faces.

Around 30,000 BC, paintings were created in caves showing men that are interpreted as being shaved. Archeologists theorize that they may have shaved their hair with clamshells, shark’s teeth, and sharp flints.

Beards of ancient times

Although early in their history, the Egyptians preferred long luscious beards as a sign of masculinity. However, that quickly fell out of favor with the royal and priestly classes who favored a clean-shaven approach.

It is believed that the Egyptians favored being clean-shaven because it was simpler, cleaner, and they thought that it looked more appealing.

A traditional ancient Egyptian custom was to be entombed with a long pointed beard, which was often fake, to emulate Osiris in an attempt to find favor in the afterlife.

An ancient story says that Roman King Lucius Tarquinius Priscus first brought the razor to Rome around the 6th century BC.

Still, shaving didn’t become commonplace for the Roman people for several hundred more years. In fact, it was customary for men to wear beards up until the time of Alexander the Great.

The ancient Greeks, who lived around 500 BC, saw beards as a symbol of masculinity and virility, as exhibited in Aristophanes’ Poet and the Women, where a character disguises himself as a woman by shaving his beard.

This was a long-prevailing attitude as it was mentioned in a similar context by Homer in The Iliad. It is also true that most statues from antiquity often depict men with beards. Traditionally, ancient Greeks only shaved their beards in times of mourning.

On September 30, 331 BC, Alexander the Great ordered all of his soldiers to shave before the battle, supposedly because he feared the enemy would have a strategic advantage if they could grab his troops by the beard.

According to historians, It is considered far more likely that Alexander thought himself quite handsome without a beard and needed an excuse to change a centuries-old cultural norm that found bare faces on men to be effeminate and weak.

Medieval beards

In Japan, from medieval times until the Edo period, beards were quite popular. Samurais were required to have beards, and those who did not have them were seen as young and inexperienced. This custom was so deeply ingrained that men who had thin beards often wore fake ones!

Throughout the middle ages in Europe, preferences in wearing a beard were often determined by the king or clergy for the region or some other form of political or religious affiliation.

The Anglo-Saxons of the British Isles wore beards and mustaches until the onset of Christianity in Europe. During the seventh century, the clergy were required to shave, and later the nobility needed to shave to fit Norman fashion around 1050 CE.

The popularity of beards returned during the crusades among knights who wore beards to show their masculinity and honor.

In twelfth-century Europe, it was proper to have a clean-shaven chin but keep a mustache. During the next few centuries, many famous Protestant and political leaders wore beards.

After this, beards fell out of favor again for a while for many cultures throughout the world. In 1697, Peter the Great of Russia even regarded them as a relic of the old world and the feudal system.

Peter saw getting rid of traditional beards as a way of culturally modernizing and moving forward symbolically. Before the reign of Peter the Great, beards had been popular among men in Russia, especially with clergy who saw them as a symbol of wisdom and religious learning.

The Van Dyke

The Van Dyke was a popular trend in facial hair during the seventeenth century in Europe and America.

The style was popularized by Anthony van Dyck, who was a famous Baroque artist from Antwerp, Belgium. The style featured a pointed goatee underneath, but not attached to a pointed mustache, and is often seen in King Charles I’s portraits.

To get this look, you need to grow your beard out for several weeks. You then use a beard trimmer to outline the sides of your chin so that they taper into a point.

The remaining hair is then kept short so that it blends in with the trimmed portions and creates the illusion of a more defined chin (in case yours isn’t chiseled enough). If your face shape isn’t round or oval, you might also want to grow a mustache to balance out the lower portion of your face.

The Van Dyke is a great option for men who want to make their faces appear more symmetrical or elongated. It’s also ideal for men who want to minimize the appearance of wrinkles around their mouth and chin.

The chin strap

While beards faced a downturn in popularity in the eighteenth century, for men who did wear a beard at the time, the chin strap was the choice.

The chin strap can range from a thin line to a wide strap, but in any case, the line follows the jawline with the rest of the face remaining cleanly shaven. The broader version of the chin strap led to mutton chops, which would become another popular trend.

The Victorian era

The beard made another comeback during the Victorian era. Beards had previously been banned in the British army, but the Crimean War’s cold, harsh climate forced a policy change allowing the soldiers to grow facial hair.

By the end of the war, the returning soldiers brought full beards home with them. This changed the beard’s cultural perception from being for those who were at best eccentric and worst unkempt, to being the accessory of a war hero.

Sideburns

In the mid-nineteenth century, Ambrose Burnside, a Civil War General, and politician, popularized “side whiskers.” It became popular as it allowed military men to be cleanly shaven while still maintaining facial hair, and was the beginning of the beard’s resurgence in the United States.

Most men at this time wore their sideburns in a style known as “mutton chops,” as the sideburns were trimmed neatly at the top and bulged near the cheek, resembling a cut of meat.

Abraham Lincoln

The first fifteen presidents of the United States were clean-shaven, and Abraham Lincoln might have been too if not for the advice of an eleven-year-old New Yorker named Grace Bedell.

Bedell wrote to then-candidate Lincoln and told him that his face looked too thin, and he would look much better with a beard.

Soon after this correspondence, Lincoln let his beard grow out. He wore a chin curtain style of beard, which would become a common fashion trend across the country during and following his time in office.

The mustache craze

The last two decades of the nineteenth century saw the beard wane in popularity, but the mustache became all the rage. Mustaches had been popular throughout history, but many different styles were sampled by both Americans and Europeans during this time.

Styles such as the imperial mustache, worn often by the royals in Europe, the walrus, which was considered more rugged and made famous by US President Theodore Roosevelt, and the handlebar, preferred by the frontiersmen and soldiers, were all acceptable and common during this era.

Flu pandemic and world wars

The influenza pandemic of 1919 and 1920 stoked fears about the uncleanliness of beards. Soldiers in WWI needed to wear gas masks, and a beard prevented a proper seal, making them non-effective.

The first disposable razors were created around this time, making it far cheaper, safer, and easier to shave than it had ever been before.

These factors led to a trend of clean-shaven faces for most of the first half of the twentieth century.

Some men still chose to wear mustaches during this time, usually worn in the handlebar style, until the 1930’s when a skinny mustache was made famous by actors such as Errol Flynn.

In the 1930s, the US military forbade beards due to the need for a clean seal for gas masks, as was the case in WWI.

Beards in the 1950s and 1960s

For decades after the invention of the disposable razor and the subsequent electric razor, beards had been on a downward trend, reserved for the eccentric or elderly.

Starting in the 1950s, a goatee or full beard was beginning to be seen as a symbol of rebellion. As the decade carried on, beards were starting to gain acceptance from men from all walks of life again.

Hippies

The Hippie movement started in San Francisco during the 1960s and would become an international phenomenon carried on to this day. The Hippies embraced nature and favored a more natural appearance, including beards, making beards fashionable once again.

The 1970s saw even more robust beards as full and bushy beards grew in popularity.

The five o’clock shadow

Full beards fell out of favor during the 1980s in the United States and were replaced with the more fashionable five o’clock shadow.

This style is a slight regrowth of a fully shaven beard, and as the name implies, resembles the first shadow of a beard growing back at the end of the day.

The five o’clock shadow was made famous by actors such as Harrison Ford and Don Johnson.

Musical beards

Beards of the 1990s were heavily influenced by musicians and fashion, resulting in a resurgence of popularity and a new cultural shift.

Beards of the 1990s were unorthodox and unique, tending toward a more unruly version of soul patches from the 1970s.

Many beards at this time sported a vast and complex array of unusual shapes and colorful dye jobs.

The millennial goatee

The new millennium’s turn saw the return of the goatee, which was often accompanied by a bit of a scruffy look or a modified five o’clock shadow. This trend was made prominent by Hollywood and was sported by the likes of Matt LeBlanc and Keanu Reeves.

Modern beards

From no shave-November to the sexy lumberjack look, Millennials are largely embracing beards. In fact, beards among Millennials are so popular that razor brands like Gillette are even blaming them for “killing” the razor industry.

While some segments of society still see a clean-shaven face as more professional, many Americans see a beard as a more mature and dominant look.

Beards and religion

The Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all have their own rules regarding how and when a man can wear facial hair.

For Jewish people, the Talmud prohibits men from shaving their beards, and later scriptures even specify how to care for the beard. While not all Jewish people observe these ancient traditions, Hasidic and other Orthodox sects still wear their beards and hair, as written in the Talmud.

There is no prohibition on either cutting or growing a beard in Christianity, but it has been a long-standing tradition in the more eastern reaches of the religion to grow a long beard as a sign of faith.

Men of the Hutterite and Amish traditions shave their beards until they are married and cease shaving after their weddings.

It is disputed as to whether or not the Quran requires the growth of a beard, but the dominant idea after the Islamic Revolution contends that it does. Men adhering to these types of ideals grow a beard to differentiate themselves from the rest of society and as a symbol of their faith.

Beards and cultural trends

Men have worn facial hair for as long as man has walked the earth.

The changes in styling and perception of men’s facial hair are occasionally guided by changes in technology, such as the development of newer and easier ways to shave, but for the most part, have been simply a reflection of the society and culture to which they belong.

They represent a form of expression and even protection, allowing people to demonstrate their style or faith.

The topic of beards includes hundreds of facts, advice, speculation – what have you – as well as a bunch of beard myths. What you’ve always heard about beards, and assumed was correct, might not be the truth at all.

Most people believe beards are dirty, coarse and simply unattractive. That couldn’t be further from the truth. There are plenty of myths about beards that simply aren’t true. In this guide we’re going to bust 13 common myths that surround beards so you can make a more informed choice.

Let’s examine some common beard myths, many of which have been around a long, long time while clearing the air to let the truth shine.

1. Your Beard Will Itch. Always.

Not so fast, naysayers. While beards may itch, especially during the early growth stages, the itchiness usually lasts no longer than a month.

After a month, there may be other causes for an itchy beard – such as dry skin or beard hair that’s too coarse – but you can deal with those issues easily with proper grooming.

That’s also why products such as beard oil are essential. Beard oil supports the skin’s production of natural oil, called sebum. It keeps the skin and your whiskers properly hydrated. A moisturized beard is rarely one that itches.

So, while your beard may itch, it doesn’t always itch and won’t itch if you give it the proper care.

2. Shaving Your Beard Makes It Come Back Thicker

No. No, no, and no.

We’ve all heard this myth, i.e. that the way to a thicker beard is by shaving the one you have and starting over. But the best thing to say about it is “forget about it.”

Doctors, dermatologists, and beard gurus all have debunked this myth in many ways, and here’s the real bottom line: shaving only gives the appearance of thicker hair. Why?

For one, your beard follicles are naturally tapered at the end. When you shave them, you’re cutting the thin shaft and exposing the thicker part of the hair near the skin.

The result is stubble that looks fuller and may appear thicker, because it stands out against your natural skin color, or looks fuller because it’s cut straight and short, but those short, newly-sliced whiskers eventually taper, as well.

Also, keep in mind that all parts of your beard grow at the same rate.

Put down the razor if you’re worried about the thickness of your beard and look for other solutions to why your beard isn’t as thick as you’d like.

3. Beards Are Too Hot in Summer

Here’s the thing: your beard is often cooler in summer because A) it provides natural shade to your face, and B) you’ll sweat more underneath your beard, which helps cool the skin.

A gentle summer breeze combined with that extra bit of moisture has a pleasant, cooling effect.

Furthermore, a beard shields the skin from the sun’s harmful UV light rays, which means a reduced chance of getting a sunburn. One study showed that beards could block up to 95% of UV rays, depending on their thickness.

4. You Won’t Be Able to Land a Job

Having a beard doesn’t mean that you’ll never get beyond the interview stage during your job search. Far from it.

For one, look around you: there are a lot of bearded men in the work environment, and not just in jobs that require physical labor.

True, some professions are more beard-friendly than others, and some corporate jobs may have strict guidelines when it comes to facial hair, especially those in more conservative fields.

But many other companies focus on skill, not appearance, and your résumé speaks louder than words. Do keep in mind, however, that it’s never a bad idea to have your beard professionally trimmed and shaped before a job interview.

Make sure the rest of your appearance – from your clothes to your shoes and your haircut – are up to snuff, as well.

Meanwhile, a beard may help you stand out in a crowded field of candidates and make it easier for the interviewer to remember you.

5. A Beard Must be “Full” to Look Handsome

There are many, many beard styles, and not all of them are full. The stubble look, for instance, is attractive to many women, and there are trimmers designed to shape and maintain stubble. Even a 5 o’clock shadow can look kick-ass.

You also can take an example from actors like Johnny Depp, Ashton Kutcher, Shia Labeouf, Keanu Reeves, and the late Heath Ledger: all have sported less-than-full beards, and most would agree that they looked great.

6. A Beard Makes You Look Unattractive

To say a beard looks unattractive is to ignore the fact – and some facts prove it – that many people find beards more attractive than a whisker-free face.

An Australian study showed, for instance, that many women find intermediate-length beards attractive, while others perceive full-bearded men as being better fathers who can protect offspring.

There are several other reasons why beards make men attractive, including that beards often imply intelligence and wisdom and that people often associate beards with confidence.

The reality is that some people like beards and others don’t. If anything, a beard will only enhance your appearance, not detract from it.

7. You Need a Barber To Trim Your Beard the Right Way

Again, not so. Most men prefer to take the DIY route regarding beard care, including trimming their beards.

Indeed, the best place to cut and trim your beard is your bathroom, which isn’t surprising, given the number of beard tools available, including beard trimmers, scissors, combs, and brushes.

While it’s true that trimming and shaping your beards is like any other skill, i.e. it takes practice to perfect it, it’s also not rocket science. Plus, you’ll save time and money by going solo when it’s time to trim your whiskers.

8. Your Beard Keeps on Growing Until You Shave It

You may think that your beard will grow to the floor if you don’t shave it – and, yes, we’ve all seen the men with the competition-big beards – but not everyone can reach that stage.

The fact is, genetics determine the true length of your beard. Every beard has a “terminal” length at which it stops growing, even if you don’t shave it. It’s the same scenario with, say, chest hair, which doesn’t grow to rope-length if you leave it alone.

To get a bit scientific, hair grows in three phases:

• Anagen – This is the growth phase, one that usually lasts two years for facial hair.
• Catagen – This phase is when hair goes into hibernation and when follicles shrink. Less than 1% of hair is in this phase at any given time.
• Telogen – The telogen phase represents the final stage of a hair’s life cycle and is when hair falls out. Hair follicles become dormant for three months before the anagen phase kicks into gear again.

Another thing to remember is that not all of your hair is in the same growth cycle at the same time. As beard hair falls out, other whiskers are growing.

The terminal length of a beard is different for every person, but other factors may determine beard length, including proper care, nutrition, stress, and lifestyle habits.

9. A Grey, Multi-Colored Beard Is Unappealing

On the contrary, the word “distinguished” often gets tossed about when someone speaks of a man with a bit of grey in his beard. Beards of multiple colors can add sophistication to your overall look, as well as create a distinctive look that others admire.

You also may decide to dye your beard when grey hair starts to give it the salt-and-pepper look (hey, you can’t stop the relentless march of aging), and there’s nothing wrong with that, but, again, a bit of grey can give you a distinguished look that many people admire.

10. You’ll Have a Full Beard in a Week (or Two)

Back to the growth-phase part and the notion that every man’s beard grows at a different rate.

That’s certainly not a myth, and we all know of someone who grows a caveman-quality beard in no time at all, or whose 5 o’clock shadow makes it seem that he hasn’t shaved in ages.

For most men, growing a full beard takes about two to three months, at least one that’s fully developed. That’s why patience and staying the course are so important to get the kind of beard you desire.

Consider also that the average growth rate for whiskers is less than half-an-inch a month, so hang in there and keep on growing if results don’t happen immediately.

11. My Beard is Patchy and Will Always Be Patchy

None of us grow a beard while hoping that it comes in patchy with areas of nice-looking growth and areas in which it looks like you’ve chopped chunks out of it.

But a patchy beard now doesn’t guarantee a patchy beard later on.

Why is your beard patchy? Genetics is a biggie – if your father and grandfather had patchy beards, you have a greater chance of having a patchy one, as well – as well as hormonal imbalances, such as a decrease in hormones that influence certain male characteristics.

Or, you may suffer from alopecia areata, a condition in which small bald spots form on hair-covered areas of the body (it’s commonly referred to as “spot baldness”).

Other reasons for your patchiness may include stress, poor nutrition, and bad habits, such as smoking and alcohol abuse.

Back to our original point, however, which says that today’s patchy beard has no chance of becoming a full beard later on.

Everyone experiences some degree of patchiness, and everyone matures at a different rate – think of the guy you knew who started shaving in junior high, while the rest of you celebrated a single whisker popping up, seemingly out of the blue.

A patchy beard isn’t a life sentence, and you can take heart in knowing that most people, especially casual observers, won’t notice your patchiness one bit.

Again, patience is a requirement for growing a beard, which includes remaining calm and cool, despite patchiness.

And don’t forget that there are things you can do to deal with the patchiness, such as consistent grooming.

Use beard oil, beard brushes, beard conditioners, and other products that not only help your beard look great but also strengthen and revitalize beard follicles and the skin beneath them.

Regularly brushing your beard adds volume and creates a thicker, fuller appearance – or least the look of more volume. It also increases blood flow to the skin, which, in turn, promotes beard growth.

12. Beards Have Poop In Them

In 2015, a television station in Albuquerque, NM reported that a local microbiologist studied swabs taken from men’s beards and found them to contain feces.

The national media latched onto the story, and soon it seemed like everyone was talking about how men had crap in their whiskers.

Many people swear the poop-in-beard gospel is the truth when, technically, it’s not. What the microbiologist found in some beards was bacteria called “enterics,” which often live in the intestines.

So, while human feces have enterics in their composition, it’s false to say that enterics are feces.

It is true, however, that a beard acts as a natural filter that keeps germs, pollen, pollutants, and, yes, bacteria away from your system. Sure, it gets dirty, but a bit of elbow grease on your part will keep it clean.

Rest assured, regular washing will leave your facial follicles as pure as snow in Alaska.

13. A Good Beard Must Have a Mustache

There’s nothing wrong with having a beard that doesn’t include a mustache. It’s a look that many men prefer, and beard styles such as the Chin Strap and the Brett Beard are prime examples of the beard-only look that rocks.

So, don’t wonder what everyone will think when you grow a beard but not a mustache. If a beard looks good, it can certainly stand on its own.

A mustache without a beard is like a hamburger without the bun. It’s just not right. But there are plenty of men out there who feel that any old beard will do, so long as it has a mustache to accompany it. They figure that a mustache can make anything look great, but in reality, the reverse is true: a good beard should have a great mustache to complement it.

Conclusion

Whether it’s shaving your beard to make it come back fuller or worrying about whether you look handsome with a beard, misconceptions often reign supreme.

They’re misconceptions that have morphed into myth and presented themselves as the truth when, in fact, they’re false.

The bottom line is that every man’s beard is different, but all of them can thrive with proper care and quality beard grooming products that can help separate fact from fiction.

What are your thoughts? Do you have some long-held beliefs about beards that may or may not be true? What are some of your experiences in growing a beard? We’d love to hear from you.

Maybe you’ve witnessed it first-hand at a bar or other social outing in which you’re competing with dozens (seems like thousands) for the attention of attractive women.

Still doubting?

Then, friend, it’s time to come to grips with the fact that men with beards are seen as attractive. Women love them.

Grow one and be prepared for your social scene success rate to shoot up to a new level. Don’t grow one and watch your bearded buddy enjoy the fruits of his facial hair.

Need further proof?

Well, science is never a bad place to start. And the bottom line is this: studies show that facial hair strongly influences people’s judgment of men’s socio-sexual attributes. So, it’s not just word of mouth. It’s science.

One final question: What makes beards attractive? With a wide range of people weighing in – both women and men – here are some reasons why. Oh, if you haven’t already, you’ll probably want to get started on growing that beard.

1. Beards Have History

There’s no need here for a lengthy history of the beard, but the beard does have some serious longtime cred.

Great men and leaders sported beards. In the middle ages, beards were considered a sign of prestige. A beard was serious business. Abraham Lincoln sported a beard. So did Sigmund Freud. So did a bunch of tough guys in hundreds of western movies.

2. A Beard Implies Strength

Research has shown that many women are attracted to men with full beards for a variety of reasons. One reason was that those men were seen as someone who can be the strong head of the family. Bearded men provide a sense of security.

A beard implies strength. That’s the message you send when you have one. And women can detect that message very easily. A survey of 800 women, ages 18 to 24, found that “men with facial hair are more attractive than those without.” The women were asked to rate pictures of men with and without facial hair.

Their results were pretty clear: Men with full beards were perceived as older and wiser, while the clean-shaven men were seen as younger, more immature and less masculine.

3. Beards Imply Manliness

Oh, where to start with this? For one, you can be short or slight of build, but a beard can help make you look like a badass.

Lumberjacks wear beards. UFC champ Conor McGregor wears a beard, not that he needs one. But with one, he seems tribal. A beard seems to come with a warning: “Mess with me at your own expense.”

4. Beards Imply Intelligence

OK, it’s one thing to stand around looking all tough in your new beard, but it helps to bring something more to the table than just toughness (implied or otherwise).

Have no fear – that beard is also attractive because it makes you seem more intelligent. Freud wore a beard, and he was considered a genius.

Ernest Hemingway wrote great novels and stories but could you see him writing about bull-fighting without his beard? No, you can’t.

5. Beards Imply Rebelliousness

OK, there’s no reason you can’t have a beard and still be smart, sensitive and head of a Fortune 500 company.

But from at least one woman’s point of view, dating a bearded man allows for that “sexy rebelliousness” a girl may have been attracted to in the dude from high school with the beard, tattoos and cool car. Or, motorcycle.

6. Beards Are The Perfect Balance Between Sensitive and Edgy

Not all women need a bearded tough guy; many are attracted to the sensitive, artsy man who writes poetry or plays guitar. They’re perceived as romantic.

Put a beard on that same guy and now he also has that necessary edginess women are looking for. The edge makes her heart flutter; the romance and sensitivity make the relationship unforgettable.

7. Once You Go Beard …

Many women say there’s nothing quite like kissing a man with a beard. Some even suggest that a beard has major advantages in, ahem, other romantic contact, as well.

8. Beards Are Good For You

Research has shown that men with beards lead an overall healthier existence. It also shows that beards block up to 95 percent of all harmful UV rays, thus slowing the aging process while reducing the risk of skin cancer.

9. Beards Imply Mystery

While a man with a beard seems more sure of himself, he also portrays an image of sophistication and mystery. And mysterious can be sexy.

10. Beards Make You Stand Out

If nothing else, a beard shows that you’re not afraid to be out of the ordinary. The world is filled with clean-shaven men. A man with a beard, however, is willing to try different things and different adventures.

Conclusion

There’s no shortage of reasons why beards are attractive, and there are certainly others beyond this list. Moreover, it’s a scientific fact that women have an attraction to men with facial hair. So why wait, fellas? Get your beard together and your life will follow.

You’ve decided to take the plunge and grow a beard, and you’re excited to get styling.

The only problem is, it isn’t quite happening the way you’d imagine, and everybody you know has a different answer as to what you should do and how long it’s going to take.

But these days, we have genuine science to answer those questions for us – there really needn’t be any problem.

Growing a beard can be frustrating and challenging, but it at least doesn’t have to be confusing.

So how long does it take to grow a beard?

Well, the simple answer is this:

Beards generally require two to four months of uninterrupted growth to appear ‘full,’ but the speed, thickness, and overall quality of the beard varies greatly from man to man.

As a rule, most men can expect to have at least something to work with within a few weeks and should appear fully bearded within six months.

If, at that point, you are still having trouble seeing results, it may be time to think about some of the interventions we’re going to discuss in this article.

To some of you, this will be shocking:

The truth is, there are many aspects that impact the speed of facial hair growth, and claims about the ‘average time to grow a beard’ are misleading.

And of course, it’s important to remember that not every man can grow a beard naturally and might require a transplant.

The good news is there is lots you can do to overcome whatever limitations you happen to have, and we’re going to go into plenty of detail about them in this article.

We’re going to explore in-depth the various factors – from genetics and hormones to nutrition and mental health – which dictate how quickly and nicely your beard grows, as well as offering some key advice as to how you can improve that growth.

But first, it’s important we all understand exactly why and how facial hair grows to begin with…

Why do we grow beards?

The answer to that questions isn’t as straightforward as you might think.

In the past, men grew beards for practical reasons. They provided protection against extreme cold and sunburns and offered a natural means of camouflage.

But these days, growing a beard is more about fashion than function.

To most men, facial hair is an expression of masculinity. So it’s no surprise that 85% of men are trying to grow facial hair at any given time.

There are several different ways to look at this:

First, we need to understand why on earth, men would have evolved to grow facial hair at all.

What are beards good for?

The best theories suggest that it has many roots: signaling masculinity and helping attract women, protecting the skin from UV rays, and distinguishing a man from his competitors all have merit.

Studies, for example, have suggested that men with beards are perceived as older, stronger, and more aggressive than their clean-shaven peers.

And interestingly, one historical study suggests that men are more likely to grow a beard when they are single and have a larger pool of other men to compete with for mates.

While we can never know for sure, we can say for certain today that having a beard has a bunch of benefits, from making you more attractive to helping balance out a balding head.

With that cleared up, we need to understand how beards actually grow biologically.

How does our body produce a beard?

Fundamentally, the answer is through a sex hormone called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is produced from testosterone – explaining why most men grow beards, whereas very few women tend to.

DHT contributes to hair growth, muscle gain, fertility, and a bunch more besides – in fact, around 10% of our testosterone ends up being converted into DHT.

Basically, DHT circulates through your body, attaching to various receptors; when it attaches to the hair follicles on your jaw, it stimulates growth.

Thus begins the growth cycle of your hair…

The 3 phases of facial hair growth

Hair all over your body goes through a basic growth cycle of between 2 and 6 years – even if you shave or cut your hair, the same hair grows back from the same root.

When the cycle finally needs, the hair enters its ‘resting phase’, before finally falling out; this is why beards are found to rarely (if ever!) grow beyond 6 years of full growth.

The beard’s growth cycle can be split into three distinct phases:

The Anagen phase

This is the ‘growth’ phase, where the hair is doing most of its most obvious sprouting. It tends to last between a few months and a year or two, with different factors affecting how fast and full the growth turns out to be.

As we’ll see, how your genes have programmed the protein production to how much testosterone there is in your system will alter the growth speed.

The key fact is that facial hair rarely grows more than a half-inch each month during this phase, and can vary wildly within that scope.

The Catagen phase

The next phase is a bit dull, to be honest. Not a helluva lot happens; the hair strands separate from the hair follicles, and the blood supply to the hair’s roots stops, too.

This is basically a transitional period, generally lasting for a few months.

The Telogen phase

Finally, the telogen phase is the beginning of the end: the hairs slowly begin falling out, and the follicles start to return to the anagen phase, ready to start anew.

This is perfectly natural, and while some men start to freak out as they notice their precious beard hairs waning, you must remember this is the natural cycle, and it will all start again soon!

So now that we understand exactly how your hair grows and what you should expect let’s dive into some of the key factors which contribute to the speed and quality of that growth…

What affects how my beard grows?

Age

The first thing to note is that age plays a big role in beard growth: between 12-16, boys’ bodies are still developing DHT, and therefore they tend to slowly develop a bit of facial fluff here, an embarrassing mustache there.

As you get to around 25, your ability to grow a beard will be at its strongest, and the next 10 years or so will likely be your most fluid and natural growth; this is because your body is increasing its testosterone production and therefore extending the anagen period.

After 35, the growth can slow somewhat, though that isn’t always the case, and it tends to taper very, very slowly.

The key point to note here is simply that age is a major factor, and if you’re in your early 20s, you should not be discouraged if you’re taking a little to get things going.

Genetics

Next up is your genes: of course, everything your body does is, in large part, dictated by your genetic code, and beard growth is no different.

Simply put, DNA produces RNA, which produces the proteins which make up your body and tell it how to function; somewhere within your genetic makeup will be instructions about how hair should be produced and how urgently, as well as things like the color and thickness of your hair.

This is why you so often hear about ‘male pattern baldness,’ and people in the same family often have similar looking hair.

But it’s also important to remember that DNA is not destiny, and there are plenty of ways to overcome an unfortunate hand in this department.

Nutrition

There are two key factors here: first, the nutrients your body has to work with determine how long it stays in the anagen phase for – and therefore, long and fast the hair grows.

However, there is also the matter of your beard’s quality: if you don’t have the correct nutrients – in particular Biotin – your facial hair won’t grow as strong or healthy.

Another thing to consider is the health of the follicles and skin, both of which need a variety of vitamins and minerals – vitamins A, B, C, and E are particularly important, as well as monounsaturated fats such as you get from daily products and olive oil.

Sleep

Directly linked to nutrition and the overall healthy functioning of your body, how much and how well you sleep have a surprising effect on your beard growth.

A large part of this is the effect sleep has on blood circulation – if your blood can’t flow properly between parts of your body, your hair simply won’t grow healthily.

Ideally, you’ll get between 8-9 hours of good quality sleep each night, and this will also go a long way to help the detrimental effects of stress.

Stress

Stress is a serious problem across Western countries and the world at large, and it has a number of seriously nasty side effects.

While stress is a natural and important part of life – for example, it helps your body know when it’s in danger.

One of the side effects of undue stress, however, is the depletion of your immune system, which is terrible for hair growth.

If you are regularly stressed, you can expect your beard to grow less quickly as well as more frequent bouts of hair loss from it.

Exercise

As you are likely starting to see, the overall health of your body is directly related to how your beard grows – which shouldn’t really come as a shock when you think about it.

It does, however, mean that exercise is another important factor in your beard’s growth.

In part, this is because it improves your blood circulation, keeps your immune system in check, and overall promotes healthy bodily functioning.

However, working out – particularly lifting weights – is also strongly linked with our final factor – testosterone.

Hormones

Given the role DHT plays in beard growth, you should expect that the hormonal balance of your body has a major impact on beard growth.

How much testosterone is in your body is in part genetic – some men are just born with a higher level of testosterone, and there’s nothing inherently good or bad about that.

But it’s also in part environmental, and as we’ve seen already, there are ways you can increase the amount of testosterone in your system without necessarily directly increasing it.

5 Mistakes that slow down your beard growth

Now that we’re clear on how and why your beard grows, it’s time to look at 5 simple ways you can improve it.

But before we can do that, we need to address a few mistakes we see made constantly, which are actively sabotaging your ability to grow a health beard quickly:

1. Impatience

We get it: it takes longer than you’d like.

It’s perfectly natural to get a little irritated with the process, particularly if you’re on the slower end of the spectrum or you’re having trouble with the itches and general upkeep.

But the reality is, this is a long-haul deal, and you need to be dedicated and willing to invest real time and effort into building up a proper beard.

Now that you understand what your body is doing and how the anagen phase works, hopefully, this will be less of a problem.

But if it still is, just try to keep your eyes on the prize and remember what it is you’re working towards:

2. Buying into myths

There are so many articles and gurus out there who are, frankly, peddling garbage.

They’ll tell you it should take exactly this long to grow a full beard, or you have to use that product if you want a proper Thor-like beard.

And the reality is, most of this is just a way of trying to either sell you stuff or make you like them.

The ultimate result is almost always either wasted time or getting disheartened and ultimately giving up.

Don’t listen to anyone who claims they know exactly how this stuff is done – everybody is different, and if you’re struggling, there’s every chance you just haven’t found the solution you need yet.

3. Smoking

This is, of course, a fairly general mistake, but smoking is also known to damage your hair’s quality and cause hair loss and potential baldness.

It can be hard, of course, but if you’re trying to grow a beard while smoking and are struggling, this might be the perfect opportunity to finally give it up and put down the smokes.

4. Poor skincare

As we’ve discussed, the health of your skin – its moisture levels, for example – affect how well your beard can grow.

If you’re putting lots of effort into growing a beard but not also taking care of the skin beneath it, you may have to realize that these two things can’t work separately.

Not only is not taking proper care of your skin likely to stifle your beard’s growth, but it is also likely to make the hairs themselves less healthy and less attractive – so stop overlooking it!

5. Not grooming it

Many men seem to think they need to wait until they’ve grown a full, luscious beard before they start looking after it properly.

But the reality is, looking after it properly is part of what makes it grow healthily and encourages faster growth in the first place.

From using beard oil to brushing the thing, there are many ways in which you can look after your beard even during the very early anagen phase – and the results are basically always far, far better.

5 Ways to speed up your beard growth

We understand the frustration of a slow-growing beard and the frustration of not knowing why you can’t seem to get that mane to look how you want.

But it’s far more in your control than you might think, and these are just a few of the ways you can influence it:

1. Take supplements

There are many supplements out there that will help you improve your nutrition and make sure your body has exactly what it needs to grow a beard as fast as humanly possible.

For example, Biotin supplements will absolutely help improve your hair growth and ensure your follicles have everything they need to grow.

But there are also more exotic and specialist things you can use:

If you’re really struggling to get the growth you need, you could even try something like Minoxidil, which has been scientifically proven to stimulate growth.

2. Change your diet

As simple as it sounds, just changing your diet can have a radical impact on the speed at which your beard grows.

For example, foods like fish, chicken, tofu, eggs, yogurt, salmon, nuts, and many others will give you extra protein, as well as a whole host of the vitamins and minerals we discussed above.

The goals should be not simply to improve your beard growth, but to improve your health overall – it will make you feel much better, and it will be the perfect companion to an improved exercise regime.

3. Exercise

Once again, this really ought to be general advice: exercise is for healthy bodily function, regardless of whether you’re growing a beard or not.

However, increasing the amount you exercise – in particular, lifting weights – will increase the amount of testosterone in your system by a great deal, which will have a knock-on effect on your beard.

4. Use beard oil

While using beard oil won’t in-of-itself increase the speed your beard grows at; it will create a much better environment for it to grow in, which in turn will increase the speed of growth.

By keeping the hairs, you have healthy – as well as the skin below them! – using beard oil can be the difference between a healthy-looking beard:

And one which is decidedly less so:

5. Relax

Finally, and in some senses, most importantly, you’ve just got to relax.

It will help you avoid stress and sleep better, but it will also improve your general quality of life and make the whole process of growing a beard – which we acknowledge can be difficult at first – far more pleasant.

You’ll be far less likely to get impatient and give up, and ultimately it’ll mean you take yourself much less seriously, which can only be a good thing.

From meditation and yoga to downing a smoothie or lighting a good scented candle, there are tons of great ways to relax.

So just take the time to experiment and find exactly what it is, which most chills you out.

As we’ve seen, there are numerous different factors at play, determining how long it takes for you to grow facial hair.

But it’s also worth pointing out that many of these factors are interrelated – that is, they impact each other.

If you work out more, you’ll have more testosterone. But then, having more testosterone is likely to make you want to work out more.

The point is, encouraging faster and better beard growth is often about creating positive cycles and embracing several different methods at once:

Rather than just focusing on diet or supplements, you need to also be exercising, avoiding negative habits, and maybe even using oils to encourage growth.

Conclusion

So there we have it:

Hopefully, we’ve helped demystify the whole process of how beards grow and what is causing yours to grow the way it can.

We’d love to hear about your experiences and what you do to help your beard grow more healthily and quickly.

Do you enjoy growing a beard? Is it difficult or frustrating? How have our tips affected your ability to grow it quickly?

Please let us know in the comments below.

A beard adds character to your face, and throughout history, the beard has stood for many things. Beard wearers are regal, they’re rugged, and they’re refined. A beard can be used to make a statement about a person, and even to make a general assumption.

If you saw a man on the side of the road with a long, scruffy beard, you might think vagrant. A big, neat but wild ZZ Top style beard makes you think biker, whilst a thin, narrow mustache conjures up images of shiftiness, a bit like Dick Dastardly from Wacky Races. It’s easy to draw assumptions of a character when seeing a beard, and it is why facial hair is often used in movies to help build a profile.

If you don’t believe us, here are three great examples of movie characters with very distinctive beards.

Chris Hemsworth – Thor

Thor’s beard is almost as famous as his hammer, and the Norse God is often depicted with his facial adornment. Hemsworth is the same, and for his role as Thor, the producers have mixed the two to create a niche for the Australian actor. Playing a character like Thor isn’t easy; he’s everywhere and known outside of Hemsworth’s portrayal.

You can find him in comic books and films, and even in video games. Games Radar reveals he’s a playable character in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. On mobile devices, Thor features in some of the online slots from Gala Bingo, including Age of Gods Norse Legends and Norse Gods and Giants. He has a huge bushy beard in those titles, as he does in Thor: The Dark World.

To move away from this rugged depiction, Hemsworth’s Thor often has the smart, fashionable beard the actor is also famous for.

Ian McKellen – Gandalf

Think of a wizard, any wizard. We guarantee you’ve got a pointy hat, robes, and a long beard. In fact, there isn’t a famous wizard that comes to mind that doesn’t have a beard; the longer and whiter, the better.

Gandalf always had a beard; that was clear from Tolkien’s books, but it was made famous by McKellen in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Like Thor, Gandalf had a persona outside of McKellen’s thanks to depiction not only in the book but video games such as 1988’s War In Middle Earth and Lego Hobbit on PlayStation 4. The producers went for a different slant to Hemsworth here; they remained dedicated to the typical depiction and hid McKellen behind the famous face fur.

Alan Rickman – Han Gruber

Rather depressingly, many older movies depicted villains as having beards; the better groomed, the worse the villain. Was there ever a villain worse than Hans Gruber, the character who kidnapped a tower block full of people and held them hostage?

His perfectly groomed beard was up against the rugged, white-vested John McClane, and he never stood a chance in the Nakatomi Plaza. Rickman, an English actor, was hidden away behind a great trim and European accent that harked back to classic Bond baddies as much as anything.

Even now, a perfectly groomed beard and slight European twang are sure to spark unfounded and unwarranted fear in the hearts of true Die Hard fans.

While mankind has often had a love-hate relationship with beards, there’s a lot of love these days and, hopefully, all the affection will continue long into the future.

For many men – and women – beards are more than just something to wear proudly or admire from afar (or up close, whatever the case may be). For those people, beards are a way of life.

If you’re one of those people, you’re a pogonophile. That’s what this post is about: what it means to be a pogonophile and, of course, what pogonophile means.

And if you aren’t sure that you’re a pogonophile, we’ve also included some signs which show that you qualify.

First, What is a Pogonophile?

Pogonophile definition – “One who loves or studies beards.”

The definition above comes straight from Wikipedia, and the Wiki folks deserve a round of applause for their brevity. But does it cover what pogonophile means with true depth?

We think not. Because pogonophile goes beyond mere love and study of beards.

For a true pogonophile, beards are akin to religion, a way of life. For him or her, it’s a mindset, not just a fondness for an incredible patch of facial hair.

It’s not just a mindset – or love – for something that is here today, gone today, mind you.

True, beards had ridden waves of popularity while sometimes plunging into near-irrelevancy – like in the 18^th century when the damn Puritans frowned upon facial hair and many other things that created joy and uniqueness.

Beards, however, have a history that dates to pre-historic men and has been a symbol of strength and style throughout the ages.

They emerged from the restraints of Puritanism in the 19^th century thanks to folks like U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and have been more or less accepted ever since.

But beards are on a kick-ass roll today. While there are no numbers with which to corroborate, we guess that the ranks of pogonophiles have swelled in recent years.

As a pogonophile, you may have an obsession with beards.

We agree, not all obsessions are healthy, but what’s wrong with treating a beard with reverence and giving it the proper attention and care it deserves, all backed by science and study? Some men, and women, like hot rod cars.

Others like valuable antiques, or wine, or paintings, or what have you.

All we’re saying is that you should embrace your pognonophilia. Some things just can’t be helped.

OK, time to move on to the evidence that you may be a pogonophile. Before we begin, however, here’s the proper pogonophile pronunciation – po-go-na-file.

9 Signs That You’re A Pogonophile

1. You Weather the Beard Itch Storm

If there’s one thing you need more than anything else while growing a beard is patience. Not only because growing a beard requires time – and facial hair growth rates are different for every man – but because the early stages of beard growth often bring on beard “itch.”

While it’s helpful to know that beard itch is a normal part of the beard-growing process, that doesn’t make it any easier to endure. In some cases, beard itch is so irritating that you’d rather be locked away in a padded cell.

As a pogonophile, however, you acknowledge the beard itch beast but don’t back down from it. You accept that it’s a part of life and that life, in many cases, means endurance.

In other words, nothing is going to stop you from growing the beard you’ve always wanted, beard itch be damned.

You recognize that a bit of short-term pain will lead to long-term gain.

Besides, you know that there are plenty of solutions to relieve beard itch, from cleansing it with a good beard shampoo or wash, using a beard conditioner and beard oil, to trimming it with the best beard trimmer once it has matured into a full-fledged amazing beard.

If you’re a female pogonophile who loves everything about beards, kissing someone with a beard may cause discomfort as well. But you don’t care. You simply apply lip balm between kisses and get on with life.

2. You’re Willing to Pay for the Best Beard Products

The best beardsmen realize early on that there’s more to maintaining a beard than trimming it now and then, or – if not trimming – than letting the soap and water from your shower clean it.

No, they realize that there’s an endless array of products available to help their beard reach its full potential.

Beard oils, conditioners, beard shampoos, beard combs, beard trimmers, beard wax – all are tools of the trade that help make one man’s beard stand out from all the rest.

Not that all quality beard products are expensive, mind you, but like anything else, what you get often equals what you pay for with men’s grooming products.

As a true pogonophile, you’re always on the lookout for the best products, the latest innovations – anything that gives you an edge in the beard maintenance game.

You research before you buy and aren’t satisfied if a certain product even if a product only falls a little bit short.

The best beards often make it look easy. But there’s nothing easy about getting the look you want, yet you’ve mastered the art.

3. You Know When You’re in the Presence of a Great Beard

This sign applies to both sexes. It defines the reaction you get when a great beard has entered the room, or when you see a stellar beard on the streets.

It’s that second (or third) glance you give the bearded construction worker on your way to the office or favorite coffee shop.

It’s the walking up to the magnificently-bearded stranger at a party and striking up a conversation because you want to take a closer look at his facial masterpiece.

As a fellow beardsman, you’ll ask him questions about his beard care routine and the products he uses.

As a woman, you may ask for his phone number (while resisting the urge to run your hands through his beard).

You may even watch certain television shows or athletic competitions in which the beard to non-beard ratio is high. You like beards and you want to see them. There’s nothing wrong with that.

4. You Buy a Product Because of a Beard

Ladies who classify as pogonophiles understand this scenario: You’re looking at products in your favorite store, and you end up buying something you don’t necessarily need because the salesman has an awesome beard.

In this case, the beard has an almost hypnotic effect or makes you feel like you did when you were much younger and in the presence of an attractive guy you so desperately wanted to talk to but hadn’t yet worked up the courage.

Or, perhaps you find yourself returning to the same store over and over just to check out the salesman with the beard. It has now become your favorite store.

Beards, after all, aren’t just worthy of your imagination, they have a powerful presence.

As a pogonophile, you understand a beard’s ‘presence’ more than other people. If you have to spend a little money on something you really don’t need just to admire a fantastic beard, so be it.

5. Growing a Beard is Your Passion

We’ve already talked about the true pogonophile’s willingness to weather the inevitable beard itch that comes with a new beard. Simply put, there’s no way they’re going to shave at the first sign of discomfort.

For pogonophiles, growing a beard isn’t something to be endured but something to be pursued with a passion.

It’s a labor of love, and like the person who loves tattoos and is willing to endure some pain to get the tattoo they’ve long dreamed of, nothing we’ll keep them from their pursuit.

The true pogonophile cares for his beard every morning and takes breaks at work to make sure his beard is clean and always presentable. In many ways, he is a craftsman.

Moreover, he joins a beard and mustache club for fellowship and ever-important beard growing tips and suggestions. Being in a group of fellow beardsmen has a power all its own.

6. You’re Biased Towards Men With Beards

For female pogonophiles, there’s not a lot of discrimination going on when it comes to beard admiration. Stubble, medium-length beards, beards that compare favorably with the beards of those dudes in ZZ Top – all are worthy of respect and love.

And many of your favorite actors and other celebrities sport beards.

You’ll watch a movie you might not otherwise like just because one of your favorite bearded actors has a role in it. You’ll root for the man with a beard while watching game shows.

Here’s another thing: you’ll want to have your picture taken with a bearded man at a party or favorite nightspot. Even if you don’t dare to go up and ask him yourself, you’re more than willing to have your friend make the approach and set up the photo.

To you, beards are meant to be admired and it’s your work (but a labor of love) to admire them.

7. Your Routine Changes

Your favorite month used to be June or October or the month of your birthday. Now it’s November, the month when so many men are growing beards for a cause.

Meanwhile, other routines and beliefs change as you evolve into a true pogonophile.

The TV channel number that features lumberjack or strongman competitions – in which the chances of there being bearded competitors is high – is now committed to memory.

You used to watch golf, football, or soccer, but now enjoy watching someone chop down a tree.

Or, you’re a beardsmen who now happily joins your wife or girlfriend for a trip to the supermarket because it’s another opportunity to check out beard care products. And your Christmas wish list now includes balms, oils, waxes, shampoos, etc.

8. You Have Beard Radar

Not only do you react when a beautifully-bearded man enters a room, but you also sense their presence before you see them. You feel a subtle energy shift in the room, a disturbance in the force that only an immaculately maintained beard can create.

Once you’ve seen the man, you’ll find excuses to leave your conversation – politely, of course, unless you can no longer stand it – to gather around the wise sage with a beard. You just want to hear what he has to say, no matter what the topic.

Your perfect man is a neurologist who looks like a lumberjack, but you know that’s setting the bar high. Still, there’s no harm in dreaming, and there are plenty of other bearded men who are only slightly less than your definition of perfection.

9. You’re a Believer in a Beard’s Attributes

Women say there are many reasons for why they prefer men with beards:

1) a man who is willing to endure the early discomfort of growing a beard has patience, 2) a beard signifies maturity, 3) a beard show that a man is willing to march to the beat of his own drummer, 4) a beard just oozes masculinity, and more.

As a male pogonophile, you know that your beard affects people around you in many ways and that it exudes confidence. People like to be around other people who have confidence and you know that as much, if not more, than the next guy.

10. You watch movies featuring bearded heroes

Being a pogonophile, you might have some interesting entertainment habits. You may gravitate towards watching movies featuring bearded actors. Rather than your taste for a particular genre of movies, you keep watching them just to appreciate the beard. Whether it belongs to a hero or a villain, it hardly matters to you!

This fondness for beards goes a long way in shaping your taste for movies and other entertainment shows.

If you already love movies where you can explore the details and style of beards, you’re definitely a pogonophile. There’s no denying the fact that you find pleasure in staring at those fascinating facial hairs.

Beard Grooming Tips for Pogonophiles

Being a pogonophile, it’s natural for you to look out for practical ways to groom your beard. Here are some of the best ways to take care of your valued possession.

Trim Your Beard Regularly

Make sure to have a decent trimmer in your grooming kit. Take care to trim your beard regularly during humid seasons. Humidity tends to frizz out beards. Trimming your beard from time to time will help to keep it in good shape. Consider it a kind of routine maintenance that your beard deserves.

Use a Beard Oil

If you’ve been dismissing beard oil as unnecessary, you need to change your approach. Believe it or not, you can use special types of oils to alleviate the growth of your beard. 

In addition to promoting faster beard growth, a high-quality oil would nourish it as well. This would provide your beard with necessary moisture and nutrients, and make your beard stronger, conditioning the strands individually.

Purchase a Beard Balm

It’d be smart to complement your beard oil with a beard balm, and you can use a beard balm as a conditioner. While beard oil is ideal before going to bed because it takes time to seep into the strands, a balm would be perfect for when you leave your house.

Besides, a quality balm will help you spice up your styling. Like beard oil, balms complement beard growth, thanks to the plenty of nutrients they carry. Moreover, the balm would provide an additional protective layer. This would guard the strands from rain, dust, UV rays, and other damaging elements.

Keep Your Beard Dry

Carry dry towelettes or a hand towel when you’re outdoors, especially during rainy weather. This will keep your beard dry as you wipe it from time to time. It may seem like a lot of work, but a long-lasting, well-shaped beard will be worth the effort.

Brush Your Beard

Stop right now if you use your hands to brush your beard! Although it works for styling, it doesn’t do any good for the health of the strands. Use a dense and soft hairbrush to maintain your beard. This helps you do away with the larger chunks of grime and dirt and makes it easier to untangle the strands.

Why There’s Nothing Wrong With Being a Pogonophile

While being a pogonophile suggests that you have an obsession and that certain obsessions are unhealthy, there’s no reason to have shame about it.

Instead, being a lover of beards is almost always a good thing and, besides, you understand the many benefits of having a beard.

Indeed, as a male pogonophile, you know there’s more to a beard than the simple fact that it looks good:

• A beard makes you seem more intelligent. Not that we’re saying you need some help in the intelligence category, but rather look at the many lofty souls who wore beards: Albert Einstein, Lincoln, Sigmund Freud, Alexander the Great. None of these gents was a dummy, mind you.
• A beard makes you seem like your own man, which other men and women love. Studies show that bearded men are often seen as a non-conformist; like someone who knows what he wants and isn’t going to back down from what he wants if someone doesn’t like it.
• A beard makes you feel – and look – more mature. Not that we’re in a hurry to get older, but if you’re the guy with the perpetual baby face who now has a beard – well, folks will look at you differently. You may have already achieved proper manhood, but a beard is your VIP pass into it.
• A beard adds to your sex appeal. Ah, yes, beards and sex appeal. There are dozens, if not more, of studies and research projects about how women dig a man with facial hair. Lincoln grew a beard after an 11-year-old girl wrote him a letter and told him that one would prompt more women to vote for him.
• A beard shows a commitment to grooming that others will notice. After all, as a true pogonophile, you’re serious about doing what it takes to keep your beard looking its best. You’re a man who doesn’t just rush out of your house or apartment in the morning without taking the time to look good.
• A beard may make you seem more aggressive, even if you’re not. But who doesn’t like an extra dose of swagger? Aggressiveness doesn’t always mean bad things; in fact, women often perceive it as being a sign of strength and protection.
• A beard gives your face character. If you don’t like the shape of your face or chin, you can always grow a beard to lessen those “flaws” while accentuating the attractive parts of your face.

There are other reasons why you have a healthy obsession with beards, including their many health benefits, such as:

• They help lessen your chances of getting skin cancer. Indeed, the sun’s UV rays can seriously damage exposed skin. But a 2012 study in Australia showed that a heavy beard blocks up to 95 percent of the sun’s harmful rays from reaching a man’s face.
• With a beard, there are no more shaving issues. You know what we’re talking about – the nicks, cuts, abrasions and other nasties that may result from running a razor blade over your face. Shaving may even cause in-grown hair and infections. Love your beard and your face will love you back.
• Which brings us to our next point: a beard looks a helluva lot better on your face than nicks, cuts, abrasion, and other blemishes on your face. You’ll look better with a beard and protect your skin in the process.
• Not shaving will save you time. Think about the many, many hours you’ve spent at the bathroom mirror in your lifetime. Eliminate shaving and those hours automatically decrease.
• Oh, and last but certainly not least, wearing a beard may improve your sex life. A 2008 British university study found that women think men with facial hair make for better romantic partners. A better sex life is undoubtedly a health benefit in many, many ways. Who are we to argue?

Now, if you’re a woman, you’re obsession with beards is perfectly understandable, as well. Why?

• For one, you prefer mature men. A man with a beard is almost always more masculine and it gets back to the primitive idea that a strong man is a better provider and will be a better family man. It’s evolutionary psychology, not just hearsay.
• You prefer bearded men because they’re more attractive than non-bearded men. There’s no shame in that. And we’re not just talking about how good his beard looks, but almost everything he wears looks good because he’s bearded. It has even been said that a man wearing grungy sweats and a T-shirt still looks better than a clean-shaven man in nice clothes.
• Oh, and you like what your pogonophile qualities have brought you: a masculine, strong, handsome man that makes other women jealous. And it makes you look like a real woman, not one who’s satisfied with a whimpering, whining, clean-shaven lad on her arm.

So, embrace your inner (or outer) pogonophile, friends. There are legitimate reasons for being one and more power to you in how it manifests itself in your life.

Conclusion

As always, we’d love to hear from you. Do you consider yourself a pogonophile or know someone who is? We truly appreciate your questions and comments and promise to respond promptly. Until next time.