As World Beard Day (September 3) returns and the planet prepares to celebrate fabulous facial hair, here are some things scientists have discovered about the beard.
Beards are undeniably manly
Numerous studies [1] have [2] found [3] that men look more masculine, dominant, aggressive and strong when they wear a beard. To see also : Do not serve your pet this brand of dog food. May contain salmonella. In fact, even men report feeling [4] more masculine when they have facial hair.
Research has also shown that men who choose to be bearded [5] tend to have higher testosterone levels than those who choose to be clean-shaven, and are more likely to be hostile sexists, [6] in other words, to foster patriarchy and male dominance, and to think that women belong to the kitchen. These men could use their beards (and muscles) to strengthen gender roles.
Beards may be used to intimidate rivals
In his 1970s book, “The Evolution of Human Threat Display Organs,” Professor R. D. Guthrie theorized that beards could be used to intimidate male rivals by increasing jaw size perception and improving aggressive behavior and threatening. Read also : Here’s What Happens To Men Who Grow Beards, According To Science. Additionally, research has revealed that people can recognize expressions of anger faster [7] on a bearded face than on a clean-shaven face, but are slower in recognizing expressions such as happiness or sadness.
Knowing that beards serve as a signal of formidability can help explain why men like beards on themselves, but not on other men. [8] They don’t have to worry. Although some researchers [9] have suggested that beards evolved to protect a man’s face by absorbing and dispersing the force of any blows he might receive on the chin, others [10] have found that men with beards no longer have chances of winning a fight of their clean-shaven peers.
Beards add maturity (and employability)
The beard often makes men appear older, more mature, [11] of higher social status [12] and more credible. [13] This can be especially useful for men looking for work who seem young for their age. To see also : This high-tech flow dryer could change your life. [14] Indeed, while past research [15] has found that bearded men are less likely to be offered a job than their shaved counterparts, times change and more recent research [16] shows that bearded men are perceived as having more experience than clean-shaven men and, as such, are more likely to be invited to a job interview.
Beards are especially useful for those in advisory roles. In 2020, assistant marketing professor Dr. Sarah Mittal was inspired to examine [17] beards by her husband, the boy-faced co-owner of an IT company who didn’t think his customers took him seriously without a mustache. In one experiment, she and her marketing colleague, David Silvera, asked 127 people to imagine buying a tablet or laptop. Each person was shown a randomly chosen image of a “merchant” with one of four types of beard on his face – clean shaven, standard mustache, handlebar mustache or full beard – and asked to rate the experience. and the reliability of man. The bearded version has always been rated the best: 11.6% more for reliability than the well-shaved version and 10.6% more for experience.
In another experiment, the researchers placed a Facebook ad for a real business and used a photo of a bearded or clean-shaven sales rep. The bearded rep produced a much higher click-through rate – 2.66% – than the well-shaved version. In fact, higher than the sector averages by about 1.04% (technologies) and 0.71% (industrial services). The study also revealed that customers consider bearded salespeople to be more experienced and trustworthy than their shaggy, mustachioed, or clean-shaven counterparts, regardless of the seller’s age, race, ethnicity, attractiveness or sympathy.
Beards may add sex appeal
The beard not only covers the signs of aging, but also slows the aging process of the skin by protecting the wearer from the sun. [18] In addition to protecting men from wrinkles, age spots, and shaving-induced acne, a beard can hide the signs of the disease [19] and improve the sex appeal of men with small, weak-looking jaws. [20]
Like most of our optional accessories, facial hair comes in and out of style. While beards may have been incredibly unpopular [21] in the past, they are now much more popular. However, the research into whether women find bearded men attractive is mixed. Some studies [22] suggest [11] that women find a face that exhibits the ability to grow facial hair more attractive than a full bearded face, but that thick bearded men are preferred for relationships. long term. [23] Some research [24] finds that women prefer men whose beard matches that of their fathers (and that homosexual men prefer men whose beard matches their own). In the end, what one person likes is not what another likes. [25]
Population trends in facial hair have been shown to increase when there are more single men than single women, suggesting that beards are used to show masculinity [26] to potential mates. Some people [28] also believe that the recent beard increase may be due to difficult financial conditions: men trying to attract mates in today’s tough economy could dial their masculinity down to 11. However, one research [27] has also found that the more beards there are, the less attractive they become. The scientific term for this is “frequency-dependent negative sexual selection,” which, in a nutshell, means that we tend to prefer rare or unique mates because they are thought to have a genetic advantage. In a society that has reached the pinnacle of the beard, one more man with facial hair is nothing to write home about.
Beards are not popular with young children
Although research has revealed that people think men with full beards look reliable [29] and good-natured, [30] and that women think they would be better fathers [22] than well-shaven men, especially when they have children of their own. , [31] babies as young as 21 months seem to think that bearded men look strong but very unattractive, [32] and their dislike only grows with age. However, around the age of puberty, their views have changed and they start to like them more. Personal experience also matters: Babies with bearded fathers generally rate facial hair more positively.
However, for a child, a bearded man cannot be trusted. Further research has shown that children are more likely to choose a bearded man to help them with acts of force, such as fighting a dragon, [33] but prefer a clean-shaven ally when they need someone reliable to help them hide a Treasure map.
Beards are good for your health
A well-groomed beard can provide a man with several health benefits. For starters, a beard can fight allergies. [34] They also keep the wearer warm. So efficiently, in fact, that there is a theory [35] that male pattern baldness developed among humans in an attempt to compensate for beard growth by promoting heat loss through the scalp.
That said, beards tend to get a bad rap when it comes to cleaning. According to a small study from 2019, [36] you can find more germs in a beard than in a dog’s coat. It is worth remembering, however, that the vast majority of bacteria are not harmful and some are actually beneficial. In fact, research has found that beard bacteria could be turned into antibiotics, [37] something that would actually be very useful as our current stock is rapidly becoming ineffective.
In addition, research [38] also found that clean-shaven men are more than 10% more likely to harbor colonies of Staphylococcus aureus – a bacterium that causes skin infections, respiratory infections and food poisoning – on their faces compared to their mustachioed counterparts, and more than triple the odds of carrying MRSA around on freshly shaved cheeks.
A recent survey [39] of 919 women found that those who were repulsed by creatures such as lice and fleas were less likely to find bearded men attractive. Interestingly, however, those who were concerned about picking up harmful bacteria or viruses were more likely to find bearded men attractive. The researchers speculated that facial hair was used as an indicator of health by those women or that it covered areas of the face that could communicate health problems.
According to US psychologist Robert Pellegrini, “Inside every clean-shaven man, there is a beard that screams to be let out”. [1] Those men who choose to listen to their inner beard can definitely expect a feeling of greater masculinity and less facial bacteria.
Can having a beard impact your health?
In addition to bacteria, “viruses can be transmitted from person to person through contact and the beard would be a point of contact,” Yadager said. Sometimes having a beard can also lead to skin infections. “You can end up with painful bumps on your face. Sometimes they can drain.
What are the benefits of having a beard? 8 benefits of having a beard
- It protects from the sun and prevents damage to the skin. …
- Keeps you warm in the winter. …
- It helps asthma sufferers and reduces allergies. …
- Natural moisturizer. …
- It can reduce the chances of bacterial infection. …
- It makes men feel more attractive and improves sex life. …
- Helps you save time. …
- Easier to buy gifts for.
Do beards prevent illness?
A 2012 study found that facial hair provided some protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Beards also reduce rashes and acne that result from shaving, retain natural facial moisturizers, and trap allergens from entering the airways, according to Details.
What age does your beard stop filling in?
From the age of 30, your beard becomes less likely to fill up on its own. Once you reach the age of 30, the chances of your beard filling up become more the exception than the rule. Testosterone levels begin a gradual decline after age 30.
Will my beard fill up after 30? Genetics also affect where facial hair grows and when the beard reaches its full potential. “By the age of 18 to 30, most beards continue to develop in thickness and roughness,” he says. “So if you’re 18 and wondering why you don’t have a full beard yet, this may not be the time.”
At what age is your beard fully developed?
Generally, full beard growth is possible from around the age of 18, but for many men, that time may not be until the age of 30. So, if you’re not getting the beard growth you want, it may be because it’s not your time.
Do patchy beards fill in with age?
Your facial hair undergoes a lot of changes as you age. It might be a patchy beard now, but it is likely to change and could potentially get thicker with age. If you can’t wait that long, try growing your beard for at least 2/3 months. Most people see poor growth after a week and give up.
Will my beard fill in after 25?
How quickly your beard grows depends on multiple factors, including race, age, and genetics. Most men will experience the greatest beard growth between the ages of 25 and 35, although it varies from person to person. Testosterone, a hormone, stimulates beard growth more than any other factor.
Why are beards so important?
The Health Benefits of the Beard A beard can: Protect the skin from sun damage. A beard can help protect the skin from harmful UV rays, although the degree of protection can depend on the density and thickness of the hair. “You will have some protection because hair is a reflective medium,” says Dr.
Why are beards sacred? As in Christianity, a number of theologians believe the beard is holy because it is part of God’s distinction between man and woman. A Pakistani scholar observed: “The Prophets of Allah wore beards and expressed their appreciation as this is among the norms of human nature.
What beards say about a man?
In some studies, bearded men are shown not only as masculine and dominant, but also kind, courageous, trustworthy, generous, hardworking and more attractive, especially when their temperament seems calmly confident in their approach to life.
Why do people respect beards?
But there remains some reason to cling to facial hair, as both men and women claimed that men with beards had a sense of “gravitas”, and men said that the beard gave the impression of a higher social status and earned men more respect.
