By Rilwan Salawudeen
From the infamous bearded lady to the iconic beard which accompanies just about everyone’s idea
of a lumberjack nothing demonstrates masculinity quite like a thick, grizzly beard. While some men
choose to go for a clean shave, others choose to let all their facial hair hang loose. Recently, I came
across one of the latest beard trends – beard jewelry – and that just sealed the deal that beards are,
and will continue to be, all the rage.
But, forget all the beard accessories and fads surrounding facial hair, have you ever wondered what
kind of message just having a beard sends about you? From being a sign that you are good with
kids to demonstrating your level of aggressiveness, beard psychology just might have more of an
impact on how your peers view you than you thought…
So, just what is it that your furry fashion statement says about you? Well, let’s see what psychology
says:
It Shows a Message of Support
Have you ever found yourself wanting to get involved in a creative way? Well, the solution to your
problem might just be hanging out on your face…Believe it or not, some men actually grow a beard
in honor of something to show support and raise awareness. Kind of like “no shave November” for
girls, even though they aren’t raising money for anything, it is done as part of a group mentality or a
movement.
Well, there is actually a movement called Beards for Autism where a group of men are dedicated to
growing out their beardsand facial hair in an effort to supportfinding a cure for autism. Check it out
your beloved facial hair could actually be used as a sign of support for a specific movement.
It Increases your Age and Social Status
Do you remember in high school and college when there was always that one friend who could get
away with using a fake identification card? Well, he probably had a lush beard, didn’t he?
A study, done byDixson and Vasey (2012), found that European women from Samoan Polynesians
and New Zealand reported that men with beards looked older and of a higher social status. In fact,
other research shows that a beard can even make a man look up to ten years older. So, depending
on how old you actually want to look, you might be one of those men reaching for your razor.
As far as the higher social status goes, a well-trimmed beard is often seen in men of a higher up
position. They have special razors, expensive shave cream, and practice proper hygiene techniques
– taking great pride in their beard. So, people often associate a beard with a higher social status just
based on what they have seen for themselves. But, don’t be mistaken a poorly kept beard could
easily take a turn for the worst and decrease your social status.
It Shows your Parenting Skills
Few things are more attractive to most women than a man with a baby on his hip. So, how else can
you scream “I’m a good man”? Well, according to the same Dixson and Vasey (2012) study, just
throw a beard into the equation. Because beards point to signs of sure masculinity, it seems kind of
odd that they also somehow convey that you are good with babies. But, when you combine the fact
that women think a man with a beard looks older and of a higher social class, then throw in that he is
carrying around a baby – apparently, you have all the ingredients for a good parent.
Final Thoughts
So, whether you are trying to raise awareness about a specific cause or pick up your new baby
momma, it looks like a lush beard could play in your favor. But, of course, don’t forget to practice
good hygiene and beard trimming techniques. While there are few things better than a man with
agood beard, there are few things worse than a man with abad beard. So, keep growing that beard
out. You never know when you might need it to win someone over. What do you think your beard
says about you? Let us know on our twitter page @newnarrativeng we love a good story.
