The effect of seeing a smooth-faced person come out from the shadows sporting a full-fledged beard is undeniable. Think about the first time we, as a society, saw what wonders a handful of tactically-shaped hair on Keanu Reeves or Chris Hemsworth can do to already charming features. And don’t get us started on George Clooney… Although, we still aren’t sure about Prince Harry (then again, it’s not totally surprising he was ordered to shave that ‘thing’ off his face).
Whether inspired by curiosity or the lack of razors, many men across the world have tried to see if their faces are suited to rock a sexy lumberjack look. Similar to leather jackets and Aviators, it’s definitely not for everyone. But when a guy pulls it off, the world has to see it as well. And with that, dear pandas, we present to you a handful of men who let testosterone do its magic and showed us their transformations from baby-faced to stubbly.
#1 Before And After I Lost Weight, Grew A Beard, And Started Modeling In My 30s
As long as men have been able to trim their whiskers whenever they please, the beard has been going in and out of fashion. In 2016, a Wall Street Journalpiecemusingly stated: “If you’re like us, you may be wondering if the vogue for channeling a mountain man has overstayed its welcome.” Perhaps it has something to do with the “Beards From Below” fad that was going around social media at the time. It was so bizarre, in fact, that GQ magazine called it the “facial-hair nightmare.” Seeing how Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, appeared before Congress a few years later, sporting a Rasputin-like beard which could’ve poked our eyes out if seen from below, we can’t say that’s a total exaggeration.
However, recent data shows that the appeal of the lumberjack look has not only stayed, but has become more popular than ever. According to EarthWeb, 2-in-5 (or 44%) American men today sport a full beard. A number which was twice as small half a decade ago. Does this have anything to do with65% of womenpreferring lads with well-groomed beards as compared to their baby-faced counterparts? Well, it’s hard to say.
#2 From 2014 To 2020. I Lost A Leg But Acquired A Beard. Starting To Feel More Positive And Optimistic Than Ever
But it’s undeniable that A-class celebrities such as Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Gosling have played a role in shaping the current trend of facial hair. I mean, how could younotenjoy a face likethis? This trend has become so popular, in fact, that even the multi-million “Avengers” franchise incorporated it into their most recent film by giving all the superheroes some form of facial hair. From Bucky Barnes sporting some groomed stubble to Doctor Strange donning a goatee, it’s hard to pick just one favorite.
Men grow beards for various reasons, of course. But one of the primary reasons is the sense of masculinity it can bring. Beards have been associated with strength, wisdom, and maturity. This is even backed by science: according toone paperpublished in 2016, ladies associated beards with men’s increased masculinity. It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that guys sporting full-fledged beards are also thought of as more dominant.
On the other hand, a study by the University of Hertfordshire found that bearded men are often perceived as “38% less generous, 36% less caring, and 51% less cheerful than clean-shaven men.” We’re better off if our dear Santa doesn’t find out about this.
#3 Beard vs. No Beard
#4 Before And After
#5 I Woke Up With A Hangover After The Article About My Personal Journey Went Viral Around The World. Before vs. After
In order to understand the art of beard grooming, We reached out to Brian Garcia, the owner of ‘Barber’is Brian‘ salon in Marijampolė, Lithuania, who, over the last 9 years as a senior barber both in London and Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has seen many different shapes and styles of facial hair.
When asked about the popularity of growing one out, Brian said the period of the pandemic was a curious time, since workers were more eager to experiment when not around their coworkers in person. “Since the pandemic, most of the clients let them grow as they were working from home and they couldn’t trim it professionally,” he explained, “that’s when they noticed that the beard suits them.” Others, he said, annoyed with their itchy, shaggy, out-of-control new looks – something that the New Yorker called ‘the Quarantine Beard‘ – came to Brian with requests to put an end to their hairy faces.
#6 A Little Less Weight And A Little More Beard. My Before And After
#7 Before And After. What Do You Think About My Transformation?
#8 Before And After UPS Lifted The Beard Ban
Of course, having a beard is not much fun when it’s out of your control. Or simply when it refuses to grow. “The secret to growing a beard is to shave,” Garcia argued. “The more you shave your beard, the more thicker it becomes. I have tried it on my client and it worked!” And while he is fully aware that it’s been scientifically debunked that shaving is not a magical solution for growing facial hair, Brian says throughout the years in the field, this trick did wonders for many of his clients.
#9 August 2014 vs. August 2018 Hard Work And Dedication. Passion, Not Aesthetics, Is The Best Motivation
#10 My Girlfriend Told Me: “Puberty Hit You Like A Truck”
#11 Beardless And With A Beard
Just like with most things that require patience – gardening, yoga, not to mention trying to get into shape – most men can confirm that a beautiful beard comes with a price. Issues such as itchiness, flakiness, acne, dryness, and hair brittleness is something that is expected when one decides to grow one out. And this is where beard oil, essentially a key part of a man’s grooming routine, comes in.
“[Beard oils] help to moisturize the beard as it softens them up,” he said. “Also, since your beard doesn’t let air go through the skin, it protects it from beneath. The itching you have? Boom, gone! If you go on a date the same night you had your beard done, use beard oil. The smell is great and your lady will appreciate it.” However, Garcia explains that one should not consider beard oils as a one-size-fits-all solution. “If you have a small beard, it won’t change anything. If you have a medium or long beard – definitely go for it.”
#12 I Grew A Beard And Changed The Hairstyle. Small Changes Big Differences
#13 Today After A Long Time Of Insecurity With My Hair Loss, I Decided To Cut It All Off And Grow A Thicker Beard. I Recommend It To Anyone Who Needs A Boost In Confidence
#14 Still A Work In Progress But I Grew Myself A Chin
As we discuss the art of beards with Garcia, it came to us naturally to ask the most crucial question of them all: how long should you go for? “I read an article where kings and queens in Egypt were using fake metal beards,” he explained, referencing the divine beards, a symbol of their connection to the gods, which adorned the chins of these legendary leaders.
“This showed that they have power and they were unique. During the ancient Greek times, beards were shown as honor, as well.” Garcia is quick to remind us that his Peruvian ancestors, the Incas, had barely a single stubble on their chins but that didn’t stop them from creating one of the most powerful and largest empires in America.
#15 I Lost Some Weight, Grew A Beard, And Feel Better Than I Have In My Entire Adult Life
#16 33-Year-Old Math Teacher Here. I Decided To Shave My Head Bald And Grow A Goatee After Months Of Being Insecure About My Receding Hairline
#17 Before And After I Grew My Beard. Only Two Months Apart
“As a barber, I noticed that many men want a long beard. And some don’t. This made me realize that those who aimed for long beards wanted to be seen as macho men. And those with a short beard just wanted an easy-maintaining beard,” he said, finally adding that “the perfect length doesn’t exist.”
#18 So Here’s My Identical Pose Before And After. Left Or Right?
#19 Beard Evolution. 8 Weeks After Shaving
#20 19-Year-Old vs. 20-Year-Old. Beard Has Been A Total Game Changer For Me
#21 Beard, Long Hair, And Gaining A Bit Of Weight Made All The Difference
#22 I’m Never Going Clean Shaven Again. Before vs. After
#23 I Didn’t Think I Was Able To Grow A Beard, But I Did. Before And After
#24 Me Exactly 5 Years Ago vs. Me Today. I Grew A Beard, Lost Some Weight, And Got Confidence. The Decision To Grow A Beard 2 Years Ago Was A Major Win
#25 I Lost 230 Lbs And Gained A Beard To Cover Up My Turkey Neck Of Loose Skin
#26 Around 7 Months Of Growth And The Longest I’ve Ever Let It Grow. Not Sure If I’ll Be Able To Let It Keep Going During The Summer Or Not, But I Just Want A Big Viking Beard
#27 Here’s My 5 Months Progress. I Absolutely Love My Beard And Hair
#28 This Is Why I Don’t Shave
#29 The Joy Of Growing It Again
#30 Where Would I Be Without My Beard?
#31 I Lost Some Weight But, I Gained A Beard. First Time I’ve Been Under 200 Lbs Since I Was In My 20s. Loving The Beard Too
#32 Almost 3 Months After The Last Time I Shaved
#33 Which Looks Better On Me? Before vs. After
#34 My Beard-Growing Journey. Month Zero To Nine Months
#35 My Face And Beard Comparison Before vs. After
#36 Beard Or No Beard? Be Honest Please, Because I Want To Know The Cold Truth
#37 Before And After. First Time Growing A Beard
#38 I’m 26 Years Old And First Time Growing A Beard
#39 I Had A Hair Loss But Acquired A Beard
#40 Weak Chin? No Problem. Grow A Beard
#41 My Beard Growth Pattern At 23 vs. 28 Years Old. It Just Shows That There’s A Hope Even For The Latest Of Bloomers
#42 7 Month Beard Progress. For All My Slower Growing Homies Out There
#43 Pandemic Beard
#44 I Was So Close To Getting Accurate Before And After Photos. 3 Months In
#45 Before vs. After Of My Beard
#46 Just Let It Grow. 1 Year Ago vs. Today
#47 I Used A Product For Hair Growth, And This Is The Result. Before Minox vs. One Year Of Minox
#48 Before And After. Exactly 4 Years Apart
#49 Beard Or No Beard?
#50 I Decided Two Years Ago To Let It All Just Grow Out
