Theories of human evolution indicate that beards in men are a way to demonstrate masculinity, dominance, and superiority, similar to the mane of lions. In the current era, beards are no longer necessary to protect facial skin, but they still have a psychological impact similar to that of our ancestors.
Facial hair is considered an inherently masculine characteristic in our culture. Men with facial hair are perceived as being angrier, stronger and more masculine than men without facial hair.
From ancient civilizations to modern-day society, beards have been a symbol of power, wisdom, and even rebellion. Beards in Ancient Times: In ancient Egypt, a well-groomed beard was a sign of high social status.
The ability to grow a beard is what separates boys from men and except for a few rare instances of bearded ladies, men from women. Because it's a uniquely masculine feature, facial hair has played an important role in forming our ideas about manhood.
The beard is a symbol of manhood, virility, and sovereignty. It is wisdom, a mark of the knowledge of the elders, and is often the mark of male dignity. Hence, a bearded woman is often a witch. In the Old Testament, the beard can only be cut as a form of penance, mourning, punishment or putting someone to shame.
A study conducted by the Official Journal of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society found that men with moderately full beards are found most attractive, and men with full beards may be perceived as better fathers who could protect and invest in their children. “Men with beards have a powerful look,” Dr.
Not surprisingly, bearded faces were rated higher on masculinity and aggressiveness. But here's where it gets interesting: The researchers also found that bearded faces were rated as more prosocial than clean-shaven faces. Specifically, bearded happy faces were rated as more prosocial than clean-shaven happy faces.
Summary: Cut Throat Club carried out a study, surveying over 100 women and found that overall women preferred men either clean shaven or with a well groomed beard.
A man's ability to grow a fulsome beard isn't actually neatly linked to his testosterone levels. Despite this, a number of studies have suggested that both men and women perceive men with beards as older, stronger and more aggressive than others.
Beards increase ratings of characteristics such as age, social status, aggressiveness and masculinity. A possible theory is that beards serve an intrasexual purpose where the perceived aggressiveness associated with a beard helps to fend off competition from other men.
The study also found that women were not only more attracted to them, but expected to have longer relationships with men rocking a beard.
Evolutionary psychology explanations for the existence of beards include signalling sexual maturity and signalling dominance by the increasing perceived size of jaws; clean-shaved faces are rated less dominant than bearded.
Men with facial hair are perceived by women as older, having a higher social status and better parental skills (Dixson & Brooks, 2013; Dixson, Kennedy-Costantini, et al., 2019; Reed & Blunk, 1990), which are the characteristics women find desirable in long-term romantic partners (Penton-Voak & Perrett, 2000).
Does No Beard Mean Low Testosterone? That's not entirely true. Testosterone can influence facial hair quality, but when your genes are not favorable for beard production, testosterone can't help. Most men have similar levels of testosterone, including men without a beard.
Studies show that beards intimidate other men, reducing their subliminal dominance behaviors towards you and thus increasing your own subconscious dominance behaviors. In regular terms, beards help you step into a far more confident frame.
According to a 2013 Australian study, heavy stubble is the most attractive beard length.
There is no specific ethnicity that can't grow facial hair, but East Asian individuals, such as Japanese and Chinese, tend to have less facial hair and slower growth rates compared to other ethnicities.
Manly faces
Testosterone is a masculinizing hormone (though women make it too, just at lower levels than men). High testosterone during development is linked to facial features such as a chiseled jaw, broad face, narrow eyes and rugged cheekbones — think young Paul Newman, or Twilight werewolf Taylor Lautner.
Additionally, facial hair has been shown to positively impact mating success in highly competitive environments (Barber 2001; Dixson et al. 2017). These observations are all consistent with the hypothesis that beards evolved to enhance fighting performance by providing protection to vulnerable aspects of the face.
A clean-shaven face often signals a man who values tradition, professionalism, and a polished appearance. He's likely to be detail-oriented, with a strong sense of discipline and a clear idea of who he is and what he wants.
The full beard remains a timeless classic, dominating the beard trends of 2025. Known for its bold, masculine appeal, it's perfect for men who want to make a powerful statement.
Men of all ethnicities can get razor bumps as a result of shaving, but Black men seem to suffer from them more often than people of other races. Up to 80% of men who get razor bumps are Black. As a result, Black men need to be especially careful when shaving to prevent the development of ingrown hairs.
Facial Hair as a Sign of Maturity & Attraction. Since you're not going to be seeing any little kids or women sporting beards, it's a known identifier as physical maturity in men. In a similar study to the beard aggression one, it was found that beards are associated with maturity and higher social status by both sexes.
Women find men with light stubble most attractive, and men with full beards as most masculine. A fuller beard is perceived as indicative of good fathering ability and more investment in offspring. Some women do not care for men's facial hair at all.
In the Bible, beards often symbolize wisdom, dignity, and masculinity, reflecting a man's status, maturity, and adherence to cultural and religious traditions.