Why are good looking young men growing ugly beards?
By Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
Northampton, England
February 14, 2016 3:40pm CST
We've had a weekend of watching rugby - it's the second weekend of the annual Six Nations tournament in which England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy all play each other.
The rugby has been great and there have been some real edge-of-the-seat results but the most remarkable thing I've noticed is just how many beardie men there are this year. Keep in mind that you're seriously OLD if you're still playing in your thirties and most of these players are young, pretty hot, muscular and really fit guys. So what's with the weirdie beardie trend? Some of these guys have great 'mens mag' GQ type looks if they weren't covered in this bizarre facial hair.
Apologies to any beardie members but my guess is you wouldn't have grown a face-bush back in your early 20s? My 22 year old un-godson (his mum's an atheist) grew a beard that made him look like an Al Quaeda convert. When I was his age, young men just didn't grow more than a little bit of George Michael stubble.
I am baffled at why fit young men want to make themselves look like retired sea captains. I can't imagine it happening in football (soccer for the Americans who probably stopped reading the moment they saw the word rugby) so what's going on with rugby facial hair and youth face fluff in general?
32 people like this
35 responses
@celticeagle (167070)
• Boise, Idaho
14 Feb 16
First off, not all women think that beards are unattractive. I'd rather see long hair on a man than a beard but a beard is manly too. Where I live many men are hunters and are out in the cold a lot so they grow a beard to help keep the face warm. My ex husband grew a beard because he felt his jaw was not prominent and that he looked better with one. So, you see, there are many reasons for growing a beard and not everyone thinks they are unsightly. If they are kept nicely trimmed I find them rather attractive.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
14 Feb 16
Yes it's very true that bearded men can be very attractive but the short hair + bouffant beard combo is just baffling me. If they were Arctic explorers or fur trappers, I'd get the functional effectiveness of facial hair but rugby players don't have a clear reason for needing fuzz. I had a flat mate when I was a student who grew a beard (because he had a skin condition) but sadly it made him look exactly like the notorious serial killer, Peter Sutcliffe.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (167070)
• Boise, Idaho
14 Feb 16
@boiboing ....Sounds like ,with the rugby players, it is a fad.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Feb 16
@celticeagle to me it looks a bit like a furry face veil.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82789)
• United States
14 Feb 16
I like a bit of a scruffy look on young guys but that bushy, full beard is not attractive. Not to change the subject but what's up with man buns these days? Have you seen them?
2 people like this
@paigea (36317)
• Canada
14 Feb 16
@Marilynda1225 @boiboing those have suddenly appeared around here too.
These are the sort I have seen.
Man buns are taking over the world. You love them, I love them, we all love them. Enjoy these beautiful men with beautiful (man) buns.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218931)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Feb 16
Fashions come and go. Being in with the crowd is more important to young people than looking "neat." Before I could grow a beard, I thought having a beard was "cool" because many of my heroes (Jesse Winchester, Loudon Wainright, Levon Helm, etc.) had one. I had one late in college and then got rid of it when I moved to yuppie Santa Barbara so I could still "bag chicks."
2 people like this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
15 Feb 16
lol I'm actually a fan of the beards but only the beards that are well kept. I don't like when they're out of control and not trimmed.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Feb 16
I see some of the high-maintenance ones that make a man look like a ventriloquist's dummy and just think "That guy somehow missed the point that having a beard should be easier than not having one".
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
15 Feb 16
I'm with you, they mostly look like old men or terrorists, not a good look.
2 people like this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
14 Feb 16
I think some of the young men are able to pull it off completely; they make it look very attractive. Unfortunately, it doesn't suit all of them. I quite like the look, but one day we'lol all look back on it as we now look back on the mullet. :)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340223)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
Vince has had his beard for many, many years and now looks like a retired sea captain! One son now has a beard too and unfortunately does look like a Muslim convert. Luckily he rarely has the same appearance from one month to the next so it might be off by now.
1 person likes this
@HanVanMeegerin (1161)
• United States
15 Feb 16
@boiboing I never could figure out what women thought out about beards. I guess it's mostly individual preference.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Feb 16
Some can look nice but most women don't like the feel of them.
@alchemistrx (2547)
• Philippines
15 Feb 16
Having a beard is cool with guys who are good with it.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
15 Feb 16
I wish some of the ugly men would grow them ! I never dated a man with a beard - just a mustache and even that was too much facial hair for me.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
15 Feb 16
@boiboing LOL!!! I always feel they are hiding something or hiding behind something.
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Feb 16
@AbbyGreenhill My mother always said 'Don't trust a man with a beard. He's hiding something". Maybe they all got unfortunate facial tattoos and are trying to disguise them.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
14 Feb 16
I hate beards. I don't know if you read that piece of research about beards a few months back? Well remember what stuff they find in nuts in bars well apparently they found the same in beards??? Yuk Chuck!
1 person likes this
@Ladypeace (2028)
• Singapore
15 Feb 16
Personally, my preference is for men with a clean shaven look, so I don't seem to get it too. LOL on the retired sea captain descriptor.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
15 Feb 16
I think they do it just for the simple reason they can! It's new, it gets attention and can be very good looking. By the way, I remember you from Bubblews so followed you. HI!!
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Feb 16
@Jeanniemaries Wow. Looks like you are married to Richard Attenborough.
