196 Beards!

What is it about beards!

Everywhere you look these days, facial hair seems to be very popular. Beards, mustaches, goatees--you name it and it’s there.

For the first time in his seven decades, my husband has joined the trend with a beard after 30 some years with a mustache. His reason--it is nice not to have to shave. I am not sure if that is the case for all the other millions of men who sport facial hair, but it makes a great deal of sense.

If only we women could not shave various parts of our bodies! But of course, for many reasons, we diligently shave and shave as often as needed. But this is about facial hair which we women make sure is not anywhere to be seen on our feminine faces.

But men can get by with not shaving and sporting a look that is trendy and often handsome. 

Trimming does seem to be important so the lumberjack look is not evident. My husband was treated to a lesson in trimming by our son who has sported a beard for years. He even had a special trimmer to keep him looking neat. And would you believe my husband, who is not one to shop or buy anything that is not a necessity, also bought a trimmer.

What in the world is happening! Could this be a reaction to the present political situation, a rebellion like in the 1960s, or just plain laziness? I am really not sure but when I check out the research, I find that the trend seems to be staying. Shape is an option with a longer look or shorter, cropped look.

Grandfather with
a slight mustache

Facial hair has been in my family for years as my grandfathers sported mustaches, and my dad and uncles would go back and forth with beards and mustaches. I think they too would decide it would be nice not to shave and took breaks from the daily task. It usually didn’t last long and they were back to the clean-shaven look. 

My dad sometimes sported the pencil look which put him in some famous company such as Clark Gable and Errol Flynn. 







My maternal grandfather had the most perfect handlebar mustache. Not sure how he perfected it but it was a classic.

Maternal grandfather with
a handlebar mustache

Perfect Handlebar

My further research revealed that not shaving can help in improving skin health. Acne is hidden and the razor does not cut places on the skin when shaving is stopped. Who knew that! Women don’t have that choice, but for men, it can be a great solution to covering up irritated skin by letting the hair grow.

Throwback: Errol Flynn with a
pencil-thin mustache

Movie stars are not exempt from this phenomenon as many of them sport the scruffy look. Even the five o’clock shadow beard seems to be okay in this fashion statement. Pro athletes also follow with various styles of facial hair. High schools don’t seem to prohibit beards or mustaches for students and athletes--of course, many guys can’t really grow too much facial hair at that age.

Whatever your fancy, it is nice to have that option if you so desire. I wonder if women could grow that much facial hair if the trends would be different--maybe a little color here and there and possibly some braiding. Men don’t seem to care if the gray comes through, but I think the women would.

Embrace the choice the men in your family make--both my son and son-in-law have great beards that are the trendiest! I think my husband was following them with his recent bearded attempt!!

Frances