If you‘ve noticed more men sporting beards lately, you‘re onto something. Beards have made a major comeback in the past decade. But just how many men are actually growing beards today? And how rapidly is beard popularity growing?
In this article, we‘ll dive deep into the beard statistics and trends reveals some fascinating facts and figures about beard prevalence, growth patterns, perceptions, health impacts and more. Whether you‘re pro-beard or anti-beard, these stats are sure to surprise you!
Contents
A Quick Historical Look at Beard Popularity
Before we dive into current stats, let‘s go over some quick history:
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Ancient Egyptians valued beards as a sign of wisdom and status. Egyptian kings had elaborate false beards as part of their regalia.
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Greeks and Romans generally preferred the clean-shaven look, except for philosophers like Socrates and Plato who wore full beards.
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In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, long beards were in vogue, especially among kings, nobles and warriors.
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The 1700-1800s brought a backlash against beards thanks to war veterans who had to shave for gas masks in WWI. Being clean-shaven was seen as youthful.
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By the mid 1900s, the baby boomer generation rebelled by growing facial hair. Think hippies and revolutionaries.
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In the 1980s and 90s, short stubble became popular, but beards faded again as the clean-cut corporate look took over.
Now let‘s look at how beard trends have evolved since the 2000s.
Key Beard Statistics and Growth Trends
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In 2020, an estimated 44% of men worldwide had full beards, up significantly from just 29% in 2015. (Source: Allied Market Research)
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Looking just at the U.S., 33% of men report always having some type of facial hair. Another 27% say they sometimes sport a beard. (Source: YouGov)
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Worldwide, an estimated 55% of men have some form of facial hair. (Source: New Republic)
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The global beard care industry is booming at a CAGR of 6.1%, on pace to reach $43.1 billion by 2026. (Source: Allied Market Research)
Beard Popularity By Region:
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North America – About 35% of American and Canadian men have a beard. The "lumberjack" look is popular.
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UK and Europe – Beard rates are highest in the UK at 44%. Mediterranean countries like Greece, Italy and Spain also above average.
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Asia – India sees more facial hair, while East Asian nations like China and Korea have less.
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South America – Brazil stands out with 54% bearded men. Soccer stars boost popularity.
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Middle East – Muslim nations show very high beard rates. Shaving can be seen as unmanly.
Beard Popularity By Profession:
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Tech – The informal startup culture makes beards OK, though not as high as perception suggests.
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Healthcare – Doctors usually need to be clean-shaven, but nurses and techs often have facial hair.
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Finance – Corporate clean-cut image prevails. But fintech and Wall Street see more stubble.
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Law – Lawyers skew conservative, though the tide is changing for facial hair.
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Arts/media – No surprise that creative fields are most beard-friendly.
What The Science Says About Beard Growth
Genes determine if you can even grow facial hair and influence how quickly it grows in:
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On average, a man‘s beard grows 5.5 inches per year. Over an entire lifetime of growth, that could add up to over 30 feet of length! (Source: Kent of Inglewood)
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Teenage boys may start developing facial hair as early as 14, while other men may not fill out a beard until their 30s or later. Genetics plays a key role. (Source: Healthline)
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It takes most men 2-6 months to grow a full beard. Testosterone levels, age and ethnicity also impact beard growth:
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African descent – More dense facial hair growth
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Asian descent – Sparser facial hair growth
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Teens – More testosterone may enable faster growth
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30s-40s – Peak testosterone levels allow thicker beards
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Common complaints among bearded men:
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42% report patchiness in growth
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31% are unhappy with uneven coloring
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40% would give up coffee or spend a night in jail for the perfect beard. (Source: Honest Amish)
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Now let‘s shift our gaze to how women perceive the trend toward more beards.
Do Women Find Beards More Attractive?
Many men grow beards hoping they‘ll be more appealing. But do women agree? Research offers mixed results:
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63% of women say men are more attractive overall with facial hair. But only 4% think full beards are most attractive – most prefer heavy stubble. (Source: AppointFix)
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When it comes to serious relationships, women prefer men with full beards. For casual flings, they like light stubble. (Source: Queensland University)
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41% of women find clean-shaven men most attractive. 33% have no strong preference. (Source: AppointFix)
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Looking at income, women earning over $100k per year are 31% more likely to dislike beards compared to lower-earning women. (Source: Journal of Evolutionary Biology)
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By region, American women ranked men with beards 3rd in attractiveness after clean-shaven and light stubble. Greek women ranked beards 1st. (Source: CRJ)
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12.5% of women see full beards as the manliest look. 17% say a beard + mustache is manliest. (Source: The Economist)
Now let‘s explore how beards influence perceptions of personality.
Do Beards Impact First Impressions?
Beards don‘t just change how men look – they also impact how men are perceived:
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Men with heavy stubble are seen as most dominant. Those with light stubble are deemed least dominant. (Source: APA)
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Beards make men seem more aggressive, but also more prosocial when smiling. (Source: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology)
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Celebrities are perceived to be up to 8 years older when pictured with a beard compared to clean-shaven. (Source: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology)
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90% of HR managers believe clean-shaven men convey a more professional image that leads to faster promotions. (Source: Statista)
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15% have a less favorable impression of bearded men, while 8% have a more favorable impression. 77% are neutral. (Source: YouGov)
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Gay men showed stronger preferences for heavy stubble and full beards compared to straight women in a 2021 study. (Source: Journal of Evolution and Human Behavior)
Now let‘s separate fact from fiction when it comes to some common beard myths.
Top Beard Myths – Debunked By Science!
There are a lot of mistaken beliefs around beards and their health impacts:
Myth: Shaving makes hair grow back faster/thicker
Fact: Shaving has no effect on growth rate or thickness. It only cuts hair down to the skin. (Source: Cleveland Clinic)
Myth: Beards are unhygienic and dirtier than toilets
Fact: Beards carry no more bacteria than toothbrushes if properly cleaned. (Source: Journal of Hospital Infection)
Myth: Beards cause baldness
Fact: No scientific link exists between scalp hair loss and beard growth. (Source: ZM Science)
Myth: Beard oil & skin massage boost growth
Fact: Oils only hydrate – massage reduces itch but not growth. (Source: Healthline)
Myth: Gray beards make men seem older
Fact: Men with gray in their beard are seen as more experienced and wise. (Source: CNBC)
Myth: Shaving exfoliates skin
Fact: Shaving actually removes protective oils and can cause ingrown hairs. (Source: Men‘s Journal)
Myth: Beards are high maintenance
Fact: Once past the itchy phase, beards need less frequent trimming than shaving. (Source: BeardBrand)
Myth: Beards are unprofessional
Fact: Well-groomed beards are permitted in most workplaces. Only some fields restrict them. (Source: Monster.com)
Now let‘s look at some of the potential perks of having a beard:
The Surprising Benefits of Growing Facial Hair
Skin protection – Beards provide natural SPF against sun damage that causes aging. Shaving removes this layer. (Source: GQ)
Allergy relief – Facial hair can trap pollen and irritants before they reach your nose and throat. (Source: NY Allergy & Asthma Care)
Warmth – Beards insulate the face and retain heat in cold weather. (Source: Push Doctor)
Hydration – Natural beard oils help retain moisture in facial skin and reduce dryness from shaving. (Source: American Journal of Men‘s Health)
Prevent razor burn – Men with sensitive skin or curly hair are prone to shaving irritation and ingrown hairs. (Source: Cleveland Clinic)
Reduce stress – Stroking a beard can lower cortisol and relax men when they feel anxious. (Source: University of Southern Queensland)
Boost confidence – 75% of bearded men say facial hair gives them more confidence and masculinity. (Source: Beardbrand)
Conclusion
In reviewing the data and research on beard trends, growth patterns and perceptions, we see that beards are truly making a comeback in the 21st century after fading out in the 1990s and clean-shaven 80s.
Around 44% of men now grow full beards worldwide. The global beard care industry is booming too as men invest more in maintaining facial hair. Genetics determine if you can grow a lush beard and how quickly – most men require 2-6 months of patience to see full growth.
When it comes to perceptions, heavy stubble beats out full beards for women‘s top choice, though some studies find beards preferred for serious relationships. There are still mixed views on how beards impact professionalism too.
While beards do require proper grooming, the research debunks myths around risks like baldness or dirtiness. In fact, facial hair offers skin and health benefits, though it may exacerbate acne or allergies for some wearers.
In the end, growing a beard is a personal choice influenced by many factors – genetics, occupation, style, partner preferences and more. The beard statistics show they are definitely here to stay as a bold look for men.
