Are Beards Becoming More Common in Business Settings?

Your appearance means a lot in the business world. You’ll have an easier time dealing with partners and customers when you look and sound professional. How does facial hair fit into the equation? Are beards unprofessional in the modern landscape? Clean-shaven faces were once the norm, but facial hair has become more accepted in the office. Here’s what you need to know about modern customs.

Do Beards Have a Place in Business

The 20th century mainly saw clean-shaven men in media and offices because cleanliness represented professionalism. However, society has gravitated toward facial hair — especially men with professional beard styles. Some professions may discourage it, but you have more freedom to wear your beard in the workplace. In fact, there’s a good chance your boss also has one.

YouGov has tracked facial hair trends for over a decade and has seen a shift in perception. Its 2023 survey asked British men if they have facial hair and how they wear it, and the change since last decade has been drastic.

Over 60% of men in 2011 had no facial hair, but that number has dropped to 46% in the last 12 years. The proportion of men of any age with a beard and mustache has skyrocketed from around 10% to over 30%.

This trend is even more pronounced for men between 18 and 39, with over 40% of this age group sporting beards and mustaches. The beard-growing trend has also affected women, with a 13% increase in those who prefer men with beards. In 2011, 66% of British women liked a man without a beard, but that number has dropped to 36% in 2023. The survey finds that 44% of women don’t prefer either style.

Beards in the Workplace

People have become more accepting of beards and have even encouraged them in daily life. How does it translate to the workplace? A recent survey from Hims polled 500 men who have jobs.

The survey finds that 63% of respondents kept their facial hair when interviewing for their current role. About 40% sported a beard, 30% had a goatee and 20% wore a mustache. The survey also notes about 72% of respondents did not review their company’s beard policy before starting the interview. About 90% of men say their policy allows beards at work, with most saying there’s an expectation to keep their facial hair neat.

What Obstacles Do Beards Face in the Workplace?

While facial hair has become more acceptable in the workplace, some of your co-workers may still say beards are unprofessional. These obstacles demonstrate what you may have to go through with a beard.

Perception

Santa Claus is a famous jolly figure with a big beard, but even he has difficulty changing people’s perceptions. Although time has been kinder to beards, stereotypes still exist among the general population.

For instance, a 2021 Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology study examines how people see masculinity and aggressiveness in men’s beards. The results show the respondents had the best accuracy when associating bearded faces with anger and aggressiveness. Conversely, the participants had an easier time associating happy expressions with those sporting no facial hair.

This research demonstrates stereotypes still exist for guys with beards. You generally can wear facial hair in a business setting, but you must be careful not to reinforce typecasts like anger and aggressiveness.

Dress Codes

While times have changed to support beards, you may have to abide by your company’s dress code if it says you cannot wear one. Some businesses enforce this policy for professionalism, whereas others create the rules for health and safety protocols. For example, if you work in manufacturing or food services, your employer may require shaven faces to comply with regulations.

The military is another place you must comply with the beardless dress codes, but times could be changing. A 2022 report indicates the Air Force has considered allowing a quarter-inch-thick beard in a new policy. However, it’s unclear if or when the new rule will take effect.

Laws

You could argue beards are a freedom of expression, and the law should protect your facial hair. However, there isn’t much legal help on your side. Employers have the right to create dress codes and grooming standards as they see fit for their operations.

So, if the boss says you can’t have a beard, they’ll likely get away with the policy. However, the circumstances change if you wear a beard for religious reasons. Federal laws protect your beard from discrimination if it’s part of your religion.

How Can You Craft Professional Beard Styles?

The proportion of people saying beards are unprofessional has declined in recent years. However, sporting professional styles is integral to ensure your boss doesn’t say anything about your facial hair. Here are a few tips for looking acceptable in the office.

Trim Your Facial Hair

Beards can look stylish and socially acceptable until they reach a certain point — then they become scraggly and unkempt. Experts say trimmed facial hair is best for looking presentable in business casual settings. Trim it regularly to keep your beard looking its best.

If necessary, create a grooming schedule to ensure your facial hair doesn’t get out of control at any point of the week. You can save time by trimming the night before work, but the morning may be better if your beard grows fast.

Comb Your Beard

Beard length won’t be as much of an issue if you groom it wisely. For instance, use a comb to style and shape your facial hair in particular directions. This tool is also helpful in distributing beard oil and beard balm, ensuring your facial hair has adequate moisturization throughout the day. Keep a beard comb nearby to groom yourself at work and look your best for meetings.

Pick a Fitting Style

Professional beard styles vary by the guy, with some lineups looking better than others. Find the one that fits your head shape and wardrobe, as it will make your facial hair look more acceptable in a business setting. For instance, a man with a square face looks stylish with a goatee, whereas a triangular head may look better with a full beard and mustache.

Are Beards Unprofessional? Not Anymore

Beards have a complicated history in the business world. If you worked in a 1950s office, you wouldn’t see many beards because people deemed them unprofessional. However, times have changed to be more accepting of facial hair.

Beards are more common in business settings, but you must ensure yours is tidy and groomed. Some workplaces may forbid beards for health or safety reasons, so examine company policy before growing your facial hair.

Posted on February 21, 2024February 21, 2024 by Jack Shaw

Signs That Your Beard Isn’t Getting the Care It Deserves

Men wear a beard for several reasons — one is to look masculine. While it makes you look manly and ruggedly handsome, maintaining facial hair requires intensive grooming, much like scalp hairs.

Are you noticing beard problems cropping up now and then? Do you see flakes or split ends? These are indications your fuzz needs extra loving and care. Here are prevalent signs your beard isn’t getting what it deserves.

Itchy and Red Skin

As your beard gets longer, it’s harder to reach the skin underneath when washing your face. What typically happens is instead of clearing away dirt, it gets trapped in the jaw and chin. Over time, oil combines with dirt and clog your pores. When hair follicles are blocked, it causes itchiness, redness, and sometimes acne.

Proper exfoliation can resolve this problem. It’s one healthy habit your beard will thank you for. Exfoliate your face fuzz like a boss in these four steps.

1. Wet your face with warm water.

2. Grab your go-to beard wash and create a lather.

3. Spread the shampoo to your mustache using a scrubber and gently brush the area.

4. Rinse and pat dry with a towel.

5. Apply beard oil or conditioner to hydrate the skin below.

Flakes or Dandruff

Men don’t get flakes on the scalp alone. The beard skin can also get dandruff, medically known as seborrheic dermatitis, leaving you feeling unhygienic. When yeast grows on the chin or jaw, the result is scaly and grainy skin.

Up to 40% of men experience beard dandruff. Proper beard care is vital to prevent this from happening. Otherwise, you’ll need to shave your beard away. Choosing a good shampoo is the easiest treatment method. Look for a variant with 1% ketoconazole, pyrithione zinc or selenium sulfide. These active ingredients have antifungal properties that kill and stop yeast growth on the skin.

Here’s how to achieve the best results by using antifungal shampoos.

1. While dry, apply enough shampoo to your beard. Ideally, do this a few minutes before showering.

2. Massage the shampoo thoroughly, making sure it reaches the skin. Use a beard scrubber if necessary.

3. Rinse it thoroughly. Ensure no residue is left on the skin. You can reapply the shampoo on wet skin if you want.

Dry and Brittle Hair

One of the signs of poor beard care is dry, brittle facial hair. Looking at them is as uncomfortable as having them. You can sometimes solve it by switching to another brand of beard wash, as your current product could be drying the hairs out or irritating the skin.

In other instances, dry and brittle hair can be caused by dehydration, overswimming and extreme weather.

Not drinking enough fluids can affect the skin under your facial hair. Meanwhile, pools and salt water have chlorine and salt drying to the hair. Lastly, extremely hot or cold weather makes your beard vulnerable to damage. Here are some solutions to this problem.

1. Swap to a different beard wash or shampoo. Consult a dermatologist if you need help picking out the right brands.

2. If swimming, coat a layer of beard oil first to protect your fuzz from harmful chemicals. When you leave the pool, wash and condition it by applying an oil or a balm.

3. If you live in an area with harsh weather conditions, moisturize your mustache frequently. Choose absorbent products so it doesn’t leave a sticky feeling.

Hair Loss and Patchy Beard

A patchy beard is most likely due to alopecia barbae — a condition related to alopecia areata — characterized by hair loss. In such a case, the immune system sees hair follicles as foreign objects needed to get rid of. As it attacks, the damage results in signs of hair loss, including patchiness, thinning and loosening of follicles.

Alopecia barbae is an auto-immune disorder with no cure but is treatable through medications and other means.

Corticosteroids are immune system suppressors injected or applied topically to the bald spot. You may see effects within one to two months after treatment.

Minoxidil is a topical cream used to treat baldness. It encourages hair growth.

Beard care is essential during treatment as these products can make your hair feel greasy. Blot your fuzz with a dry paper towel and use a gentle beard wash to combat this.

Split Ends

Split ends are a disheartening sight on your face after following the best beard care advice on the internet. Facial hair split ends make your beard look unkempt, dry and coarse.

The sebum produced by the sebaceous gland coats facial hair to retain moisture. Since the skin only secretes a limited amount, nourishing the beard is harder after it gets past a certain length. The ends can become dry and brittle, eventually followed by split ends.

Apart from this natural cause, using low-quality and harsh beard products and improper grooming habits can cause the problem. Unfortunately, split ends are not repairable. The only way to get rid of them is by trimming the broken hairs.

Prevention is key to side-step split-end problems. Here are some tips:

1. Use a gentle beard wash that doesn’t strip natural oil.

2. Moisturize it with beard oil or balm.

3. Brush your beard to maintain its shine.

4. Eat a balanced diet.

Positive Lifestyle for a Healthier Beard

The growth of facial hair is influenced by testosterone, a hormone dominant in men. If the body has less of it, the beard grows poorly.

A healthy lifestyle can help maintain an equilibrium in the body’s hormonal levels. Here are some tips.

Diet: Good nutrition, including lean protein and zinc- and iron-dense food sources, like liver and nuts, can contribute to a healthy and fuller beard.
Exercise: Physical activities promote blood flow, stimulating hair follicles.
Sleep: The body produces testosterone mainly during sleep. Interrupted rest may disturb the process.
Supplements: If you’re not getting adequate nutrients from food to support beard growth, talk to your doctor about oral supplementations.
Regulate stress: High cortisol levels are a sign of hormonal imbalance that can affect your beard.

Effective Beard Care Combines Grooming Habits and Lifestyle

Your beard requires proper grooming to look its best. It means spending a few more minutes in the bathroom to apply oil and balm to nourish it. Be wise in choosing your beard products. It’s safer to pick brands with gentle and natural ingredients as they generally suit various skin types. Ask a dermatologist or beard expert if you need guidance in selecting the best items.

A positive lifestyle also affects its appearance. Exercising, getting enough shut-eye and eating nutritious foods can help maintain its glory naturally.

Posted on September 6, 2023September 6, 2023 by Jack Shaw

To beard or not to beard, that is the question.

Thinking about letting your facial hair grow wild? Let us break it down for you…

There’s one question that has plagued men since time immemorial: Are beards the best, or is a clean shave the way to go? Throughout the history of civilization, beards have gone in and out of style dozens of times. These days, men can choose their facial hair styles freely, but this freedom comes with a cost; as a modern man, you are burdened with the responsibility of deciding between shaving cream and beard oil whenever you shop for grooming goods online. In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions about beards, and we’ll help you make the hard decision between a smooth, clean shave and a beautiful beard dripping with beard oil.

Do Women Like the scruff?

Let’s face it, guys: Most of the things we do, we do to impress members of the opposite sex. Whether we’re looking for girlfriends or trying to show our wives that we’ve got what it takes, we’re constantly on the lookout for new techniques to impress women with our rugged manliness.

However, do women like beards, or do they prefer the smoothness that comes after a meticulous wet shave? According to Psychology Today, the answer to this question is anything but simple. It seems that women prefer men with light stubble as long-term partners, but they view men with long beards as the most aggressive and socially mature. What’s more, women think that men with short facial hair are the most dominant.

The good news for men who like a nice wet shave or who have stocked up on a lifetime supply of shaving cream is that you have to shave relatively frequently to get the stubble that women desire in sexual partners. While women might not give you the time of day for the first 24 hours or so after you shave, once your clean shave wears off and your stubble sets in, the time will be right to hit the club or flex at the gym.

If you’re looking for a long-term relationship or you’re trying to show the mother of your children that you’re an epic provider, however, you might want to ditch the shaving cream temporarily and invest heavily in beard oil. The research is clear that women see men with full facial hair as being more aggressive, dominant, and mature, and your committed partner might even lose respect for you if you say goodbye to beards and end it all with a luxurious wet shave.

While the allure of a clean shave might fit in well in a boardroom or a job interview, beards are the way to go if you want to hit it off with the ladies. Just don’t forget to keep some shaving cream on hand in case the science on this subject ever changes.

Long Beards vs. Neatly Trimmed Beards

Modern life can be hectic, and it can seem like you don’t have enough time for a wet shave every morning. Beards can look great in professional environments, but just make sure that you don’t overdo it.

No employer likes scraggly beards. This doesn’t mean that you should try to have a clean shave every time you show up for work, but you also shouldn’t let your facial hair run amok. In certain industries, long beards might be perfectly acceptable, but you should keep your facial hair well-trimmed no matter how long it gets.

There’s nothing worse than being forced to give yourself a wet shave after you suddenly learn your employer doesn’t like beards. If you like your beard, take care of it, or you might have to make a choice between a clean shave and losing your job sooner than you think.

Can You Have the Best of Both Worlds?

Please, we beg you: Don’t go for the neckbeard! Anything else, however, is fair game. Who said that you have to grow a long, scraggly beard? As long as you have a razor, there are a million and one different ways that you can creatively rock your facial hair.

Just because you have a beard doesn’t mean you have to abandon the luxury of a wet shave entirely. In fact, many men keep their beards in check by applying shaving cream to the areas around their necks and shaving every other day or so. Beards with clearly defined perimeters look more professional, and you can also use a straight razor or a safety razor to explore your facial hair possibilities to your heart’s content.

Employers might like cleaner beards better than wild beards, and the ladies will appreciate the contrast between the ruggedness of your beard and its manicured edges. Just don’t get too creative; complicated mixes of facial hair and cleanly shaved skin look downright weird, and they’re hard to maintain day in and day out.

A World of Stylish Beards to Choose From

Every man should go down the bearded route at some point in his life. The question is, should you stop shaving now and let your beard go wild? As you debate the pros and cons of being bearded, consider some of the best beard styles that celebrities rock without a care in the world.

The ZZ Top/Duck Dynasty Jungle
These men know how to grow some serious facial hair! If you’ve ever been to a ZZ Top concert or watched an episode of Duck Dynasty, you probably stared in amazement at the waterfall of facial hair cascading off these famous celebrity faces. Not everyone can grow a beard like Dusty Hill or Phil Robertson, but if you can, you might as well flaunt it.
The Mel Gibson Jehovah
If it’s always been your dream to look like a biblical figure, you could learn a thing or two from Mel Gibson. This famous Hollywood actor and director has been cultivating his facial hair for decades now, and he so fully looks the part that it would only be natural to see Mel rolling in on a thundercloud shooting bolts of lightning from his fingertips. The Mel Gibson beard is anything but tame, but it’s polished enough to look right at home in a board room or a Michelin-starred restaurant.
The Chris Hemsworth Stubble
Remember what we said about women and stubble? Actor Chris Hemsworth pulls off this effect perfectly. While you’ll sometimes see Chris clean-shaven, he ditches the shaving cream just as frequently and lets a short beard grow out. If you want to remain popular with the opposite sex, just remember to give yourself a wet shave every week or so to keep things from getting out of hand.
The LeBron James Masterpiece
If you don’t mind taking half an hour out of your day to sculpt your face every day of the week, you might want to emulate the look that LeBron James has been perfecting. While he never lets his beard get much longer than thick stubble, he expertly deploys a clean shave around his mouth to disrupt the overpowering look that so many beards end up having.
The Daniel Radcliffe Lounge
This former Harry Potter lead proves that you can do a lot with very little. While the density of Radcliffe’s facial hair is nothing to write home about, his refusal to keep up with a daily wet shave has resulted in a thin layer of hair covering his upper lip and chin. Even if you can’t grow a full Mel Gibson beard, you can take a page from Daniel’s book and rock a short beard that will make you look as rugged and manly as possible.

Nobody Likes a Dirty Beard

There’s a very simple reason many men end up avoiding beards altogether. The longer your facial hair becomes, the harder it is to maintain, and there’s nothing more embarrassing than a dirty beard. While beard oil keeps the skin under your beard healthy and makes sure that your facial hair stays nice and soft, applying this oil every day doesn’t do much to keep your beard clean.

If you want to make sure that your beard doesn’t get too dirty, you’ll need to wash it every day. Even though your facial hair is different from the hair on your head, you should use a beard wash and you may also want to bring a beard comb into the shower with you to make sure that you get all the accumulated gunk out of your facial hair.

Men with beards understand that having rugged facial hair requires constant vigilance. You have to be extra careful when you eat, and even spilled drinks can ruin the masculine appeal of your beard and drag strange smells with you wherever you go. Nonetheless, sporting an immaculately maintained beard is much more mainstream than it used to be, and as long as you can grow enough facial hair, the sky is the limit in terms of the epic beard styles you can try out.

Posted on April 18, 2019April 18, 2019 by Sean Mason — 1 Comment

What Are The Different Types Of Razors?

Everyone likes a neat and clean appearance. The good news is that it doesn’t take much effort to get that classic look. All you need is a good razor. There are different types of razors flooding the market. We’ll help you pick the right one.

Use in the stone age, the first known version of a razor was a shaving stone which was essentially a flaked obsidian.

The Egyptians used a rotary razor.

Shaving was adopted by Alexander’s troops. The Romans replaced the circular razor with a straight one.

Straight razor was most commonly used till the 20th century. This razor had a stainless steel blade that is sharpened on one side.

Next came the shavette, had a disposable blade. It is easy to use but less durable.

In 1880 came the first marketed safety razor. Safer to use than straight razor but required practice.

1903 saw King Gillette sell the first double edge safety razor which had edges and protective bars on both sides of the blade.

First disposable safety razor came in 1960. The entire razor is discarded after use over a period of time.

Then came the cartridge razor with disposable blades. whose head remained bent at a slight angle for a closer shave.

The foil electric razor run on batteries or can be recharged. For this, no shaving gel or foam is needed. Since the blades move back and forth, they don’t work well on facial curves.

Based on the same principle as the electric razor, the rotary electric razor has blades that rotate on the head. They are easy to use and work well on facial contours with minimum effect.

If you are interested in learning more, check out the infographic below.

Posted on February 5, 2018July 13, 2018 by Sean Mason