Tuesday 22 December 2020

All about beards

Emma Brockes in the Guardian says she's always trusted men with beards. And a study by the University of Texas backs her up, finding that salesmen with beards are seen as more trustworthy than those without.

She has argued with friends about it. Some see beards as a cover-up - what's the guy hiding? But to her they mean respectability.

People are very polarised about men with beards. In general, they either love them or hate them. The pro camp like their masculinity and find the man more attractive than his hairless mates. The anti faction find them pointless and distinctly off-putting. Women may find kissing less enjoyable if they're negotiating a thicket of hair.

Personally, as you know, I'm not keen on beards. I had one briefly in the seventies when I fancied the John Lennon look, but I've been clean-shaven ever since. Those men who grow their beards to absurd lengths just look ridiculous.

Also, beards need constant upkeep. They have to be trimmed, they have to be kept clean, bits of food get stuck in them. Who knows what you might be kissing? And they can be horribly itchy.

But beards are very fashionable nowadays. I see more and more men with them. Maybe they simply can't be bothered to shave. Maybe their partners prefer them with beards. Maybe they're just proving they're man enough to grow one. Or maybe their religion requires men to have beards.

Fashions come and go, though. Apparently in the mid 18th-century being clean-shaven was seen as the height of manly sophistication, and very few men had beards. But facial hair was so important to the Victorians that many men, unable to grow their own, were forced to buy false beards and moustaches.

So would I trust a salesman with a beard more than one without? No, it makes no difference to me. What I'm looking for is a trustworthy product.

32 comments:

  1. So to see if your salesman is trustworthy you have to see if he is wearing a false beard.....resembles something from P.G. Wodehouse!

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    1. Indeed, you would have to give it a good tug and see if it fell off or not.

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  2. You made some interesting observations on beards, Nick. For years, my husband had a beard and he finally shaved it one day for many of the reasons you mentioned -- constant upkeep, food trap, hot in summer. When he shaved it the last time, he immediately received compliments on how he "looked younger" and those were enough to convince him not to regrow it (for now).

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    1. Beatrice: Interesting that everyone thought he looked younger. Nobody said that to me after I got rid of my beard!

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  3. I have never associated salesmanship with/without a beard! like you... I'm more interested in the quality of the product!
    but I do love neat well kept beards. Bob only grew one once in our married life and I loved it!
    I guess it's like the herb cilantro. people either love it or hate it. and cilantro I hate!

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    1. Tammy: So why did Bob dispose of his beard? Was it for similar reasons to Beatrice's husband?

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    2. it's been long ago. not sure why! but he kept it very close. it never looked messy. what I DON'T like is the look that Don Johnson apparently started... the bristly 'need a shave' look. not a beard just not clean shaven either. I don't know WHO thinks that looks good! but apparently enough that it still seems popular with the younger crowd. it just looks slovenly to me!

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    3. Tammy: I entirely agree, the bristly look is very unattractive. Brad Pitt is another proponent. It looks like either they forgot to shave or they're trying to grow a beard and failing.

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  4. Funny, I often think beards make men look shifty although I approve of my Dave's beard and he is very trustworthy.

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    1. Linda: I agree about the shifty look. But popular opinion isn't on my side!

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  5. Oh he looks lovely
    That’s made my night

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    1. John: Always glad to see customer satisfaction!

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    1. Bijoux: Didn't think you would be somehow.

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    1. Joanne: I guessed that would your reaction too.

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  8. I first grew a beard when I was in the Navy. It was allowed, but still seemed a bit rebellious. I've had a beard more than not. I've had a mustache since just after boot camp and before I met Karen. There were times when I couldn't wear a beard because (they said) it interfered with the sealing surface of a full-face respirator -- I spent several hours in a full-face respirator on the submarine... and I had a beard then. For a time, I kept a razor and shaving creme in a filing cabinet drawer in the control room just in case I might need to wear a respirator.

    I trim my beard about every couple of months -- a bit more often that I get my hair cut --, though I "shave" the hair on my neck a lot more often than that. I wash my beard as often as I wash my hair -- every night when I shower -- and both with a plain ol' bar of soap, no shampoo -- and I seldom have any issues with food in my beard.

    I honestly do not remember the last time I shaved my beard off. And, though she hasn't mentioned it in years, Karen prefers my soft beard to scratchy stubble.

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    1. Mike: Yes, I had read they can cause a problem with respirators. Glad to hear your beard hygiene routine is impeccable!

      It hadn't occurred to me that a soft beard would be better than scratchy stubble. But I know that kissing stubble for more than a few minutes can leave very sore skin.

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  9. I have kept a beard all my adult life. What started as a necessity due to a severe case of acne vulgaris, became a trademark and on those few occasions when I had to shave it off, there were shrill objections and I had to grow it back again. As you probably know, I was indeed a successful salesman too!

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    1. Ramana: Indeed you were, so they must have trusted the man with the beard!

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  10. I agree with you, Nick, whether or not a man has a beard has no bearing on the level of trust I have for him. My brother grew a beard as he lost hair on his head. He was frustrated he couldn't get a good handlebar mustache. He used to jokingly say “You can’t have hair and brains both” referring to his baldness.

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    1. Joared: Handlebar moustaches are the most peculiar things. I imagine they're mostly grown for their attention-seeking quality. I must say I'm glad I'm not bald. I would find that extremely embarrassing.

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  11. I never dated anyone with a beard, and I don't think I missed much. 🙂

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    1. Jean: I'm sure you didn't. I'm baffled as to why a beard conjures up trust.

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  12. Santa, without a beard?
    Anyhow, Merry Christmas, Nick!!
    SXXX

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    1. Ms Scarlet: Santa without a beard - the mind boggles. But surely it's always been a false beard, rapidly removed on Boxing Day?

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    2. Not on the real Santa!!! His beard is real. All those other blokes with the false beards - they are sad imposters.
      Sx

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    3. Ms Scarlet: You may be right. I met him once, clambering out of the fireplace, and he complained that his beard was "bloody itchy".

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    4. I know two men who portray Santa, both with great full beards that they wear year round.

      ... and they get funny looks from kids year round as well as wonderful interactions.

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    5. Mike: I bet they get funny looks, giving the impression they're Santa on his day off!

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  13. I've never been big on beards.
    Merry Christmas. Have a wonderful day.

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    1. Mary: Very odd things, beards.

      Merry Christmas to you too.

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