Consider, if you will, the beard.
Beards have been on the minds and faces of a group of scientists lately, who are trying to definitively figure out whether men with beards are just damn sexier than those without.
Related: PHOTOS: Are Scruffy Gay Guys A Trend Or Are They Here To Stay?
According to the New York Times, a new study suggests men do, in fact, find fellows with facial hair to be quantifiably more attractive than their freshly-hewn brethren.
“It’s not just women who prefer bearded alpha males,” writes journalist Lesley Alderman. “Men also prefer men with facial hair.”
Dr. Dixson and colleagues asked 1,577 men and women from Brazil and the Czech Republic about facial hair. Compared to heterosexual women, gay men had stronger preferences for men with more facial hair.
“Homosexual men preferred hairier stimuli than heterosexual women, supporting past findings that homosexual men have strong preferences for masculine traits,” the authors reported.
As we ruminate over the phrase “hairier stimuli” and worry over its insinuations, we can at least find solace in the fact that scientists are working around the clock to figure out why some men think beards are sexy whilst others do not.
Related: WATCH: Bearded Scotsmen do yoga in the woods, just ’cause
A recent post by Mashable, bitchily headlined “Sorry guys, beards are over,” argues facial hair is passé and anyone who sports beards, glitter beards, beardlets, goatees, or even mutton chops will probably die alone because they refused to adapt to changing social mores.
Jorge Cosano, founder of the men’s e-commerce site Ecole, even told Mashable that “we live in a more streamlined world that’s post-hipster.” Which isn’t pretentious.
“The hipster was all about being anti-establishment and doing everything that was against corporate culture. But now we’re seeing that the new millennials, these ‘yuccies,’ are working in non-traditional environments where they can wear what they want to in their work places and truly express themselves. Now with tech becoming so big, it’s affected how people want to look like: Clean, minimal, crisp. The beard has no place now.”
Robert McMillen, the head barber of New York’s Blind Barber, evidently agrees.
“Men with burly beards are starting to reduce them for a more streamlined look,” he says. “Guys are wearing mustaches or leaving some stubble.”
Model/photographer Joel Alexander is also really, really down on beards.
“The hipster is a thriftster,” he rhymes, blithely.
“In essence he’s cheap. He’s that Silver Lake guy with Vans and rolled up jeans. I love that look, that’s who I am too, in a lot of ways. But today’s dude is all about looking more unattainable, looking more elevated, maybe more expensive. No one wants a hipster who looks like he just got done scavenging.”
But according to the author’s of the study, all this beard-bashing is falling on deaf ears.
“Homosexual men preferred hairier stimuli than heterosexual women, supporting past findings that homosexual men have strong preferences for masculine traits,” the authors report.
Blow the roof off, why don’t you.
Are you pro-beard or anti-beard? Do you regularly regale your long-suffering friends about your personal feelings about facial hair and its place in society? Are you shaving your beard right now? Are you wondering who financed this study? Sound off in the comments below.
h/t: Unicorn Booty
Prax07
If it’s a beard like the one in the picture, then no. If it’s more scruff, or short and trimmed, then yes. Always preferred hairier over smooth, and that includes pubes. Shaved down there is just so very wrong on a grown man.
CivicMinded
I hate facial hair and will not date a man sporting such.
KaiserVonScheiss
Depends on the guy. Some guys are just hotter with beards. Jamie Dornan, Richard Madden, for example.
Paco
The beard that is pictured doesn’t look attractive. I don’t mind beards that are well groomed if the face looks more attractive with one. Not all men look better with facial hair.
Oakknot
I am absolutely puzzled. My ex-boyfriend told me I look more attractive WITHOUT a beard (I guess he didn’t read the report :)). Then another man I’m contemplating about wants me to grow the beard back. I guess I Am What I Am!
greybat
I prefer men with beards… the bigger the better!
It has been an idea of mine that certain women will date a bearded man, pretty much for the reasons stated in the article, then after the wedding, make him shave it off, so as to make him less desirable to other potential mates.
Blackceo
It really depends. That whole lumbersexual with the really thick beards I do not think are attractive at all. A well groomed 5’oclock shadow is fine. I’m glad mine keeps his shaved and smooth because I don’t like when he’s going down in my nether regions front and back with all that going on with the face. Its just uncomfortable for me.
judysdad
Definitely I find men with beards MUCH sexier. (Although not a beard like the one portrayed.)
Lvng1Tor
Who funds these ridiculous research projects? I have to beg and convince people to give money that goes directly to initiatives and programs that help get free therapy and prevent LGBTQ kids from being homeless and they can literally see it in action but some “scientists” get money to study this crap?
Tombear
A beard is a privilege denied to many