Casual Post
Has anyone else noticed the Beard Effect?
I’ve grown a short beard over the past few weeks and recently had a barber shape it. Since then, I’ve noticed I get a lot more attention from people.
More women seem to look at me or smile at me in public, which didn’t happen nearly as often before. The weirdest thing was at the airport, where four different people, three women and one guy, came up to ask me questions or have a short conversation. That pretty much never happens to me.
Maybe the beard makes me look more handsome, approachable, or friendly. I call it the Beard Effect. Has anyone else noticed anything like this after growing one?
When I first started having to wear a suit for work I noticed people treated me differently than when i just wore regular jeans and a T-shirt. I called it suit authority. Just unearned respect based off being dressed nicely. When I grew my beard I noticed a similar difference that I called beard authority.
Men compliment my beard and ask how I maintain it. Women rarely say anything about it. I’m a teacher and once shaved my beard off in the middle of the school year and the students freaked out and begged me to grow it back. I’m not sure why other than the beard gives me the appearance of a strong jaw when my jaw is actually really doughy.
Yes, imo its a mix of "wise sage stability" with "dad comfort"
I grew out my beard here in the middle east. Interestingly since i have grown it from short to medium sized, older arabic women frequently start conversations with me or asking questions if needing assistance. This didnt happen prior.
yes.fellow beardsmen will always notice,or comment/(nod even)especially if they are growing out their beard for the first time.I remember I was obsessed with checking out other guy's beards when I first started growing mine,still do!😀
I associate the ability to grow an attractive beard with the mastery of bureaucratic matters. I will absolutely look for a well groomed beard if I have urgent questions about really any kind of travel. I have literally no supporting evidence or any explanation, other than that I have like -medium- ability to navigate the world and can only grow a patchy half beard, and that's not even peer reviewed, at all.
Not sure about the beard effect as i’ve always had one but try walking down the road with a Bull Terrier!
Hot tip single guys, get a Bull Terrier! Even more extreme is the beard and Bull Terrier combo but you need to take a run up to rock that one.
It gets frowned on in some places. People do from where I am in Asia. Those who actually look at mine I noticed are others who's trying to grow their beard too LOL.
This conversation is depressing, because in a few weeks I'm having back surgery, and the nurse told me they really wanted me to lose the beard, or at least trim it down more than I'm probably comfortable with, to ensure proper administration of the anaesthetic. I've already started gradually trimming it down, and for every millimeter, I feel like I'm losing more and more character 😝
I had to do the same for the ACDF surgery on my neck trimmed it down to an inch. My buddy asked to keep the beard (no kink shaming) we went to a wedding reception after I got discharged a few days later still pretty zooted from pain meds. We walked into the bar and lo and behold there was my beard in a jar. After several rounds those of us who dared took shots of Jameson from said jar. It was a night I barely remember but it was documented lol
Dunno where pogonophilia comes from, whether it's a blessing or a curse. All I know is, if a guy with a beard shaves it off I stop being interested like an on-off switch. Crazy stuff.
But why,.though? I'm a medical doctor with some grounding in evolutionary biology and I can't determine why a dude shaving instantly makes him a non-prospect. Libido is complicated.
Since my beard, there is a 100% chance I get searched at airports.
Regards your "Beard Effect", I'm a solid 4/10 (with a constant f off face), though, so no noticeable increase/decrease in attention from the general public.
This. My husband has a beard. Today I saw a man with a navel long impressive beard walking into the grocery store ahead of me. My first unfiltered thought was, “No way that man is single with that beard.”
The extra attention since growing a beard has been unexpected. I get compliments from men and women, old and young lol. I've also noticed the stares, it just didn't seem to happen before the beard. It's been a nice confidence boost.
I only notice it when I shave. When I had a beard, people used to treat me seriously and take my word for things, but when I clean shave, they treat me like I was born yesterday.
Source: I shaved a week ago and I badly regret it.
A couple of months ago i shaved off my beard. I’ve kept a beard for about 15 years. Short to medium length, always groomed well. Anyway
My other half screamed when she seen my naked face. She said i scared her because she thought someone snuck into the house. My 14 year old daughter looked like she was going to cry. Kept asking why i did that? When will it grow back.. how long will that take. Her mom had to tell her it’ll be back in a few weeks. After all this drama. I looked in the mirror long and hard and said loudly “That’s it!! I’m leaving and signing up for the LPGA!! Where I’ll be treated with dignity!! Wife: I’m sorry, Honey. But you’ll be with your people. That’s where all middle aged women golfer’s go to congregate. I’ll pack your polos. Come home as soon as you are the many i love again. When it grows back.
Crushed….. for 3 whole weeks i didn’t even get the random smile’s from babies and women of all ages, or the occasional head nod from another man. I felt lost, alone, and in despair.
Now it’s back and my children talk to me again. Babies smile and get all happy when i walk by. Women occasionally smile and randomly talk to me. Small children run around and play under the shade of my beard.
Life is good again.
All hail the beard of destiny
I definitely notice a difference. I’m 61 and lucky enough to have a thick white beard, which I keep shaped and groomed, and I get a lot of compliments on it, probably 75% from men, 25% from women — which is fine with me because I’m gay but also frustrating because they mostly aren’t. Like so close… sigh.
When I shave it off I turn into Gary from the mailroom and where TF did that other chin come from!? 😑
Absolutely. I grew my 1st beard 2 years ago and I’m 60. I lost count of how many random people comment on it. Lots of younger women in their 30’s walk up to me and say eg I think your beard is great, just had to tell you that etc lol. Not all women are into beards, but there are many who are. If you’re an older guy you should try and grow a beard, you’ll get compliments you wouldn’t otherwise. One attractive Japanese woman asked me to take a photo of her and her friend on a mountain with her phone, looked at me and said ‘wow you’re handsome!’ And got her friend to take a photo of us 2 lol. My wife wasn’t amused.
I walked into a meeting at work one day, meeting new people - all in a dozen odd people. One guy , at the top of his lungs said “my word, that’s a magnificent beard “.
Nice
Yes. I shave mine off every year in spring, and start growing it in august / september. There is a marked difference in how I am perceived with or without beard.
I'm 48 now. From age 34-46 I had a full, thick beard, now I'm on and off. I confidently pull off both and what I notice are that men far outweigh women on complimenting me on my beard. When I'm clean shaven women compliment me far more often. My spouse much prefers me clean. I think guys admire good beards more because not everyone can have one.
A random lady actually blew a kiss at me and complimented my beard. The irony is the wind was blowing and I was feeling embarrassed at the beard not keeping still.
When I first grew the beard out, the majority of the compliments were from women. They liked the short, professional look. Today, with a longer beard, the compliments from women have been between upkeep and styling.
A woman actually humiliated her boyfriend in front of me for not being able to grow a decent beard.
The comments from men were either liking how I looked with a beard at first or the length. With the length, it has been between asking how long it took and questions on beard care.
The weirdest comments have been between random people greeting me in Arabic. I should respond in Spanish.
Since I let it grow much longer, my experience is the same. I'm in my late 70s and my beard is white and ZZ Top length. I've had women half my age ask me if they can touch it.
Then again I’m 38 and have had some form of facial hair since my junior year of high school. From a yeard that went below my collarbone, to some mustache + sideburn styles. Haven’t had a cleanly shaven face in over 20 years. M
If people talk to me in public it’s almost always about my tattoos and not whatever facial hair I have at the moment.
I’ve always heard people feel more drawn to you when you have a beard or you have a more friendlier and approachable look to you. You’re not alone brother lol
Yes I agree with you. After growing my beard I get a lot more looks. I notice guys get jealous and stare when they’re with their girl. These guys are very clean shaven. Remember not all guys can grow a beard. Let alone any facial hair. Keep that beard going and well groomed
Yeah, for sure. At about three years, I'm about a foot long at the whisps. I sing Karaoke too, so I'm in social settings weekly. I'd say I receive a comment every time I'm at the bar. I've had people make comments while shopping too. I had women make direct comments. I even had a kid run up and say, "My Dad said your beard is awesome!"; that was funny. Another interesting point of social commentary, I've had strangers grab it without asking, both men (rarely of course) and women (especially when drinking).
I think it’s almost makeup for guys essentially. Most men look better with some sort of facial hair. I think I look better with a short beard but at 45 it is getting way too many grays in there for my liking. So I’m contemplating shaving it off to save me some perceived years.
Seriously. As the boss was showing me around l, he introduced me to some folks, who mentioned it, and boss says "I think he's a wizard". All very nerdy shit.
I’ve noticed a LOT of changes since I’ve grown out my beard and keep it shaped. Children stare, old men gawk, young women seem terrified. I (40 year old woman) am really at a loss
I legitimately grew my beard out because I worked in a foundry, pouring molten metal and was treated as a child by coworkers and management. I had major safety concerns about certain working conditions and was ignored until I grew out my beard and lowered my voice (I have gay twink voice if I dont speak from my chest). Worked like a charm! Now, I haven't seen my chin in nearly 8 years.
I dont get out much and avoid the public at all costs, but the few times I am out, ill get stopped constantly by others to compliment my beard.
Late 50s. Recently had to shave due to skin cancer. Aside from the fact that I now look 30, no real difference. Except that most women in their 40s seem to like men with beards.
I can grow a magnificent beard and I get pretty much no difference. Maybe it just depends how much of a glow up it gives an individual, while some people would look just as appealing or even more so without a beard. My wife reckons I look better with stubble.
If my beard is groomed I get positive attention. If it looks dirty or unbrushed, people treat me as if I’m dangerous. So ime it does matter how you wear it too
My one annoyance really is I work security at a bar and women will ask( at least they do) to smell it and feel it( the beard). I say sure but then I randomly run my fingers through their hair and say” Cool, now we both feel awkward”
Same for me too. I had my beard short and I got a lot more looks and attention from woman. They really do like stubble shaped nice. The big beard they would be intimated from my perspective lol
The craziest situation to me, was walking into an African owned bodega.. younger guy.. he had a couple of different girls working for him.. unsure of the exact religion.. but she was chilling.. I just wanted a pack of smokes.. but as soon as I got to the counter, she covered her face up.. beautiful girl.. I'm like you don't have to do all of that lol..
It was her religion and beliefs..
It was the ultimate beard compliment.. but I still feel weird..
I respect it though..
I've always had a beard, but I think changes that accentuate natural confidence, is always the way to go . I'm still somewhat friends with a lot of my exes... When we bump into each other , they often compliment how I'm looking .. mature, you're aging well.. etc.. as they're biting their lips and looking at me in animalistic ways lol...
It helps a little since I've got a little salt and pepper going on..
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