The Victorian Beard Craze (O Behold The Politically Incorrect Beard)

Lucinda Hawksley ^ | 11/16/2014 | BBC News

[RegulatorCountry]

I grew a mustache in my early college years just to see if I could, but have been clean-shaven since. While my beard has filled in over the years, I still suspect it wouldn’t be all that full. I’m not exactly hairy due to having a little native ancestry. I have taken to going the weekend without shaving when I can. A lot of men my age grow those close-cropped goatees, apparently to disguise some of the jowliness that sets in during their forties. Seems like a lot of work and it’s not flattering to a lot of them, imho.

[Sherman Logan]

Romans were clean shaven. Greeks sported beards.

Not really true as a definitive statement. Beards came and went in both societies over the roughly 1000 year period we think of as "classical."

Both societies originally were bearded, of course.

Alexander the Great made shaving popular among Greeks, Scipio Africanus among Romans. Hadrian brought beards back in Rome, but they went out again with Constantine till well after Justinian.

The moral of the story being that it's really difficult to make broad statements about societies over a period of 1000 years plus.

[R. Scott]

Beards seem to be gaining in popularity around here. I started my beard when I retired from the Army in 1986. I shaved it once, when my wife died. It’s been different lengths from two feet to two inches. Until several years ago it stood out, now beards are so common it’s hardly noticed.

[chrisser]

I got rid of my beard and mustache because they made me look 15 years older.

I used to stop shaving around Halloween and keep a beard for the winter, then shave it off whenever there was enough sun to warrant worrying about beard tan lines.

I enjoy the beard during the cold weather, but find it pretty annoying in hot weather.

About 2 years ago, enough grey started popping into my beard that I gave it up. It's hard enough to find a job in IT looking like I'm in my 40s - darn near impossible looking like I'm in my 50s. Luckily, the grey has mostly stayed off my head for now.

Once I land another job, I'll probably go back to the winter beard.

By then, hopefully, the bearded hipster trend will have died an agonizing death and I'll be one of those "lucky dogs" with "just the right amount of grey", according to the Just For Men dye ads.

[uglybiker]

[Bigg Red]

Fascinating article. Thanks for posting it.

[niteowl77]

Like my dad, my facial hair is thin, though we can both manage a Grade B goatee and mustache. Always wanted sideburns, but after 50+ years, I've stopped anticipating them. Still, I despise shaving, so I let things go until I get uncomfortable or singe something off and have to start over.

Like some others here, I have gone gray to the point where my goatee is completely gray and my mustache is about 90% gray… yet I only have a bit of graying at my temples. Not something I'd select if I had the choice.

Mr. niteowl77

[TangoLimaSierra]

That’s the thing. The word “beard” shook a lot of people up. “Beard!” It’s not American-sounding. “Beard! Lenin had a beard...

obammy has a beard.

[Yorlik803]

In the German Army durning world war two, only U-boat and Mountain troops were allowed to grow beards. Both were bad ass.

[Oratam]

I’ve often wondered about the sudden appearance of beards in the second half of the nineteenth century.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I hate beards. They itch, collect nasties no matter how much you clean them, and I develop dandruff in them. I’ll stay clean shaven.

Remember this old movie?
SOME KIND OF A NUT with DICK VAN DYKE (1969)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065010/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_57

[Olog-hai]

Yes, well . . . I didn’t think it was too polite to bring that up. But it is what it is.

[Olog-hai]

Our Founding Fathers were also clean-shaven, including George Washington; and the founder of the US Marines, Samuel Nicholas was also. I figure that’s worth a mention.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

The last time I shaved was for my high school graduation photo, when I was 17 (in 1981). Yes, I did go through most of high school with a beard.

I used to trim it short and then let it grow out a bit, but I stopped that in January 2005 (also the last time I had my hair cut). So currently I would fit right in with the cast of Duck Dynasty.

[SamAdams76]

A little off topic but how come girlfriends and wives of homosexual men are referred to as "beards."

I always thought that was kind of odd.

As for beards, I could never get used to them. I prefer to be clean shaven and I've given Gillette a lot of my money over the years. In fact, if it were up to me, I'd shave my head too. I would love to just come out of the shower, towel dry and get to the rest of my day. No combing, no hair gel or any of that.

But my wife prefers me to have a head of hair - while I can still grow it.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

In most cultures, a beard is a symbol of being a man and all that goes with it.

I can't count how many gay men I've seen who have facial hair starting under their noses and closing on the chin. It strikes me as vaginal hair. Symbol of being a man?

[1010RD]

I’m guessing that you’re 51 years old.

[1010RD]

Hipsters are asserting their manhood against the matriarchy. They’re conflicted because they’ve been feminized in college.

[9YearLurker]

If we could just get beyond the shaved chest fad, I’d be happy.

[1010RD]

I thought it was a survivalist thing. They store food crumbs and remnants of a meal in their facial hair for access later during an emergency.