Posted on 11/16/2014 9:44:58 PM PST by goldstategop
By the time the last troops returned home, beards were the mark of a hero. Men who had never seen any military action began to grow beards. Within a few years, it was almost impossible to see a beard-free male face in Victorian Britain - except in Buckingham Palace, as Prince Albert refused to conform to the fashion.
In America, the return of the beard began at around the same date. This was partly fuelled by fashion plates from British magazines, which were read avidly in America for the latest word in European fashion. Many American men, however, also decided to stop shaving for a practical reason. Although the so-called safety razor had been around since the 1770s, they were difficult to use and often dangerous. Even men who had mastered the art of shaving, were at risk if their razor hadn't been scrupulously cleaned. One such victim was John Thoreau, brother of the writer Henry David Thoreau, who cut himself shaving and died of lockjaw in his brother's arms.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
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.
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.
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.
Fascinating article. Thanks for posting it.
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
obammy has a beard.
In the German Army durning world war two, only U-boat and Mountain troops were allowed to grow beards. Both were bad ass.
I’ve often wondered about the sudden appearance of beards in the second half of the nineteenth century.
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
Yes, well . . . I didn’t think it was too polite to bring that up. But it is what it is.
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.
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.
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?
I’m guessing that you’re 51 years old.
Hipsters are asserting their manhood against the matriarchy. They’re conflicted because they’ve been feminized in college.
If we could just get beyond the shaved chest fad, I’d be happy.
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.
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