The Pros and Cons of Having a Beard

It’s that time of the year guys – Januhairy – which means you should let those beards run wild. Every year, millions of men forgo cutting their facial hair to support men’s health, in a movement known as Movember.

The beard has always been the staple of masculinity, but not everyone knows the greatness that is the beard. Growing a beard can be an interesting time for a man. Not sure if you want to grow yours out? Here are some pros and cons of beards:

Pro: It can help keep you warm

It can provide you warmth in the winter months. With winter well on its way, the temperatures are going to start dropping. What’s better than a little extra facial hair to protect your face from the harsh winter weather?

A beard can keep you warm against the cold by trapping your body heat. A 2009 study in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports found that men’s faces lose less heat in cold weather when they’re clean-shaven—but it also discovered that facial hair helps protect against sunburn and chapping from windy days.

So if you’re looking for extra protection against the elements, a beard can help shield your face from both hot and cold temperatures.

Pro: It can up your attractive points

Women find men with facial hair extremely attractive.

A man with a beard is the epitome of manliness, and that’s sexy to women.

It can also help make a man’s face more handsome and interesting. Use your beard as a fashion statement and find what styles work best to bring out your attractiveness.

Pro: Beards make you look older

Walk into a bar with a clean-shaven face at 25, and you might find the bartender asking for an ID. Walk into the same bar with a full grown beard, you might find they don’t even bother and call you sir as they hand you your drink.

This happens because, while your clean shaven face makes you look like a prepubescent boy, the beard gives the image of a distinguished man. Unfortunately, it can only make you look older and distinguished, getting there is up to you, but the beard helps.

Beards have a way of adding character and depth to the face, and they can instantly change how old you look—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. If your beard is well-groomed and symmetrical, it can help your appearance by giving you a distinguished and mature look.

Pro: You won’t have to shave every day

Shaving on a regular basis can be time-consuming. The time you save will add up over time, by just forgoing the shaving.

Imagine the things you can do with this extra time. You can finally get those biceps you always want, or you can just spend it in bed. The choice is yours; we won’t judge.

Pro: Grow it long enough; it can double as a toupee

Have you noticed your hair thinning on top?

No problem, grow a long enough beard, and you can sweep it up and over. Or you can just grow an awesome beard and shave the top of your head. Who needs hair when you have a magical beard for everyone to be in awe over?

Pro: It gives your face character

Don’t like how you look? Don’t think your face has a good shape? Don’t like your chin? Well growing a beard can help with this.

There are a number of different beard styles that can help enunciate your shape for the better, and make you look more attractive. A beard is like makeup for women; it’s helpful in hiding characteristics you personally don’t like and bring out the ones you do like.

Pro: It has health benefits

There have been scientific studies done on the health benefit of having a beard.

As this study says, it has been found that a beard can block up to 95% of UV rays. This can reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. It can also help men who suffer from asthma. A beard will help trap dust and pollen, preventing it from entering your respiratory system.

Con: Starting a beard can lead to skin irritation

At the start of growing your beard, you might find it can be annoyingly itchy. This is from the irritation of the hair starting to poke out of the skin. It might also be irritating for others that may come into contact with your beard.

The solution is to let it grow out longer. As the hairs grow longer, both feelings will change. The skin irritation easies up as most of the hairs have found their way out of the skin and the longer hairs won’t be as coarse and prickly.

If you still find the beard itchy after it has grown out, there are a number of things you can do. Keeping it hydrated is important, and there are some products on the market that can help with this. These include beard oils, special shampoos, and conditioners.

Con: Beards can be gross

This isn’t necessarily true and depends on how well it is taken care of. Just like the hair on your head, it needs to be washed and conditioned a few times a week.

Take care of your beard, like it’s your child and you will be fine. Get rid of anyone in your life that thinks beards are gross. You don’t need that kind of judgment in your life.

Con: My girlfriend doesn’t find it attractive

Simple solution; get a new girlfriend. If you are asked to make a choice between your beard and your relationship, always choose the beard.

The beard isn’t asking you to get rid of your girlfriend.

Why should you have to choose one or the other? There are plenty of women out there that will take your majestic beard for what it is. Besides, do you really want to be dating someone who isn’t accepting of who you are deep inside, a bearded man?

Conclusion

Well, there you have it, the pros and cons of beards. You might notice that the pros far exceed the cons. This is because there really isn’t any real con to having a beard if you take care of it properly.

Seriously, beards are majestic and awesome. You can never go wrong with growing a beard. Not only can it keep you warm, but it has the power to make you more attractive. It’s the epitome of manliness.

Not only that, but there are scientifically proven, health benefits from having one. Men with beards are more interesting and attractive. Don’t be afraid to grow one, and ditch anyone who would judge you for it.