Truth be told, finding scientific info on growing and grooming beards is difficult. There are many untrue myths about beards that need a major round of busting.
Today, we are going debunk some of the biggest beard myths and replace them with the pure, unaltered truth.
1. Beards are dirty & full of bacteria
If you shaved your beard because of the click-bait articles told you it was a dirty hive of bacteria, you didn’t accomplish anything, because your face now has just the same amount of bacteria as it did with a beard. A recent study showed that male health care workers who are clean-shaven versus those that have a beard, have just as much bacteria in their faces.
2. You need to wash your beard daily
Washing your beard daily will cause it to dry especially if you’re using the generic oil-stripping shampoos. A dry beard is itchy and has split-ends.
We recommend that you wash your beard 1-3 times a week using a dedicated beard wash like the Old Glory & Spiced Nectar Beard Wash.
3. Shaving makes your beard grow in faster
Perhaps the most deep-rooted beard myth of them all is that you could grow your beard faster, thicker, and darker by just shaving it more often and against the grain.
While there are multiple methods on growing a beard faster (proven ones), shaving is just not one of them.
4. Most women hate beards
We get it. You want to know if women like facial hair or would they prefer clean-shaven men instead?
In a study to show the effects of facial hair manipulation on female perceptions of attractiveness, masculinity, and dominance in male faces, the results showed that judgements of masculinity, aggressiveness, social maturity and age went up as the amount of facial hair was increased. However, overall attractiveness did not follow this same pattern. Instead, the women rated a light stubble to be the most attractive, followed by heavy stubble, then light beard, clean-shaven, and the full beard.
Neither clean-shaven nor fully bearded are the most attractive to women, but instead something in between.
5. Minoxidil does not work on your face
Minoxidil can cause side effects, however most report very minor side effects such as skin irritation and dry skin. Numerous online communities globally, that focus on minoxidil for the beard, prove that this topical treatment works. The most respected and trustworthy community is on Facebook: “The Minox Beard Spot”. You can even search “minoxidil beard growth” on Youtube and you will see countless men documenting their significant beard growth from the use of this FDA approved hair growth treatment.
6. Beards get hot in the summer
Facial hair is naturally “ventilated” and won’t trap in any heat during the summer. Much like long hair, long beards don’t need to be shaved to prevent getting hot when its warm outside.
Beards actually act as a shade from the sun (and block harmful UV exposure), and promotes an evaporative “cooling” feel when you sweat or get some breeze.
7. Head hair & beard hair are the same
Your beard growth is stimulated by the hormones; testosterone and DHT. It’s androgenic-hair, much like your body hair is. This is why you typically can’t see any beard growth before reaching puberty (when the hormones kick in).
Chances are, you’ve heard of these myths and probably believe some of them. With this article, I hope some of these beard myths can finally be put to rest. Next time, you can explain to your relative or friend on how shaving does not make the follicles thicker.