Dixson and Robert C Brooks aimed to decipher the role of facial hair in women's perceptions of attractiveness, and the results were undeniable. After judging a number of pictures featuring men with varying degrees of facial hair, the vast majority of women found full-bearded men to be the top dogs in the mix.
A new study found that women perceive men with facial hair to be more attractive as well as physically and socially dominant. Women tend to associate more masculine faces with physical strength, social assertiveness, and formidability.
Another study found that men with beards may be seen as more masculine, mature and as having a higher social status. These traits are clearly important contributors to the overall sense of attractiveness.
Going by the findings of a study, women find men with facial hair more attractive than clean-shaven ones, and think they make better partners in the long run. Maybe it's the time you start investing more in a beard gel than a shaving cream, eh?
Short Stubble
For 38 percent of women surveyed between ages 25 to 34, this was the most attractive. 24 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds found this the most attractive and 18 percent of 35 to 44-year-olds agreed. Apparently, women appreciate that subtle five o'clock shadow.
Women saw men with full beards to be the most healthy, and the best suited to parenting. As a matter of fact, the study showed that as facial hair length increased, the men were viewed as more masculine. These findings were doubly confirmed by another study published by the Journal of Evolutionary Biology in 2016.
What are the most attractive beard styles? According to statistics, the stubble beard style is considered by women to be the most attractive of them all. On the contrary, the mustache and the goatee beard style are considered to be the less attractive beard styles.
But in the same way not every woman can pull off platinum blonde hair, beards are not flattering on all guys. It may be a matter of preference. Some dudes look better clean shaven (or with a sexy five o'clock shadow) while others seem more attractive with a face full of scruff.
Asked who they found most attractive, 35 percent of all respondents said clean-shaven, 14 percent said a man with a beard and mustache, eight percent said only a mustache and four percent said only a beard.
In other words, it was unanimous across the board, whether women were looking for one-night stands or potential husbands. Stubble was deemed most attractive overall and received higher ratings for flings and short-term relationships than full beards.
A study by Professor Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire found that bearded men are perceived as 38% less generous, 36% less caring, and 51% less cheerful than clean-shaven men. It is thought that clean-shaven men are easier to get on with and integrate better with others.
In this new study, published Tuesday in the Royal Society Open Science journal, very masculine faces and those with beards were rated more attractive than feminine-looking male faces or clean-shaven faces. This held true regardless if the woman was looking for a short-term or long-term relationships.
You now know that some women prefer men who are hairless, while others enjoy both facial and chest hair. Therefore, we can conclude that something in between the two extremes is the best setting. In the end, it comes down to maintenance and grooming for women.
Out of the surveys and available research, it becomes obvious that on average women do like beards a little bit more than they like clean-shaven faces. Out of all the beard styles and length, it appears to be stubble and short beards that women like the most, not the big long bushy beards.
Beard Masculinity: The Macho, Dominant Alpha Male
Beards heighten the sense of perceived age, social status and aggressiveness in the observer and those with facial hair are often seen as having a more manly persona.
Beard Growth and Age
Put simply, in an average amount of cases, a full beard will add roughly 8 years of age to your appearance. Whether you consider this a good thing or not is up to you!
Research Studies have indicated a link between men with beards/facial hair and increased confidence levels. Indeed, society has been known to find the bearded man more trustworthy, mature, and respected.
Genetics also affect where facial hair grows and when your beard reaches its full potential. “From ages 18 to 30, most beards continue to develop in thickness and coarseness,” he says. “So if you're 18 and wondering why you don't have a full beard yet, it just may not be time.”
Women on Tinder find men with beards more attractive
Another not-so-scientific study that you can find in the Cheez Burger website (and we are sure you will enjoy reading) showed that men with beards are found more attractive, and therefore receive more swipe rights on Tinder.
Women may find cleaned shaved men more approachable as a man with a clean shave looks younger and less aggressive than a guy with a full beard style. Beard is good, but a clean shave gives man a more well-groomed look. It gives you a look of sophistication, according to some women.
A Stomach Full of Fur
Here's a good—if not obvious—rule of thumb: Depending on the extent you trim your chest, your stomach should be shorn to at least the same level, probably even shorter. It's a visual thing, really. As for below the belly button, don't hesitate to simply pick up a trimmer and go to town.
Nature has programmed humans to feel attraction towards those individuals of the opposite sex who display the most prominent masculine or feminine features. Women tend to gravitate towards men whose features indicate higher testosterone levels, for instance, a beard, tall height, and well-developed muscles.
Research has also shown that men who choose to be bearded tend to have higher testosterone levels than those who choose to be clean-shaven, and they are more likely to be hostile sexists, in other words, to favor the patriarchy and male dominance, and to think that women belong in the kitchen.