Facial hair fashions have changed dramatically over the centuries.
From ancient cave paintings to modern-day grooming trends, beards and mustaches have gone through many transformations.
The styles and social meanings of facial hair reflect the cultures and time periods they come from.
Barbers and stylists have had front-row seats to these changing facial hair trends.
They’ve shaped everything from modest soul patches to elaborate handlebar mustaches.
Sideburns, goatees, and full beards have all had their moments in the spotlight.
Even unusual fads like decorating beards have popped up from time to time.
The history of facial hair is full of creativity and self-expression.
Facial Hair Trends Through Time
Beards have been a big deal for ages. From cavemen to kings, facial hair has shaped how men look and feel. A top beard expert found that powerful people often set the style.
Long ago, guys used shells to pluck out hairs. Later, copper razors showed up in Egypt and India.
Beards went in and out of fashion as rulers and religious leaders changed their looks.
Today, there are tons of products to keep beards looking good.
Oils, balms, and special soaps help men care for their facial hair.
Beards are more accepted now, and lots of guys want theirs to look nice.
Early Grooming Practices
Long ago, men started taking care of how they looked. Even cave dwellers cared about their appearance.
They did more than just grow beards. Some used sharp shells to pull out hair. Others marked their skin with tattoos.
A few even changed how their teeth looked. These early beauty habits show that people have always wanted to look good.
Beards in Ancient Times
Facial hair played a big role in ancient societies. In Egypt, beards showed how important a person was. Rich men had longer, fancier beards than others. They put gold dust and nice smells in their beards to make them special.
In other old lands, beards were a big deal too. Men spent lots of time taking care of their facial hair. The way they wore their beards showed others how rich or powerful they were.
Greeks thought beards were great. They saw them as signs that a man was strong and smart. They even used tools to make their beards curly! But if a Greek soldier was scared in battle, they might cut off part of his beard as a punishment.
Things changed when a famous Greek leader told his army to shave.
He was worried enemies might grab their beards during fights. This idea spread to Rome, where most men started to shave every day.
- Egyptians: Fancy beards for rich people
- Greeks: Curly beards seen as wise and manly
- Romans: Clean-shaven faces became popular
Beards went in and out of style over time. Years later, a Roman leader grew a beard to hide marks on his face. This made beards cool again for a while.
Beards in Medieval and Renaissance Europe
Facial hair played a big role in European society during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. For knights, beards were a sign of honor. Touching another man’s beard without asking could start a fight!
Beards also had special meaning in culture and religion. Men in power often had to grow long beards. In England in the 800s, there was even a law that made people pay a fine for cutting off someone’s beard.
In the Renaissance, beards became even more important. Most men grew some kind of facial hair. It was seen as a key part of being a man.
But not everyone liked beards. Some rulers tried to stop men from growing them:
- Henry VIII of England taxed beards (but had one himself)
- Peter the Great of Russia made men shave or pay extra money
Catholic priests stayed clean-shaven to show they weren’t married. But for most men, having a beard was the normal look during this time.
From Whiskers to Clean Shaves: Facial Hair Trends 1800s-1900s
Beards became a symbol of democracy in the 1800s. Many famous figures like Abraham Lincoln sported full beards. This trend showed that all men were equal, no matter their social status.
The military played a big role in facial hair fashions. Cavalry units across Europe copied the bold mustaches of Hungarian Hussars. Some armies even made fake mustaches for soldiers who couldn’t grow their own!
But fashion always changes. By the early 1900s, many men started shaving their beards.
World War I had a big impact on facial hair. Soldiers needed to wear gas masks, so they trimmed their beards into mustaches.
After the war, facial hair went through ups and downs:
- 1950s: Beatniks wore small goatees
- 1960s: Bushy beards became popular again
- 1970s: Thick mustaches were all the rage
William Howard Taft was the last U.S. President to have facial hair while in office. He wore a handlebar mustache, which became very trendy after World War I.
Table: Popular Facial Hair Styles by Decade
Decade | Trending Style |
---|---|
1800s | Full beards |
1910s | Mustaches |
1950s | Goatees |
1960s | Bushy beards |
1970s | Thick mustaches |
Today’s Beard Trends
Beards are making a big comeback. Men are growing facial hair to show who they are and feel more free.
There are lots of different styles now, mixing old and new looks.
Some guys like the Van Dyke beard from the 1600s. It’s a mix of mustache and goatee that looks classy.
Others go for wild styles like the pointy mustaches popular in 1890s Germany. Those took a lot of work to make and keep in shape!
Some men are getting creative with their beards. They use dyes, paints, and even gold thread to make their facial hair stand out.
This idea comes from ancient cultures that decorated their beards in cool ways.
Beard styles can say a lot about a person or group. Different people choose different looks.
But beards aren’t just for hipsters anymore. When business leaders and politicians start growing beards, you know it’s really catching on.
Here are some popular beard styles:
- Full beard: Thick and natural
- Goatee: Hair on the chin and mustache
- Stubble: Short, scruffy look
- Mutton chops: Thick sideburns joined to a mustache
- Circle beard: Mustache connected to a rounded chin beard
No matter what style guys pick, beards are here to stay for now. They’re a fun way for men to express themselves and try new looks.