5 Reasons Why Men Shave

There is no doubt that today beards are increasingly popular and with the wide range of  specialist products on the market, it is not too difficult to keep a beard looking smart and well kept – in fact these are the hallmarks of the modern beard. Before you take the plunge to start growing a beard, it is worth careful consideration as there are certainly certain occasions when sporting a beard style that you do not feel totally comfortable with may not be ideal….

● The job interview

Nearly half the men sporting beards decide to be clean shaven when they attend a job interview. It is a well known fact that in the first seven seconds of meeting a new person, people make a judgement about their personality and trustworthiness – and much of this is based on their face. Many consequently feel that to be clean shaven makes a better first impression, especially as this is more acceptable in the corporate world.

Those who have an established beard are often loathed to part with it for an interview, but if this is your case, it is well worth getting your beard professionally styled so that it looks absolutely immaculate to match the rest of your interview ensemble!

● The work environment

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to have a beard in some jobs for health and safety reasons. Some companies have a policy regarding beards which is stated in the dress code and abiding by this will be part of the work contract. The only exceptions to this rule are if you have a beard for medical or religious reasons when employers are not permitted to make you shave it off.

Until recently, it was a fact that beards were not readily accepted in the corporate world as many viewed it as a sign of a rebellious streak and bearded men often missed out on job opportunitites because it was felt that their beard made them look intimidating and untrustworthy. Beards are also known to make a man feel more confident and this can prove a big positive in sales and marketing roles. Attitudes are definitely changing, but clean shaven is still viewed as the more traditional approach to grooming in business.

● Finding a partner

There have been a myriad of surveys made to find out what women think about men with beards and the results are far from clear cut! Many women like beards because they feel that make a man more confident, masculine and sexy while others find them completely unattractive.

The most popular style of beard with women is the ‘light stubble’ beard but recently even the longer and fuller ‘Viking beard’ has become popular. Women feel that  a man with this type of beard is more dependable and stable and more likely to want a long-term relationship.

In reality, about a third of all women prefer a man with no facial hair for a variety of reasons including the fact they feel a beard can make a man look older. Some women don’t like the  scratchy feel of a beard and others worry about how hygienic the beard is. The bottom line is that even if you have found a beard style that you really like, if your partner doesn’t feel the same, you may have to reach for your razor.

● A holiday

Interestingly, the other popular time that men reassess their beard situation is as their holiday approaches. Sometimes this is for practical reasons as they feel their beard could prove too hot for comfort or applying sun protection creams will prove messy and getting a tan will definitely prevent you from shaving your beard in the future! As many as 30% of men opt to shave off their beard before setting off on their hols. While considering the options, it is important to consider the attitude about beards in the country that you are visiting and how easy it is going to be to keep your beard clean and looking good throughout.

Amusingly, there was a piece in a newspaper that stated that men with beards were more likely to be pulled aside and searched when they go through airport security – the ‘untrustworthy’ aspect again!

● Special family occasions

There are always a number of family occasions such as weddings, milestone birthdays and Christmas that can require you to make an extra effort with your appearance – especially if you have been invited to be the Best Man or Master of Ceremonies

If your beard is not loved by your mother or other relatives you could well  find yourself under pressure to remove it! This is definitely worth negotiating to explore the possibility of keeping your beloved beard if you agree to giving it extra special attention in the run up to the date so that it is in tip-top condition and that you also have  it immacutely sculptured by a professional for the occasion.

If you are faced with any of these scenarios, it is best not to make a snap decision about saying ‘au revoir’ to your beard, but it is worth careful consideration about its future. Stand in front of your bathroom mirror and take a good look at the condition of your beard. Modern beards are smooth, silky and the hair well-nourished. If you have time before ‘the big date’ on your calendar, invest time in getting your beard in excellent condition. Invest in some quality products to help you get the hair ifeeling soft and silky.

Next, take a good look at the style of your beard. 2023 beards are tidy, well-trimmed and stylish. If this is something you find hard to achieve then it is well worth splashing out on getting your beard re-styled by a professional to ensure you are happy with the results and get the beard trimmed just a few days prior to the event. If however you don’t feel that these two actions will resolve the situation and if you feel deep down that it is the right decision to part company with your hairy friend, make sure that you have the right equipment and products to give you a really good and close shave so that you will know you have made the right decision…