The beard is one of the most important trends in recent years and that is why many men have chosen to grow it, as they feel it increases their sexual attractiveness. According to several surveys, the vast majority of women are attracted to men who grow a stylish beard , to the extent that some may turn this preference into a fetish.

The excessive attraction of beards is known as pogonophilia .

The beard trend is taking hold in society, and for the last five years or so, razor blades have made way for beard trimmers. In addition, hairdressers who want to be fashionable have noticed this trend, so they market specific products for the beard, and not just for the hair. The beard is a trend and it seems that this fashion, far from stagnating, is increasing.

One study claims that men with beards are more flirtatious

Science seems to confirm that men who grow beards are more flirtatious (study). Many men have noticed this and so they try to be fashionable, as they are more successful. It is clear that the marketing of the big fashion companies, which has put the label “sex-symbol” on those who leave facial hair, has permeated strongly among people. Some girls prefer the two-day beard, others the hipster beard… the important thing is to leave that “cool” and mysterious look.

Psychologists Barnaby Dixon and Bob Brooks of the University of South Wales, in a study published in Evolution & Human Behavior , concluded that a two-week beard increases men’s sexual attractiveness . Could this be due to the image of masculinity? It seems to be the case, or at least that is what was confirmed by a study from the University of Northumbria published in Personality and Individual Differences . The researchers stated that boys without beards are perceived by women as less masculine and more docile.

Men with beards are perceived as stronger and more socially prestigious

Other research, published in the journal Science , found a relationship between health and wearing a beard. It seems, therefore, that wearing a beard is a way to demonstrate vitality and health.

On the other hand, another study in which first different participants were photographed, some with beards and others without, showing different faces (for example of anger or happiness), and then the photographs were shown to a group of subjects of different nationalities for them to evaluate, confirmed that men with beards are perceived as stronger and with greater social prestige .

The fashion of the lumbersexual

Knowing this, it is logical that the fashion world has highlighted these attributes. Merging this rough, manly look with checkered shirts in a lumberjack style, a concept called lumbersexual emerges.

That is why the term metrosexual , after almost two decades, seems to have passed into history. Now the “hipster roll” is cool, which has turned out to be a revolution for many men. A beard, checkered shirt, hiking boots, sloppy posture… A trend that is often seen on men’s catwalks in big cities like Paris and Milan. The “neoleñadores” is what you get, gentlemen.

Pogonophilia as a fashion

Of course, the fact that beards are now highly valued aesthetically has its drawbacks. One of them is the principle of “all that goes up, comes down”: if pogonophilia is booming as a result of a cultural change, it can go as fast as wine. Or, at least, it can become marginal, something much less frequent than the wave of attraction towards men with beards that exists today.

It is important to keep this in mind, because as much as “philias” relate to the most intimate and irrational part of us, they are still prone to be influenced by the social and cultural. And, in this, pogonophilia is no exception.

Not everything is positive about wearing a beard

But not everything is as beautiful as it may seem: beards contain a lot of bacteria (study). It is clear that fans of the beard will not like this statement , but a study by John Golobic at Quest Diagnostics in New Mexico, was done with samples of several beards in search of bacteria. The conclusion of his research was that facial hair contains a large amount of bacteria, so it is more hygienic not to wear it.

On the other hand, many men grow a beard to hide skin imperfections, unsightly marks or some asymmetry in the shape of the face. In this case, wearing a beard can be favorable.