On the subject of whether it is better for a man to be clean-shaven or to cultivate a beard and mustache, consider a quote from Shakespeare. In Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice says: "He who has a beard is more than a youth, and he who has no beard grooming kit is less than a man."

The prevailing attitude

In general, this seems to be the prevailing view among those who believe there is strong reason, even ordained policy, to regulate the wearing of facial hair by men. On the weaker side is the contrast argument that women wear makeup, so men wear beards. It is an attribute that makes a man masculine and not feminine. On the stronger side is the ordained guiding argument that the beard is an integral part of God's created male body and should therefore be cultivated and respected. The more modern argument is that, depending on fashion and circumstances, a man can be with or without a beard without jeopardizing his masculinity.

On the other hand

Men with a beard or mustache are credited with such positive qualities as wisdom, knowledge, sexual masculinity, masculinity, and high social status. On the other hand, bearded men are also attributed negative attributes such as dirtiness, rudeness or eccentric behavior.

During the 18th century, beards fell out of fashion across Western Europe, America, and Russia. Above all, the nobility and the upper class were clean-shaven. Peter the Great of Russia even ordered men to shave their beards and imposed a tax on beards to discourage them. However, during the Napoleonic era and the Victorian era, beards made a strong comeback. The typical Victorian figure is that of a stern man with a black coat and a thick beard or long sideburns.

Before Abraham

Before Abraham Lincoln, no previous President had a beard. Lincoln looked distinguished with his full beard, and almost every president from Lincoln to William Howard Taft had a beard or mustache. No president has worn facial hair since President Taft in 1913.

After the First World War, beards fell out of fashion. Soldiers had to shave facial hair to get a good seal with their gas masks. Returning from the war with their short hair and clean-shaven faces, they shaped the new all-American style. The style remained active into the early 1960s, when a strong counterculture brought back the unshaven, if largely scruffy , look.

The Skin Mars The Beard

Beards are also important in several major religions. Sikhs, many Hindus, Orthodox Jews and Muslims have scriptural mandates to wear facial hair. For example, many Jews interpret the passage in Leviticus that says, “ Neither thou shalt damage the corners of thy beard', meaning that a razor must not be used as the action of a blade on the skin will damage the beard. However, scissors can be used to trim the beard because their two-blade action causes no damage. As another example, the Islamic prophet Muhammad forbade shaving the beard and instructed Muslims to trim their mustaches to distinguish themselves from other religions in the world region to take off.

Men today feel equally comfortable with or without facial hair. The reasons men give for growing a beard are largely pragmatic. Some say that having a beard oil for men is easier than shaving. Some say they went on vacation and never bothered to resume shaving. Others say it seems to be the natural state of a man's face and what it looks like. Still others like the beard because of the distinctive look and the attention it brings. The reasons for wearing or not wearing facial hair are far more practical than dogmatic.