Ancient greeks believed a beard was the sign of sexual prowess and the spartans would shave off a portion to punish a weak soldier. Having a fairly hairless face myself, I imagine I would have been a dating pariah.
I think the greeks were on to something though. I've always associated a good beard with masculinity. Science has now advanced to reinforce that theory. Beard growth is linked to the stimulation of hair follicles in the area by dihydrotestosterone, which is produced from testosterone. Testosterone. Man fuel.
The irony of dihydrotestostorone is that it also promotes balding and it's been found that levels vary from season to season. Scientists have proven that beards grow faster in summer.
Some variations to the traditional Greek beard include the:
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| Van-dyk Beard (Goatee accompanied with a moustache) |
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Soul Patch (small patch of hair below the lower lip but above the chin) |
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| Verdi Beard (short beard with rounded bottom, slightly shaven cheeks and prominent moustache) |
My dear friend Florence swears by meards (men with beards) and believes "cave men had beards, they were strong, good providers. Its a sign of masculinity" . It should be noted that flo's father also sports a generous beard.
However, not all beards are created equal, and the old saying, "just because you can, doesnt mean you should", could be adopted more liberally.
What do you think?
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| Brad Pitt |
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| When testosterone > estrogen |
For those that have managed to get it right, look no further than this beard-worship blog - hot guys with beards.
And for those of you lucky enough to have a beard at all, put yourself to the test at this years world beard and moustache championships. You'll be up against this beautiful team from USA, the last international champions from 2009.
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the EDITer.
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