Ask an Expert: Do women like men with beards?

If you’re a man thinking of becoming a sugar daddy, you might be asking yourself, “Do women like men with beards?” And, you’re not alone. It’s an age-old question that has plagued men for generations. Does facial hair give off an air of strength? Does it look unkempt? Does it irritate women?

Luckily, the science is finally here to put the discussion to rest…well, kind of. In this edition of Ask an Expert, we’re going to talk about why women seemingly prefer men with beards and why that may not be the whole picture.

What does science have to say about it?

Over the last fifteen years, a few major studies, from Australia and the UK, have sought to answer the question, “Do women like men with beards?” Here’s what they found:

• Women do tend to see men with beards as more attractive than clean-shaven men
• Men with beards are perceived as confident, generous, hard-working, and genuine
• Men with long stubble are considered to be the most attractive, especially in terms of short-term connection
• The fuller the beard, the higher the men are ranked for masculinity (which is a separate category than attractiveness)
• The fuller the beard, the more likely men are perceived to be viable long-term partners

The final result? Women seemed to be most attracted, especially in the short term, to men with long stubble. Men with longer beards were seen as more masculine and suitable for long-term relationships, but slightly less attractive than men with long stubble. And men with little to no facial hair were perceived as least attractive or masculine.

And the results are, perhaps, not surprising. Biologically, facial hair is a signifier of sexual maturity and health. As a society, we tend to prop up men who are seemingly physically fit and vivacious.

Do women like men with beards of a certain style?

Unfortunately, the studies that provided us with this information don’t go into the nuances of different facial hair styles. So, scientifically, we don’t know whether women prefer mustaches to goatees to full beards.

All we do know is that on the spectrum of clean-shaven, to stubble, to full beard, women are more attracted to men with long stubble and full beards.

But wait! Attraction is more than just facial hair

Maybe you’re a man who doesn’t like to have or can’t grow facial hair. Don’t get disheartened!

The truth is, attraction is not something that can be boiled down to just one characteristic. There are a variety of factors, including voice, smell, and physical stature, that can affect attractiveness. Confidence, moreover, is a trait strongly tied to attractiveness, according to studies out of the University of Queensland School of Psychology.

It’s also important to note that plenty of women in the studies didn’t like facial hair at all. These women were likely to consider facial hair unhygienic or unkempt. At the end of the day, every woman has her own preferences and tastes that won’t fall strictly into the results of any study.

How you can find the facial hair that works for you?

So, should you ditch your daily shaving routine and grow a beard? Should you follow a certain trend? How can you use what science says about facial hair to your advantage? Here are a few suggestions:

• Don’t get so caught up in the current trends. Trendy facial hair tends to come and go faster than science can keep up with them. That’s why, if you’re going to rely on science to make decisions about your facial hair, stick with what we know: that full-face medium-to-long stubble is the sweet spot.
• Choose a facial hairstyle that works for your features. One of the reasons why beards increase attractiveness is because they accentuate strong facial features. So, talk to your barber about the kind of styles that look best with your particular face structure, cheekbones, mouth, and nose. Triangular beards, for instance, are good for round faces because they can make your jawline look more angular. Narrow faces are well-suited for full beards because they can make your chin look bigger.
• Keep it nicely groomed, but not pristine. No matter which hairstyle you choose, always keep it in good condition. Scraggly beards tend to come off as unkempt while impossibly perfect facial hair can make you look self-absorbed. You want to strike the right balance, in other words, between clean and overly meticulous.
• Find the style that gives you the most confidence. At the end of the day, you’ll know that you have the right facial hair because it gives you confidence. If you like the way you look better with a clean face, there are plenty of women who will find it attractive. And, if you force yourself to wear stubble just because you think it will boost your attractiveness, women will be able to pick up on your discomfort. So, prioritize your own confidence when it comes to your final decision.
• Extra expert tip: Use facial hair products that smell good. Remember when we said that attraction isn’t just about facial hair? It turns out that women are more likely to resonate with olfactory cues (sense of smell) than visual ones. So, make sure that whatever oils you’re using in your beard have a nice scent.

Now that you know what women think about men with beards, what will you do about your own facial hair?

Are you going to call up your barber for an appointment as soon as possible? Or are you content with your facial hair the way it is? No matter what you choose, remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to attraction. As long as you like the way you look, you’ll find a partner who thinks the same!