To Beard or Not to Beard...
Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of shaving,
Or to take arms against a sea of stubble,
And by persevering, grow them?
The topic of beards is a widely contested subject. Love them or hate them, people just seem to have strong opinions on what should be done about one's facial hair. But why? At the end of the day, growing a beard or being clean shaving is just a personal choice that effects no one but ourselves. So why does it matter how someone chooses to groom themselves? What is the motive for the seemingly endless barrage of articles and reports on proper whisker etiquette?
One explanation is an attack on masculinity: That having a beard perpetuates the "status quo" of toxic masculinity, the patriarchy, or some other evil that lies deep within our follicle facial forest. Thus, by discouraging men to grow beards and thereby "lessen" their masculine features, society can be one step closer to a utopia where everyone can be genderless eunuchs and finally live in harmony.
And while I'm sure there are some folks that may in fact be driving this narrative, I believe the culprit has little do with conspiracy, and everything to do with capitalism. This is where tackling the subject of beards is actually genius marketing ploy: Because 100% of the population either does or doesn't have a beard, everyone will have some opinion on whatever you say.
No matter your stance, you are guaranteed to rile up those who are opposed to it, and reinforce the beliefs of those who agree. (Confirmation bias is a helluva drug). This is a win-win if your objective is to get as much engagement and reach on social media post as possible. And if your business model is based off of click-bait ads, you have all the motive in the world to write such "articles" and cite the "studies" as mentioned in the video above.
Speaking of capitalism and business models, if you are of the bearded persuasion, we have an amazing line of beard care products you should check out:
"Gentleman" and "Savage" Beard Oils
And if you're not sporting a glorious face badger, we also have a line of shaving products as well!
Classic Shave Brush Bundle
With that out of the way, I'll leave you with this: Don't believe everything you see on the internet. Everyone has an agenda (even us), so take it with a grain of salt and try not to feed the click-bait machines if you can help it!
Want to discuss this topic in further detail?
Join the League of Savage Gentlemen to converse and interact with other savages and gentlemen like yourself.
2 comments
Used to wear a beard. Can’t now because I need a tight seal for a face shield or air purifier respirator. Will grow one, like Billy Gibbons, someday after I retire.
Hey all! An un bearded young lad here asking for advice on grooming tips while growing out your beard. Things like preventing ingrown hairs, stimulating growth, and properly tidying up an otherwise patchy beard.