Do You Like Beards?

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If you are a man, do you wear a beard? And if you are a woman, do you like to see men with beards? I was reading something this morning about Native Americans who were amazed at the “fur” on white men’s faces, when the first European explorers came to the New World. That’s because Native Americans had almost no facial hair, so they had never seen a beard before. Did you know that? Here’s another interesting bit of information. In the 1600s, English men who settled in America, wore mostly pointed beards and full mustaches. However, in the 1700s the fashion for men changed to clean shaven men. It has been noted that the “Founding Fathers” and the first 15 U.S. Presidents were all clean-shaven. During the American Civil War period, General Ambrose Burnside let his hair grow down his cheeks alongside his ears and soldiers began to copy these “burnsides” which later became known as “sideburns.” In the middle of the 1800s, beards came back in fashion and “handle-bar mustaches.” Another noted fact was that Abraham Lincoln grew a beard when a young girl suggested he would be more handsome with one. Every U.S. President from 1861 – 1913 wore a beard or mustache. But, no U.S. President has worn any facial hair since 1913, I don’t think. Beards did become fashionable again in the 1960s and 70s especially for musicians and artists. While most business men are clean-shaven, I see that most men in TV commercials have beards or something I would call a “five-day shadow.” I think that looks a bit unkempt. A nicely trimmed beard or mustache is better looking, in my humble opinion. I prefer men to be clean-shaven. My youngest son has grown a beard a couple times but he doesn’t keep it very long. I don’t think his wife likes it.