Facial hair is a secondary sex characteristic of human males. Men typically start developing facial hair in the later years of puberty or adolescence, between seventeen and twenty years of age, and most do not finish developing a fully adult beard until their early twenties or later. This varies, as boys may first develop facial hair between fourteen and sixteen years of age, and boys as young as eleven have been known to develop facial hair.

Doctor Daniel G. Freeman Research :

Doctor Daniel G. Freeman, of University of Chicago, did research on the reproductive value of male beardedness. To test his theory Doctor Freedman and his graduate students asked a group of undergraduates about their feelings about beardedness by giving them questionnaires and interviewing them. Furthermore, on e of the graduate students interviewed seven women about their feelings towards men with beards. The female students rated a bearded male face as more masculine, independent, sophisticated and mature compared to a clean-shaven male face.

They concluded from their studies that beard increases “sexual magnetism” and attractiveness and makes men more appealing to women. The presence of a beard makes a man appear more masculine to women, and she feels more feminine towards him.

This research carried out by Doctor Freedman in the field of social psychology shows that the presence of a beard on man’s face makes him more sexually attractive to women.

Psychologist Robert J. Pelligrini Research :

Psychologist Robert J. Pellegrini reported in Psychology, 1973, Volume 10, No. 1, the results of an experiment on the perception of male personality as a function of varying states of beardedness. To carry out the experiment, Pellegrini hired eight full-bearded young men who were willing to have their beards fully shaved off for a payment of ten dollars. All of the full-bearded men were Caucasians. Their ages ranged from 22 to 25 years. The tabulation of the results showed a generally positive correlation between the amount of hair on the object person’s face and his being perceived as masculine, mature, good-looking, dominant, self-confident, courageous, liberal, non-conforming, and older. The results also suggested a similar correlation regarding perceptions of intelligence, strength, health, and likableness. In view of the results, Pellegrini suggested that the presence of hair on a young man’s face is associated with an idealised image of the male personality.

In discussing the results of his experiment, Pellegrini wrote:

“Judging from the data in the present research, the male beard communicates a heroic image of independent, sturdy, and resourceful pioneer, ready, willing and able to do manly things.”

Pelligrini summed up his discussion by stating:

“In conclusion, it may very well be true that inside every clean-shaven man there is beard screaming to be let out. If so, the results of the present study provide a strong rationale for indulging that demand.”

Beards Serve As Secondary Male Sex Characteristic:

Secondary sex characteristics are those physical features which develop when human beings reach the age of puberty. Primary sex characteristics are the genitals, but the beard is a secondary sex characteristic in males. The purpose of secondary sex characteristics is to distinguish males from females. In addition, secondary sex characteristics serve the purpose of attracting the opposite sex.

Homosexuals and Clean-Shaven Men Culture In Fashion Industries :

Apart from the commercial media promoting the clean-shaven men culture, it is the fashion industry, many of whom are homosexuals, try to blur the difference between males and females. By doing so, they want to promote their own ideology of homosexuality (to understand what is wrong with homosexuality please read the article “Homosexuality and the Logic behind its Prohibition” on this website). It is clear that a beard is a big obstacle in the way of homosexuality, because a beard is an outward indication that men and women are different sexes. The reality is that men and women are different biologically as well as psychologically. Again, to achieve these goals, the fashion industry utilises advertising in television and in the print media. As “a picture is worth a thousand words”, it appears that fashion industry advertisements depicting clean-shaven men have the ability to deeply influence their viewers’ perception.

It is important to understand that the culture of clean-shaven faces is a Western culture. Daniel G. Freedman noted that “an emphasis on shaving creates a culture that worships youth, neglects the elderly and places less importance of differences between the sexes.” One consequence of this is that when a woman grows old she is more respected in an Islamic society. In western culture, woman receives more attention from society when she is at the peak of her youth and, hence, beauty.

Time Wasted In Shaving :

What is the total time spent in shaving by a man in his whole lifetime ?

Dr. Herbert Mescon from Boston University did research to give an answer to this question. Dr. Mescon calculated that if a teenager begin shaving at the age of 15, then in his 55 or so years of shaving, he is likely to spend about 3350 hours (which are equivalent to about 139 full days) at this task in his lifetime. That is an incredible amount of time which literally goes down the drain. You can add to it thousands of dollars one spends during his lifetime on products for shaving (razors, shaving gels, after-shave lotions etc).

Medical Benefits :

According to research of herbalists, allowing the beard to grow prevents a person from contracting diseases of the throat and of the gums.

Similarly, some medical doctors of western medicine are also aware of the medical benefits of allowing the beard to grow.

Physicians tells that if we allow a beard to grow, we are less likely to suffer throat diseases.

Recently, a medical specialist from Harley Street prescribed as treatment for a man suffering from a chronic cough that he allow his beard to grow. When the patient acted upon the advice of the doctor, his cough disappeared. Chronic coughs may be major indications of asthma and, hence, they may be activated by the same factors as for asthma, which include sudden changes in temperature or exposure to cold air. In this case, a beard acts as a preventive measure by keeping the neck warm.

Scientific Benefits For Having A Beard :

1. A beard protects the face from harmful chemicals, and pollution in the air, which will cause cell damage, and increase wrinkling and bad skin. So keeping a beard protects your skin from the elements, reduces wrinkles, ageing, and bad skin.

2. The beard covers the skin, which protects the sebaceous glands from being infected by acne vulgaris bacteria, thus preventing acne/spots/pimples!

3. Keeping your face warmer and protects your chin from dangers.

4. It prevents disease of throat and gums.

5. Most of the respiratory problems are prevented by keeping beard.

6. It is the identity for a man with respect to woman.

7. Research says the longer and thicker the beard the wiser the person is supposed to be.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_hair

http://danielgfreedman.com/

http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2008/06/12/daniel-g-freedman-1927-2008

http://www.sjsu.edu/people/robert.pellegrini/

http://www.wonderfulinfo.com/islam/beardbenefits.php

http://haroonbaloch.blogspot.in/2007/04/logic-of-growing-beard.html