In recent years, men’s beards have had something of a resurgence in modern grooming and fashion. In the past, people used to see men with beards as people who were unkempt, disorganized, messy, and ungroomed. However, recently, the entire image of men with beards has changed. Men who have well-kept beards are actually seen as more fashionable and stylish. A beard can be a great tool someone can use to set themselves apart fashion-wise.

It’s part of the entire ensemble now especially when it is executed properly. Don’t believe it? Take a short stroll through your Instagram’s explore feed. You are bound to see a few good-looking guys there who are sporting some serious scruff games. It’s all part of the image now and men who aren’t buying into the whole look are getting left behind.

Of course, the beard also serves another purpose. It’s more than just a fashion statement. Beards can also have huge implications on a guy’s dating life. Whether you believe it or not, having a beard could spell the difference between successfully finding a romantic partner or failing miserably at love. Remember that a beard can be used as a guy’s opportunity to really stand out from the rest of the crowd. And studies have shown that men who don’t have strong beard games often get overlooked by women in the dating pool.

All of this information is based on a 2016 study that was published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology. The findings of the study have determined that women are more likely to become attracted to men who have beards than those who are relatively clean-shaven. The study says that

“In many species, male secondary sexual traits have evolved via female choice as they confer indirect (i.e. genetic) benefits or direct benefits such as enhanced fertility or survival … Male‐typical facial features such as a pronounced brow ridge and a more robust jawline may signal underlying health, whereas beards may signal men’s age and masculine social dominance.”

Given that, it makes total sense that women are more biologically inclined to become attracted to men who have some scruff going on for them. We are all subject to our own basic primal instincts after all. At the base of it all, we are still members of the animal kingdom and we are only as strong as our DNA dictates.

To put this theory to the test, a group of dedicated scientists surveyed around 8,500 women on the matter. The survey asked them if they would consider getting into long-term or short-term relationships with a group of men who were initially clean shaven and men who later on had developed some scruff. It was the same group of men who were initially pictured as clean shaven that had their photos presented to the women participating in the survey.

That same group of men was, later on, photographed five, ten, and 30 days after shaving – wherein they had gained some substantial scruff. When the photos of the men with beards were presented to the same group of women, the findings were astonishing. The women who were surveyed mostly confirmed that the pictures of the men with beards made them appear more masculine and macho.

“Masculine faces are judged as more attractive for short‐term relationships over less masculine faces, whereas beards are judged as more attractive than clean‐shaven faces for long‐term relationships,” the findings of the study concluded. The study has also claimed, “Extremely masculinized and, to an even greater extent, extremely feminized faces were least attractive when clean‐shaven and that stubble, and to some extent full beards, dampen the polarizing effects of extreme masculinity and femininity, possibly by obscuring the facial features that contribute to these overall shape cues.”

So, overall, a beard is known to soften some usually harsh features that are present in men who are very masculine. It adds a little more rugged charm to these men who would typically be seen as people who are uptight and who take themselves too seriously. A beard signifies a willingness to just let loose and have fun. And ultimately, beards really favor guys who are looking to get into long-term relationships with the women that they date.

For men who are more into short-term flings and hookups, women are typically drawn to more masculine looking faces regardless if they have beards or not.

At the end of the day, if you really want to get into a long-term relationship with someone, you will be able to up your chances by ditching your razor and letting those hairs on your face grow.