"The beard is an ancient and proud tradition."

A beard was a growth of facial hair that was common among humanoids. In numerous species, such as Humans, the growth of facial hair was a secondary physical characteristic of the male of the species. Not all males allowed their beards to grow, and they were generally removed by shaving them regularly with a razor. Conversely, most (if not all) males maintained a uniform styling of their sideburns. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture; TNG: "Code of Honor"; DS9: "Past Tense, Part I"; Star Trek: Insurrection; VOY: "Year of Hell"; ENT: "Unexpected"; DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2") Most Tellarites also wore beards.

Data experimented with wearing what he described as "a fine, full, dignified beard" in early 2365. Data felt that such a beard "commands respect and projects thoughtfulness and dignity." His crewmates described his beard as being "very different", and were especially amused after Data began stroking it and inquiring whether such actions made him appear more intellectual. (TNG: "The Schizoid Man")

Beverly Crusher believed that with the invention of the razor, beards had become little more than an affectation. She attempted to goad bearded Riker, Worf, and Geordi La Forge into betting a clean shave in a round of poker. The game was interrupted by a page for the senior staff, however. (TNG: "The Quality of Life")

Facial hair was a common evil trait in Human storytelling. In the wake of Admiral Norah Satie's witch-hunts in 2367, Captain Jean-Luc Picard told Lieutenant Worf, who was disgusted with his own conduct (he had strongly supported, and even assisted, her investigations until she made an accusation against Picard which he knew to be false), that "villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged". (TNG: "The Drumhead")

Worf regularly had his beard cut in Mot's barbershop aboard the USS Enterprise-D. (TNG: "Schisms") When Worf's adopted mother, Helena Rozhenko, noticed "a touch of gray" in his beard, she reassured him that "Rozhenko men have always had beards of iron gray." (TNG: "New Ground")

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Bajorans

Bajorans were capable of growing beards. Although not necessarily required for religious reasons, some Bajoran monks and ranjens wore beards. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Notable male Bajorans with beards:





Humans

Humans were also capable of growing beards.

Sometime prior to his return to the USS Enterprise in the 2270s, Doctor Leonard McCoy grew a beard after his service on the Enterprise was completed. (TAS: "The Counter-Clock Incident"; Star Trek: The Motion Picture) He got rid of it after being beamed aboard the refitted Enterprise by Kirk and prior to resuming his position as chief medical officer. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)

In 2365, William Riker grew a beard, having grown annoyed at people telling him how young he looked. Q made light of it, commenting that Riker was never so stolid "before the beard". (TNG: "The Child", "Deja Q", "The Pegasus") Riker kept the beard for a decade until 2375, when he shaved it off at Deanna Troi's suggestion. After the shave, Data was somewhat skeptical of his friend's newly clean-shaven appearance. (Star Trek: Insurrection) Riker eventually regrew his beard. (Star Trek Nemesis)

Benjamin Sisko began growing a Van Dyke while visiting Bajor in 2371. His son, Jake, took note of the Van Dyke and asked him what it was, to which the elder Sisko stated that he felt it "was time for a change." The elder Sisko asked his son what he thought of it, to which Jake replied that he liked it. (DS9: "Explorers")

In an alternate timeline in which Earth was destroyed by the Xindi weapon, Enterprise armory officer Malcolm Reed wore a style of beard known as a "circle beard" or "moutee" in 2165. (ENT: "Twilight")

Notable male Humans with beards:

Klingons

Klingons found beards to be a symbol of courage. (TNG: "The Quality of Life") Most Klingon males had short beards, but did not generally have associated sideburns. This was apparently a stylistic choice, as some Klingons, such as Kras and Gorkon, did have sideburns. (TOS: "Friday's Child"; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Notable Male Klingons without beards:





Vulcans

Vulcans and the closely related Romulans, were also capable of growing beards. Some Vulcan masters and other religious figures grew short Van Dykes or full beards. (VOY: "Gravity"; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier; Star Trek)

In 2257, Spock grew a beard while he was a fugitive. (DIS: "If Memory Serves")

In the mirror universe, Soval and Spock wore similar short Van Dykes while they were members of the Terran Empire Starfleet. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly"; TOS: "Mirror, Mirror")

Sarek wore a goatee while a member of the anti-Terran rebellion. (DIS: "The Wolf Inside")

Notable male Vulcans with beards:



