Why Do Men Shave?
Showering is easy to understand. If you don’t shower, you start to stink. Combing the hair is easy to understand too, because it would be a mess if you didn’t comb it. If you don’t brush your teeth, they rot and fall out. And dressing, obviously, is a necessity.
Shaving is the removal of body hair, using a sharp blade known as a razor or with any other kind of bladed implement, to slice it down to the level of the skin. Shaving is most commonly used by men to remove their facial hair, and a man is called clean shaven if he has had his removed totally.
Men have been shaving forever. Cavemen probably shaved with stone knives, and there’s some suggestion that they may even have trimmed their hair with fire. Beards can be uncomfortable, and they easily get nasty because they trap food.
But why is it that, for a majority of men, all facial hair must be removed? There certainly isn’t any health reason to shave it off. Why would we spend the time and money to go through this hair loss ritual each and every day?
Among the many reasons I found while doing some research men began shaving in Stone Age times were:
- To reduce the breeding grounds for lice, fleas and small rodents.
- To eliminate the beard as a place for an enemy to hang on during combat.
- To make it easier to eat.
- Superstition associated a heavily bearded man with old age and death, in addition to the superstitious belief of spirits which entered the body through hairs on the head.
“The word “barber” comes from the Latin word “barba,” meaning beard. It may surprise you to know that the earliest records of barbers show that they were the foremost men of their tribe. Medicine men and the priests. But primitive man was very superstitious and the early tribes believed that both good and bad spirits, which entered the body through the hairs on the head, inhabited every individual.
Alexander the Great never lost a battle, not to the Persians or to anyone else. But he did order his men shaved so that their beards could not be grabbed in battle. Same for the Romans.
Yet you find many men who support a beard and I am sure there are a variety of reasons for that too, but I am not getting into that right now. I must admit though that a beard or a moustache alone on some men look very graceful.
Now its your turn to talk, why do you shave guys?
I shave because I’m oriental and I don’t grow enough at this age(21) for it to even look remotely good/even/full/whatever…. maybe some fu man chu when im 40.. hehe
I shave for two reasons.
1. Facial hair irritates my wife’s face when we kiss.
2. I work in an office and try to look reasonably smart.
Experience has shown that I look scruffy with a beard and before I was married I was too lazy to spend the time and effort to trim it. If I ever end up on my own and retired, I will probably stop shaving.
I’ve just recently stopped shaving, and am actually quite enjoying my beard. It’s fascinating to see blonde streaks coming out in it, as I’ve always been very dark.
Because ‘the wife’ will complain (when kissed) if I don’t. I consider that a good reason. Next to that, if it get’s too long, it starts to itch a lot.
I can’t imagine why men shave. Beards just grow back. And why do we wash the damn dishes, they just get dirty again.
I shave because my beard grows… sparsely. If I try to grow a beard, I have a few bare spots on my face, and the rest of the beard is thin. In short, it just looks terrible. But I really dislike shaving and wish I could grow a decent beard.
Hi Thel
Your post really made me think. Why do I keep doing something I hate doing every morning?
I’d guess it’s because every other man is doing it? Would I want to do something just because everyone else is doing it? Isn’t that America???
No definite answer there, but sure I know why I don’t wanna a mustache — all the dust that settles there gets inhaled into my lungs. That’s why I shave my mouch at least.
I shave because it gets itchy.
Personally, I can’t stand having a beard. I grew it out once. The food kept getting stuck, the initial stages of growth where the hair could poke me was damn near unbearable, and to be honest I looked 10 years older (wiser maybe but definitely old).
I cannot stand shaving every day so I don’t. I have a beard trimmer and I keep the bulk of the hair knocked down. I’ll shave every other day on average.
I rarely do.
Because it itches.
I try to grow a beard now and again, it comes in nice and thick but after about 4 days it feels so greasy and itchy I cave in and shave it off. I’ve never cracked the 1 week plateau, but not from lack of trying.
I shave because its much easier to get a date when you look clean and shaven, its a social thing
I dont shave
im 18 and have been able to grow a full beard since age 15
and im a ginger
and i have a fabulous beard
and i will never go completely clean shaved again for a lady
I dont shave because i can move my hair. My dad gets freaked the fek out when i start doing my taxes with my beard ends.
“What he said.” I have about three so-called bald spots on my face, so growing a quote-proper-unquote beard is right out.
Because I like how I look without facial hair. I feel and seem a bit younger (I’m 20).
Plus bodily hair is disgusting. I try not to have any (except for my hear, eyebrows and eyelashes).
If I stop shaving my face my wife swears she’ll stop shaving her legs… seems like a fair trade to me.
I don’t necessarily subscribe to this, but there is a belief that a beard implies that one has something to hide.
I don’t. I like my harry face and I’m keeping it.
I also would grow a beard with some random bad patches. I have a few that grow too thin, and the part connecting my sideburns to the hair on my head has a spot where no hair grows. Also, beards get itchy after just a few weeks, but maybe there’s some magical remedy for this that I’m not aware of. I wish I could grow one, they really outline my face well. For now, I’m stuck with shaving (and hating it).
I don’t shave because I hate it. The worst thing ever and the in-grown hairs I get from time to time are painful.
I really only shave 2 times a week in the summer, from October to March it’s beard country.
This is the most ridiculous article written. You have nothing better to write about??
“- To reduce the breeding grounds for lice, fleas and small rodents.”
small rodents?
what are your sources?
I shave because I believe that it increases my chances to reproduce. Less hair shows women that we men are free of lice. Hence we will make better mates.
I don’t shave, until it grows too long to look decent. At that time, I trim it down again. Mostly because I am too lazy to spend every day shaving, and my girlfriend actually likes my beard. I see no reason to shave, if I can keep my beard looking nice, just as the hair on the top of my head.
I shave because it feels better. Having done the beard for a while, I found that it tends to be a minor irritant. Facial hair prickles and annoys women, occasionally feels prickly to the wearer, and never feels quite as clean or fresh.
I shave because my gay lover hates it because my beard irritates his scrotum.
I don’t shave, I just keep a neatly trimmed beard, and edge it in with a razor. It’s less irritating on my face, and I only have to think about it once a week, or so.
I shave because (like the other guys said) my girlfriend MUCH prefers a smooth cheek next to hers when we kiss or cuddle.
I also shave for the same reason I wear collared shirts. I don’t wear ties with them, I don’t need to keep my neck warm, so there really isn’t any purpose to the collar, but I like how I look. I think men the world over shave (or don’t) because they want to look that way.
i shave to feel more like a woman.
I keep a well groomed beard, and it’s great. It protects my face from the elements, and I get less blemishes. And it looks good.
I only shave to trim my goatee. I’m 22, and of european, specifically germanic descent. I’ve been shaving since I was in 6th grade when I was asked by a teacher to start. I despise having to shave at all and when possible avoid it. I may actually shave once a month, but beyond that I run a beard trimmer over my face in areas I don’t want a full beard every few days. Makes me look a little scruffy, but my job isn’t one that I need to be clean shaven for so I don’t bother.
I’m only 25 but I shave because my facial hair grows fast and if I don’t I’ll look like some sort of Yetti or Chewbacka or something within a couple of weeks.
Facial hair is uncomfortable - it’s itchy.
Also, my facial hair is sparse. If I didn’t shave, I’d have pork chop side burns, a half goatee and a trash stash - not cool! Also, I work in business, so its pretty much expected that you shave… otherwise you look like a scruffy bum.
I really dislike shaving…. but my girlfriend hates my beard… so.. i have to..
How about cuz it’s itchy.
You hate the options they present to you
And everything is owned by someone lame.
Here’s a lesson how to deal with corporatization:
Stick it to the man because the man don’t own your face.
Take back the beard! Take back the world!
MY BEARD OF DEFIANCE!
The major reason is actually health a benefit.
First off, men who have a thick and course beard tend to get a lot of in-grown hairs which can cause major problems.
I actually have a beard, so I know, If I’m not careful, you can get an in-grown hair that will flame up on you and get infected. This can be averted by combing and keeping the beard trimmed and clean.
Another reason is that beards attract more bacteria and germs. Lets face it, when you eat, all sort of crap can get in there and unless you constantly clean and groom.
Overall, even though i have a beard (which is more for looks than anything else), its actually harder to maintain then it is to simply shave it off.
Personal choice of how one presents oneself?
I shave because I don’t want hair on my face. It is pretty much that simple. I get itchy. I don’t like it.
Throughout history, gentlemen wore neatly trimmed beards at all levels of society. It was a sign of virility and manliness as well as wisdom and maturity. In any event, shaving on a daily basis was too difficult, considering the tools required.
When WWI broke out, a terrible new weapon was introduced………poison gas. Soldiers were required to wear gas masks in order to protect themselves during a gas attack. To make an effective seal against their faces, the military required soldiers to shave their beards as closely and carefully as possible.
This is about the time the safety razor and shaving daily was popularized. The alternative was breathing the deadly poison and dying.
Simple. Because I look 10 years younger without it.
I SHAVE BECUAUSE HAIR GROWS IN MY FACE.
Its as annoying, or even more annoying to trim a beard than it is to just shave it all off. Unless you want to be a caveman, its best to just shave it off because it takes less time.
In Soviet Russia, beard shaves you!
I only shave my lower neck, around my shirt. I have found that as long as I keep my beard trimmed with an electric shaver with an attachment, it looks great. It only itches if you do not comb it, as the hairs begin to point “in” toward the face. My wife loves the beard, and it makes me look much wiser than without. I only shave the area around the lower neck to keep it from getting irritated, as well as look more “kept”.
“Why? I don’t know, Youthfulness, shaving presents a clean face to the onlooker, conversant.”
I’ll say this, the man above I quoted is right about looking clean and that “clean look” being more sought than “rugged” but men don’t like shaving it’s an annoying thing we just have to do. Sometimes I let mine grow a bit inorder not to do it, but in the end it all comes off someday.
And also, I actually feel better after I shave (razor burn aside).
I started to shave when I was 15. At first it was cool I was a man but now of is just annoying. I shave now because I look better clean shaven and the girls like it better clean.
Is this post a joke? How bored do you have to be? Could you please explain how the shaving ritual is done again, that was fascinating.
We shave because we don’t need the hair there anymore. We aren’t cavemen so why put up with it. Why do women shave their legs and armpits?
I shave because the Marine Corps requires it…
I only shave my balls.
Having facial hair seems to make my skin a tad oily.
I’ve had a beard since I was 15. I have also had no problems getting girls or anything like that. Keep it short (my trimmer is kept on the 2nd shortest setting), shampoo and condition it and it’ll stay soft enough to not irritate.
Granted I have almost shoulder length hair too, so I’m kinda pirate looking.
I shave because my girlfriends like my face smooth when I go down on them…
Reasons to grow a beard:
1. Beards are beautiful.
2. They don’t itch if you let them grow over an inch or two.
3. You have to be a heathen to get food stuck in it, especially if you trim it right.
4. I don’t get in many combat situations these days. I don’t really worry about anyone grabbing on to it in order to smite me.
Besides the obvious reason (employment restrictions), I shave primarily because of the itchiness factor. Granted, that does not offset the razor burn itchiness the next day, but at least razor burn is not permanent, whereas a beard is always itchy.
I’m 1/4 Chinese genetically and have asymmetrical facial hair. I have to shave or I look like I lost a fight with a razor.
i am from the middle east i live and go to school in the US i already have a thick suspicious accent and not shaving my beard i would certainly be associated with a group of people that terrify some people here in the US lol
I personally don’t understand why most men shave. We’ve grown out of superstitions, and lice is avoidable. I haven’t shaved in six years, granted I’m only twenty four and in those five years I’ve only been able to grow a small goatee, but I look forward to growing a full beard. It’s only natural. And in response to the comment about the beard scratching your wife’s face. Try growing it out. Your wifey may enjoy her man to be a little more natural. Let’s face the music eh guys? Shaving will not erase the years we’ve attained.
As one who has worn a beard for most of my adult life, I can tell you that I believe that most men shave because of peer pressure. The majority shave and to do otherwise is to invite the suggestion that you don’t conform in other ways. Being a professional without anyone to report to I don’t worry that my boss might disapprove and that that disapproval affect my status in an office setting.
I am not too worried that I will have small rodents taking up residence, and the fact that I wash regularly seems to prevent a lot of retained food. As for being grabbed in battle, that is not much of a concern. So, while in ancient cultures there may have been good reasons to shave, these traditions persist only out of cultural inertia.
And, by the way, my wife is sitting here looking over my shoulder as I write and she has not said that it bothers her. And it is not hot, in fact, if you think about it, facial hair wicks away perspiration and cools your skin, not the opposite. In addition, it really is not a lot less trouble as you still have to shave your neck daily and trim your beard at intervals, unless of course you want to look like the cavemen you refer to.
And now if we could only have another president with a beard…maybe Hilary will stop shaving.
I shave because it seperates us from the beasts and babarians. See that “barba”rians, Romans shaved as soldiers for a battlefield advantage, and in regular life to seperate themselves from the “bearded ones”, less technically advanced European tribes that they battled throughout the ages. beards are for hippies and lumberjacks, seeing that I am niether, merely a well dressed engineer, I shave, and plan to continue.
First off it itches, or at least it itches me when the hair is long. It get hot in summer months. I look better (in my opinion) with no facial hair.
why do women shave their legs?
I actually find it harder to keep up a beard than to shave. even while keeping a beard you still have to trim it, and once in a while pull out the razor to keep the hair line shapely. When the hair gets really long it starts to dry out which makes it even more prone to carrying food, dirt, and oil. Sometimes you have to lather your beard with lotion just to keep it from bothering you.
I have had different reactions with women. Some liked it, most hated it. The reasons received for their disliking it were “very convincing”
A visit to my grandparent’s house wouldn’t go without a nasty comment about my facial hair.
Oh, and most important of all:
Successful job interviews with a beard: none
I’m not sure if it is true but i read that men who shave their face actually have less wrinkly skin than a woman because shaving kind of exercises the facial muscles some how. I shave because i have only one bald spot where no hair grows but i’ve decided to try growing it out anyways.
I can grow a full beard, but when it’s hot out or I’m playing sports, the beard gets very sweaty and irritating. Just another reason for you :-).
I have recently gone 10 days without shaving.
I am enjoying my beard (longest in 7 years) and am debating whether to shave it prior to a return to the office.
I shave because my hair is extremely sparse. I’m 24, but I have patches where it does grow, not the other way around. My mom’s dad has the same amount, and I hear that is the relative that matters.
I haven’t shaved in 22 years. I last shaved when I cut myself shaving and said, “Nuts to this!” I enjoy my beard and mustache and most everyone in my life has never seen me without facial hair. It is easy to keep trimmed and most importantly, I have one less thing to do every day.
Because it’s fucking itchy!
Men in the military are required to shave because Gas Masks will not seal properly against a beard, I believe this goes back to the first world war.
I typically keep a short beard/goatee, but when I do go clean-shaven it’s mostly to make my wife happy - she does like the baby face. I do have to shave every day, but so long as I keep my neck clean I can get away with one or two days of shaving so long as I have a full beard - it does at least come in full. Small mercies and such.
The same reason women shave legs & armpits.
It keeps the misses from getting a urinary tract infection…..
; )
I don’t shave. If I do it’s cause I’ll just not feel like having a beard anymore and wonder what my face used to feel like without one. Most guys I know that do shave do so because of their jobs or women (getting women or trying to keep them).
I believe Desmond Morris suggests the reason it is done is because facial hair is a secondary sexual stimulus that lets women know men are mature and ready for sex. Since we live in extra large groups this adds too much stimulation to the group so we supress this stimulus by shaving.
I shave because society says that a clean shaven man is a professional man. I kept my beard trimmed very nicely and was still forced to shave it for different job(s). I’m not in battle nor do I need to worry about lice, so why isn’t it acceptable? Why do we shave? Good Question!
why do women shave their legs?
I gave up shaving about two years ago. At that point I had two reasons to do so. The first was to save time in the mornings. It takes about 30 seconds to shampoo a beard, but at least 5 minutes to get a good shave in. My second reason was to save money. My facial skin was fairly sensitive, so I had to buy special shaving cream and a nice razor. It’s not unheard of to spend at least $10 on a razor, then you have to eventually replace the blades. Not shaving saves a considerable amount of money over time.
I find having a beard has added a little bit more to my life. If you keep it fairly tidy by shampooing and trimming once in awhile, a beard can look very distinguished.
If there are any men that are reading this and have not growing a beard, I urge you to do so. Facial hair growth is natural and a benefit of being a member of the male gender. Try it out, you may find that you enjoy it!
I shave because the United States Marine Corps says I will.
i’d grow a beard if i could, but like that guy up there ^
i can’t grow a full and nice beard.
why do women shave their legs? hmm? answer that, women. then again, i do like a nicely shaved legs on women….
I don’t shave. I am 24 and balding. Having hair on my face makes me look healthier, and more attractive. When I shave my face, I have very little up top (I keep it trimmed close because it’s the only cut that looks good on me), and I look washed out. I have pale skin, but dark facial hair. The contrast compliments me. My girlfriend likes my goatee, although it sometimes irritates her when I kiss her. But I use conditioner to soften my beard, and keep it long enough that it is soft (but short enough that my enemies can not grab it in battle!) I do shave from time to time when my beard annoys me… and to be honest just reading this article may cause me to go shave.
Answer this: Why do women she their legs?
And that will be the answer to both questions
I shave because I have psoriasis. The daily massage of shaving coupled witht eh clean skin keep my face clear. If I don’t shave I end up with itchy, oozing, caked dead skin hidden in the beard. Shaving is no hardship.
I shave because facial hair gets in the way of the makeup I wear every day. Don’t tell anyone though.
http://www.whiskerino.org/2007/
Here are some who Don’t
There is a cultural bias against facial hair in the west, like it or not. I found myself unable to find work a few years ago when I wore a beard. I kept it trimmed, not shaggy. When I gave up on that and shaved, I had a job within the week.
real men don’t shave
i just trim my shit down. shaving is complete faggotry
I have a gotee. The only reason I don’t have a full beard is that (for me at least) If I don’t shave my acne gets worse. In a few years this shouldn’t be much of a problem and I may grow a full beard.
Great article. Of course, this all begs the more important question: why do women shave their legs, armpits and who-knows-what-else?
I think the utilitarian argument tends to fall short. In the end shaving is a cultural, stylistic, vanity issue.
Let me ask you, do you shave your legs? What health benefit does that bring to you?
I don’t shave usually because I’m lazy and I think facial hair looks better on me. Most people in the modern world shave because most women think it’s sexy to have a smooth face, and most people instinctively don’t trust people with facial hair–as if they are trying to hide something.
i recently stopped shaving after a breakup.
i’m pouring all the poison in my head into my beard. i plan to grow it out until i stop thinking about it, then shave it clean off. whoosh. gone forever.
I shave because I can’t yet grow a full beard, age 22. Also a half a*s beard is irritating, and itchy.
1 word.. vagina.
Most women don’t like kissing bearded men. (Perhaps unless the beard is grizzly adams length..)
So I shave because of the power of punani. Fair trade off I guess, as long as I get it as many times as I shave a week..
We shave because women want us to. Period. End of story.
i think most guys shave because if you don’t you get harassed either by your co workers or the girl friend / wife.
Written by a high school student?
Half the year, I shave because the beard is too hot and makes me look older. Folks are amazed at the age change when it comes off.
The other half I grow a full beard because I can, it makes me look professorial and adult, serious.
This year, I have polled everyone I know on it, and with one exception (a man), they all said to keep it. Women seem to like it more, and I think it is because it has the subtext of obvious masculinity, adulthood, and in my case, (unwarranted!) intellect.
Most women I have polled during the growing stage prefer it scruffy, but neatly trimmed as it presents evidence again of masculinity, and that ‘look dirty but be clean’ je ne sais pas that speaks to their eros.
Just my thoughts…
I believe the main reason men shave is because of societal convention. The tradition actually goes back to Alexander the Great, who had his men shave their beards because in battle a beard was a liability since it served no purpose, but yet could be something an opponent could grab on to and force them into submission. Since the Greeks were thought of as the birthplace of European civilization, being shaved became synonymous with being civilized and the convention continues to this day. Personally, my reason is that I couldn’t grow a decent beard if my life depended on it. : )
Some of us shave for reasons relating to work, ie to get a good seal on a face mask needed to block out smoke/gases.
Pride? Doesn’t grow long enough when I haven’t. Women approach me when I am clean shaven, and female friends have encouraged me in the pass. I’m bi-polar and realise that when I’m down (now), I don’t shave or do much of anything. Your articles actually quite stupid come to think of it.
je ne sais QUOI….
Same Here.
Wife complains when kissed and………kissed. If you know what I mean.
If your beard is not thick and even, it makes you look sloppy at the work place. Careless.
I used to shave everyday for a while. Lately I have been sporting a beard for a variety of reasons. It keeps my face warmer on cold days. I like the way I look with it. In the Old Testament God commands men to refrain from the cutting the hair on the sides of their face. I also do it out of a sense of rebellion against the establishment so to speak. It so much easier to just trim a beard once a week than to shave everyday. Saves money too.
I would have to say that it probably stems from a point you made in the post about during times of combat, not having that hair for the enemy to grab. Soldiers during WWI had to shave their beards so that they could fit gas masks on their faces to guard against chemical warfare. I think that this has carried over into todays North American lifestyle because a shaved military man is symbolic for strong, dignified and more civilized (because we can afford the products). Beards are also itchy.
Or maybe we all secretly fear that one day we will need to fit gas masks on our faces!
Mostly ’cause I can’t grow a decent beard. Perhaps a corresponding question is why women feel the need to shave their legs.
I think this explain everything…
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/29441/why_men_must_shave/
My beard grows full and thick. I stopped shaving my mustache and chin about 10 years ago. I found that hair grew too densly there and shaving it was painful. I still shave the rest. I find that my partial beard often requires more maintenance in the end than just shaving it all. My wife likes the “soul”.
BECAUSE THE LADIES DON’T GO FOR DA BEARD! For the most part anyway. Its all about the ladies, a mans life for the most part revolves around the opposite sex. And current social conventions dictate that women don’t go for too much facial (or even body) hair.
I don’t. The morning routine is so easy. The face is so warm. Others should join.
Men shave to look younger. it’s a simple as that. Culturally, we have learned that younger men have fewer whiskers and men have artificially recreated that look by shaving for centuries. It becomes even more of an imperative when the whiskers become grey!
This is one of the web’s most interesting stories on Tue 5th Feb 2008…
These are the web’s most talked about URLs on Tue 5th Feb 2008. The current winner is …..
There’s a book on the subject, 1000 Beards.
For those of you who would grow a beard, but it gets itchy, try moisterizing it to get you over that hump, plus it will soften the hair so your lady friend won’t complain (as much).
Lastly, as to why we shave, I think it’s social. Take a look at people who don’t shave. What do they do? What is their social status? How are they perceived by others? I recently took a job that changed my career from IT to sales. In my new office, folks with beards are often compared to filthy hippies, which seems to be the most recent group that embraced the beard… An anecdotal example, but an example none the less.
It takes a while for a guy to be able to grow a full enough beard to keep. I’m almost 24, and am just starting with keeping a beard. Not shaving at all looks lazy, but keeping a beard trimmed can look pretty good. Depends on the person, and the “look” they’re trying for. Some people look tougher with one, others, like me, look more friendly.
So, basically, guys shave because of how it makes you look, and the image you’re trying to project. Or because you’re (like me) lazy and don’t like shaving.
Oddly, you’ve neglected the most important reason of any and all behavior modifications that we share with just about every reasonably intelligent animal on earth: Sexual selection. Whatever the ancient reasons might have been, fashion, including hairstyles and facial hair, are now extensions of the mating rituals that have created birds of fantastic plumage. Factor in cultural / heritage standards - psychological factors which are related in the animal kingdom to any “taught” behavior, such as predatory hunting techniques or survival methods - and it’s not much of a mystery where these habits come from.
I work in the legal field, and the short and skinny of it is relatively simple.
I have spoken to several potential employers who have told me the same thing - men with beards, much the same as men with long hair, are seen by the general public as less trustworthy. I don’t claim to verify this information, just based on what I have been told numerous times.
I personally would prefer to rock a beard, especially in the winter, but the partners aren’t going to have that one.
> ” Combing the hair is easy to understand too, because it would be a mess if you didn’t comb it.”
Same deal .. I shave cause if I didn’t it would get ‘messy’ over time. Clean look > scruffy look I think.
Another though, I know there are women out there who may like beards but from prehostoric times shaved guys may seem more fertile and thus more appealing to women versus older men who have grown beards.
I shave because I once was a long-haired ZZ-top-bearded motorcycle riding so-and-so. I got completely fed up with all the hassles of *having* lots of hair that it is such a clean pleasure to be clean shaven.
1.Because women prefer it.
2.Because daily application of a moisturizer (shaving cream) keeps face looking younger.
3.Because of tradition (Since WWI men were told to shave so that gas masks would fit)
4.Because a shaved face just feels better than any length of beard.
5.I prefer food particles to fall to my lap, rather than remain visible in a beard.
you have to let your beard grow longer if you have spots so that there is enough hair to cover those spots. usually the more you shave, the more those spots fill in.
I don’t like shaving. If I need a shave, I use an electric 3 head rotary shaver, gets about as close as a razor with out all of the irritation or cuts from a razor. that is the main reason why I don’t shave, because no matter how gentle I shave, I always end up with a red neck from shaving and razor burn. I definitely cant shave everyday or my face would be raw, and shaving next day stubbles can prove to be quite difficult in getting a clean shave. I’ve tried even the best razors/shaving cream and still have this problem. I even steam my face to make sure my pores are wide open, which causes the hair to rise just enough to give you a really smooth shave. I’ll probably have to go to a professional to get a really good shave. that way if I still have the problem I can complain to them instead
I don’t shave. Beards are warmer in winter. Food in a beard? You’re obviously doing it wrong ……
1. I shave because women tend not to like facial hair, especially when it’s rubbing on them.
2. I shave because of work. I’m a firefighter and a beard would interfere with the seal of my mask causing me to breath superheated gas and smoke, so shaving helps with that
i think that almost every man, given the choice, would discontinue shaving
however, there are external pressures that nearly force us in western culture to conform to clean-shavenness: jobs, women, and like some have mentioned, irregular growth patterns
there are still a lot of cultures that value a good thick beard or moustache with utmost respect (typically very patriarchal, symbol of virility / dominance, etc)
i’m lucky for two reasons: i work in forestry so a good beard is a good beard and my girlfriend is rare in that she loves the beard/moustache (for the filthiest of reasons)
every so often i have to shave my face for the sake of looking formal, but i loathe it
I shave because the army makes me.
Women, women, women. Or woman. I’m 24, single, and I would say the majority of women I meet prefer the smoother face of a man to the rough face scratching them in places.
Occasionally I’ll meet a woman who likes the beard look and feel. For them, I’ll grow it out. If I’m not seeing anyone, I’ll grow it out in the winter months. Summer causes weird tan lines.
There it is.
I like to shave while I am pooping
We shave because in most circumstances it is proper.
If you’re a college student, you can shave or not. If you’re a professional athlete, you can shave or not.
If you’re a dermatologist, then not shaving is not a good option.
Why not ask why women shave their legs, armpits, and (in some wonderful situations) their situation?
As with most of our own ideas, this one was manipulated by a corporation. Horray! Gillette realized they were only utilizing half of the potential market with their razor blades and started to link the concept of beauty and attractiveness with shaven legs and armpits.
Now, women would be ridiculed (in some cases, quite severely) for having black spots in their underarm and most men find it incredibly unappealing.
And you thought we decided to do this all on our own. We decided nothing. Corporations decide everything.
I started my beard about 2 years ago and I’m now loathe to give it up. Cultivating a beard is irritating and itchy at first (2 months) then its smooth sailing. Makes my morning routine a hell of a lot easier and faster. I recommend it for anyone with sufficient testosterone.
A clean shaven face feels great, much like I would assume clean shaven legs feel to a woman. Do you not feel “dirty” after a few days of leg stubble? This begs the much bigger question, why do woman shave their legs, or rather, how did this start? Clearly for aesthetic reasons only, and I would assume a fairly recent tradition considering the dress of the 19th century.
I don’t shave because I’m lazy, I shave because it gets uncomfortable… with that said, I haven’t shaved in a month or something =/
I shave because it becomes part of a routine. It’s ten minutes where I don’t have to talk to anyone, and it’s the same every time. Whether I do it every day, or I take a couple days off, it’s the exact same. I find it calming, and soothing. A girlfriend of mine asked me once if she could watch me shave. After about a week, I relented, but requested that she remain silent. Shaving is a little piece of my day when everything stops.
My beard itches like crazy. Like… insanely itchy. Like… once it hits a quarter inch without me shaving, it becomes unbearable. I’m still young so I can go a week without looking too scruffy, but by the weekend I without fail ponder permenant hair removal solutions.
I don’t shave. I spend a lot of time outdoors, so I usually grow a full beard between October and March. In the warmer seasons, I trim it down to about 1/2″. I wear a beard for two reasons. I have a weak jawline and a beard helps me look more masculine (the wife agrees). It’s also quite convenient; instead of daily maintenance, a weekly trim does the job.
It’s also interesting that I have light brown hair, but my beard is distinctly reddish.
I shave like once every month or two. It gets to the point where it gets really itchy and annoying and you have to start from scratch, or maybe its just so irritating that you just have to get rid of all of it.
I like my facial hair and usually keep just a little of it and trim it every week or so.
I don’t shave regularly because it irritates the skin on my neck, otherwise I would shave daily. My facial hair grows in quite evenly, but I try to look professional at my office by shaving twice a week.
I’m 23, and I don’t shave. It adds another 20 minutes to my morning ritual of showering, combing my hair, and dressing. Plus, I find it very uncomfortable putting a razor to my delicate facial skin. I keep my facial hair very trim with clippers, I usualy use a #1 clip for my face, and a #2 for my mustache and goatee area. Kinda of like a Sawyer from Lost look.
I think you hit the nail on the head with the reference to the greek and roman military. Shaving once served a purpose, along with short hair for the sake of making you a more effective soldier. Soldiers were glorified in the times of the romans, and still are today to a degree. To be a soldier, one must be fit and strong, qualities that are attractive to the opposite sex. Shaving is almost purely for attractiveness. It exhibits youthfulness and vigor. This is much the same reason that women shave their legs and armpits in many cultures. In the Amish culture, men shave until they marry. Once married, they no longer shave. This reflects the idea of courtship and presenting a clean-shaven look for attracting would-be wives.
I hate shaving and it’s something I only do once in awhile. When I do shave, it’s usually just to get rid of excess and bring it into some sort of recognizable shape (ie, the shape of my own chin…very creative of me). Though i must admit I am not in a customer facing job. I shaved and got a hair cut for the interview and that’s last time the majority of my head touched the light of day. I was blessed (cursed?) with insta-beard hair. I have 5 o’clock shadow in less than 24hrs…so being clean shaven for me is truly a frustrating endeavor, so I stopped trying years ago. Long live the scruffy. Note to the girls who whine about “scratchy kisses”, facial hair with any length to it is actually soft. Significant other not listening to you?…grab him by the chin hair, that usually does it.
I shave for a number of reasons.
First of all because my skin is very oily and a beard seems to cause it to break out like I was a teenager again.
Second, It doesn’t grow in very well causing it to look unattractive.
It’s bothersome to eat certain foods because of the mess it leaves on the mustache.
It makes me look older.
I grew it out as part of a community play and found that my girlfriend didn’t like to kiss.
Even worse she didn’t like my oral attentions down south with the beard.
It also itches when growing out and causes a rash at times.
I shave now because my last girlfriend preferred a smooth face. Before that, my ex-wife had no preference so I wore a short beard and mustache. My current lady, after seeing photos with the beard, has asked me to grow it back, so I will.
I’m 20 and I’ve been shaving since I was 12 or 13 I can’t remember. The first time I grew a beard was in 9th grade and it suited me so well. Now I have a full beard, but it’s the same length as my hair (a “two” level on barbershop clippers). I think if you have a beard and you keep it trimmed and in tune then you’re all set. Shaving can take too long and sometimes it’s nicer to be a little lazy. I do shave my mustache area though. To me having a beard makes me more manly so more power to me.
I shave for firefighting - a beard and an air tight mask to not mix well. As well as for one of my other jobs where I need to look professional and clean.
A good soldier shaves in the morning… I good over shaves at night!
I rarely shave, but I trim often. I trim because in time the legendary beard becomes an annoyance.
But with great beards comes great power. Remember that, you hairless chumps
Like some other posted here, my beard looks very thick with a day or three unshaven, after that… it never fills in more and looks very sparse.
The other reason, is Business. It seems to be the preferred style… in corporate North America… “Clean Shaven”
If I could grow a decent beard and didn’t have to worry about work… I’d grow it!
I shave for two reasons.
1) i work around food and helth risk if I let grow
2) my gilr freind likes it clean cut.
Comfort… I can’t stand the itch of all that hair on my face. But a question for YOU.
Do you shave your legs? Why? Doesn’t it make just as little sense as a man shaving his face?
I only shave and trim a few areas on my face, because my beard looks pretty damn good when it’s neatly cut and trimmed. My girlfriend prefers that I keep it.
Umm.. men shave their face (and chin, etc.), and women try to avoid using their teeth (during oral activities, duh…)
For the same reasons women shave their legs and armpits?
The same reason they wear a certain type of clothes — for purposes of style.
Because you are more likely to be judged as a pervert if you have facial hair. In this day and age.
But i still sport a mo and gotee, it looks good on me. I think.
I’m 20,
ever since mid 15 y.o I have to shave.
the reasons why I do it?
I look too old when I leave a beard on, so chances of getting girls of my age are greatly reduced.
on the other hand, ever since I was 16, I never have been asked for an ID to drink
Why is wearing clothes obvious? Only when it’s cold out is that true…
Many jobs force men to shave. A mustache is ok but a beard or goatee is not. Especially in sales positions. The reason I was told was that it gives the impression of a swindler or that the person has something to hide so they grow facial hair to “hide behind”. I asked several people who are from an earlier generation than mine and they said that they agreed with that. If they see a man with facial hair they take it as him being lazy or trying to hide his face from giving away his lies.
I am 21 and just got married in November. My wife is actually the one that suggested I grow my beard. She loves it! She like that it is soft when she rubs it lol. I do keep my beard groomed neatly though so it doesn’t look all “scraggily” or anything like that.
I shave because it takes me about three weeks before it begins looking good; not a fan of looking like shit until the beard looks good. (plus my wife’s complaining about it is annoying as well)
I risk going deaf if I don’t shave and kiss my wife in that “special place”
I shave because it makes me feel clean. I would get greasy or get pimples. And because I like how I look without facial hair.
same reason why you shave your legs
I go between a groomed beard and clean-shaven every few months. I prefer the sophisticated look of a well-maintained beard, as well as the romanticized bohemianism of it. But for the sake of change, I cut her off from time to time.
I have Brown hair , green eyes and a red beard , I only shave under the chin to my neck to keep my beard looking nice , I have a Nordic face and trim & shave my beard often to keep it looking clean.
If your an atheist or realist all great thinkers had beards of some kind , on the other hand if your a religious man . Jesus rocked the beard of doom as well as other prominent men in the bible.
Let it grow guy’s , it’s natural and looks bad ass.
Having a beard often means one of many things to people that pass you by.
Your homeless.
Your a devout musilm.
Your a terrorist.
Your a hasidic jew.
I like having a handlebar mustache but I must admit, in more conservative areas it limits your dating prospects.
Although I do find if I have a beard I get better service at vietnamese restaurants. I guess its the Guru effect.
I shave because it looks civilized.
I grow my hair long, because I’m not Roman.
I’ve been told that shaving (or exfoliating of any kind) removes certain kinds of skin cells that are destined to one day be malignant.
So…Shaving can prevent skin cancer (only in the regions you shave - of course).
I don’t shave because I’m in lawschool. Everybody understands.
Having a beard is actually more work than being clean shaven. I can shave in the shower in 2 minutes. Having a beard or goatee, you have to spend a lot of time making it look just right.
Btw. Why do women shave. There’s no point to it. European women don’t shave their arm pits or legs. Why do American women think they need to? It’s natural just like a beard on a man…so why bother with it?
I shave to look presentable for work, and that it can irritate my woman when I kiss.
Beards can look good, but the trick is to have them trimmed, and trimmed in the right places. A neat beard can be just as acceptable as a clean-shaven face. An un-kept beard usually just looks horrible.
At 23, I grow a reasonably good amount of facial hair. I could grow a full beard if I never shaved. But usually I shave only once a week. I always leave a goatee though, and shave around it. I prefer the facial hair because it keeps me warmer during winter and because I don’t have a job which requires me to look super professional. Once that changes I’ll begin shaving daily. I wish I didn’t have to though. I prefer to have facial hair, and I wish more guys would decide to do the same, that way it was more common and accepted. Once I graduate, the next time I’ll be able to have a lot of facial hair will probably be when I retire.
I find it spiritually centering to have a nice, smooth shave. I also find a spiritual kind of freedom in a 6-day beard. If it weren’t for dollar-store disposable razors, I wouldn’t shave nearly as often.
Never have shaved with a sharp stone.
I shave in the summer and grow a beard in the winter. I live in Minnesota and like to run and snowshoe. The beard keeps my face warm. Not to mention it’s a handy place to “keep small rodents”
I wear a beard for the simply reason that I hate to shave, I also don’t like haircuts- the beard is close, but the hair is long.
it causes too much oil to build up on my face
I DON’T shave because my girlfriend likes how i look with a beard. I was resistant to it at first but now love it, it is so nice not having to shave all the time. I also look too young without it.
i support the fully bearded portion of the population.
a beard may at times seem ‘rebellious’ since the social norm is to remain clean shaven. i can see this as being true, if the beard is haggard, or uneven, or overgrown.
i however, feel that a well groomed beard can show a man to be self reliant, and unwilling to buckle under peer pressure / social norm.
..just a thought.
grow on beardies, im with you!
This has to be the dumbest article i’ve ever read. I can’t believe someone actually spent time writing it. The only scenario i can invision in which this article wouldn’t be a complete waste of time to all of those involved would be if it were written to inform those under the age of 10.
I don’t.not regularly atleast because it’s just one more thing to do in the morning and I am too lazy.I just let it grow out until someone tell me I need a shave which is usually after 10 days or so and then go ahead n shave.washing my face and brushing my teeth is work enough for me everyday
I don’t shave too often. When i do it is usually cause my girlfriend wants me to or cause I feel like a change and that’s a pretty easy one that will be back in 2 weeks if you want it to.
I shave because I need the splash of cold water so I can wake up while I am standing up. You see, I suffer from proxymyoglobia - a disease that induces sleep when I am roused from my sleep on a winter morning and have to leave the warmth of my bed and get ready to work. A splash of cold water is the worst that can happen to you so early in the morning - and the rest of the day at work is a breeze. Water is scarce and is not to be wasted for such frivolous things as an excuse to keep the day at work smooth - so, I end up shaving as well. This makes my day even better, because colleagues at work, who belong to the opposite sex, express their sincere appreciation to the effort I have taken in getting rid of all those ungainly grizzly prickly hair on my visage .. by implanting a seal of approval, that needs to be washed with another cold splash of water - which, in turn further heightens my sense of being awake, so I can answer my boss in an intelligible way when she asks those stu&*& questions. Well, these latter water splashes still waste water, but I end up smelling like a rose. See?
Why does the sun rise every morning. Why do we need air to stay alive.. This is just a silly question from someone that probably need to GET A JOB instead of LEECHING OF TAX PAYERS!
I’m a 16 year old mail who shaves simple because it itches =X I dont see how some of my fellow clas