Full beards on men have always made me think of Karl Marx and Santa Claus but, in the past few months, bearded men are taking over the runways, the red carpets and the silver screen.
Considered a no-no in fashion for years, the look has been embraced by A-listers such as Ewan McGregor, Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves and George Clooney - as well as Irish stars such as Daniel Day Lewis, Colin Farrell and Ronan Keating. So, how do you feel about beards? I ask because they appear to be having something of a fashion moment. They were all over the catwalks in London and New York and have popped up in advertising campaigns for leading brands - from French Connection to Topshop.
Check out our gallery for some of the wildest beards about...
According to make-up artist, and dedicated beard wearer, Ken Boylan, they are not only a fashion statement but they look masculine and rugged as well. “I’ve been wearing my beard for over a year now and I love it,” he admits. “As I’ve gotten older, my face has filled out a little, so I use my beard to sculpt and define my features. A beard, not only, adds interest to the face, it is also a sign of virility. Not every man can grow a full beard…" he adds with a knowing grin. Historically, beards have symbolized everything from sexual virility to social status, wisdom and knowledge. But the most fashionable beards right now are full, with a certain erotic charge that has been missing from beards since the macho look of the 1970s.
Ken believes that the full-blown facial hair currently being sported by many younger guys has its roots in sixties bohemia. “The bohemian look is as much as a trend for men as it is for women. It’s a style that’s unconventional and an act or rebellion, in much the same way that long hair was a bold statement back in the sixties.” he reveals.
All of these beards are, as they say in fashion, 'bang on trend' too - lush, leonine, un-manicured, untended and, when worn with a suit, just wild enough to say: “I don't work in an office. I answer to no one. I am an artist.” But, probably a rather lonely artist, too, according to a poll. A recent survey of more than 2,000 men and women conducted by Lynx unearthed some conclusively anti-beard statistics. While 63 per cent of men believed facial hair made them more manly and attractive, 92 per cent of women said they preferred a clean-shaven man, with 95 per cent complaining that facial stubble made a romantic kiss a turn-off. And a huge 86 per cent said they found beards unattractive.
Beards started creeping back a couple of years ago and even graced the odd catwalk show, but now it's gone too far and is turning handsome men into tramps. Brad's goatee was almost comical and Joaquin Phoenix looks like a wild-man-of-the-woods, while Keanu Reeves' attempt resembled a werewolf in mid-transformation. But if you have the urge, why fight it? Like operating a vacuum cleaner, growing a beard is something every chap should try at least once in his life...
