Facial hair has swung in and out of fashion across centuries, from sideburns to full beards. While some view it as a flirtatious signal, recent research suggests that beards primarily influence how men are perceived by other men.
In a 2015 study published in Behavioral Ecology, six men aged 19–21 were photographed with varying facial hair—from clean‑shaven to full beard—while their clothing was covered and expressions neutral. Viewers rated each subject on attractiveness and dominance on a 1–7 scale. Results showed no clear increase in attractiveness, but a consistent rise in perceived dominance as beard length increased and voice pitch lowered, supporting the idea that beards signal social status rather than mate appeal.
Earlier work (e.g., a 1973 study in Psychology: A Journal of Human Behavior) found that women associated facial hair with masculinity, maturity, confidence, and dominance. However, later research has nuanced this view. A 2013 study in Evolution & Human Behavior presented women with images of men ranging from clean‑shaven to heavy stubble and full beard. Women rated heavy stubble as most attractive, with full beard falling behind, whereas men themselves favored full beard and heavy stubble as the most appealing. This pattern suggests that beards are more about intra‑male signaling than inter‑sexual attraction.
Additional evidence comes from a 2012 study in Behavioral Ecology that linked beards to perceptions of age, social status, and aggressiveness, but not to increased attractiveness. These findings collectively point to a role for beards in male dominance hierarchies.
Research at the University of Queensland indicates that gay men show a stronger attraction to facially hair‑adorned men than heterosexual women do, underscoring the diversity of responses to beard cues across populations.
