If you’ve ever wondered why men grow beards, it might seem like it’s all about attracting a partner, but there’s actually a deeper, more fascinating story behind all that facial hair. Sure, a beard can make a stylish statement, but evolutionary science suggests it serves a bigger purpose.
So, what’s the real point of a beard? For ages, children, women, and even a fair number of men have thrived without one. Yet, today, take a stroll through the city, and you’ll encounter a full spectrum of beards—some as carefully sculpted as a work of art and others looking as rugged as a Viking’s. It’s tempting to assume these men are just peacocking for attention, yet the science behind why men grow beards points to something far more primal.
The Competitive Edge of a Beard
Our research on beards and voices reveals that these traits might have evolved, at least in part, to help men gain status among other men. In many primate species, males and females look pretty similar, yet human men and women often appear distinct, partly due to men’s facial hair. This difference might be rooted in why men grow beards in the first place—traits that could boost a man’s competitive advantage.
Yet, here’s the twist: while some studies show that women prefer men with a little scruff, others suggest they’re more inclined toward clean-shaven faces. With no clear consensus, beards likely didn’t evolve solely for romantic attraction.
Instead, researchers propose another kind of selection—one that’s competitive. Simply being attractive often isn’t enough; there’s also a need to stand out in the competition against other men. In times past, when single men vastly outnumbered available partners, beards and moustaches surged in popularity as symbols of dominance and strength.
Dominance Over Attraction?
Interestingly, the ability to grow a robust beard doesn’t neatly correlate with testosterone levels. Still, studies suggest that beards often make men appear older, stronger, and more assertive. Men who dominate tend to have an advantage in mating, sometimes intimidating others into stepping back. History offers a prime example: Genghis Khan. Not only did he conquer vast stretches of Asia, but genetic evidence points to him as the ancestor of a substantial percentage of the male population in Asia today.
According to research by Nigel Barber, British facial hair trends from the 1800s through the 1970s tracked closely with the ratio of single men to women. As competition rose, so did facial hair fashion. The more men competing for mates, the more beards seemed to take center stage.
A Look Beyond Beards: The Role of Voice
Beards aren’t the only “masculine” feature that conveys dominance; voices do too. Studies show that people tend to gravitate toward leaders with lower-pitched voices. During competitive interactions, men even adjust their voices to a lower pitch if they sense dominance over their opponents. Like facial hair, voice pitch is an easy-to-recognize difference between men and women, possibly rooted in our evolutionary history.
To better understand this, researchers tested how beards and voices affect perceptions of attraction and dominance. After evaluating video footage of men at different stages of beard growth, they altered voice pitches to see how each factor rated. The results were clear: deeper voices were rated as the most attractive, while beards didn’t always score high on attraction. Instead, bearded men were consistently rated as more dominant.
The Takeaway: Competing Instincts
The tug-of-war between attraction and competition isn’t exclusive to beards and voices. Many men think they should be more muscular than women actually prefer, while women often think they need to be thinner or wear more makeup than men desire. It turns out we’re not always the best at predicting what the opposite sex finds appealing. Perhaps our instincts drive us to compete with our peers just as much as they drive us to attract a partner.
Of course, much of this research is based on Western populations. Worldwide, makeup trends, body shapes, and the ability to grow facial hair vary widely. But the overarching pattern holds: whether it’s facial hair or fashion, competing requirements shape our looks.
In the end, can you truly please everyone with a single look? Not likely. So, why not embrace your style, and if a beard is part of it, make it fabulous. Check out The Beard Struggle for top-notch products to elevate your beard game and bring out your boldest self. And remember, for more insights into the art of the beard, head over to BeardFabulous, where we’re all about helping you make every beard a statement.