FACTS ABOUT BEARDS: DEBUNKING MYTHS ABOUT BEARDS

 Who would have thought that a bit of humble facial fuzz would have the power to inspire quite so many legendary myths? 

Beards are some of the most fabled subjects in the world, with tales originating across the decades—but which ones are true and what is just a load of fluff and nonsense?

Here, we put 10 common beard myths under the microscope to ensure you’ve got your beard facts straight. That said, it is important to note that this isn’t a scientific article—just a bit of facial hair-based fun.

Beards are a food trap

It’s totally inevitable that when you’re eating, a crumb or two will drop down into your beard—and that’s okay. We’ve all ended up with croissant flakes around our faces or a slurp of spaghetti on the chin. 

Your beard should remain food-free if you use a napkin, eat politely (in public at least), and use a beard comb after eating to evict any stragglers.

Beards are unhygienic

Beards can become dirty and unhygienic if they aren’t looked after properly but the simple way to ensure your facial hair never becomes unclean is to care for it well. 

Thorough cleaning will ensure dirt and bacteria aren’t getting trapped and regular washing will help keep all facial hair completely healthy and hygienic.

Our Cremo Cooling Beard Wash & Softener provides a gentle, deep clean that won’t strip natural oils and leaves a subtle aroma of citrus and mint leaf behind for luxurious, freshly-scented facial hair.

Beards always smell bad 

A beard can smell if you don’t look after it properly, in the same way the hair on your head or the clothes you wear would. If you don’t wash and groom facial hair, things like products and dead skin cells can build up and smell a bit unpleasant. 

As long as you keep your beard clean and look after it well with the right products, there’s absolutely no reason for it to produce any kind of pong. 

Beards are super itchy

Facial hair isn’t inherently itchy but sometimes, if beard hair or the skin underneath becomes dehydrated, this can cause irksome irritation and itchiness.

So, if you see somebody scratching their beard, don’t let it put you off growing your own—it just means they’re clearly in need of some high-quality, hydrating beard care products. 

Our Cremo Cooling Beard & Scruff Cream is formulated to quench and soothe stubble, scruff, and full beards with conditioning ingredients and a uniquely satisfying tingle. The fast-absorbing formula works not only on the hair itself but also on the skin beneath for total relief.

Beard oils and balms don’t do anything

One of the facts about beards that we’re always quick to quash is that beard oil and beard balm are just a waste of money.

Treating your facial hair—short, long and everything in between—to a high-quality beard oil and beard balm is one of the best ways to keep it in mint condition. Using these products regularly, as part of your grooming routine, will ensure your beard is soft and easy to style or shape. 

Wondering what the difference is? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our blog about Beard Oil vs. Beard Balm. 

Shaving makes beards grow thicker and quicker

It’s a common misconception that shaving any type of body hair will make it grow back faster and more densely. While this would be great news for beard growers, sadly, it’s not true—shaving facial hair doesn’t make it grow thicker or quicker.

What’s actually happening is that when you shave hair and it starts growing back, it just reappears blunter. This makes it appear thicker and often, darker when in actual fact, it’s just missing the thinner, lighter tapered edge it would have naturally.

Rubbing your face will make your beard grow faster

Studies have shown that regular scalp massages can help stimulate hair growth on the head but the same doesn’t apply to beards. The skin on the face is more sensitive than the scalp so any rubbing or vigorous massage will likely only cause irritation and even ingrown hairs.

Touching the face too much can also lead to other problems like blackheads and acne as bacteria from your hands is transferred to the face.

The best thing you can do for your beard is to brush, clean, and condition it with high-quality products and leave it be in between grooming sessions.

Hair growth genetics comes from your mother’s DNA

As a male wanting to grow or maintain a beard, it’s understandable to think you should look to your father for insight into the future of your own facial hair. However, old folklore says that when it comes to hair growth, you should actually look at your mother’s genes. 

There isn’t much conclusive information out there so we won’t claim to have the answer—the best thing to do, in our opinion, is everything you can to care for the facial hair you have been blessed with. 

The better you maintain the condition of your beard now, the better chance it stands of staying healthier for longer.

Beards cause overheating in hot weather

Another common misconception about facial hair is that it causes overheating in warm weather or hot climates. Now, while it’s fair to say a beard might cause the face to be a bit warmer than those fuzz-free, it’s unlikely to ever cause a case of overheating. 

Take all the usual precautions to stop you getting all hot and bothered (like a cold beer or an ice cream) and you’ll be just fine. Or, consider cropping your facial hair closer when temperatures rise and save growing a fuller beard for cooler climes.

Beards will stop you from getting a job

Facial hair, tattoos, and piercings are among the things that used to be taboo when it came to the connection between employability and physical appearance. However, times have changed and many businesses now realise that a beard, for example, has zero impact on how well you can do your job.

It goes without saying that you should keep your beard clean and coiffed to ensure it looks presentable and you don’t look scruffy but besides that, a beard should never stand in your professional way. 

Unless, of course, there’s a valid safety reason for not permitting facial hair in the industry you work in. This can be the case if there is dangerous machinery involved, for instance.

Five interesting facts about beards 

Here are some other quickfire facts about beards for you to add to your general knowledge for the next pub quiz or dinner party conversation:

• Bearded Canadian, Sarwan Singh currently holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest beard. It’s an impressive 2.54 metres long.
  
  
• The world’s longest beard ever recorded was almost 5.5 metres long and belonged to Norwegian-born Hans Langseth who died in 1927.
  
  
• Pogonophobia is the name used to describe the extreme fear of beards. We don’t have many pogonophobes around here though.
  
  
• Disney employees were banned from growing beards or goatees for almost 60 years.
  
  
• It’s believed that beards can help alleviate seasonal allergies by acting as a handy filter for the nose and mouth. Although, there aren’t any scientific studies to prove it… yet.

Keep your beard in tip-top condition with Cremo

Grooming your beard thoroughly as part of your regular routine will help get rid of any dead skin cells and loose hairs that can make your facial hair itchy or unsightly. Using a beard oil or beard balm to style your facial landscaping will nourish and shape for a polished, professional finish.

Our considered collection of Cremo beard care products is designed to soften, tame, refresh, and relieve so you feel comfortable, smell great, and can achieve your desired facial hair aesthetic.

Explore our Men’s Grooming and Advice Blog for all the guides, news, and facts about beards you’ll ever need.

Some other articles we think you’ll love… How To Grow A Beard Faster and Naturally | What Your Beard & Facial Hair Says About You | Beard Balm Vs. Beard Oil: Which Will Help Your Beard Thrive?