Expert Explains Why A Beard Is Technically Pubic Hair On Your Face (2024)

Expert Explains Why A Beard Is Technically Pubic Hair On Your Face (1)

Pinkypills via Getty Images

Sorry to break it to you, but that beard on your face is technically pubic hair.

Hear us out:

  1. The term puberty is a direct descendant of "pubertatum," the Latin word for "age of maturity" and manhood, as well as "pubertis" ("adult, full-grown, manly"). The Middle English term for pubic hair was "neþir berd." So, etymologically speaking, any hair that grows in a place it didn't before puberty is pubic.
  2. The follicles of beard hair are composed similarly to the hair on a man's groin and armpits, according to Dr. Bobby Buka, founder of Greenwich Village Dermatology and section chief at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "The concentration of sebaceous glands is high in several areas," he said: the face, groin and armpits. "So the hair characteristics in those areas are very similar, in terms of thickness of shaft and quality of hair."
  3. It is believed that our groin hair has stayed thick (while most of our body hair has thinned out over our evolutionary time) so that it can release pheromones and attract mates, and your beard does it, too. Sebaceous glands are higher on your face than your scalp, Buka said, which leads to an increase in sebum, which carries pheromones. And since it's richer in sebum, and richer in pheromones, your beard has a distinct smell. "Your signature smell comes more from beard hair than from scalp hair. The base of a hair follicle is much bigger on your face, which is why it looks thicker on your face than your scalp hair. But it’s considered the same type of process, slightly different growth rates but same morphology otherwise," Buka said.

In conclusion: If you have a beard, you have pubes on your face. Or, maybe your privates have a little beard on them down there. But for what it's worth, does Buka personally refer to beard hair as pubic hair? "No, I do not," he said.

Perhaps it's all semantics.

Related

Beards and Mustaches

Before You Go

Expert Explains Why A Beard Is Technically Pubic Hair On Your Face (2)

Bearded Presidential Candidates

Close

Expert Explains Why A Beard Is Technically Pubic Hair On Your Face (2024)

FAQs

Expert Explains Why A Beard Is Technically Pubic Hair On Your Face? ›

The Middle English term for pubic hair was "neþir berd." So, etymologically speaking, any hair that grows in a place it didn't before puberty is pubic. The follicles of beard hair are composed similarly to the hair on a man's groin and armpits, according to Dr.

What is the scientific purpose of a beard? ›

As it turns out, facial hair is not a functional physical human trait in the way we thought it was for many years. It's an ornamental one. In fact, of all the physical features on the human body—including other kinds of hair—facial hair is the only one that is purely or primarily ornamental.

What is the purpose of the beard on your face? ›

The health benefits of beards

Beards can: Protect skin from sun damage. Beards can help protect the skin from harmful UV rays, though the degree of protection may depend on hair density and thickness. “You're going to have some protection because hair is a reflective medium,” says Dr.

Why is pubic hair so thick men? ›

Based on these findings, we hypothesize that the thickened cuticle layer in pubic hair may have evolved as a defence mechanism against chemical damage from urine, urea and ammonia.

Why is beard and pubic hair so coarse? ›

The female sex hormone oestrogen makes body hair fine and soft. Androgens are male sex hormones, including testosterone, which are responsible for masculine characteristics such as facial hair and coarse body hair.

Did Jesus have a beard? ›

Historical appearance

Scholars have also suggested that it is likely Jesus had short hair and a beard, in accordance with Jewish practices of the time and the appearance of philosophers. The earliest depictions of Jesus from the Roman catacombs depict him as free of facial hair.

What does psychology say about beards? ›

To evolutionary psychologists, beards could be useful to potential mates and rival males as signals for dominance, aggression and reproductive potential.

Do beards have health benefits? ›

According to researchers from the University of Southern Queensland, beards can not only protect your skin from sunburn, but also reduce your risk of serious skin damage by blocking up to 95 percent of the sun's harmful UV rays.

Why do only men grow beards? ›

Men grow beards because the hair follicles on their jaw are stimulated by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is produced from testosterone. Women have the same number of follicle cells on their faces as men, but these are less sensitive to DHT, and females also have lower testosterone levels to begin with.

What percent of guys have beards? ›

But how things have changed. For the first time in decades more men sport some form of facial hair than not, making the hirsute male the majority. A study by YouGov has found that most men (54 per cent) now say they currently have a beard or moustache, up from 42 per cent in 2016 and 37 per cent in 2011.

Why is pubic hair black? ›

Pubic hair color stands alone and doesn't depend on the color of the hair on your head. The color is determined by the amount of melanin (a pigment substance) in each hair, which can be different because the amount of melanin is different in different parts of your body.

Why is pubic hair so curly? ›

Pubic hair's appearance is also influenced by the shape of the hair follicle. Hair follicles with an oval or spiral shape typically produce curly hair, whereas those with a more rounded shape typically produce straight hair.

What happens if you never shave your pubic hair? ›

It's also okay to decide not to shave your pubic hair at all! It's quite normal to let it grow out, though you must wash and dry it properly. Otherwise, you can cause itchiness and rashes from dried-out skin or clogged pores.

Is a beard considered pubic hair? ›

Technically any hair that grows on a human because of puberty, is pubic hair — you may notice that beard, armpit, and groin hair all have roughly the same texture and characteristics (on an individual).

What is the current trend for male pubic hair? ›

The "Trimmed and Tidy"

The "trimmed and tidy" look is a shorter version of the natural style. In this case, pubic hair is clipped to an even length that's slightly shorter than before – usually around 1/4 inch or less.

What does science say about beard growth? ›

The average beard growth rate is 0.27 mm per 24 hours, (but this can vary between individuals). Hair growth is not a continuous never-ending process but occurs over a natural hair growth cycle which includes a growing phase, a resting phase and a phase where the hair will fall out to make place for a new hair.

Is it healthier to be clean-shaven? ›

The benefits of a clean shave are as follows: It can help remove dead skin cells (often the cause acne and bad skin) It often makes you appear younger. It will compliment a formal appearance.

Do beards attract females? ›

The study also found that women were not only more attracted to them, but expected to have longer relationships with men rocking a beard.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arielle Torp

Last Updated:

Views: 6405

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arielle Torp

Birthday: 1997-09-20

Address: 87313 Erdman Vista, North Dustinborough, WA 37563

Phone: +97216742823598

Job: Central Technology Officer

Hobby: Taekwondo, Macrame, Foreign language learning, Kite flying, Cooking, Skiing, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.