Facial hair can give off some very strong vibes: masculine, strong, rugged, cool, sexy, smart, and even distinguished. But do beards make you look older? A lot of factors play into the answer. Understanding how your everyday habits affect your beard can help you feel more confident expressing your style at every age and stage.
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Do Beards Make You Look Older: The Science
In 2012, a journal article was published by Behavioral Psychology to shed a little light on how facial hair affects others' perceptions of men in general. This scientific study by Barnaby J. Dixson and Paul L. Vasey found that yes, men with facial hair do tend to appear older than those who are clean-shaven, sometimes by as much as 10 years or more. There are many reasons for this, some cultural and some biological.
Keep in mind that while this sounds like a problem, you may find it desirable to add a few years to your overall appearance. For others, it's an unwanted but manageable side effect of maintaining their personal style. At the end of the day, growing a beard isn't about impressing anyone but yourself. Still, if you are concerned that your beard is aging you a bit too much, there are ways to minimize it.
Do Beards Make You Look Older: Tips for Youthful Facial Hair
You don't need to ditch your beard completely to take years off your look. With the right approach, you can find ways to manage your facial hair properly so it looks amazing without making you look or feel old.
Keep it Short
Long beards are epic, but in terms of aging, they tend to give the impression of someone who's much older than they really are. If you want your beard to look a little more youthful, keep it short. This doesn't mean you have to opt for a stubble beard, but you should aim to keep it in the short to medium range. Below an inch in length overall is a good rule of thumb.
Keep it Neat
Do beards make you look older when they're unkempt? Absolutely. Stray hairs and a misshapen appearance can make you look like you've kind of given up while also aging your complexion. Keep your beard well groomed by trimming it often and using the right tools to shape and manage it.
Keep it Healthy
Like it or not, many of your skin and hair cells start to show signs of aging faster than other parts of the body. As the years pass, your skin is less efficient at producing all the nutrients that keep your facial hair looking healthy, full, and moisturized. This means your beard needs a little more TLC to keep things shiny and smooth, a signature component of a youthful appearance.
Nourish your beard from the inside out with supplements to support beard growth and strength. Keep things soft and clean by washing your beard with products specifically designed to remove buildup. Promote shine with beard oils, balms, and butters. You can also elicit fuller and faster hair growth by using a dermal roller to stimulate your skin and hair follicles.
Keep it Colored
If you're wondering, "Why do beards make you look older," one of the most obvious answers is color. For some men, their beards gray easily, even before the hair on their scalp starts to fade. There's nothing wrong with a white or gray beard; in fact, it can be nothing short of stunning. However, if you're going for that younger vibe, you might want to consider coloring your beard.
If you do decide to dye it, make sure you're using a product that's specifically designed for use on the more sensitive skin on your face rather than the top of your head. Follow the instructions carefully because you could easily damage your hair and your skin without proper use. Also, don't be afraid to experiment with colors and shades until you find the most natural-looking results.
Do Beards Make You Look Older: Turning Back the Clock
Your beard isn't the only thing you need to focus on if you want to maintain that youthful glow. Skincare can have just as much, if not more, of an impact on how old you look. These tips can help you take a more holistic approach to caring for a bearded complexion.
Preventing Skin Damage
Your best line of defense against tough, wrinkly, old-man skin is sunscreen. Sun exposure breaks down your skin cells and dries everything out while also making you more susceptible to skin cancer. Wear a minimum SPF of 15 on a daily basis; apply a stronger skin protectant more often when you're outdoors.
A healthy diet and a good skincare routine can help you enjoy a glowing complexion. Wash your face at least once a day (twice is even better) and follow up with a good moisturizer every single time. Exfoliate a few times a week to remove buildup and dead skin cells while stimulating protein production for smoother, healthier skin.
Treating Aging Skin
Do beards make you look older when the surrounding skin is going south? Unfortunately, this combination can really age your appearance. If your skin is already showing wrinkles, dry patches, and dark spots, you've got some work to do. In addition to a daily cleansing and moisturizing routine, you can help reduce the appearance of these issues with serums, creams, masks, and even a professional treatment or two. Some very simple and inexpensive products can go a long way when you use them consistently.
Do Beards Make You Look Older: Help From Wild Willies
Every man should be proud of his facial hair and have the confidence to rock the style he's always dreamed of. If you're wondering "Do beards make you look older?" the better question to ask is "How can you maintain a beard that looks great and makes you feel like a million bucks?" Wild Willies has the answer with a huge selection of top-notch products for all of your beard growth, grooming, and maintenance needs. Be sure to check out our entire collection of premium beard care products today.
