Bushy ‘hipster’ beards may become more popular than ever after scientists revealed that facial hair makes men more attractive to the opposite sex.
In a finding that will horrify razor blade makers, researchers claim having a beard emphasises the size of a man’s jaw, signalling greater masculinity than his clean-shaven counterparts.
It may help explain the appeal of celebrities who have taken to wearing beards, including Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and David Beckham.
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However the researchers say not all beards are equal – an ‘intermediate’ level of fuzz is likely to interest women seeking a short-term relationship, while a fuller beard signifies a reliable partner to settle down with.
A team of psychologists led by Dr Barnaby Dixson of Queensland University in Australia, published their findings in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology.
‘Beards may enhance perceived masculinity and dominance by amplifying aspects of underlying craniofacial masculinity, particularly the size of the lower face and jaw,’ they concluded.
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But the appeal of enhancing the jaw is cancelled out if a man already has a jutting chin, according to the Sunday Times.
‘Attractiveness ratings were highest for bearded faces with smaller jaws followed by bearded and clean-shaven faces with larger jaws,’ the study found. ‘They were lowest for clean-shaven faces with small jaws.’
Daily Mail