We have beards, and we want our words to be heard, but first, gentlemen, happy World Beard Day once again. Shall we begin?
Beards are often perceived as merely a matter of image. We're happy to tell you that there's more to it than that. You might even remember (if you've read it, you should) that we touched on this in the article "Why Do Men Grow Beards?". After that article, which contained some product placement, we asked ourselves, "Why not delve deeper?" So we did.
Benefits of Beards
Image is important, granted, but is it more important than health? No. Therefore, it's important to first know the benefits of beards, especially from a health perspective. Plus, this information is a bonus for silencing those who say, "Just shave that beard already!" forever.
A Natural Antibiotic
Yes, I suppose that's the right way to put it. Of course, you know that what we say has support. Dr. Adam Robert conducted a study. He cultured over 100 bacteria on beards. However, the bacteria died before reaching the skin for some reason. The research deepened, delving into the roots of the beard. It was observed that another type of bacteria, multiplying at the base of the beard, emerged when harmful bacteria approached the skin and acted as an antibiotic, killing these bacteria.
A Natural Moisturizer
The skin contains oil glands. These also help keep the skin moisturized. If there's a beard, the moisturizing effect provided by the skin's oil glands is greater. This is because bearded skin is less exposed to friction, touch, and similar factors. Your skin moisturizes happily under your beard, but does this mean there's no need for additional moisturizing? We don't think so; for light moisture boosts, you can look here.
A Shield Against Cold
This was one of the reasons we grew beards from the beginning of our evolution; in addition to creating a stronger image, it also protected us from the cold. This is still true. If you have a beard, it means you also have a shield to protect your skin from the cold.
Protection Against Cancer and Aging
Again, not us, but the sources say so. In fact, Professor Alfio Parisi himself states it. Beards protect the skin from the negative effects of the sun's rays. This primarily helps the skin age slower. He also states that it reduces the risk of developing cancer. You're stroking your beard right now, aren't you? 😉
Prevents Respiratory Diseases
Throughout the day, with dust, dirt, and pollen when spring arrives, there's nothing that doesn't fly in the air. And as it flies, it sticks to whatever it can. If you have a beard, it sticks to your beard. This helps keep problems like asthma or allergies from entering your mouth or nose. But of course, you need to clean your beard. While we're at it, let's leave some beard cleaning products here immediately; cleanliness is important.
This doesn't mean you don't need to shave, or that life with a beard is healthier than without. Here, we talked about the scientifically researched positive aspects of beards for health. There are actually other positive aspects, but we'll leave those for the curious and move on to the lesser-known facts about beards.
Lesser-Known Facts About Beards
We've looked at the beneficial aspects. We also wanted to talk about those interesting tidbits of information. There is no Bonherre man who grows a beard just because he's "too lazy to shave," of course, we know that. Still, if you sometimes neglect your beard, there are many reasons not to just say, "It's just a beard." Look now.
Libido VS Testosterone
We've talked about libido, and we've talked about testosterone. You read it, gentlemen, didn't you? Good, now there's another matter: men who abstain from sex for a while grow beards faster. We're not saying this is definitive information, but the curious can research it, of course.
Hans Nilson Langseth
Well, if there's such a thing as being too lazy to shave, this Norwegian gentleman could certainly be an example. His beard is known as the world's longest at 6 meters. 6 meters, gentlemen! If Mr. Langseth had bought Bonherre beard care products, I think we would have run out of stock in a single order. But he's no longer living, and his beard was cut and preserved according to his will. It's now in a museum.
Golden Age
If there was a golden age for beards in our current century, in the part we've lived so far, it was between 2008 and 2013. Those who had beard transplants, those who grew them... We saw quite a lot of gentlemen with beards. And we will continue to do so, of course.
Status Symbol
Looking at ancient Egyptian statues, one can see the presence of a metallic beard. This was a status symbol. It would be more accurate to say it was both a status and a power symbol. So much so that even women of that time wore it.
Beards are not exclusive to men. As you know, women also have hair follicles. What is exclusive to men is the amount of testosterone. For this reason, men grow beards, but are there no bearded women in the world? There are. One woman's beard is 30 cm long.
Alexander the Great
He absolutely forbade his soldiers from growing beards. The reason? To prevent enemy soldiers from pulling their beards during battle. So, a beard, which is a symbol of strength from an evolutionary perspective, could also be a strategic weakness.
A Philosophical Mark
In Ancient Rome, the shape of one's beard alone indicated which philosophical school they adhered to. Philosophy played a dominant role in Ancient Rome, and beards were essentially a display of one's philosophical beliefs. What one advocated for was evident on their face, how amazing!
Pogonophobia
This means the fear of beards themselves or of bearded people, and while it's still not fully understood, some people do experience such a fear.
In Words: One Million Dollars
This was the amount offered to the members of the ZZ Top band, all bearded, to shave their beards. A very famous razor brand even made this offer. The result? The offer was rejected, the beard won!
"A Beard Would Look Great on You"
Ms. Bedell didn't say exactly that to Lincoln in her letter, of course. But something close to it, 11-year-old Ms. Bedell said that a beard would be immensely beneficial for Lincoln's image. It appears Lincoln took this advice to heart.
Don't Shave It All Off, But Trim It a Bit
Do this. You should, because a man's beard can grow over 9 meters in his lifetime if never shaved. To prevent what can happen when testosterone, hair follicles, and gravity come together, we recommend this link.
More Than Half
It's estimated that 55% of men worldwide have beards. Now you can enjoy being in the majority rather than the minority on some issues.
We celebrated World Beard Day and gave you great reasons to grow a beard or take good care of yours, gentlemen. Take care of your beards and yourselves.