Pogonophilia, the inordinate attraction to men with beards

A new sexual fetish associated with a taste for hairy faces.

The beard is one of the most important trends of recent years and that is why many men have opted to grow beards, as they consider that it increases their sexual attractiveness. According to several surveys the vast majority of women are attracted to men who grow a stylish beard, to the point that some may even be attracted to men who grow beards.Some women may even turn this preference into a fetish.

The inordinate attraction to beards is called pogonophilia.

The beard craze has been making inroads in society, and for the past five years or so, razors have been giving way to beard styling razors. In addition, hairdressers who want to be fashionable have realized this trend, so they market specific products for the beard, and not only for the hair. The beard is a trend and it seems that this fashion, far from stagnating, is on the rise.

A study affirms that men with beards are more flirtatious

Science seems to confirm that men who grow beards flirt more (study). (study). Many men have realized this and that's why they try to be fashionable, because they are more successful. It is clear that the marketing of the big fashion companies, which has put the label of "sex-symbol" to those who grow facial hair, has strongly influenced people. Some girls prefer a two-day beard, others prefer hipster-style beards... the important thing is to have that "cool" and mysterious look.

Psychologists Barnaby Dixon and Bob Brooks from the University of South Wales, in a study published in Evolution & Human Behaviorconcluded that two-week beard increases the sexual attractiveness of men.Could this fact be due to the image of masculinity? Well, it seems so, or at least that is what was confirmed by a study from Northumbria University that was published in Personality and Individual Differences. The researchers stated that beardless guys are perceived by women as less masculine and more docile.

Men with beards are perceived as stronger and more socially prestigious.

Other research, published in the journal Sciencefound a relationship between health and wearing a beard. It seems, therefore, that wearing a beard is a way of demonstrating vitality and health.

On the other hand, another study in which different participants were first photographed, some with and some without beards, showing different faces (e.g. of anger or happiness), and then a group of subjects of different nationalities were shown the photographs to evaluate them, confirmed that men with beards are perceived as stronger and with higher social prestige..

The lumbersexual trend

Knowing this, it is logical that the fashion world has highlighted these attributes. Merging this look and manly look with lumberjack plaid shirts, a concept called lumbersexual has emerged. lumbersexual.

Therefore, the term metrosexualAfter almost two decades, the term metrosexual seems to be history. Now the "hipster vibe" is in vogue, which has turned out to be a revolution for many men. Beard, plaid shirt, hiking boots, careless pose... A trend that is common to see on the men's catwalks of big cities like Paris and Milan. The "neo-lenglers" is the latest trend, gentlemen.

Pogonophilia as fashion

Of course, the fact that beards are currently highly valued aesthetically has its drawbacks. One of them is the principle of "what goes up, comes down": if pogonophilia is booming as a result of a cultural change, it can go down as quickly as it came. Or, at the very least, become marginal, something much less prevalent than the surge of attraction to men with beards that is occurring today.

Keeping this in mind is important, for as much as "philias" relate to the most intimate and irrational part of us, they are nonetheless prone to be influenced by the social and cultural. And, in this, pogonophilia is no exception.

Not everything is positive when it comes to wearing a beard

But not everything is as nice as it may seem: beards contain a lot of bacteria (study). It's clear that beard beard fans won't like this statement, but a study by John Golobic at Quest Diagnostics inBut a study by John Golobic at Quest Diagnostics in New Mexico tested several beard samples for bacteria. The conclusion of his research was that facial hair contains a large amount of bacteria, so it is more hygienic not to wear it.

On the other hand, many men grow beards to hide skin imperfections, unsightly marks or asymmetry in the shape of the face. In this case, wearing a beard can be favorable.