Beard is the hair that grows on a man’s chin and the sides of his face. Most men shave their beard, but some let theirs grow for appearance or for other reasons. Many people regard a mustache as part of a beard.
In ancient Egypt, men shaved for cleanliness as early as 3000 B.C. Egyptian kings and queens both sometimes wore a false beard as a symbol of royalty. Socrates and other ancient Greek philosophers wore a full beard to symbolize wisdom. By A.D. 200, many European men grew a beard for appearance. Beards lost popularity about 1100 but became fashionable again during the 1500’s and 1600’s. Common beard styles of this period included the short goatee and Vandyke.
Many men of the 1800’s grew side whiskers called mutton chops, with the chin shaved in the style of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. Beards went out of style again about 1900. They regained popularity in the 1960’s and 1970’s, especially among young men. In the early 2000’s, the goatee became popular again. In addition, a small tuft of hair left directly under the lower lip became popular. When this style was worn in the 1800’s, it was known as an imperial. In the 1950’s, some musicians wore this small beard, which was called a jazz dab. In the 2000’s, the style became known as a soul patch.
