Talking Scruff

Scruff.com founder Johnny Skandros recently shared with HuffPost Live his thoughts on why beards and scruffy facial hair have become popular among gay men. According to Skandros, it's partly a reaction to the clean-cut look of many gay men, at least as they were represented in popular culture.

"In the '90s, gay mainstream visibility was really like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Will and Grace, and it was images of men who were very clean-shaven, very coiffed and very tan," he said. "I think gay men, especially, said, 'This isn't me.'"

Of course, it isn't just gay men who are bringing facial hair back into the mainstream, Skandros added.

"I think within the straight community as well, the metrosexual movement started to wear off after a couple years of 'Queer Eye,'" he said.

Other commentators have also been recently talking about male facial hair. Following is a sampling of what they have to say, along with a number of images. Enjoy!

Writes Dan Lambden in his article "The Science Behind Beards" . . .

The fascination for facial hair in gay subculture has a huge following. . . . However a new study finds that when it comes to beards, it turns out not everyone has a penchant.

A study into women's attraction to bearded men versus clean-shaven men by Canada’s University of Lethbridge in Canada and New Zealand’s Victoria University of Wellington revealed that typically women did not rate the men with bearded faces as attractive as the clean-shaven faces.

The research results suggested that men with beards tended to look older and more aggressive that they did when shaven and were more attractive smooth faced. However when bearded, the men did give the studies female participants the impression of having a higher social status.

Perhaps the reasons for why men with beards aren’t as attractive to women, could be the very reason which makes them more attractive to gay men. It’s believed that beards evolved through natural selection as hairier men were more successful at conveying maturity, aggression, physical attractiveness and securing loftier social status. These traits can be seen as striking qualities for many gay men, plus the illusion of appearing more masculine and successful could help suggest why gay and straight men alike so often grow beards.

Meanwhile over at the blogsite From Gay to December, the question "Does the Beard Make the Man?" is addressed . . .

It is interesting the significance beards can have on social interaction. There is certainly a wide spread perception that men with beards are more masculine. A few years ago a gay friend of mine grew a full one and found that people in the workplace questioned his suggestions less frequently. He also told me that other gay men perceived that he would take a dominant sexual role more frequently than they did before he grew out his beard. He also noted that he received fewer snide remarks from straight men regarding his sexuality. Certainly, this is just one anecdotal account, but from observation it is pretty clear that, in general, society treats men with beards differently.

Sean M. Johnson, creator of the "Beard Love" series of videos, notes the following:

The connection I make with facial hair is that it is usually worn by men of power: the father, the leader, and other iconic masculine figures throughout history, fantasy, and mythology. This idea of power in the wearer of the beard connects to many ideas I have about masculinity and manliness. Taking these ideas, I have looked at the way men and facial hair are both connected to masculinity, and how the beard has become fetishized by the bear community. I see the homosexual man with facial hair as a symbol for this masculinity that has been stripped from mainstream gay culture (especially American gay culture). The queer bearded man then becomes the icon of masculinity and representation of what I feel is somewhat lacking in gay culture. . . . The beard is clearly a fetish for me as well. I love the way it feels on a man’s face, I love how it can grow, change shape, color, size, and make a man look older than he is. These differences are all dependent on the wearer (how he decides to manipulate his beard’s features), and the shaping and growth of it allows a person to change their look and ultimately their identity, making the way they are viewed by others changeable and fluid.

I end on a humorous note with excerpts from Nicki Daniels' "Open Letter to Bearded Hipsters" . . .

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved a man with a beard. To me, they meant strength, power, MANLINESS. Someone who could protect me. Unfortunately, you guys have turned it into a fashion statement. The beard has turned into the padded bra of masculinity. Sure it looks sexy, but whatcha got under there? There’s a whole generation running around looking like lumberjacks, and most of you can’t change a fucking tire.

. . . You’re confusing me. It’s now on me to suss out who is the real man and who is the poseur. Sadly, I fear most of you are the latter. Before this explosion of whiskers on trendy men everywhere, if I saw a bearded man it was safe to assume certain things about him. Like, he probably owned a hammer. Or washed his hair with a bar of Irish Spring. His beard was probably scented with motor oil and probably had remnants of last night’s chili in it.

But you vegan nancyboys are a different breed altogether. You have your mountain man scruff, but you maintain it. You groom it. With products. . . . Look, I know I sound harsh, but I’m actually trying to rein myself in. A beard is meant to keep your face warm. Seriously, that’s it.

See also the previous posts:
• Beauty and the Beard
• Bel Homme VIII
• Bel Homme XIX
• Bel Homme XXIV
• Bel Homme XXVII
• Morning Light VII
• Morning Light XVII
• Morning Light XLVI

Related Off-site Links:
Bearded Bands and Facial Hair Appreciation Clubs: The Hairy-faced Trend is Back – Monique Schafter (ABC News, March 26, 2014).
Are Dudes with Beards Really More Attractive? – Chris Gayomali (The Week, August 30, 2013).
What a Man's Facial Hair Says About Him, According to a Beard Scholar – Dana Oliver (The Huffington Post, November 7, 2013).
The Rise and Fall – and Rise – of Facial Hair – Olga Khazan (Atlantic, January 9, 2014).
Prince William's Beard: Love It or Leave It – The Huffington Post (December 26, 2008).
Hirsute – Hairy Blokes and Beards
Wise Gay Men