Facial hair may offer men more than just a stylistic choice, according to a new study, which suggests beards evolved to soften the impact of a punch and protect the jaw from harm.
Definitely an unfair advantage to have a full beard. If I can't see your chin I will be less likely to connect well. The eyes have to be focused on the target. The beard cushions the blow and gets in the way of a choke.
With that said, there is a reason why having “a beard” is considered a euphemism for possessing a granite chin: Excessive facial hair protects the most vulnerable part of a fighter's face.
The results showed that furred models were better than both sheared and plucked models at taking the 'punch': a beard will absorb 37% more energy than a shaven face, for example, partly because springy hairs serve as suspension to slow down and soften the blow.
One answer to why the special forces have beards is that they need to blend in. The military allows the special forces “relaxed grooming standards” not because of folliculaphilia but because of the jobs they do. For instance, showing up to the Middle East without a beard can put a soldier at a disadvantage.
The reason for the shaving, according to sanctioning body USA Boxing, is to eliminate the chance of cuts to the eye due to the coarse texture of beards and mustaches, MGGA-St. Mary's coach Dennis Shimmell Sr. said.
Growing a beard in the military
Beards were prohibited across all branches for two reasons: Hygiene and the need for a good seal while wearing a gas mask.
Hockey. The sport that gave us “The Playoff Beard” takes the top spot.
The results showed that beard length (directly measured and self-reported) was not related to testosterone levels or dominance; thus, no evidence was found to support the hypothesis that beards are honest (or dishonest) signals of the beard owners' testosterone levels and dominance.
Some boxing coaches have said that they think it's to ease the work of a doctor for treating cuts around the jaw. There isn't evidence to suggest that the rule is in place to prevent an advantage for a fighter, even for a beard absorbing a punch.
Facial hair growth is largely propelled by testosterone, a hormone. Testosterone levels can vary. For men between 19 and 38, the normal range is 264 to 916 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL).
They must abide by the regulations that require beards to be "neat, trim and closely cropped, to a minimum bulk of 4mm and a maximum of 50mm".
Beards and sideburns are banned in all military and police forces since the early 20th century. A clean-shaved face is considered part of a spirit of order, hygiene and discipline. Stubble is also considered unacceptable and controlled with severity.
Beards make a man seem more manly
Another study found that men with beards may be seen as more masculine, mature and as having a higher social status. These traits are clearly important contributors to the overall sense of attractiveness.
You need to keep your chin down. Keeping your chin down protects your nose. If you get hit, you want to minimize the amount of damage you take on. By keeping your chin down, your nose will be further protected as the bridge of your nose will be vertical to the ground.
Wrestlers and Boxers:
Hair can cause chaffing and irritation upon impact which can easily be avoided if you shave. Moreover, wrestlers need to have the smoothest possible skin in order to prevent the opponent from getting full contact on your skin.
Treatments. Before the fight, cutmen will usually put petroleum jelly on the most likely areas of impact, especially the fighter's face, making the skin more elastic and slippery, and hence less likely to tear.
Can SAS grow beards? Now SAS troops have been ordered to be strictly clean shaven at all times, and to make sure that the hair on their head is also kept at regulated length and style as and when they are stationed within the United Kingdom.
The induction haircut has both practical and psychological purposes. Originally, one of the reasons for the induction haircut was to reduce the chances of disease among closely quartered recruits from different geographical areas (with varying immunities), such as head lice.
"The British Royal Air Force and the Canadian armed forces allow facial hair; the Dutch and Swedish militaries permit them in many circumstances.
The beards must be no longer than 20mm and "appropriately maintained" in a major overhaul of Victoria Police's uniform and appearance standards policy. Former Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Kel Glare says there was no reason for police to be involved in the Peng Shuai t-shirt incident at the Australian Open.
(i) Smoking in all Defence establishments has been banned for several years. The current policy extends this ban and provides guidance to Commanders/Managers on how to implement the policy. The smoking restrictions also apply to contractors and visitors.
Some religions (such as some sects of Islam, and Sikhism) have considered a full beard to be essential and mandate it as part of their observance.
Age. Men often experience increased facial hair coverage until around age 30. If you're in your early 20s or teens, it's likely that your beard will continue to get thicker as you age.
The most common reason some men can't grow a beard is genetic factors. Some men who have trouble growing beards have turned to beard implants. Although beard implants are now available, they're expensive and are a surgical procedure. So careful evaluation of the risks and benefits should be considered.