# Beards that are really just stubble? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184 "2006-12-14T21:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/1 "2006-12-14T21:18:16Z")
I have noticed for the last few years that a lot of guys have these “barely-there” type beards that are just a shade away from “I forgot to shave today” stubble. And they are not in the process of growing a beard, otherwise in a few days it would look thicker. No, they evidently maintain the beard/stubble at that level indefinitely – this is the look that they are going for, the “barely-there” beard. I personally find this perplexing. Does anyone find this look attractive? Does anyone find it repulsive? Somewhere in between? What do you guys think? ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/2 "2006-12-14T21:26:40Z")
[QUOTE=gytalf2000] I have noticed for the last few years that a lot of guys have these “barely-there” type beards that are just a shade away from “I forgot to shave today” stubble. And they are not in the process of growing a beard, otherwise in a few days it would look thicker. No, they evidently maintain the beard/stubble at that level indefinitely – this is the look that they are going for, the “barely-there” beard. I personally find this perplexing. Does anyone find this look attractive? Does anyone find it repulsive? Somewhere in between? What do you guys think? [/QUOTE] I carry one of those. It’s called laziness. Instead of actually shaving, I’ll just trim it once or twice a week. Much less time consuming, for sure. Sometimes, when I do shave, I’ll trim my chin real close, and shave the rest off. It sort of looks like I shaved everything a couple days ago, and then went back this morning and just got my cheeks. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/3 "2006-12-14T21:28:45Z")
I love it. On some men. I think that men I already find attractive look way better with “stubble.” I don’t think it would be sufficient to make a man who is otherwise attractive to me, attractive. But when I like it, I really, really like it. Yum. And I totally respect the laziness w.r.t shaving. If I was a guy I would probably have one for the same reasons **Pygmy Rugger** reports. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/4 "2006-12-14T21:30:14Z")
Depends on the guy-sometimes it looks good, sometimes it doesn’t. Just like any type of hairstyle, or facial hair-style, if you will. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/5 "2006-12-14T21:31:07Z")
My fiance has one of those. I like it; I think it’s sexy. ---
**Author:** ![jakeline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jakeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeline)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/6 "2006-12-14T21:38:06Z")
For the most part, it’s veyr, very hot! [Cite](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0412142/Ss/0412142/03.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Laurie,%20Hugh) ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/7 "2006-12-14T21:43:45Z")
I have a friend that does that too, and it’s damn hot on him. Objectively, I don’t know why that would be; it’s one of those “I know I like it when I see it” things. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/8 "2006-12-14T21:51:22Z")
Depends on the guy. Some guys look like crap with it and others (like a very cute russian friend of mine) look totally hot. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/9 "2006-12-14T21:51:56Z")
I find it to be scruffy. ick. ---
**Author:** ![iano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@iano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iano)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/10 "2006-12-14T21:52:49Z")
It’s called a designer stubble. Personally I think it’s a bit pretentious. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/11 "2006-12-15T04:00:46Z")
[QUOTE=iano] It’s called a designer stubble. Personally I think it’s a bit pretentious. [/QUOTE] How is it any more pretentious than any other length of facial hair? I mean, I have a fairly short beard, and I’m willing to admit it’s an affectation that I think looks good on me. But I don’t see how one length of beard can be “pretentious”. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/12 "2006-12-15T04:13:35Z")
I think it’s fascinating that yesterday’s faux pas is today’s fashion statement. Time was when you went out with stubble, your shirt hanging out of your slacks and below all vests/sweaters/coats you were wearing, and your pants falling off it was because you were the town drunk just crawled out of the ditch. I can’t shed that impression even though those things are now supposedly the epitome of chic. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/13 "2006-12-15T13:23:56Z")
[QUOTE=gytalf2000] I have noticed for the last few years . . . [/QUOTE] More like the last couple of decades. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/14 "2006-12-15T13:48:13Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] More like the last couple of decades. [/QUOTE] Yeah, is the Don Johnson look back again? ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/15 "2006-12-15T14:03:41Z")
I use my Remington hair trimmer to slash my beard back about once every two weeks (beard trimmers suck - especially battery operated ones). Partly it is laziness, partly that I genuinely don’t enjoy shaving - a waste of effort if you shave at 7am and at 6pm have visible stubble. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/16 "2006-12-15T15:27:45Z")
[QUOTE=FRDE] I use my Remington hair trimmer to slash my beard back about once every two weeks (beard trimmers suck - especially battery operated ones). Partly it is laziness, partly that I genuinely don’t enjoy shaving - a waste of effort if you shave at 7am and at 6pm have visible stubble. [/QUOTE] Yup. Sucks when you are forced to shave. Everyday. By Law. grrr ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/17 "2006-12-15T16:13:46Z")
When I was growing up girls complained about a burn from stubble . They thought the shaven face was user friendly. ---
**Author:** ![Aangelica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Aangelica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aangelica)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/18 "2006-12-15T16:22:25Z")
My brother gets that look by about 10am if he shaves at 7, and for some reason I don’t understand, it will apparently stay at that length for approximately 10 days after which it will grow rapidly towards ZZ Top style facial hair. So it’s less a question of style than a question of exasperation for him. He can shave every 5 hours or so to stay clean-shaven, sport the tweener stubble-beard, or go ZZ Top/Grizzly Adams. Not much of a middle ground for him. ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/19 "2006-12-15T22:55:30Z")
My son gets the near beard a lot. Looks like he planned it, but usually he’s just not interested in shaving every day. I think he would look good with an actual beard, but my ex doesn’t, so when he visits her he shaves. ---
**Author:** ![caveat\_lector](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@caveat\_lector](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveat_lector)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184/20 "2006-12-16T01:36:54Z")
Razors are expensive. I feel like I am saving money when I don’t shave. 🆒 Even better, next time I do shave (usually second day or after a long weekend), I get a closer shave. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beards-that-are-really-just-stubble/384184.md?page=2)