# Puberty: What's Up With That?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puberty-whats-up-with-that/338716
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 6, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puberty-whats-up-with-that/338716 "2006-01-06T06:38:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puberty-whats-up-with-that/338716/21 "2006-01-07T12:31:59Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#):
>
> Hmm. I wasn’t aware that I’ll continue to get hairier, though I suppose I should have realized it. I’m in my 20s, and I wouldn’t mind developing a fuller beard – I can grow an “Amish beard” right now (heavy around the jaw, but thin on the neck) which is rather annoying.
>
> Yeah, I knew a guy like that. 16 years old, and hairier than my dad.
I’ll trade you some neck hair for that sideburn hair.
My friend says he wants to invent the ascot. This is where you only leave your neck hair.
But I appear to be the hariest of my family. I’m 23, and I can amost grow a beard, but my cheeks are only half-way filled in. I have a weird situation with the hair though. From the waist down I’m as hairy as anyone out there. But from the waist up, I’m pretty hairless. I didn’t have serious underarm hair until I was about 20. That was somewhat embarassing. Although I do have some weird forearm hair coming in now. Its really fine, but long. I don’t know why. Oh yeah, I have blonde hair, but all of the hair that I’ve gotten since puberty has been very dark.
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### Author:  [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puberty-whats-up-with-that/338716/22 "2006-01-07T15:00:34Z")
> [@Merkwurdigliebe](#):
>
> My friend says he wants to invent the ascot. This is where you only leave your neck hair.
>
> Oh yeah, I have blonde hair, but all of the hair that I’ve gotten since puberty has been very dark.
Two things - ew on the neck beard. Big ew in every way. It creeps me out that heavy guys are starting to wear their chin hair lower on their chin and onto their neck in order to create a jawline; I blame [Michael Moore](http://www.dialmformax.com/images/Michael_Moore.jpg) for starting it.
Also, when you grow in the beard, do you get red hairs there that you lack on top of your head? I’ve noticed that on blonde guys more often than not.
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### Author:  [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puberty-whats-up-with-that/338716/23 "2006-01-07T15:08:40Z")
> [@Portia](#):
>
> Also, when you grow in the beard, do you get red hairs there that you lack on top of your head? I’ve noticed that on blonde guys more often than not.
Not just blond guys. My father had black hair everywhere except his beard, which showed red strands if he let it grow. His mother was red-haired; so are my brother and I.
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### Author:  [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puberty-whats-up-with-that/338716/24 "2006-01-07T15:20:43Z")
> [@Portia](#):
>
> Also, when you grow in the beard, do you get red hairs there that you lack on top of your head? I’ve noticed that on blonde guys more often than not.
Yep.
I’m 19, and I can grow a pretty reasonable beard/moustache that’s pretty even - but it’s a much lighter colour than my hair (dark blond hair, very light blond beard) and I find the occasional (sp?) red hair when shaving after a while. I also have sideburns, but i’ve never noticed a red hair in those. I’m half Scottish, though, so I guess there’s a Celtic influence as blonde/reddish hair and general hairiness seem to run in my family.
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### Author:  [@DuhCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DuhCow)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puberty-whats-up-with-that/338716/25 "2006-01-08T23:19:19Z")
> [@Blake](#):
>
> Although it starts in late puberty facial hair development continues throughout life. Amongst cultures that commonly lack facial hair such as East Asiana and American Indians it’s not uncommon for facial hair to only appear in the late forties or even later and to continue to get thicker with age. Thus the beard becomes a symbol of old age. For Caucasians and Negroes at 22 it’s not unusual to still only need to shave once or twice a week and have the ability to grow nothing more than a sparse goatee.
>
> Also be aware that the pattern of facial hair development varies amongst individuals. Some people don’t develop sideburns until fairly late in life for example, while others have perpetually bald cheeks until old age.
WEAK. I feel like patchy facial hair is worse than none at all, since you look far stupider if you don’t shave. I guess I’ve got awhile to go before I can look old and grizzled…
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### Author:  [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puberty-whats-up-with-that/338716/26 "2006-01-08T23:23:43Z")
> [@Portia](#):
>
> Also, when you grow in the beard, do you get red hairs there that you lack on top of your head? I’ve noticed that on blonde guys more often than not.
I’m certainly not blonde, but I get a few ginger hairs appear on my chin (and elsewhere 😉 ). Although my parents, siblings and most relatives all have black hair, one grandmother had red hair, so perhaps there’s something recessive there. Someone who knows more about the reality of genetics & hair colour can correct me later…
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### Author:  [@DuhCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DuhCow)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puberty-whats-up-with-that/338716/27 "2006-01-08T23:24:29Z")
> [@ombre3](#):
>
> I remember a guy from high school who was all the girls’ high school stud. Had a full head of hair on his head, full sideburns, full chest hair--------and who all the girls longed to date because of his super masculinity.
>
> 30th class reunion------He had almost no hair on the top of his head, had lost his teeth, had a humongous pot belly, and had strange very black hair growing in very wierd places on his body.
>
> All of us “late bloomers” looked relatively normal.
Heh, less weak. Both my parents are over 50, and they don’t look it at all.
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