# Soulpatch - cool or stupid? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 30, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107 "2009-09-30T14:59:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/1 "2009-09-30T14:59:48Z")
So what do you think abut soulpatches - the small patch of beard some guys grow just below their lower lip? And, if you feel strongly one way or the other, why? Are these things still considered “hip” in some circles, or are they on their way out? I tend to lean pretty strongly towards the “stupid” side. I can imagine that on a very limited number of people - say jazz musicians or artists - they _might_ look cool. But on the vast majority of guys I see wearing them, they simply look as tho the wearer wishes to _appear_ cool. And they seem to require effort to maintain that far exceeds the result. If a guy has a well-maintained goatee or stache or something, well, it isn’t my cup of tea, but I guess I can understand it. But to make a point of shaving carefully every day just to retain the appearance of a dirty chin? I don’t get it. On middle-aged suburban dads, they are simply pitiful. ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/2 "2009-09-30T15:18:46Z")
Not a fan. I’ve never been too keen on the idea of facial hair in general. With the occasional exception of some Indiana-Jones-style stubble, which can be nice, and the few-and-far-between artist/jazz musician goatee, I cast my vote for the chronically clean shaven. However, on a continuum, I’d rank the average soul patch as more visually and tactile-ly pleasing than other forms of facial hair grooming. Next would be the goatee (except in cases of aforementioned exception), then the beard, and last mustaches (which are the only thing I have found to be able to dramatically reduce the sex appeal of Jonathan Rhys Meyers. I mean, has anyone ever said, “eh, he’s pretty good looking, but damn, his _mustache_ makes him look soooo hawt?”) Extreme facial hair variations (like the thing ancient Egyptians seem to have grown out from the chin, and Father-time length beards, etc) I would have to rank on a case-by-case basis to determine their dimensional level of unattractiveness. To me, the soul patch seemed like a way for post-pubescent males to advertise the fact that they are physically capable of growing facial hair, and presumably, all the secondary sex characteristics that go along with it are in tact. In older men, it kind of strikes me as a form of denial that they are old, i.e., at an age where it would no longer be necessary to make such an advertisement. So, like, thanks for the heads up, but still probably won’t be partaking, at least not until it’s shaved off. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/3 "2009-09-30T15:23:57Z")
Not a fan here. I’d like to take a pair of tweezers to Ty Pennington’s, actually, and keep plucking until it’s all gone. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/4 "2009-09-30T15:28:29Z")
There are some guys that the look really works on, and some that look silly with it. I’ve never gone along with the idea that certain hairstyles (facial or otherwise) are “in” and others are “out.” They just work better on some folks than they do on others. Caveat: There are _very_ few people that can pull off some of those looks. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/5 "2009-09-30T15:31:18Z")
Stupid. In general, most guys I see with one are the frat boy, popped collar and assorted accoutrement type of guys that just scream “douche!” Some men can pull it off, and pull it off well, but most should leave it alone. Not a fan. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/6 "2009-09-30T15:34:59Z")
I’m cool with it if you can pull it off. Not many can. It’s all in the complete package - clothing, hair, how you carry yourself. Me, no problem. I’m a jazz musician. 🆒 Sported one for a long time when I was more concerned with pimping my ‘hep cat’ appearance. Now that I’m a little more established and settled down, I said screw it and went with the full beard. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/7 "2009-09-30T18:23:50Z")
I’m into it. But I was an “alternateen” and grew up staring at various posters of Pearl Jam on my walls…so I like guys who look like those guys, in the 90s. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/8 "2009-09-30T18:40:22Z")
Stupid. I have never seen a man that looked good with a soul patch either in real life or on TV. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/9 "2009-09-30T18:48:07Z")
I had a soul patch for a while back in college. Now I feel kinda stupid for it. But it was okay back then. But now… it’s only been 2 years and it’s still kinda silly. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/10 "2009-09-30T18:55:42Z")
I see them now on our business managers and marketing teams. When managers adopt something in an attempt to be “corporate-edgy”, then the trend is officially passe. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/11 "2009-09-30T19:00:26Z")
I’m with **Wombat** ([Mods are always right.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11609125&postcount=9)). I couldn’t give a fuck less what fashion style is in or out. Some styles look better on certain people and some people have a face that allows them to always look good. A soulpatch takes a specific type of person to look good on. Looks good on [Joe Hachem](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q9Am02v6v-Y/RbOJLJGSi4I/AAAAAAAAABw/GxuTm-cYkGs/s200/stingerhachem.jpg) in my opinion and looks like shit on [Howie Mandel](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q9Am02v6v-Y/RbOJLJGSi4I/AAAAAAAAABw/GxuTm-cYkGs/s200/stingerhachem.jpg). Possibly the lighting or tone of skin. _shrugs_ ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/12 "2009-09-30T19:01:15Z")
Oh, my God! That’s what those are called? _Soul patches?_ Good grief. On most men they’re stupid. It looks like the guy wearing them missed a spot. Some guys can pull it off, but those are precious few. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/13 "2009-09-30T19:17:15Z")
Hate it Hate it Hate it. When the Lakers coach, Phil Jackson, is wearing his I hate it so much it distracts me from my general loathing of the Lakers. ---
**Author:** ![TheTerribleTako](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@TheTerribleTako](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTerribleTako)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/14 "2009-09-30T19:19:26Z")
I vote for stupid. There might be a man that can pull it off, but I have yet to meet him and I doubt I ever will. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/15 "2009-09-30T19:25:29Z")
Only if it’s balanced against an awesome moustache. See: Frank Zappa Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock on Deadwood This is sometimes referred to as an imperial moustache. ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/16 "2009-09-30T19:53:57Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Only if it’s balanced against an awesome moustache. > > See: > > Frank Zappa… > > This is sometimes referred to as an imperial moustache. Good call! An excellent exception to the rule. Somewhat relatedly, Frank Zappa is the only man with a mustache who I can think of that looks cooler for it. (Except for my grandpa, but that was only because his made him look disturbingly like Saddam Husein. This, in turn, was cool because of the family photos where he’s, like, in an intertube or whatever and it looks like I’m hanging out with Saddam Huesien in the Lazy River at Geagua Lake). But I suppose that’s getting away from soulpatches and way too into mustaches…I apologize for the digression. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/17 "2009-09-30T19:59:44Z")
Do you mean all by themselves, or as some part of a moustache/goatee combo? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/18 "2009-09-30T20:15:19Z")
I hate it. I looks like a teen that just hit puberty trying to grow a beard or a fallen Hitler mustache. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/19 "2009-09-30T20:17:25Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Do you mean all by themselves, or as some part of a moustache/goatee combo? As a general rule my personal preference is against facial hair which appears “overly groomed.” Kinda prefer that guys not make quite so obvious the amount of time and effort they put into grooming. But what I intended in my OP is the guy who has no facial hair other than a small patch immediately below their lower lip. I think it is easier to carry off if it is in addition to a stache, goatee, burns, whatever. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/20 "2009-09-30T20:18:22Z")
Silly by itself. My pals once grew them as part of a cottonball contest (that’s what I call them) but shaved them as soon as it was established that they all participated. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107.md?page=2)