# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/21 "2009-09-30T20:34:40Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > Stupid. I have never seen a man that looked good with a soul patch either in real life or on TV. Me neither. They’re kind of horrifying. I like beards (on my husband, anyway) and don’t mind many creative sorts of facial hair, but I’ve never seen a good soul patch. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/22 "2009-09-30T20:44:17Z")
The only facial hair style that isn’t lame is the [conquistador](http://partywiththis.com/images/P/kk48.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/23 "2009-09-30T21:08:38Z")
My husband has one, and I think it’s hot. On him. It takes the right kind of man to pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/24 "2009-09-30T21:21:38Z")
Not so much stupid as I find it annoying. I’m border line OCD, so when ever I see one I just want to scream: “Dude! you missed a spot!” Then promptly hand them a razor. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/25 "2009-09-30T21:34:16Z")
Eh, I don’t care. It looks good on some folks. Only facial hair I can’t stand are mustaches. They creep me out, for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/26 "2009-09-30T21:42:58Z")
Usually stupid-looking. That Joe Hachem picture looks stupid to me - it pretty much personifies the douchey guy who wears a silly-looking soulpatch. I think the rule of thumb for facial hair on men should be if the first thing people notice about you is your facial hair, it isn’t a good look for you. Now, regarding mustaches - about the only people who look good in mustaches are firemen. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/27 "2009-09-30T21:56:42Z")
[Zappa looked good with a soul patch](http://images.google.com/images?q=zappa&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi), but he had a mustache too. If you’re going to grow one, it’s important that it not be all sparse and wispy. That just looks bad. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/28 "2009-09-30T22:03:55Z")
I think they can be very cool, very sexy. I am also really embarrassed by the fact that I think this. (Kind of like my fondness for Billy Idol, back in the day.) A guy I’m dating casually has one (with a mustache and very short hair) and on him it looks _great._ ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/29 "2009-09-30T22:22:02Z")
One of my professors had a full beard and mustache with the notable exception of the soul patch area. I don’t know if he shaved it or if hair simply refused to grow that close to his lower lip. All I know is that that shiny quarter-sized piece of skin was visible from the back of the auditorium reflecting unholy hairless glory. Oh, and soul patches, reverse or otherwise are STUPID. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/30 "2009-09-30T22:31:05Z")
I cannot be bothered to give a shit either way, which is why I have what sort of resembles one…I don’t shave that area, and the hair never gets very long. You [can’t really tell](http://img121.imageshack.us/i/me4t.jpg/) except from [certain angles](http://img28.imageshack.us/i/me5k.jpg/). I agree that tended-and-shaped soul patches look doofy, but then again, I think the same thing about the pencil-thin “face outline” beard that everyone seems to love, so maybe I’m not qualified to comment. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyFlair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@JimmyFlair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyFlair)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/31 "2009-10-01T01:21:28Z")
> [@Roland\_Orzabal](#): > > … the pencil-thin “face outline” beard that everyone seems to love Ughhh! Those are the worst! It’s like “I have a round face and a receding chin and I am trying to make you thing that I have a defined, handsome jaw” It does not work. Also,a Soul patch is not a great look. Or a great name, for that matter. I’m cranky tonight! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/32 "2009-10-01T03:33:44Z")
Bo Diddley pulled off the soul patch. But he was a real blueman. there’s a jacky chan movie where he sports a soul patch and has to shave it for a job. 99% of the time it looks stooopid. most guys will shave them off if you call it a ‘ball scratcher’ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SylverOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SylverOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SylverOne)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/33 "2009-10-01T03:52:01Z")
Billy Ray Cyrus has one and remember how long it took him to lose the mullet after it fell outta style. What does that tell you? ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/34 "2009-10-01T13:24:19Z")
Screams “TOOL” to me. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/35 "2009-10-01T13:27:03Z")
They look stupid, and shouldn’t they have gone out of style ages ago anyway. (I don’t like facial hair in general, especially moustaches.) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/36 "2009-10-01T13:57:32Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I am also really embarrassed by the fact that I think this. (Kind of like my fondness for Billy Idol, back in the day.) Fondness for Billy Idol is nothing to be ashamed of. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/37 "2009-10-01T14:02:31Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > 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. Good one! I’ll also go with the “a rare guy can carry off a solo soulpatch” qualification as well. Very rare. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/38 "2009-10-01T14:04:17Z")
> [@JimmyFlair](#): > > Ughhh! Those are the worst! It’s like “I have a round face and a receding chin and I am trying to make you thing that I have a defined, handsome jaw” > It does not work. Yeah, the only guys who I’ve seen who can actually carry off that pencil-thin “beard” style are ones with extremely defined jawlines. And even then, just the thought of how much maintenance needs to be done kind of nags at the back of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/39 "2009-10-01T14:08:22Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > 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_ Wow, Howie really has changed recently. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/40 "2009-10-01T15:19:13Z")
I’ve got one, but it goes with a goatee (no moustache). Anyway, I am tremendously cool and phenomenally good looking, so there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107.md?page=3)