# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/41 "2009-10-01T15:36:46Z")
Count me in the “stupid” crowd. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one in real life, actually, but I’ve seen TV personalities with them. To me, I can never tell whether it’s actually hair, or an unfortunate trick of the light. Or if it’s clearly hair, it looks like it’s there because the guy couldn’t reach that spot somehow. ---
**Author:** ![happycamper\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cab0a1/32.png) [@happycamper\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happycamper_5)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/42 "2009-10-01T15:49:55Z")
The first guy I think of with a soulpatch is [David Villa](http://martitaa.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/david-villa4.jpg). Not sure if he pulls it off, but he doesn’t seem like a douchebag, so maybe he’s managed to reject the soulpatch’s influence. ---
**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, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/43 "2009-10-01T15:54:23Z")
Oh, come on. You can’t look at that hairstyle and tell me anyone not in a New Wave\* band who has it isn’t a douche. \*or modern Depeche Mode-y techno-rock band ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/44 "2009-10-01T16:02:58Z")
It can work if it’s part of a Van Dyck goatee, like the one in [this painting](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f50/Jan-Maarten/freddiehen.jpg) of Prince Frederik Hendrik of Orange. But to pull off that look, you have to dress the part. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/45 "2009-10-01T17:50:45Z")
> [@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_ I dunno. I think the pic in the link for Mandel shows the guy pulling it off at least as well as Hachem does. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/46 "2009-10-01T17:58:32Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Fondness for Billy Idol is nothing to be ashamed of. Sorry, I disagree – he was absolutely my #1 guilty pleasure in the '80s. So sexy – but so, so cheesy. ---
**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, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/47 "2009-10-01T18:41:46Z")
I think the chin strip by itself is one of the worst choices. [http://z.about.com/d/menshair/1/0/2/0/-/-/chinstrip.jpg](http://z.about.com/d/menshair/1/0/2/0/-/-/chinstrip.jpg) ---
**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:** [October 1, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/48 "2009-10-01T21:00:54Z")
It works if your hair is dark. For those of us with gray facial hair, it just looks like an accident. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/49 "2009-10-01T22:43:12Z")
It’s odd because I used to think goatees were odd in the early 90s when they started to come into fashion. Now I look at shows from the 70s and 80s and the mustaches (only) look so out of place. ---
**Author:** ![SweetLucy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@SweetLucy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetLucy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/50 "2009-10-01T22:51:52Z")
I don’t like soul patches- I think they look gross. Then again, I don’t like mustaches or sideburns by themselves, either, on a guy. I like the full enchilada (beard, etc.) 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/51 "2009-10-02T01:40:51Z")
I wear a soul patch (you can see it on my profile avatar). It’s funny, I don’t really think of it as a soul patch, ijust shave off the parts of my facial hair I think look funny on my face or clash with my personality. The soul patch is a natural sprout of hair that is sort of separated from the ‘beard proper’. At least on most guys, so it doesn’t take much effort in grooming it, or grooming around it. I don’t really have a problem with any sort of ‘natural’ facial hair. It’s the styles that take meticulous trimming and attention that make me roll my eyes. It really does depend on the guy/face though. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/52 "2009-10-02T01:51:28Z")
I thought what you are talking about was called an Imperial. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/53 "2009-10-02T01:54:04Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I think the chin strip by itself is one of the worst choices. > > [http://z.about.com/d/menshair/1/0/2/0/-/-/chinstrip.jpg](http://z.about.com/d/menshair/1/0/2/0/-/-/chinstrip.jpg) Wow. Let that grow up through to the forehead, add some black makeup on one side and white on the other, and you’ve got yourself a _Star Trek_ episode. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/54 "2009-10-02T04:41:15Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I thought what you are talking about was called an Imperial. Who me? Is that what it’s called? A mustache combined with a soul patch? See… I don’t know the names of these things. Although, looking at The Imperial on google, there are some quite _intense_ versions out there. Mine’s pretty subdued. I usually let a day or two of stubble grow in all around it too, to let it blend a little better, otherwise I get a stark outline, that looks way too “groomed”. I dunno, my wife digs it. Works for me. For me, one of the most rediculous ones is the [Chinstrap.](http://z.about.com/d/menshair/1/0/1/0/-/-/chinstrap.jpg) Khack. Although, it works on [Depp.](http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4670372/depp_Full.jpg) I think the secret is a certain amount of “ungroomedness” to it. Looks more natural. But you need the right mix of facial structure and how your hair grows. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/55 "2009-10-02T05:11:02Z")
Mere mortals must not attempt what Johnny Depp and Prince can pull off. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/56 "2009-10-02T05:25:28Z")
Ick Not as bad as neck beards, though. Equally stupid looking as those beards without mustaches. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2009, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/57 "2009-10-02T05:55:41Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > Ick > > Not as bad as neck beards, though. > > Equally stupid looking as those beards without mustaches. It worked for President Lincoln. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/58 "2009-10-02T06:23:57Z")
It should also be pointed out that soul patches are also known as Flavor Savers, for obvious reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/59 "2009-10-02T12:24:21Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Who me?.. No, sorry. I meant the OP. Having searched around a bit, it seems an imperial may be a soul patch with extra beard aound it. From the pictures I found, the soul patch is the _only_ facial hair. When you have that plus a beard/moustache, you have an imperial. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107/60 "2009-10-02T13:49:40Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I wear a soul patch (you can see it on my profile avatar). The pic in your profile is nothing like what I was talking about in the OP. Now, if you shaved off the stache and beard, and just left the small patch beneath your lower lip - that is the look I do not find attractive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soulpatch-cool-or-stupid/512107.md?page=4)