# What do you think of big bushy beards? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 9, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239 "2019-06-09T01:16:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/41 "2019-06-10T15:14:16Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Big bushy beards look good on some people. For example, are you a gold prospector? If so, I’m totally with the bushy beard thing. Mad Russian monk? Sure. The same goes for sidekicks out west. And, I guess, ZZ Top. > > Other than that, I got nothin’. This made me laugh!! Also, if you want to know how good a bushy gray beard looks take a gander at David Letterman. UGH ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/42 "2019-06-10T17:19:14Z")
You need piercing, deep-set eyes to work a Big Beard. Otherwise it just looks like you’re covering up your face with hair. The difference between stalking prey and hiding. If you have the Big Beard, and all anyone sees is a Big Beard, then the beard is wearing you and needs to go. But if the effect is more “gleaming eyes studying you from behind an expressionless field of follicles,” like the face of a jumping spider, then you’re good to go. Goatees are for guys who think they should have a beard but don’t really want the commitment. Never trust a guy with a goatee. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/43 "2019-06-10T17:33:36Z")
**What do you think of big bushy beards?** I hate them! They are a pox and a blemish on society and a sure sign of our eventual downfall! Wait ------- mine is big and bushy. Scratch all that ------ I LOVE THEM! Everyone should have one if at all possible. Best thing ever! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/44 "2019-06-10T18:10:21Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > Also, if you want to know how good a bushy gray beard looks take a gander at David Letterman. UGH I dunno, [this guy](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/31/48/b5/3148b5446f2f756a3f90e48b8e56da48.jpg) look alright to me. Your opinion may vary (was first GIS result for "big grey beard for me) ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/45 "2019-06-10T18:17:01Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I dunno, [this guy](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/31/48/b5/3148b5446f2f756a3f90e48b8e56da48.jpg) look alright to me. Your opinion may vary (was first GIS result for "big grey beard for me) He does but would look even better if that was trimmed some. David Letterman looks horrible with his bushy beard. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/46 "2019-06-10T18:34:04Z")
I live in a college town, and when I’m shopping for groceries late at night I see a lot of male college students who look like Paul Bunyan or Rasputin. I think they look ridiculous, but they probably don’t think I’m hot stuff either. They probably tell their roommates about the geezer they saw wearing cargo shorts and sandals at Kroger. And yes, I love David Letterman but he looks awful with that beard. I’m sure he doesn’t care what anyone thinks, but at least we got the fleeting satisfaction of seeing Howard Stern mock him for it. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/47 "2019-06-10T19:19:19Z")
I think the grooming is the key. If that big bushy beard has a well-defined shape to it, it’s all good. But if it looks like the guy didn’t really worry much about where his facial hair left off, I think his kids will laugh at his pix from this era when they see them. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/48 "2019-06-11T15:09:33Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > He does but would look even better if that was trimmed some. David Letterman looks horrible with his bushy beard. Agree! I was watching his show on Netflix and the beard was very distracting. That’s all I could see. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/49 "2019-06-11T15:33:37Z")
I dig it. I have a pretty epic beard myself (salt-and-pepper, measuring a good 5 inches or so from the bottom of my chin), but being Chinese I have what’s known as “Asian hair”; everything that grows out of my head comes out straight, so I’ll never have a “bushy” beard, unless I got it permed or something. It looks straight and neat like I groomed it, but that’s just how it is naturally. And because it comes out straight, I gain length very quickly but the trade-off is I don’t have nearly as much volume as a person with “caucasian hair” would have at the same length. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/50 "2019-06-11T15:39:19Z")
I think they look goofy, like the guy is trying on a costume. But I’m not a beard fan in general. Also, it throws off the proportions of the head/face. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/51 "2019-06-11T15:55:38Z")
I’ve been reluctant to post in this thread because what you do with you own face is not my concern, and I won’t reject you as a friend for growing a big bushy beard. _However,_ you did ask. > [@](#): > > When you see a guy with such a beard, what do you think? So, I guess you want to know. Maybe it’s my age or something, but I hate them. (hate is probably too strong a word, so I’ll go with **needscoffee’s** “I think they look goofy.”) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/52 "2019-06-11T16:37:43Z")
I look at some of the worst offenders, the[Archie Bradleys](https://a.espncdn.com/photo/2017/1004/r269201_608x342_16-9.jpg), the [James Hardens](https://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2019%2F0131%2Fr495953_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg), the [Viking raiders,](https://beautifyatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/parser/viking-braided-beard-1.jpg) the [I don’t know what the fuck this is](https://hairstylecamp.com/wp-content/uploads/88ebaed8aa8d19efabf9c58a54338a3e.jpg), and all I can think is, what woman finds that attractive? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/53 "2019-06-11T17:04:23Z")
Not this woman. I see an unguided full-grown beard and all I can think is, “unkempt.” There are a few men who can carry off the look, but without exception in my opinion, even those fellows would benefit from a good trim. Honestly, if asked, the only man I would not counsel to trim his full beard is Rubeus Hagrid. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/54 "2019-06-11T17:22:16Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > “gleaming eyes studying you from behind an expressionless field of follicles,” like the face of a jumping spider Oh my gosh. My husband needs to shave _today_. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/55 "2019-06-12T05:38:05Z")
Depends on the person. To me, most guys look better with a beard, but my boyfriend has a perfect jawline and covering that up is a sin (I’ve seen him both ways). I don’t think it makes an old guy look any older, just different. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239/56 "2019-06-12T10:13:33Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I look at some of the worst offenders, the[Archie Bradleys](https://a.espncdn.com/photo/2017/1004/r269201_608x342_16-9.jpg), the [James Hardens](https://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2019%2F0131%2Fr495953_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg), the [Viking raiders,](https://beautifyatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/parser/viking-braided-beard-1.jpg) the [I don’t know what the fuck this is](https://hairstylecamp.com/wp-content/uploads/88ebaed8aa8d19efabf9c58a54338a3e.jpg), and all I can think is, what woman finds that attractive? Speaking as a woman who likes a good beard… The first two are just sort of shapeless and wild. Of the latter two, the first of them has definitely been shaped. In both cases the are not just being left to run wild, the addition of braids adds a certain control and decorative aspect to them. I get the impression that these are guys who are NOT going to get food in their beards while eating, and if they did, they would clean it up immediately. As for women finding them attractive or not - well, a lot of women _don’t_ like beards on men. Some of us do. Which sort of facial hair will appeal to women also varies. Rule 34 and all that. Beards are a secondary sexual characteristic and thus will appeal to at least a portion of women. It’s like big female butts - not everyone likes them, but for those that do they look very feminine and sexy. For beards, not everyone likes them, but for those than do, they look very masculine and sexy. Some butt fanciers like certain shapes, some like them so large they look like caricatures. Some beard fanciers like certain shape, some like them so large they look like caricatures. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-big-bushy-beards/835239.md?page=2)