# What's the deal with the unshaved look on male models in some ads? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855 "2003-11-23T16:53:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/1 "2003-11-23T16:53:28Z")
I guess it has been going on for awhile, but I only recently strarted paying attention. Many ads appealing to the twenty-something set feature models who haven’t shaved for a couple of days. Invariably, they are in the company of beautiful and adoring women. What is going on here? I assume the ad agencies have done their spadework and concluded that women find this attractive. My personal experience, however, is that women get severe whisker burns anywhere I stick my unshaven face. That can be any number of places, if you know what I mean. What’s up? ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/2 "2003-11-23T17:12:57Z")
Because it makes men look rugged and I’m willing to bet women will soon be crowding this thread, talking about how they like the look of a hot guy who hasn’t shaved in a day or two. ---
**Author:** ![jesleigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jesleigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesleigh)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/3 "2003-11-23T17:16:15Z")
I prefer clean shaven myself, but I’ve always been a little odd. Never really found the “rugged” look very attractive. But, I’m sure there are many women out there that do. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/4 "2003-11-23T17:32:28Z")
I seem to remember that I saw this look really start to take off when George Michael adopted it after his first solo album (I think, the one with “Faith” on it). \<---- don’t know about “hot”, but I haven’t shaved in a day or two either, but it’s because I’m lazy on my days off. I don’t think I look good with scruff. Been clean shaven my whole life. ---
**Author:** ![luluBahrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e5b9ba/32.png) [@luluBahrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luluBahrain)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/5 "2003-11-23T17:40:16Z")
Here I am to crowd the thread with how very , very sexy that look is. I think I like it because it kind of implies that he’s not one of those men that spends hours grooming himself. He’s a manly man. At least that’s why I think I like it. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/6 "2003-11-23T18:11:24Z")
I believe they’re going for the combo look. Some male models these days are, how shall I phrase it, while not exactly androgynous, are perhaps just this side of it. A bit of stubble still lets that soignee, bored, almost-sneering above-it-all look remain, while letting the viewer know that this IS a man. The best of both worlds, and all the better to shill for whatever product they’ve been outrageously overpaid to front. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/7 "2003-11-23T19:23:58Z")
> [@](#): > > I believe they’re going for the combo look. Some male models these days are, how shall I phrase it, while not exactly androgynous, are perhaps just this side of it. A bit of stubble still lets that soignee, bored, almost-sneering above-it-all look remain, while letting the viewer know that this IS a man. The best of both worlds, and all the better to shill for whatever product they’ve been outrageously overpaid to front. Indeed - it butches up the androgyny. Plus, it _is_ attractive - check out the screaming females at the next _Lord of the Rings_ movie, if you will. That dosen’t mean I want my own personal guy to be all whisker-burning at me all the time, but it’s nice to look at. ---
**Author:** ![schplebordnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@schplebordnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schplebordnik)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/8 "2003-11-23T19:32:26Z")
“I seem to remember that I saw this look really start to take off when George Michael adopted it after his first solo album (I think, the one with “Faith” on it).” Actually, I think it first started with Don Johnson on Miami Vice in about '84. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/9 "2003-11-23T19:44:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zsofia \* > \*\*Indeed - it butches up the androgyny. Plus, it _is_ attractive - check out the screaming females at the next _Lord of the Rings_ movie, if you will. That dosen’t mean I want my own personal guy to be all whisker-burning at me all the time, but it’s nice to look at. \*\* In fairness, without all the stubble, Viggo looks like a goober. At least in this guy’s opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/10 "2003-11-23T19:46:04Z")
> [@](#): > > **Horseflesh** : I seem to remember that I saw this look really start to take off when George Michael adopted it after his first solo album… I think George was trodding on Don Johnson’s coattails a bit there. After _Miami Vice_’s big splash in '84, (three years before the release of _Faith_],) I remember reading that folks were marketing shaving gear that left a uniform amount of stubble. No idea if anyone ever bought it, of course. I wish there was something sexy about a couple of days’ growth of beard on _my_ face. My patchy scrub just makes me look vaguely ill and possibly deranged. : preview : That’ll teach me for answering the phone. ---
**Author:** ![shannablu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@shannablu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shannablu)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/11 "2003-11-23T19:54:21Z")
I happen to prefer clean shaven. I supposed it’s because my dad gave me too many whisker rubs when I was a child. By the way, Viggo would look great with anything on his face, especially me! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/12 "2003-11-23T22:17:09Z")
My grandfather was a Hungarian/Slovak male with a very swarthy complexion and a thick beard. His stubble was ALWAYS there, no matter how much he shaved, and when I was very small I didn’t like to kiss him goodbye because of this. So he started giving me money. Heheheheh!!! My mom made him stop, though, when I kissed my other grandfather goodbye, I held out my hand and said, “MOney cash!” (I was probably about three at the oldest!) That being said, the look can be VERY sexy-witness Noah Wyle, or Ewan McGregor. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/13 "2003-11-24T03:56:23Z")
\<-- Doesn’t work on me. I have a summer beard. Sommer here, and sommer here, sommer over there. I can’t even grow a proper goatee. hmph. An Improper Goatee…sounds like a Hardy Boys mystery. ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/14 "2003-11-24T04:34:56Z")
My boyfriend has extremely sensitive skin, and hence a sort of perpetual mild razor burn. It gets much worse if he doesn’t take a day off of shaving every once in a while. I keep telling him that I prefer occasional stubble to having to look at razor burn and imagine how it must feel. I think he’s starting to believe me. And Viggo sure does look like a goober without facial hair. This is sort of comforting to me, as he is near **Qadgop** ’s age. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/15 "2003-11-24T05:34:45Z")
Glad to see it’s back in style. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/16 "2003-11-24T05:42:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfbabe \* > \*\*And Viggo sure does look like a goober without facial hair. This is sort of comforting to me, as he is near **Qadgop** ’s age. \*\* I remember watching the promos for that horse movie he did/is doing and he was clean-shaven. Total dork. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/17 "2003-11-24T07:33:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > \*\* After _Miami Vice_’s big splash in '84, (three years before the release of _Faith_],) I remember reading that folks were marketing shaving gear that left a uniform amount of stubble. \*\* They did. One such gizmo was called the _Miami Device_. ---
**Author:** ![lurksfromwork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@lurksfromwork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurksfromwork)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/18 "2003-11-24T10:28:59Z")
Ahhhh…they’re just copying me, I’ve been doing that for years, basically all of mankind has, clean one week then smooth the next. My other half hates stubble though, i had a goatee when i met her and now it’s been nagged away to a little patch below my bottom lip (the chin brazilian). Two days growth is about all i can get away with but i look like a ewok by then anyway…so i’m all shaved and slippery most of the time… Or maybe some of them have just hit puberty and are proud of growing a bit of bumfluff on their chin? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/19 "2003-11-25T03:23:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfbabe \* > \*\*And Viggo sure does look like a goober without facial hair. This is sort of comforting to me, as he is near **Qadgop** ’s age. \*\* I am **not** 87! :mad: What did you mean by that anyway? 😕 BTW, we’re supposed to be paying your next semester tuition, room and board very soon. 😉 Dadgop ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/20 "2003-11-25T05:15:02Z")
I said Viggo! Not Aragorn! Viggo! They are clearly different, because ARAGORN would never look like a goober no matter what, while Viggo clearly does sometimes. And dad, would you prefer it if I DID find find men of your age group attractive in non-orc-slaying circumstances? Because I don’t think all of my professors are married yet… 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855.md?page=2)