# 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:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/21 "2003-11-25T13:07:01Z")
My wife likes the look on me, but it is too rough on her skin so I tend to pass.- ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/22 "2003-11-25T13:47:32Z")
I have always enjoyed facial hair. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever really dated anyone who didn’t have it. My b/f had to shave for a job interview and it was really weird. He looked completely different. I was really glad when it grew back. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/23 "2003-11-25T19:18:21Z")
Shave it clean or grow a proper beard. Don’t look like a bum. I have spoken. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/24 "2003-11-25T19:35:52Z")
It depends on the sort of face. A nice square jaw is just enhanced by the stubble somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/25 "2003-11-25T20:33:23Z")
I hate the look. To me, it doesn’t make a guy look like he doesn’t groom excessively - the opposite, really: he carefully decides when to shave before an event in order to insure that he has exactly the right amount of stubble. A daily shave is normal for guys (although, as a male college student I admit I go for weeks at a time on occasion). It’s not like a shave is a difficult, fussy process, after all. So when I see an actor at an award show, or if I’m on a date with a guy, and he’s got stubble, to me it implies a rather calculated, fussy approach to grooming. Aragorn being the one exception. How is it that a greasy looking wig and half an inch of stubble turns dorky-looking Viggo Mortensen into that sexy, sexy thing slashing things with his sword on screen? ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/26 "2003-11-25T21:07:27Z")
I like clean shaven guys as well. Although, once in a while a little stubble is nice, ala Monday morning after spending all weekend in bed. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/27 "2003-11-26T00:48:52Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by shannablu_ > > **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!** _Splort_ to that last part! Oh my. 😛 I’m another one who’s always loved this look. And my new honey has a goatee (as does my soon-to-be ex-husband) and I’d have it no other way. Even if it does get a little scratchy, I don’t mind at all. 'Cause he’s hot, hot, hot with it. Yep, bring on those guys who don’t seem to spend all that much time grooming and are a little hard-working looking. I could never in a million years go for a suit wearing yuppie type. ::: shudder ::: ---
**Author:** ![DeaganTheWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DeaganTheWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeaganTheWolf)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/28 "2003-11-26T02:14:18Z")
Because it’s what nature intended. I’m growing a beard and i’m never going back. I can’t think of a use for one evolutionarily, or both sexes would have one. My conclusion is that it’s something women are programmed to find attractive whatever the social conditioing might say on the surface. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/29 "2003-11-26T02:28:06Z")
I personally think that a guy looks best with whatever facial hair amalgamation looks apropriate on him. Some guys don’t look good with facial hair, and some look absolutely fabulous with a little bit or a lot. My boyfriend happens to look good with a goatee and some long sideburns or just a full beard, but I am frightened at the thought of him shaving it all off and then not shaving for two days… :eek: The whole “I forgot to shave, and it’s been a couple of days” thing isn’t that hot for the most part, unless it’s intended to be grown longer, IMO. Those in-between stages of shaving are tricky. ---
**Author:** ![modro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@modro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/modro)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855/30 "2003-11-26T02:33:13Z")
It really depends on the person trying to do it. I’ve been told on numerous occasions that I can pull off the stubble look really well (and I’ve given people many chances due to my shaving laziness) but there are a lot of guys I’ve noticed who look rather odd (or like a bum) when they go for stubble. Viggo, for instance, looks damn good with stubble, and really funny without. I think it’s the really pronounced jaw/chin. Which is something I have, helping to prevent me from looking like an unshaven goober. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-unshaved-look-on-male-models-in-some-ads/214855.md?page=1)