60 Beard Statistics: General, Growth, Demographics, and Preferences
60 Beard Statistics:
General, Growth, Demographics, and Preferences
Miriam Otero
13 min
May 14, 2024
For many men and women, beards or facial hair do not require much thought. It often comes down to whether it looks good or bad. Even those who have beards might only consider their length or style. And yes, appearance is a big reason to grow or shave off a beard. But what if there were more benefits to growing a beard?
At HAIR&SKIN, we help you achieve a full beard naturally and gently using the FUE Sapphire method.
Top 10 Beard Statistics
In the U.S., around 33% of men can grow a full beard. [Source: 15]
More women who earn $100,000 or more per year found beards unattractive (31%) compared to those earning less than $100,000 (18%). [Source: 13]
The beard grooming market was worth $24.1 billion in 2018 and is projected to grow to $43.1 billion by 2026, with an average annual growth rate of 7.7% between 2019 and 2026. [Source: 9]
The beard market is projected to reach $81.2 billion by 2024, growing at an annual rate of 5.3%. [Source: 15]
The global market for beard care products is expected to reach $6.38 billion by 2027. [Source: 16]
Beard hair usually begins growing during puberty, thanks to male hormones. Most boys start noticing facial hair between the ages of 13 and 16. [Source: 3]
There are more than 10,000 microbes per square inch in the beard area. [Source: 15]
Men were 10% more likely than women to believe that facial hair makes a man more attractive, with 73% of men agreeing, compared to 63% of women. [Source: 14]
In European countries like the U.K. and those in the Nordic region, 37% to 52% of men have beards. [Source: 16]
Most men grow their thickest beards between the ages of 25 and 35, but this can differ from person to person. [Source: 7]
General Beard Statistics
If you're growing a beard, whether it's your first time or not, you might wonder how long it will take. Growing a full beard varies for everyone and depends on many factors.
On average, beards grow about half an inch each month, but this can vary. [Source: 7]
Research indicates that an average beard can grow up to three feet if not trimmed. It is unlikely to grow longer because the growth phase of a beard, known as anagen, has a limited duration. [Source: 7]
Generally, a beard will grow at most of its length after six years of growth. [Source: 7]
Most men grow their thickest beards between the ages of 25 and 35, but this can differ from person to person. [Source: 7]
The beard grooming market was worth $24.1 billion in 2018 and is projected to grow to $43.1 billion by 2026, with an average annual growth rate of 7.7% between 2019 and 2026. [Source: 9]
The U.S. men's shaving products market has decreased by more than 11% over the last 11 years. In 2015, the market for men's razors and blades was valued at $2.4 billion, but by 2018, it had dropped to $2.2 billion. [Source: 11]
To achieve the perfect beard, some men are ready to make sacrifices. Four out of ten would spend a night in jail or give up coffee for a year. Waiting all day at the DMV appeals to 38%, and 18% would even shave their heads if it helped them grow the ideal beard. [Source: 14]
The beard market is projected to reach $81.2 billion by 2024, growing at an annual rate of 5.3%. [Source: 15]
A beard reduces skin cancer risk by up to 90-95% by blocking UV rays. [Source: 15]
Most CEOs (80%) have facial hair. [Source: 15]
Beard growth varies, typically reaching a natural limit after several years. The grooming market is expanding rapidly, doubling its value in recent years, while the shaving market has declined. Men show strong dedication to their beards and are willing to sacrifice to achieve their ideal look. Beards also offer practical benefits, like reducing skin cancer risk, and are shared among leaders, particularly CEOs.
Men spend an average of 8 minutes a day grooming their beards. [Source: 15]
There are more than 10,000 microbes per square inch in the beard area. [Source: 15]
The global market for beard care products is expected to reach $6.38 billion by 2027. [Source: 16]
Beard care sales in the U.S. reached $412 million in 2021, nearly doubling since 2017. [Source: 16]
Keeping a well-groomed beard helps boost the immune system instead of just collecting grime.
After learning about beards' benefits and market potential, we suggest not shaving. While maintaining a beard takes effort, the stylish look and masculine energy make it worthwhile. Plus, giving your face a break after years of irritating shaves is nice.
Beard Growth Statistics
Facial hair grows in stages, just like scalp hair. Understanding this can help you grow a fuller beard. A full beard might take 2 to 4 months to grow since facial hair typically grows about 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters daily or about one-third to one-half an inch per month. [Source: 4]
During puberty, beard hair usually grows in a specific order. Hair first appears on the upper lip, then the sideburns, chin, and cheeks. The neck area is typically the last to develop hair. [Source: 3]
Each face is unique, and hair growth varies widely among men, even across different parts of the same face. Hair grows in different directions, sometimes resembling a "crop circle." [Source: 3]
In textbooks, hair is often shown as a straight rod emerging from the skin at a 90° angle. In reality, most beard hairs grow out at a much lower angle, especially on the neck, which increases the risk of hairs becoming trapped or ingrown. [Source: 3]
About 55% of men around the world can grow a beard. [Source: 15]
In the U.S., around 33% of men can grow a full beard. [Source: 15]
In European countries like the U.K. and those in the Nordic region, 37% to 52% of men have beards. [Source: 16]
Like scalp hair, each beard hair goes through stages of growth (2-6 years), transition, and shedding. [Source: 16]
In photos and videos, people with beards were seen as 3-5 years older than when they were clean-shaven. [Source: 16]
The average man’s facial hair grows about half an inch (1.27 centimeters) monthly. Growth can be faster with things like minoxidil or by boosting hormone levels like testosterone and DHT.
With HAIR & SKIN products, head hair implanted into the beard doesn't fall out due to androgenetic alopecia because donor hair roots resist the hair loss hormone DHT.
Beard Statistics By Demographics
People from different ethnic backgrounds have different patterns, distribution, and thickness of beards and body hair. However, while testosterone encourages beard and body hair growth in men, differences in hairiness among ethnic groups shouldn't be linked to overall or free testosterone levels.
Beard hair usually begins growing during puberty, thanks to male hormones. Most boys start noticing facial hair between the ages of 13 and 16. [Source: 3]
Most men have thousands of beard hairs. The number of hair follicles is set at birth and influenced by genetics. For example, men from places like China and Japan often have fewer beard hairs, mainly growing around the mouth. [Source: 3]
YouGov surveys have monitored the rise of facial hair in Britain over the past decade. Their latest poll shows that most men (54%) now have some facial hair, up from 42% in 2016 and 37% in 2011. [Source: 5]
Facial hair is trendy among younger men aged 18-39. About 70% of men in this group have facial hair, and 42% sport a beard and a mustache. [Source: 5]
Research from YouGov indicates that between August 2011 and November 2016, the percentage of British men with facial hair rose from 37% to 42%. [Source: 8]
Most of the increase in facial hair is due to beards. Now, 44% of men with facial hair have full beards, up from 29% twelve years ago. In contrast, fewer men have stubble. In 2011, 52% of men with facial hair had stubble, which has now fallen to 40%. [Source: 8]
For all British men, 58% were clean-shaven, 18% had full beards (up seven points in 2017), and 17% had stubble (down from 19%). [Source: 8]
Facial hair is more common among younger British men. In 2017, over six in ten (61%) of men aged 18-39 had some form of facial hair, up from 43% in 2011. [Source: 8]
In 2011, 72% of 18-39 year-olds with facial hair had stubble. But by 2016, this dropped to 45%. Meanwhile, people in the under-40s with full beards increased from 18% to 44%. [Source: 8]
Men were 10% more likely than women to believe that facial hair makes a man more attractive, with 73% of men agreeing, compared to 63% of women. [Source: 14]
Six out of ten women are concerned that men aren't taking good care of their facial hair. [Source: 14]
A shorter beard was considered the most attractive by 35% of women. This might be because it gives men a confidence boost, with 32% saying this style makes them feel most confident. [Source: 14]
“I’ve seen a number of patients who had a beard or mustache for a long time who had a skin cancer hiding underneath that the hair mostly covered up.” Dr. Ali Hendi recommends: “The best thing is to find a lotion that is light enough and absorbs well enough to disappear after you rub it in. There are many innovations in products with SPF protection, and product lines created especially for men. I hear from industry folks that more products are on the market now that feel like you aren’t wearing anything.” - Dr. Ali Hendi, MD, a dermatologist and skin cancer specialist.
At HAIR & SKIN, we uphold top Swiss quality and strict hygiene. Our skilled team specializes in beard transplants, with experts in dermatology and trichology. We focus on precision and care to provide natural-looking, aesthetically pleasing results, and a comfortable treatment experience. Typically, four team members assist with your beard transplant: a doctor, two transplanters, and a medical assistant.
Beard Preferences Statistics
Men with noticeable facial hair are often seen as more aggressive, dominant, older, and imposing, especially by other men. However, despite strong interest in how beards are socially perceived, only some studies have examined men's facial hair preferences.
Beards and mustaches have replaced stubble as the top choice for men with facial hair. In 2023, 34% of men have both a beard and a mustache, while 13% have stubble, 4% have only a beard, and 2% have a mustache. [Source: 5]
In 2011, stubble was the top choice at 19%, while only 11% of men had a beard and mustache. By 2016, these styles were equally popular, with 18% of men having a beard and mustache and 17% choosing stubble. [Source: 5]
More British women like facial hair on men, with one in five (19%) now preferring a bearded look. This is up from 6% in 2011 and 13% in 2016. [Source: 5]
Dislike for beards has significantly decreased: In 2011, 66% of women preferred men without beards, but by 2023, that number dropped to just 36%. [Source: 5]
In 2023, 44% of women reported having no preference either way, an increase from 27% in 2011. [Source: 5]
Younger women increasingly prefer bearded men, with 34% of those aged 18-39 favoring a beard, a rise from just 7% in 2011. [Source: 5]
A quarter of people (24%) prefer clean-shaven men, while 41% have no preference. This is also true for heterosexual women. [Source: 5]
Most men (62%) don't have a strong preference for beards. About one in five men (19%) prefer no beards, and 15% think beards look better. [Source: 5]
Men who identify as gay, bisexual, or other sexualities tend to have clearer preferences. About 23% prefer men with beards, 33% prefer men without beards, and 44% have no preference. [Source: 5]
Another survey of 300 women by Prim&Prep, a male grooming guide, revealed that 38% found clean-shaven men the most attractive. This was more than those who preferred stubble (24%), full beards (17%), long stubble (15%), goatees (9%), mustaches (7%), and circle beards (4%). [Source: 12]
Ben Rose, the founder and senior editor of the site, wrote, “Many women responded that the attractiveness of the beard was contingent on the quality and upkeep of the beard. It seems many who have beards don’t do the proper maintenance necessary to keep their beards looking neat, clean and healthy.”
British women are now more accepting of men with facial hair. In 2011, 66% said they preferred clean-shaven men, but by the end of last year, this number had fallen to 46%. [Source: 8]
More younger women are starting to like beards. In 2011, only 7% of women aged 18-39 preferred men with beards, which grew to 21% by 2017. [Source: 8]
Just 34% of women aged 18-39 preferred a man without a beard in 2017, less than half of the 71% who felt this way in 2011. [Source: 8]
More women in cities or suburbs (52%) said they find clean-shaven men attractive compared to women in rural areas (42%). [Source: 13]
More women who earn $100,000 or more per year found beards unattractive (31%) compared to those earning less than $100,000 (18%). [Source: 13]
Results showed that three-quarters of men feel more confident with facial hair than clean-shaven, but this confidence comes with some challenges. [Source: 14]
A OnePoll for Honest Amsurvey survey asked men to rate their "facial hair happiness" on a scale from one to ten, where one means unhappy, and ten means very happy.
On average, men rated their facial hair satisfaction at six out of ten, possibly due to common complaints.
Half of the men with facial hair are annoyed by uneven growth, while 44% are frustrated by slow growth.
Other common complaints include patchiness (42%) and uneven colouring (31%). [Source: 10]
Facial hair trends have shifted toward greater acceptance of beards and mustaches, with more men and women favoring them over a clean-shaven look. Younger women prefer beards, though upkeep remains crucial, as well-groomed facial hair is more attractive. This change reflects evolving standards of masculinity and grooming.
Frequently asked questions
How do I grow my beard faster?
Growing a beard takes time and patience. While genetics play a significant role, there are a few things you can do to promote better beard growth:
Balanced Diet: Eating a nutritious diet with vitamins and minerals essential for hair health can help.
Regular Grooming: Proper grooming, including trimming split ends and using beard oil, keeps your beard healthy. [Source: 1]
What do I do about my beard’s cowlick? Cowlicks can be frustrating, but they’re not a major obstacle. Here are two approaches:
Visit a Barber: Consult a barber experienced in beard grooming. They can give you tips and tricks to manage cowlicks effectively.
Train Your Beard: If you’re patient, grow your beard and use Beard Oil, heat, and a Boar’s Hair Brush to train the hair away from the cowlick. [Source: 1]
Why is my grey coming in unevenly?
Grey hair is influenced by genetics, and uneven growth is common. Embrace your unique beard and style. [Source: 1]
Will shaving make my beard grow back thicker?
No. In an article titled “On beards, no beards, and other hairy problems” in the April 1972 issue of Science Digest, Dr. Herbert Mescon, then professor and chairman of the department of dermatology at Boston University, was quoted as saying: “There are a number of myths about shaving. It is not true that shaving makes whiskers darker or coarser or grow faster.” [Source: 2]
What is the name of the beard style that covers only a small area below the lower lip?
This beard style is called a “soul patch” or an “imperial.” It is sometimes called a “mouche,” which is French for a fly. [Source: 2]
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