10 Good Reasons Why You Should Grow A Giant Beard [Infographic]

When I was on Facebook yesterday, I saw a picture of a friend of mine who I haven’t seen in at least ten years. He had a beard, and it was so strange to me how much that giant hairball changed his look. Nah, I don’t have anything against beards, but that Facebook picture got me thinking about beards in general. I know I’ve joked many times about beards, but I started to wonder, are there any really good reasons to have a beard? If the world was about to end, could a beard transform into a survival tool?

There’s no doubt that there are some benefits that bearded men enjoy which non-bearded men miss out on. First of all, and I’ve mentioned this before, studies show that women think men with beards are more trustworthy and that they actually “look more honest.” Another somewhat obvious benefit is that men with beards get to spend less time shaving, but that might not be entirely true. It may take even more work to groom a beard than to shave all the stubble off your face. That is a benefit I can’t confirm, so if you’re a guy, maybe you can clear that one up.

Another benefit (or curse) of having a beard is that it will make you look older, or at least it did for this blogger named Paul Bryant-Smith. Also, having a beard can be like having a little coat for your face in the wintertime. It is cozy and protects your skin from all kinds of stuff floating around in the air. Some people say it prevents sickness in the throat and gums, but that seems a bit farfetched to me.

Probably the best reasons of all for growing a beard can be found in this infographic called 10 Very Good Reasons Why You Should Grow A Giant Beard by Matthew Inman. If you need some good reasons to let it all grow out, look no further. These are some pretty good reasons! I agree with all of them, well, except number 2. That one is still up for debate. If you want a little more beard entertainment, click over to this post I found with pictures from the 2012 European Beard and Mustache Championships.