
How Facial Hair Plays a Significance in the History…
Throughout history, facets of thousands of cultures around the world have evolved time and time again to encapsulate and portray the evolution of humanity as a whole. From the postmodern paintings that are deeply rooted in classic work to the rap songs of today that are influenced by the early RnB hits from the 80s, there’s no doubting the fact that human culture coexists with the idea of humanity itself.
Out of all the different ways that cultures have tracked the history of humanity for millenniums, however, there’s still one aspect that holds greater significance: facial hair.
The brief history of facial hair
Long before they were the peak symbol of manliness that we now know them as today, facial hair was treated akin to how people of the past would treat a king. For instance, cleanly-trimmed tufts were only reserved for kings and those with vast amounts of wealth, status, and significance in society in Ancient Egypt. The Romans, on the other hand, would treat their beards as a symbol of solitude that culminated out of the raw human emotions of mourning.
As countries grew more diplomatic and killing and conquering no longer became as commonplace as shaving, facial hair took on a more laid back image that still has its history and significance intact. Although facial hair may have been a symbol of representation, extended periods of mourning, or as a sign of health and strength, they have now become as a means to look good and function as an extension of oneself.
While the facial hair of the present and the past have quite a contrast between them, there’s one common denominator between them that the people of today can enjoy: facial hairstyles.
If you think about it, each style of beards is like what art disciplines are to painters and illustrators:
- Abstract is like a full-on bandholz beard that has no definite shape but has deep meaning
- Renaissance is much like a pencil moustache with intricacies and vast symbolic value in simplicity
- Baroque art can be compared or likened to a Verdi beard and moustache combo
Three facial hairstyles you should try
Should you find yourself growing a bit bored with the current facial hairstyle and have a growing desire to represent centuries of history with a fresh new shave, here are three facial hairstyles worth trying:
1. The stubble
Although it may have been regarded as a symbol of downtroddenness back in the early 1900s, the stubble (or five o’clock shadow) has come far from its slovenly origins and is now regarded as a cleaner approach to facial hair. As opposed to other facial hairstyles, the stubble is the easiest one to maintain and suits most face shapes as it can be flattering and highlight key structured in the face while creating a distinct jawline as well.
2. The beard stache
Commonly known as a facial hairstyle that’s a few notches above the stubble but isn’t too drastic, the beard stache is essentially a combination of a short-length beard and a moustache that’s longer than the surrounding hair. While it may have been regarded as the facial hair equivalent of the mullet in the past, stylists and shaving tools alike have made it much easier to pull off the beard stache, eventually leading to a more refined sense of masculinity.
3. The Van Dyke
For most guys (and women, as well) who have huge man-crushes on both Johnny Depp and David Beckham, one of the most noticeable features about these two A-listers is the type of beard they carry with pride: the Van Dyke. Formerly associated with sailors and renaissance men alone, the Van Dyke has become the preferred beard type in Hollywood as it combines refined styling with an unhampered sense of ruggedness that many people look for in facial hair.
Final words
The facial hairstyles of today are both strong pieces of art and testaments to the evolution of human history that any man can proudly wear on their face. If you’ve been meaning to switch up your tired old beard with a refreshing new makeover, feel free to try out any of the three styles mentioned in this list!
If you want to keep your beard looking good at all times, try out our beard oil today! We have a wide range of beard oils you can choose from.