In ancient Egypt, a beard was a symbol of high status, while in Greece, it was seen as a mark of wisdom and strength. Knights in the Middle Ages wore beards as a badge of honor.
Fast forward to today, and while beards might not carry the same social weight, they’re still a surefire way to make a man look effortlessly cool.
Below, we’ve gathered some striking before-and-after photos of men who discovered the power of great facial hair. Scroll through to see their transformations, and upvote the ones that impress you the most!
#1 I Guess I Will Keep The Beard For The Rest Of My Life
Image credits: CzemuDlaczego
It’s amazing how opinionated people can get about hair—whether it’s about how it should be groomed or whether it should even exist in certain places. Facial hair is no exception—some love it, some don’t mind it, and others prefer it gone. In fact, the obsession with facial hair can sometimes reach extraordinary heights. Remember the 2012 mustache craze? People were so caught up in it that they even got mustache tattoos on their fingers. For those who are into beards, there’s even a dating site called Bristlr.
#2 My First Real Beard. Any Thoughts?
Image credits: chadman82
The fascination with facial hair isn’t new, but why can men grow beards while women generally can’t? It all comes down to hormones. Men’s facial hair follicles are influenced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent derivative of testosterone. Although DHT has a reputation for being less prominent than testosterone, it plays a crucial role in stimulating beard growth.
Women have the same number of hair follicles on their faces, but theirs are less responsive to DHT, and they also have lower levels of testosterone. That’s why beards are a predominantly male trait.
#3 So Much Regret
It's been nine years since I last saw my clean-shaven face. I'll never shave again, I swear.
Image credits: TheSnidr
#4 6 Months Of Progress. I Can't Even Convince Myself That This Is The Same Person
Image credits: Merritt123
The biological role of a beard remains a bit of a mystery to scientists. Unlike eyebrows, which keep sweat out of your eyes, and eyelashes, which shield against dust and debris, beards don’t have a clear practical function in everyday life. Still, researchers have proposed some intriguing theories to explain why men grow them.
#5 Whenever I’m Tempted To Shave, I Look At The First Picture
Image credits: szymshady
#6 Before And After. Is It Better With No Beard Or With Beard?
Image credits: SlickStickStud
#7 4 Years Apart. I'm Never Shaving Again. Also, I Don't Miss The Old Haircut Either
Image credits: No-Conclusion1971
Dr. David Carrier, a comparative biomechanist and Professor of Biology at the University of Utah, suggests that beards might have evolved as a way to protect men’s vulnerable bones during physical confrontations.
“If the desire is to actually kill another individual, we tend to show up with weapons,” he reasoned. “If the desire is just to control or manipulate another individual, then you’re going to get hand-to-hand fighting; in that physical combat situation, humans tend to use their fist, and the primary target when we strike is the face.”
A punch to the face is most likely to damage the jaw—epidemiological studies show that the lower jaw is the most frequently broken bone from such impacts. “We’re thinking that it may not be a coincidence that it is primarily the jaw that is covered by the beard,” Dr. Carrier said.
#8 20 vs. 30 Years Old. I Lost A Lot Of Weight And Gained A Lot Of Tattoos. Grew A Beard And Quite The Mane
Image credits: Will_East_Roker
#9 3 Years Since I Last Shaved And Got A Haircut
Image credits: Lopsided_Capital_984
#10 2,5 Months In. I'm Going For 6 Months At Least To Grow My Beard
Image credits: ChrisPeyt
In the study conducted by Dr. Carrier and his team, they set out to find out if facial hair could protect against punch damage. An undergraduate student built models with either shaved or unshaven skin on top of fiber composite. Using a drop weight impact tester, they measured how much force was absorbed when weights were dropped on the models.
“The results really surprised me,” Dr. Carrier said. “The forces were 16 percent greater when the fur wasn’t there, and about 40 percent more energy was absorbed when the fur was there.”
#11 First Time Growing A Beard. It's Been 3 Months
Image credits: arthrh
#12 Without Or With Beard? Need Your Opinions
Image credits: jbrood
#13 I Decided To Grow A Beard And Accepted The Bald Look
Image credits: Entire-Designer-6071
Other researchers think beards might serve as a way to send certain signals to both men and women. As evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller puts it: “The two main explanations for male facial hair are intersexual attraction (attracting females) and intrasexual competition (intimidating rival males).” In simpler terms, facial hair can suggest virility and sexual maturity to potential partners, as beards tend to appear after puberty, while to rivals, it may signal strength and masculinity.
#14 From The Age Of 24 To 29. I'm 15 Kg Lighter, Teeth Are Straightened, And I Grew A Beard
Image credits: That-Director272
#15 Started Growing A Beard As A Way To Heal Myself. Here's 5 Months Progress
Image credits: commandstorm
#16 Mustache Or Beard?
Image credits: Youngadultdavebaby
However, whether a beard actually makes a man more attractive is still up for debate. Some studies find that women prefer men with stubble over full-grown beards or clean-shaven looks. Meanwhile, other research shows that attractiveness ratings don’t always align with beard growth—meaning clean-shaven faces can be just as appealing as bearded ones.
#17 2 Years Difference
Image credits: BrockSpr
#18 From Thinking I Couldn’t Grow A Full Beard To This Ginger Mess
Image credits: chikinstu
#19 No Beard vs. Beard. Which One Suits Me Better?
Image credits: sgt_happy
Interestingly, another study found that women tend to find a man more attractive if he sports a beard when most other men around are clean-shaven. But if beards become more common, shaving might give a man an edge instead. This is known as negative frequency dependence—an evolutionary principle where having a rare trait is considered more appealing and advantageous for survival.
#20 I Think My Beard Looks Good
Image credits: Hidnut
#21 To Beard Or Not To Beard... That Is The Question?
Image credits: TexMexDale
#22 Keep Growing The Beard Or Go Back To Mustache?
Image credits: Moist_Beard
Cultural preferences also play a big role in how beards are perceived. In the UK, more than 50% of men have some form of facial hair, while in South Korea, you’ll probably see fewer men with beards, and many even go so far as to have it permanently removed. In East Asia, where facial hair tends to be sparser, growing a full beard can be challenging. Even so, in South Korea, there’s a belief that those who don’t shave are considered less attractive because it suggests they don’t take as much care of their appearance.
#23 The First Real Attempt At Growing A Beard
Image credits: Crown_326
#24 My Beard Is 2 Years Old Today
Image credits: TheRealBigPodowski
#25 90 Days Of Beard Growth
I recently completed 90 days of beard growth without trimming or shaving. Here are the results. This was my first time letting everything grow out without trimming or shaving.
Image credits: mrmattcarl24
Although people don’t always agree on the appeal of beards, it’s pretty clear that facial hair changes how you’re seen by others. Men with beards are often thought to be older and are frequently associated with higher social status. They may also come across as more aggressive, and increased beard growth is linked to a stronger perception of masculinity.
#26 Stubble Or Full Beard And A Man Bun?
Image credits: imgluedtomycouch
#27 First Ever Beard, Aged 40. Worth Keeping?
Photos five months apart. Always assumed it was too sparse to grow out, but actually pretty pleased with how it's filled in.
Image credits: Andonaut
#28 Left Or Right?
Image credits: mittsky
So, if you’re thinking about growing a beard but are worried about how others might see you, don’t let that hold you back. Even scientists can’t quite agree if it makes someone more attractive. What really matters is how it makes you feel. Just remember to take some before-and-after photos of your beard journey and share them online—you might even end up in one of our compilations. Good luck!
#29 No Beard vs. Beard
Image credits: kaiserwilhelmi18
#30 A Little Bit Of Hard Work And Puberty
Image credits: karrankharas
#31 I Stopped Shaving My Head And Grew A Beard. Also, Lost Weight From 220 Lbs To 171 Lbs After I Started Lifting
Image credits: CrazyEyesEddie
#32 Clean-Shaven vs. With Beard. It’s Crazy How A Haircut Or Facial Hair Can Completely Change Your Look
Image credits: Sarcasticallysmooth
#33 One-Year Difference. I Get Mixed Emotions, But I Like It
Image credits: TheCriner
#34 My 8-Month Beard Journey
Image credits: reddit.com
#35 I'm Growing Out My Beard
My cheeks are quite patchy and won't fill in from past attempts. Does stubble or a short beard suit me best? Or should I try and grow it out further?
Image credits: Nillerman
#36 Which Is Better, No Beard Or Beard?
Image credits: No_Character_9241
#37 Lots Of Change In 9 Years. Never Going Back
Image credits: DanCbearded
#38 My Transformation
Image credits: Beardy890
#39 19-Year-Old Me Without A Beard vs. 23-Year-Old With A Beard
Image credits: Bearded_DYL
#40 No Beard Or With Beard? That Is The Question
Image credits: Stock-Event2495
#41 Without Beard Or With Beard?
Image credits: Brief_Distance_1992
#42 Clean-Shaven vs. With Beard
Image credits: TheUltraBased
#43 23 vs. 23 And Beard
Image credits: Falcon9621
#44 What Do You All Think, Beard Or Mustache And Stubble?
Image credits: rabbit_blood
#45 Late Bloomers There Is Always Hope! Pictures Of Me Aged 24 And 28
Image credits: skinnyboy232
#46 After A Year And A Half, I Had To Shave My Beard Before I Went Into Surgery. Happy To Report That It's Back And This Is My Now 2-Month-Old Beard
Image credits: LuRcH1255
#47 Before And After Growing A Beard
Image credits: ViktorErikJensen
#48 Throwback To 2014
Image credits: the_beardeddad_._
#49 Never Stop, Boys
Image credits: ThrowRA868
#50 17-Month Update
Image credits: zuniga23
#51 My Evolution So Far
Image credits: Griexus
#52 One-Year Progression
Image credits: JakeProjo
#53 How It Started vs. How It's Going (1-Year Update)
Image credits: throwaway47558847
#54 Without Beard vs. With Beard
Image credits: ZealousidealDeal5529
#55 The Beard Has Been A Huge Help. Ages 19-22
Image credits: osbornep
#56 Maybe It's The Fever, But I Started To Second-Guess My Beard
Image credits: robinmooe
#57 From Baby Face To A Bearded Man
Image credits: rllpz
#58 First Time Growing A Beard, Should I Shave Or Keep It?
Hi, I stopped shaving over the summer but have started trimming for the last few weeks. This is my first time with a beard, but I am unsure whether to keep it after the summer or go back to shaving, and would appreciate your input. Also, the neckline is not trimmed. Any advice on how to do this would be appreciated.
Image credits: anon189005
#59 16 To 23. A Beard And Puberty Makes A World Of Difference
Image credits: RRnn97
#60 Before vs. After Growing My Hair And Beard
Image credits: Alexthegreat2814
#61 First Time Growing A Beard. I Think I Will Keep It. What Do You Guys Think?
Image credits: Kyleyh
#62 Keep The Longer Beard Or Go Back To Short?
Image credits: Kraazzy_
#63 My Beard Is Already 10 Years Old
Image credits: Caland201
#64 Which Is Better, Clean-Shaven Or Full-Bearded?
Image credits: Wonderful-Emu-8716
#65 2007 vs. 2022 With My Wife (Wife Since 2011)
Image credits: cfairchild13
#66 Before And After I Grew A Normal Beard
Image credits: msquare91
#67 Should I Grow It Out More Or Shave It? Beard For Fall/Winter And Clean-Shaven Through Spring/Summer Was Another Suggestion A Female Friend Gave Me
Image credits: Jfrederick609
#68 No Mustache Or Mustache?
Been rocking it for 3 years, not sure whether to rock the Van Dyke, just the mustache or shave it off. Also, how does one trim a mustache? I always want to touch it up, but I’m worried about ruining it.
Image credits: Empty_Giraffe1
#69 Month 28. Before vs. After
Image credits: EarthSeparate6826
#70 I Get Asked All The Time What My Beard Goal Is. Easy, The Journey Is The Goal. Love Every Step And Every Look
Image credits: DanCBearded
#71 The Power Of A Good Beard
Image credits: thoriginal
#72 Before vs. After. It's Already Been 10 Years
Image credits: kingdazy
#73 Already 9 Weeks
Image credits: Booth89
#74 6,5 Months Of Growth. Enjoying The Journey
Image credits: Pale_Cockroach6374
#75 Maybe My Beard Journey Will Inspire And Give Someone Hope. If Your Beard Is Not Strong Or Patchy, Stay Patient. I Had No Idea That My Beard Could Look Like That
Image credits: Laurutis
#76 3 Years Difference
Image credits: Lachy_Stack_reddit
#77 2022 Character Change: Lost 50 Lbs, Buzzed Down My Hair (Balding), And Lastly, Tried Growing A Beard
Image credits: mrjoshmateo
#78 For Most Of My Adult Life, I've Had A Shaved Head And Face, Within The Past 6 Months I've Decided To Try Something New
Image credits: keto_freak
#79 Shaven vs. Some Hair. Should I Go Back Or Keep It?
Image credits: Foozlebop
#80 One-Year Difference
Image credits: TheMinoxMan
#81 I Aged 4 Years In 4 Months
Image credits: Mossy_octopus
#82 2,5 Months Of Beard Growth. Need Opinions. Shave Or Keep?
Image credits: colourznshapez
#83 One Year Of Beard Growth
Image credits: AlphaBaldy
#84 From Shaved To Trimmed To Full On Sparta Mode. Should I Continue Or Let It Get Faded Again?
Image credits: georgfrankoo
#85 A Little More Beard And Belly Never Hurt Nobody
Image credits: lan_woo
#86 So Crazy How A Beard Changes Your Whole Look. This Is 9 Months Of Beard Growth
Image credits: Independent_Home_244
#87 Clean Shaved Or With Beard?
Image credits: Andymax_1299
#88 These Are About 3 Weeks Of Growth. Should I Keep It Or Shave It?
Image credits: Dax-Avoid
#89 Before And After. This Is About Two Weeks Of Growth
Image credits: PotterDoater
#90 Baby Face Or Beard? 7 Weeks Of Growth
Image credits: Classic_Pie69
#91 Beard At 19 vs. Beard Now At 25. I Still Have Work To Do, But I'm Glad It Looks So Much Better Than When I Started
Image credits: washingtonpeek
#92 I'm 16 Years Old And Don't Know Which Suits Me Better. No Beard Or With Beard?
Image credits: Ancient_Alfalfa_3262
#93 Two Completely Different People
Image credits: waveball03
#94 Beard Progression Over Almost A Year. I Was 15 In The First Picture, And Now I'm 16
Image credits: TopAltruistic2469
#95 A Year And A Half Makes A Massive Difference
Image credits: P1nkskin
#96 Who's That Guy On The Left?! I Can't Even Recognize Myself
Image credits: bares_martin
#97 I'm 26 Years Old, And I've Always Had A Baby Face, But Now I Grew A Little Beard. Before vs. After
Image credits: 4byss_bound
#98 No Beard Or With Beard? I'm 34 And Feeling Aged. I've Been Thinking Of Shaving For A Little While, But I Haven't Shaved In Like 3 Years
Image credits: germnor
#99 Should I Shave Or Not?
Image credits: AnonDovahkiin
#100 From A 1-Week Stubble To A 14-Month Beard. Any Recommendations For A Style Change, Or Is The Natural Beard The Way To Go?
Image credits: DHicks89
#101 What 10 Years Does To You
Image credits: FlashTheorie
#102 From July 2022 To May 2023
Image credits: Socialsam1995
#103 6-Month Progress
Image credits: anon69911130
#104 I Already Had A Longer Beard, But I Am Going For Something Different Now And Don't Know If I Should Return To The Mustache Or Keep The Beard
Image credits: Significant-Mix2765
#105 The Last Time I Was Clean-Shaven vs. The Beard I've Been Growing Since The Beginning Of This March. What Do You People Think?
Image credits: Tumback1
#106 2015 vs. 2022
Image credits: jimmynordvall
#107 1st Beard After A Handful Of Months Of Growing It Out. Keep It, Or Go Back To A Stubble?
Image credits: Cjmadison01
#108 3 Months Of Beard Growth. I Can’t Decide Whether Or Not It Is Too Patchy
Image credits: reddit.com
#109 I Wanted To Show You How One Year Can Change Your Beard
Image credits: rloDema1897
#110 I’m Trying To Grow A Beard For The First Time
Image credits: theworldblessedme
#111 I’d Say The Beard Made Quite The Difference. Losing A Few Pounds Also Helped, I Guess. 8 Months Of Growth
Image credits: badbeerd
#112 My Beard Over The Years. From 17 Years Old To 38 Years Old
Image credits: 9600_PONIES
#113 Receding Hair And Short Beard vs. Bald And Grown Out Beard
Image credits: reddit.com
#114 No Beard vs. With Beard
Image credits: Horned_Ryder
#115 Should I Keep The Beard Or Shave It?
Image credits: mauden
#116 My Journey Throughout The Years. Shaved vs. Beard
Image credits: Muckierov-kratos-02
#117 From Stubble To Beard. Patience Is The Key
Image credits: thezkway
#118 About A Year Of Growth
Image credits: Throwaway234877
#119 My 5-Month Beard Journey. I Feel Like A Whole New Man
Image credits: bumblepizza
#120 Stubble vs. Beard. Quite A Difference
Image credits: DornyRo
#121 Before vs. After. I Used To Smile A Lot More Back Then
Image credits: redbeardfoxx
#122 This Is My First Time Trying To Grow A Beard. Wondering If I Should Go Back To Short, Keep As Is, Or Keep Growing? 3 Months Of Growth
Image credits: Flimsy-Dot5049
