When you go to the pup you are surrounded by bearded men, who really know how to sport a six pack and a man bun. Some of them even wear a septum ring, which is seen as something rather feminine than masculine. Well, there is a reason there are more and more bearded men who adorn their bodies with tattoos, rings and even more: they are more attractive.
I am not the one who is saying this: science is saying that bearded men definitely have an advantage in the dating world.
A group of scientists from the University of Western Australia conducted a study to see how primates signal their dominance in their social groups. I know, this sounds like something Darwin would like, but the study, which was published in the Evolution and Human Behavior, is believed to be valid for humans as well, as we are the most evolved primates. The researchers looked at 154 species of primates and analyzed how they use ornaments to show off their rank in the group hierarchy and attract females. They found the monkeys who live in bigger groups tend to use more ornamentation, in order to stand out from the inferior peers.
The researchers claim men use beards, tattoos and piercings in the same way, in order to stand out from the crowd and draw attention on themselves. The bigger the social group, aka the dating “market”, the bigger the competition between men, so they tend to use more ornaments to attract women. Thanks to online dating, the pool of dating is bigger than ever, so there is no wonder millennials are learning how to grow a beard, embrace piercings and adorn their bodies with tattoos. Moreover, the bigger the better, so we now see full sleeve tattoos more often, as well as long, thick beards; something that ten years ago would have been a rarity.
The lead researcher of the group of scientists who conducted the study says humans feel the need to show off their strength, when they are in large groups. She also says that body alteration and decoration are “prestige items” which allow us to individualize ourselves.
In my humble opinion, I would say these ornaments also help us show our personality, which is vital when we are dating. For example, when you see a guy with a thick beard and lots of piercings, it’s easier for you to evaluate his personality, compared to a guy who is dressed with a plain shirt and has no “ornaments”.
The study seems to explain the millennial trend of beards. As online dating became a daily reality, meaning the dating opportunities grew, the hipster beard became more popular. Along with it, piercings and tattoos also become more popular. A survey conducted by Pew Research Center found that 1 in 4 millennials have a piercing (not in the earlobe) and 1 in 10 millennials have a tattoo. Apart from that, men are using other items to stand out and emphasize their style: colored socks and men jewelry are all the rage for eligible bachelors.
The same study found the beards trend comes and goes depending on the social situation. For example, between 1842 and 1971, when the women population dropped, men were sporting beards and mustaches, in order to increase their chances to marry.
Another study on beards found they are more effective when facial hair is not the average. In other words, when hipster beards become the norm, they loose their purpose, because they no longer help men individualize themselves. This might explain why we are now seeing more and more dyed beards and other “ornaments” for beards.
For the time being, just be yourself, with or without beard. It’s true that piercings and tattoos and facial hair can make you more attractive, because they help people remember you easier, but in the end it’s all a matter of style and personal choice.