Four million British men worry they can’t grow a beard, a new study has found.
It’s hardly surprising is it, judging by the sheer number of men you see desperately trying to sell a chin of bum fluff or a tache as patchy as your thigh hair.
Full disclosure: I’m among this sub-genre of sad lad. Try as I might, there’s no getting past the stubble-stage, whatsoever. Of course, this doesn’t affect me as I compensate for it by being peerless company with an insatiable appetite for all things banter – also, having a bum like Harambe.
But for some, beard’s are everything. They are masculinity, without which, life is empty.
New research has revealed more than 13 per cent of British men (four million) feel self-conscious because they can’t grow a full beard.
The hipster fad, associated with areas like London’s Shoreditch and Manchester’s Northern Quarter, has taken hold of men’s fashion in recent years with blokes of all ages sprouting facial fuzz.
However, a survey of 2,000 Brits by BathroomTakeaway.co.uk, found 2.6 million (eight per cent) of adult men can’t cultivate a beard at all, with many resorting to using dye or even getting a transplant to bolster their bristles.
This is despite 61 per cent of women claiming a lack of facial hair doesn’t bother them, with almost half (43 per cent) refusing to date a man who wasn’t clean shaven.
So, while the fashion for facial fuzz might work for the likes of Brit hunk Tom Hardy, it seems they may not be cutting the mustard for the average bloke in the market for romance.
The survey also found one in five men (17 per cent) struggle to grow chest hair, but it’s a top grooming necessity for almost a quarter (23 per cent) of men who make sure to tidy up their torso tangle – one in ten by shaving, 7 per cent snipping with scissors, 3 per cent waxing and 1 per cent paying for laser hair removal.
The research also discovered men find noticeable nostril hair a nuisance with one in five opting for trimming, 15 per cent plucking, 8 per cent shaving and 2 per cent waxing.
Respondents from Northern Ireland feel the most insecure about their body hair with almost three quarters disliking one of their body parts.
It’s those in the West Midlands who boast the most self-confidence, with almost half (49 per cent) saying they’re happy with their bodies.
The new data also asked about Britain’s skincare routines and learned the average woman spends 66 minutes per week looking after her skin, while men take 47 minutes over the same period.
Women shell out an average £13.32 on skincare products per month while men spend £8.67.
Moisturiser was deemed the most popular item used by 61 per cent of Brits, followed by face wash (43 per cent), cleanser (36 per cent) and sunscreen (31 per cent).
Two thirds of men have a skincare regime and almost a third (29 per cent) admit to regularly wearing some form of make-up.
Julian Smith, Managing Director at Bathroom Takeaway, said:
It’s clear that people are spending lots of time and money following strict skincare and grooming regimes, even resorting to measures such as botox and laser hair removal.
But it’s important that however they choose to maintain their appearance, they do it for themselves rather than being hellbent on following the latest fad.
In conclusion guys, don’t worry if you don’t look like Dan Bilzerian. Being clean shaven may become the rage in a matter of months, if not weeks.
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