Beard, Mustache

A beard is the hair that grows on a human's chin, cheeks, neck, and the area above the upper lip (the opposite is a clean-shaven face). more...

Home
Bath & Body
Dietary Supplements,...
Hair Care
Hair Removal
Clippers, Trimmers
Beard, Mustache
Hair
Nose, Ear
Other Items
Sets, Kits
Creams, Lotions, Sprays
Epilators, Electrolysis
Other Hair Removal Items
Razors, Blades
Scissors, Shears
Shavers
Tweezers
Waxing Supplies
Health Care
Makeup
Massage
Medical, Special Needs
Nail
Natural Therapies
Oral Care
Skin Care
Vision Care

When differentiating between upper and lower facial hair, a beard specifically refers to the facial hair on the lower part of a man's chin (excluding the moustache, which refers to hair above the upper lip and around it). The study of beards is called pogonology.

In the course of history, men with facial hair have been ascribed various attributes such as wisdom, sexual virility, or high status; and, conversely, filthiness, crudeness, or an eccentric disposition.

History

Ancient and Classical world

The highest ranking Ancient Egyptians grew hair on their chins which was often dyed or hennaed (reddish brown) and sometimes plaited with interwoven gold thread. A metal false beard, or postiche, which was a sign of sovereignty, was worn by queens as well as kings. This was held in place by a ribbon tied over the head and attached to a gold chin strap, a fashion existing from about 3000 to 1580 BC.

Mesopotamian civilizations (Assyrian, Babylonian, Chaldean, Median and ancient Persian) devoted great care to oiling and dressing their beards, using tongs and curling irons to create elaborate ringlets and tiered patterns.

Grecian beards were frequently curled with tongs to create hanging curls. Beards predominated among the Greeks until 323 BC, at which time the youthful Alexander III of Macedon ordered his soldiers to be clean shaven, fearing that their beards would serve as handles for their enemies to grab and to hold the Greek soldier as he was killed. When Alexander was going to fight against the Persians, one of his officers brought him word that all was ready for battle, and demanded if he required anything further. On which Alexander replied, \"nothing but that the Macedonians cut off their beards, for there is not a better handle to take a man by than the beard.\" This shows Alexander intended close fighting.

In ancient India and Israel, the beard was allowed to grow long, a symbol of dignity and of wisdom (cf. sadhu and nazarite, respectively). The nations in the east generally treated their beards with great care and veneration, and the punishment for licentiousness and adultery was to have the beard of the offending parties publicly cut off. They had such a sacred regard for the preservation of their beards that a man might pledge it for the payment of a debt.

The Persians were fond of long beards. In Olearius' Travels, a King of Persia commands his steward's head to be cut off, and on its being brought to him, remarks, \"what a pity it was, that a man possessing such fine mustachios, should have been executed,\" but he adds, \"Ah! it was your own fault.\"

Read more at Wikipedia.org