• Question: Why do men get facial hair?

    Asked by tanyaiscoolxo to Cathal, Ciara, Emma, Michael, Sive on 14 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Sive Finlay

      Sive Finlay answered on 14 Nov 2013:

      Hi Tanya,
      Men grow facial hair because, during and after puberty, they have higher levels of testosterone than women and one of the effects of testosterone is to promote hair growth.
      From an evolutionary point of view, all primates have varying amounts of facial hair and there’s often a distinct difference between males and females (sexual dimorphism). There are lots of suggested reasons for this. For example, females might use facial hair to choose a good mate (“you have a big beard so you must have lots of testosterone and be fit and strong to produce healthy offspring..”). Another reason might be because facial hair can make males appear larger and therefore more intimidating to their rivals.
      Sive

    • Photo: Michael Nolan

      Michael Nolan answered on 18 Nov 2013:

      Hey tanya,

      So when we go hunting we can look tough and scare away other animals that are fighting with us for the same food. When I jump out from the bush roaring with my big bushy beard that will scare away a more mild mannered anaimal competing with me.
      It is probably also a last hangover from when we were covered in fur and has not quite gone away yet. Gilette must be sweating that evolution doesnt decide to favour those with no facial hair, which would be likely as society does prefer males who are clean shaven, at least in the main.

      M

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