History of Beards

Beginning with the Ancient Egyptians who wore a Postiche, which was a metal false beard. The item was worn as a sign of sovereignty by Kings and Queens. The Mesopotamian civilizations devoted a great deal of care to beards by oiling and even using curling irons to create the right image. Ancient Indians beards grew long as sign of dignity and wisdom and in these cultures punishments for crimes was the public cutting of the individual's beard. A Persian King commanded that his Steward's head be removed and when it was brought to him he said, "what a pity it was that a man possessing such fine mustachios should have been executed," adding, "Ah, but it is his own fault." Alexander The Great introduced the smooth shaved face and ordered all soldiers be clean shaven because he felt beards could be used as handles for their enemies. Laws were then passed for all beards removed and only philosophers were allowed to keep them.

In the second century A.D. Emperor Hadrian of Rome was the first of all Caesar to grow a beard, which he did to cover the many scars on his face.

In the 15th and 16th Centuries most Europeans were clean shaven and the only times beards were seen were on priests. The priests would only grow beards to show discontent with the church and the longer the beard the more important the message. Beards of this time were the Spanish Spade, English Square Cut, and Forked beards.

When Queen Elizabeth the first came to power her dislike for beards was so strong that she established a tax on them. All individuals wearing a beard were to pay the tax, which in turn encouraged men to be clean shaven. This sparked other Western Europe countries to establish the same rule and imply the tax.

Beards returned to popularity in the Napoleonic Era in which veterans of the French Emperor's Army known as Vieux Mustaches, or Old Mustaches, wore the beards to be considered prestigious.

In the 19th century beards were more common than not as leaders Alexander III, Napoleon III, and Frederick III wore beards, along with cultural icons Charles Dickens, Karl Marx, and Giuseppe Verde.

Beards, along with long hair, was not established until the "Hippie Movement" of the 1960's.

At the end of the 20th century the most common beard was the closely clipped Verde beard with an integrated matching mustache.

Several Organizations have been developed for beards including the World Beard and Mustache Association with the purpose of promoting the worldwide appreciation of beards and mustaches, along with coordinating international events including competitions to encourage a friendship among people with beards and mustaches.

A World Beard and Mustache Championship competition is held annually around the world and at the last competition in September of 2007 there were 252 competitors in 17 different categories.