Millions of men ‘stuck in a rut’ when it comes to their facial hair styles

Many men admitted they lacked the confidence to change their facial hair looks and were ‘too scared’ to try something new

Francesca Tuckey
Friday 24 March 2023 21:06 GMT
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Royal Philips has teamed-up with TV personality Pete Wicks as part of their campaign to give people the confidence to change up their facial hair look
Royal Philips has teamed-up with TV personality Pete Wicks as part of their campaign to give people the confidence to change up their facial hair look (SWNS)

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A poll of 2,000 adult males found the average man has had the same beard, moustache, or sideburns for 10 years.

More than four in 10 (43 per cent) revealed they’ve avoided change because their current style is quick and easy to maintain.

And 15 per cent admit they lack the confidence to try something new, while 15 per cent are “too scared” to update their look in case something goes wrong.

However, 35 per cent want to change things up – they just don’t know how to go about it, and 12 per cent lack the right tools and products to successfully achieve a new facial hair style.

The research was commissioned by Royal Philips, makers of the new OneBlade 360, which adjusts to the contours of the face to reach difficult areas.

The brand has teamed up with TV personality Pete Wicks as part of its “Flip360” campaign which aims to give people the confidence to change their facial hair look.

He said: “I’ve had the same look for years now. When I was younger, I used to try out all sorts of styles including a questionable goatee and a load of different moustaches.

“But since I’ve been in the public eye people have got used to seeing me with one look.

“I’ve decided it’s finally time to get out of this rut and get myself and other people to mix things up with their facial hair.”

The study also found 31 per cent of those with facial hair are so attached to their particular style they claim they’d turn down £10,000 rather than go clean shaven for a month.

However, 30 per cent of everyone polled would happily take the money because they struggle to grow facial hair.

As such, 19 per cent would give up alcohol to get the perfect beard and 12 per cent would give up sex for the same reason.

It also emerged 10 per cent have been inspired by celebrities’ facial hair looks.

Freddie Mercury (14 per cent), Elvis (14 per cent) and Tom Selleck, AKA Richard from Friends (13 per cent), were deemed to have the most iconic facial hairstyles of all time among those polled.

With Hulk Hogan (11 per cent), Jesus Christ (eight per cent) and Craig David (six per cent) also proving to have popular looks.

Interestingly, the painter’s (19 per cent), the pencil (10 per cent), and the horseshoe (10 per cent) are the moustache styles men most want to make a comeback.

And the goatee (19 per cent), ‘Zappa’ (14 per cent), and ‘Van Dyke’ (12 per cent) are the beard looks they’re most keen to see the return.

Carried out through OnePoll [https://onepoll.com/], the study found 41 per cent of males polled got to the age of 31 before realising they’d had the same look for years on end.

Amy Boxall, male grooming expert at Philips, said: “It’s natural to be nervous of change.

“So it’s no surprise that people can get stuck in a rut and stick to what they know when it comes to their grooming routine.

“And it’s clear with this research that not having the right tools and products is a big barrier to feeling confident in trying a new style.”

Most iconic facial hairstyles of all time:

  1. Freddie Mercury
  2. Elvis Presley
  3. Tom Selleck
  4. David Beckham OBE
  5. Sir Billy Connolly CBE
  6. Hulk Hogan
  7. Mr. T
  8. George Michael
  9. Sir Charlie Chaplin KBE
  10. Hugh Jackman (specifically as Wolverine in the X-Men and Wolverine movies)
  11. Jesus Christ
  12. Salvador Dalí
  13. Keanu Reeves
  14. Billy Gibbons
  15. Dusty Hill
  16. Sir Sean Connery
  17. William Shakespeare
  18. John Lennon
  19. Idris Elba OBE
  20. George Harrison MBE
  21. Tom Cruise (specifically as Captain Nathan Algren in The Last Samurai)
  22. Jason Momoa
  23. Olivier Giroud
  24. Samuel L Jackson
  25. Craig David MBE
  26. Sir Ringo Starr MBE
  27. Lemmy Kilmister
  28. Russell Crowe
  29. Jim Morrison
  30. Sir Paul McCartney CH MBE

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