Beards are rare, because not everyone can grow one. Some, like me, have miserable sporadic growth all the face. Even attempting to try would make me look silly. As it turns out, a new study analyzing primate behavior says that the reason men grow out facial hair is that it's a 'badge' that makes you more distinguishable to the ladies.

In other words, it's a form of peacocking!

Via the Daily Mail:

But instead, beards have become thicker and bigger, and now scientists believe they have a new explanation; men are using it as a badge of dominance to attract women.

This ‘badge’ means that, whether or not women like the look of a beard, they will still be attracted to a man because it suggest that he is more powerful in society.



The researchers believe men with beards could be seen as more aggressive and dominant – and might also be attractive to women drawn to seemingly powerful men.

But the whole thing could be cosmetic, even though it is a projection of who's manlier.

In their study of 154 species of primates representing 45 genera, the authors flamboyant badges were of benefit to males in large and complex social organisations to signal their identity, rank, dominance and attractiveness.



Species that live in smaller groups, on the other hand, had less need of badges as individual recognition and more frequent interactions allowed animals to better assess the social status, strength and quality of their contemporaries.

But don't worry. While we'd all love to be able to grow a beard, those who can't can have comfort to know that being clean-shaven makes you more believable. Especially at work.