A study from 2008 got 60 women’s responses to five facial hair styles (from clean shaven to full beard). The study found that men with light stubble were most attractive, as both prospective short and long-term partners. However, full beards were rated for social maturity, parenting ability, and for being more masculine and aggressive.
Another study by the University of Queensland in Australia, 2016 had similar findings. Co-authored by beardy science expert Dr. Barnaby Dixson, it showed images of men with various stages of facial hair to over 8,000 women and even manipulated the images to make other facial features more masculine or feminine.
Each group of women was asked to evaluate a different question about the man’s sex appeal. The first group rated the men’s beardless-to-bearded faces for overall sexual attractiveness. Second group also rated the photos, but this time they were asked to score the pictures based on short-term attractiveness. Which of the men seemed most desirable for a fling or a one-night stand? The third group then rated the men in the photos as long-term prospects. Which of the men had a face that suggested he might be a good candidate for marriage and commitment?
In my opinion, beards are attractive when they are worn by well-groomed men. The men who take care of themselves, who exercise, diet, shower, change clothes regularly and can afford to maintain a work-life balance. The beard really doesn’t work for a workaholic 9 to 5 job desk man who probably never oils it and never cares to check if it looks good and is too consumed in everything but grooming.