Keeping facial hair

A popular trend that began several years ago, when COVID-19 forced everyone to stay home, is that more men are wearing facial hair, specifically mustaches. Going in and out of style every couple of decades for centuries, the mustache is a symbol of manliness with a long history and a lot of famous faces attached to it.

From Charlie Chaplin and Salvador Dali to Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot, there’s a mustache style for every man’s face. There is something about a mustache that can elicit either authority or rebelliousness, depending on the era it’s grown in. Think of President Theodore Roosevelt leading a country into the 20th century — or the Beatles leading the 1960s counterculture movement.

At the same time, beards have become a symbol of rebellion against the clean-shaven norm, aligning with the rise of hipster culture and a desire for authenticity. And while it’s relatively easy to just let all your facial hair grow and keep a short beard, the time and precision it takes to grow and form a full mustache says a lot more about your personality and character. With cold weather not too far away, I’m encouraging more men to keep their cheeks and upper lip warm this fall.