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Facial hair

life science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Facial hair is hair that grows on a person's face. It usually appears on the chin, cheeks, and lips. For most men, this hair is a secondary sex characteristic. This means it is a trait that shows a person is becoming an adult. Men often start growing this hair during puberty. This is a time of many body changes. Most boys begin to see hair around age 14.

Facial hairstyles
Facial hairstyles

Growing facial hair often follows a specific path. First, hair may appear at the corners of the upper lip. This usually happens between ages 10 and 14. Next, it can spread to form a moustache. Then, hair often grows on the cheeks and under the bottom lip. Finally, it may cover the chin to form a full beard.

This order can change for every person. Some hair might start on the chin instead.

History shows that styles change over time. In the 1800s, many men in the West wore facial hair. A study by Dwight Robinson looked at old news pictures. He found that facial hair was at its highest in the 1880s. At that time, 90% of men had it. Later, the use of beards dropped quite a bit. However, moustaches stayed popular until the 1940s.

Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo portrait
Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo portrait

Different groups of people use facial hair in different ways. For example, some religious groups have special rules. In Sikhism, followers follow a rule called kesh. This means they do not cut or shave any hair. In Shia Islam, men are not allowed to shave their beards. Amish men also grow beards after they get married. They shave their moustaches to avoid looking like soldiers.

Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo portrait
Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo portrait

Women can also grow hair on their faces. This often happens after menopause. Sometimes, women grow a lot of facial hair. This is called hirsutism. It is caused by atypical hormonal variation. Some women use lasers or electrolysis to remove the hair. In the past, people sometimes saw bearded women in circuses.

This hair is different from the fur on other primates.

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File:Bearded man with long hair-3052641.jpg
Bearded man with long hair-3052641.jpg
File:Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo portrait.jpg
Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo...
File:Facial hairstyles.svg
Facial hairstyles.svg
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