Beards : NPR

Let Them Grow Beards: UPS Relaxes Rules On Drivers' Facial Hair

A UPS driver stops at a traffic light on April 24 in St. Louis. UPS employees are now allowed to grow their beards as the company loosens up on its appearance rules. Jeff Roberson/AP hide caption

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Jeff Roberson/AP

Business

Let Them Grow Beards: UPS Relaxes Rules On Drivers' Facial Hair

November 11, 2020 • After years of strict rules surrounding its workers' personal appearance, UPS is loosening up. The company said it wanted to make employees "feel comfortable, genuine and authentic."

Kids See Bearded Men As Strong — But Unattractive, Study Finds

Actual scientific research on beards is, regrettably, scant. However, researchers now know how beards are perceived by one important group of people: children. Maskot/Getty Images hide caption

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Maskot/Getty Images

Science

Kids See Bearded Men As Strong — But Unattractive, Study Finds

July 30, 2019 • New research shows that young children have a negative reaction to beards, but that changes as they get older. Children with bearded fathers did feel more warmly toward facial hair.

Kids See Bearded Men As Strong — But Unattractive, Study Finds

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At 'The Grand Budapest,' A Banquet Of Beards And Melange Of Mustaches

Nearly every male character in The Grand Budapest Hotel has some kind of beard or mustache. Some were real, but hair and makeup designer Frances Hannon says "about 60 or 70 percent" were artificial. Martin Scali/Courtesy of Fox Searchlight hide caption

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Martin Scali/Courtesy of Fox Searchlight

Movies

At 'The Grand Budapest,' A Banquet Of Beards And Melange Of Mustaches

February 14, 2015 • Nearly every male actor in The Grand Budapest Hotel has some kind of facial hair. In charge of each follicle — real or fake — was Oscar-nominated hair and makeup designer Frances Hannon.

At 'The Grand Budapest,' A Banquet Of Beards And Melange Of Mustaches

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The Two-Way

Supreme Court Rules For Muslim Inmate In Prison Beard Case

January 20, 2015 • The court said a ban on beards violated the prisoner's religious freedom. The state of Arkansas had argued that the beard presented security concerns and that it could be used to hide contraband.

Sorry, Red Sox, Heavy Stubble Beats Beards For Attractiveness

Hey man, that's sensitive: Mike Napoli of the Boston Red Sox pulls teammate Jonny Gomes' beard after hitting a three-run homer in Game 4 of the 2013 World Series in St. Louis. Jamie Squire/Getty Images hide caption

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Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Sorry, Red Sox, Heavy Stubble Beats Beards For Attractiveness

November 1, 2013 • All that beard tugging during the World Series got us thinking: Does facial hair actually make men more attractive? One recent study looked at four levels of beardedness, from a clean shave to full coverage. The effect was subtle, but a clear preference emerged.