1A Best Of: What Beards Tell Us About Power, Politics And How We See Each Other
Dec 22, 2025
Join Sarah Gold McBride, a lecturer and author delving into 19th-century hair culture; Christopher Oldstone Moore, an historian exploring masculinity and facial hair; and Igor Bobik, a political reporter analyzing contemporary trends. They dive into the history of beards in American politics, from Lincoln to today's candidates, discussing how whiskers symbolize power, masculinity, and identity. The conversation explores shifting perceptions, the social cues that facial hair sends, and the implications of beard trends on voter trust and image.
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Why The Beard Fell Out Of Favor
- Facial hair declined around 1903 with rising hygiene concerns linked to germ theory and a cultural push for professionalism.
- Short hair and clean-shaven looks became associated with cleanliness, order, and modern professionalism.
Grooming Before The Safety Razor
- Before safety razors, men mostly relied on barbers for shaving and on household products to groom beards.
- The 19th-century consumer market made beard care items widely available, shifting grooming to home routines.
Race, Barbershops, And Beard Trends
- Black barbers dominated early barbering and aided white men's grooming, but racial tensions in the 1850s pushed whites to grow beards or shave at home.
- Fear of visiting black-owned barbershops contributed to rising beard popularity among white men.
