Breaking news from MSNBC!!!: the beard is back! Also, it's a recession trend. No really. It's a totally brand new recession trend only made trendy by the trendy recession.
Okay, it's not just the economy, but it does make sense as more men lose their jobs they quit shaving. According to The NPD Group, a marketing research company, sales of electric shavers and men’s facial trimmers have dropped twelve percent in the last year.
This trend requires a two-page article from MSNBC on the popularity of the beard. If you'd like to skip it, we'll give you the money quote:
“I think beards are gross,” says Kate Jacobus, a 23-year-old marketing associate from Atlanta, Ga. ”Especially when men don’t have thick hair, like Spencer Pratt on ‘The Hills.’ His beard just looks like fuzz. Not to be gross, but it looks like pubic hair.”
And, of course, a trendy style piece wouldn't be complete without consulting a professional:
Sociologist Paul Roof, who runs the Holy City Beard & Moustache Society of Charleston, S.C., says that while there are certainly purists who believe beards should never be trimmed or shaved, most beard buffs try to keep up a “clean, professional appearance.”
“If you’re going to have a beard and do it right, you’ve got to keep it clean and groomed and shampooed and conditioned,” he says. “It actually takes more work than shaving.”
You hear that Rick Rubin?
[MSNBC: Hairy economy trend: Beards are back]
Related:
Bearded Man of the Week: Zach Galifianakis
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