The belief that beards are less hygienic than clean-shaven faces has persisted for decades, but scientific evidence paints a more nuanced picture. John Tregoning, professor of vaccine immunology at Imperial College London, notes that this idea has been around for a long time, fueled by studies showing people perceive bearded men as dirtier. For instance, one study found restaurant customers rated waiters with facial hair as less hygienic. However, the science does not consistently support this perception.
Early Research on Beard Bacteria
A seminal study from 1967 investigated bacterial recovery from men's faces after artificial bacterial spraying. Researchers compared washed and unwashed faces, both bearded and clean-shaven. Surprisingly, the highest bacterial count came from unwashed clean-shaven faces, followed by unwashed bearded faces, then washed bearded faces, and finally washed clean-shaven faces. Tregoning interprets this: "So if you're not going to wash your face, it's better to have a beard, but if you are going to wash your face, it's slightly better to be clean-shaven." Thus, hygiene practices matter more than the presence of facial hair.
Healthcare Settings and Infection Risk
More recent research has focused on surgeons and healthcare workers, where the concern is whether facial hair increases infection risk in operating theatres. Results have been mixed: some studies suggest beards can trap bacteria, while others find little difference. Much depends on sampling methods, and most studies indicate that proper mask use eliminates meaningful risk. Overall, Tregoning says the idea that beards are unhygienic is overblown. "Everything has bacteria on it," he explains. "Any part of your body, with hair or without, is going to have bacteria on it. It's not really a problem unless there's an open wound. Most of the time it's fine."
