Facial hair

Facial hair is a secondary sexual characteristic in human males. Most men develop facial hair in puberty.

Male pogonotrophy (the growing of facial hair; beardedness) is often culturally associated with wisdom and virility. Many men style their facial hair into beards, moustaches, goatees or sideburns. A mans facial hair is often affectionately known as his whiskers (only mammals have true whiskers). However, many others shave their facial hair.

Women rarely grow hair on their faces (apart from the fine fuzz that we all have covering our entire bodies). However, a very few women are afflicted with noticeable facial hair growth. Excessive hairiness (especially facially) is known as hirsutism, and it can be a sign of serious hormone imbalance.

Topics about facial hair

• Men and facial hair: moustaches, beards, goatees, sideburns and clean-shaven
• Women and facial hair: depilation and bearded women
• Shaving: the Romans and Greeks
• Straight or cut-throat razors and safety razors, Electric razors

See also

• Hair, Axillary (arm-pit) hair, Body hair, Leg hair, Pubic hair, Whiskers