Despite long-standing assumptions, beards are not inherently unhygienic. John Tregoning, professor of vaccine immunology at Imperial College London, explains that the idea that beards are dirtier than clean-shaven faces has persisted for decades, but scientific evidence paints a more nuanced picture.
Perception vs. Science
Research indicates that people often perceive bearded men as less hygienic. For instance, one study found that restaurant customers rated waiters with facial hair as dirtier than their clean-shaven counterparts. However, scientific studies do not consistently support this perception.
An early study from 1967 examined bacteria recovery from men's faces after artificial spraying. Researchers compared washed and unwashed faces, both with and without beards. The results showed that the dirtiest combination was unwashed clean-shaven faces, followed by unwashed bearded faces, washed bearded faces, and finally washed clean-shaven faces.
“So if you’re not going to wash your face, it’s better to have a beard,” says Tregoning, “but if you are going to wash your face, it’s slightly better to be clean-shaven.”
Healthcare Settings
More recent research has focused on surgeons and healthcare workers, where the concern is whether facial hair affects infection risk in operating theatres. Results have been mixed. Some studies suggest beards can trap bacteria, while others find little difference. The variation often depends on sampling methods, and most studies indicate that proper mask-wearing eliminates any meaningful risk.
Conclusion
Overall, Tregoning argues that the idea that beards are unhygienic is overblown. “Everything has bacteria on it,” he says. “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.”
