Why your friends all have the same beard

Have you noticed your mates all sport similar facial hair? It might not be a coincidence...

(Braun Styling 2017)

Shoreditch is still undoubtedly the beard capital of London - and if you’ve found yourself in a Hackney bar recently, you might have been left wondering why half the guys hanging out in there all seem to have a similar look.

A recent report by Braun Styling has shown that you're not imagining it - men are, statistically, two to four times likelier to have friends with the same style of facial hair as themselves. In fact, 45 per cent of long-bearded men said that the majority of their friends also had long beards; only 6 per cent of men who don’t have long beards say the majority of their friends do.

It’s not just the case with longer facial hair – 46 per cent of men with stubble said most of their friends also have stubble, 31 per cent of men with moustaches also have a majority of moustachioed friends, and 49 per cent of clean shaven men said their friends are mostly clean shaven too.

(Braun Styling 2017 (Braun Styling 2017)

While we live in a time that’s all about grooming your own look, there’s also the phenomenon of these “beard tribes” where men find a sense of belonging in others with a similar aesthetic to them. It’s not necessarily a conscious choice, either - the study results revealed that 46 per cent of the men rarely talk to their friends about grooming, suggesting their similar sculpting was a subconscious move.

“Generally, you will feel more part of a pack if you adjust a little bit,” says Style Psychology founder Kate Nightingale, emphasising that “beard tribes” are more about subtle changes to show off a collective style than entirely changing yourself to fit in.

“Wherever you go, you have a tendency to dress, behave, look and groom yourself a little bit more similarly to what you see around you.”

For the times where it is more of a conscious decision, there are various factors for why people might sport a certain type of beard - 35 per cent of responders said they have changed their style for their partner, and 39 per cent said they have shaved their facial hair for work. After all, an Abraham Lincoln look might work well in a craft brewery, but probably wouldn’t fly so well in a corporate office.

Braun Multi Grooming Kit 3080, £35 (Braun Styling 2017)

Finding the right type of beard, ’tache or stubble for you is all a matter of personal choice – so it’s time to set your style free. But if you’re struggling for inspiration over which look to try next, your mates might have the answer all over their faces. No matter what you opt for, Braun has you covered with its range of multi-grooming kits and beard trimmers.

Regardless of your style, the detachable smart clipper combs on the Braun Multi Grooming Kit 3080 give you the precision and control you need to trim your facial hair to anywhere between 0.5 and 21mm. With dedicated heads for head-to-toe grooming too, you’ll be able to take control of your look quickly, safely and accurately. Available from Boots for £35 – click here for more details