why do young guys grow beards?

Young guys grow beards for reasons as wild as the styles themselves. Some follow the crowd, others aim for a grittier look. Every beard tells its own tale, and they’re sprouting up all over the place.

Style & Trends

collage: difference in facial hair, then and now

From Stubble to Statement

In the 90's it was trendy to grow stubble - usually a well groomed shadow around the cheek and jawline. Over the past decade, the full-beard trend has taken a firm hold, especially with men in the 20 - 40 age bracket. The reasons that young men grow facial hair vary.

young man sprawled across sofa bed - lack of sleep

Sleep Beats the Shave

Shaving kills the morning buzz. Skipping the routine saves precious minutes and means more time under the covers. Plenty of 20-somethings grow a beard to skip the razor routine and catch extra rest. It’s a clever trade-off that works before the coffee even brews.

Practical Benefits

Cash Stays Put

Razor blades burn a hole in your pocket. Some premium packs cost over $20, and vanish faster than free pizza. Growing a beard keeps the money safe. Surveys show a third of bearded guys in their 20s started out to dodge the blade bill. Hairy pays off.

Appearance Enhancement

barber face contouring with beard shaping on client

Face Fixer

Beards work like a real-life filter. If your jawline isn’t as sharp as you’d like, the right beard shape can help define it. If you want a stronger chin, a bit of length adds presence. Plenty of guys quietly use facial hair to shape their features – even if no one’s saying it out loud. Barbers sometimes call it the cheapest facelift out there – no surgery, no downtime, just smart styling.

man pointing to beard covering skin blemishes

Hiding the Past

Acne can leave unwanted souvenirs that stick around long after the breakouts stop. A beard covers scars without needing anything extra. Plenty of men stumble on this by accident, then keep the beard because it does the job so well. What started as a cover-up becomes part of a confident, clean look.

comparison: man with beard and man with no beard

Instant Adult Card

Nothing says “I’m not 16” like a beard. To a lot of guys, a beard means “grown-up.” Some hang onto that smooth, boyish charm well past their teens, and that’s fine. Others want out of the kid zone fast. For a 22-year-old sick of being carded everywhere or mistaken for the office coffee runner, a beard fast-tracks the whole "take me seriously" look without saying a word.

Respect Magnet

Beards carry a certain weight. People spot a guy with one and figure he’s tough, steady, maybe even smart. For a young man, it’s a handy way to get a little respect. Peers notice, older folks tip their hats, and he’s suddenly holding his own in the room.

Natural Factors

dad and son with different colour, thickness,density and shape of facial hair

The Family Beard Game

Beard-growing isn’t the same for every guy in the house. Dad might turn into a lumberjack in a month, full and thick. One son’s stuck with a wispy chin patch he barely needs to shave, while the other’s rocking a mustache but nothing else. It’s all down to the luck of the family genes—some win big, some don’t.

The Short Story

Young men grow beards for all kinds of reasons – style, ease, or a bit of both. Some want to cover old scars, others want to look older or stand out. Genetics set the stage, but they make it work their way. Whether it’s about saving time or getting noticed, there’s always a reason behind the beard.
For more beard know-how, take a look through our other posts for beard care tips and beard style ideas. Got a beard tale or a reason we skipped? Tell us in the comments!