June 3, 2023
From a smooth face to a fashion statement
Beard fashion is a fascinating facet of human cultural history. It not only reflects personal style and aesthetics, but is also an expression of social norms and individual identity. Time and again, beard fashion experiences phases of upswing and downswing, whereby the motivations for wearing or shaving off a beard are complex.
The fashion of beardless
In the early Middle Ages, clean-shaven faces were widespread among rulers. It was Emperor Otto I who was the first emperor to wear a richly downswept beard, thus breaking with traditional custom. A short, forked chin beard and a mustache shaved out below the nose were popular among the nobles of the imperial entourage.
Clergy beard care
However, at the beginning of the High Middle Ages, the fashion of beardlessness spread, especially from France. The clergy was outraged by this fashion and considered the shaving of beards shameful. The beard was considered a mark of clerical status, and it was stipulated that no layman was allowed to shave his beard. In the monasteries there was a clear distinction between the "fratres barbati", the bearded lay brothers, and the consecrated priest-monks, who were clean-shaven.
However, the monks' beard care was not regular, and the shaved face was rather the exception. In the course of the High Middle Ages, monks shaved less frequently, some orders only six or seven times a year.
Beard fashion among northern European men between 1050 and 1150 was characterized by shaving. Young nobles went clean-shaven, while older knights wore a broad, long full beard. With the advent of the 14th century, wearing chin beards came back into fashion. Not only the upper class, but also craftsmen, burghers and even peasants and shepherds imitated the courtly dress and hairstyle. The beard became a fashion statement and expression of pride and individuality.
The council of the city of Speyer even intervened in 1356 in the beard fashion and forbade the wearing of beards and partings due to arrogance and arrogance in the city. Nevertheless, this could not stop the rise of beard care and fashion. The history of beard care in the Middle Ages is a fascinating chapter in the history of male beauty care and shows how the perception and importance of the beard changed over time. From royal court barbers to the imitation of courtly fashion by the common people, beard care has always played a central role in society.
The renaissance of the beard care culture
Since the 1960s, beard care has experienced a renaissance, and men have had the opportunity to style and maintain their beards according to their individual preferences. Regardless of the changes, the importance of barbering as a place of grooming, style and male community remains.
From beard oils and balms to combs and brushes, there are a variety of products that support beard care and promote beard growth. In addition, barbershops and specialized salons offer professional beard care services. Whether you opt for a thick full beard, a well-groomed mustache or a stylish chin beard, beard care has become an expression of individuality, style and personality. It combines past and present, tradition and modernity.
Beard care has become an art form that inspires and fascinates men around the world.
