Did you know that early humans grew beards not just for warmth but to appear more intimidating but extending their jawlines? It’s not surprising since the facial hair is still used by many to express their masculinity.

In fact, shaving off one’s beard didn’t become a norm for some men (at least in the Western world) until Alexander the Great made his soldiers shave their beards (he thought it was too easy for the enemy to grab onto).

The history of beards is fascinating stuff!

Now, beards hold a cultural cache in some places and within some communities, but mostly for the same reason that they are thought to make some men look, well, “manlier.”

Beards seem more popular than ever now, but it’s also been a way to objectify men. So while we show you 20 amazing beard transformations, we’re going to try hard not to do that.

1. Color contrasts

While lighting no doubt plays a role, men learn something that women have long known about hair – it can look a totally different color the more it grows out.

Maxime Desrosiers is an adventuring enthusiast and definitely looks the part – that beard looks very much at home in all of his ski trip photos.

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A post shared by Maxime Desrosiers (@themaxkin) on Apr 8, 2017 at 2:38pm PDT

2. Boys to men

Sometimes a beard can add years to a face, something most women are trying NOT to do.

But for men, it has the psychological effect (on other people) of making them seem more mature. And they’re lucky that they can change up their looks so easily!

3. Masters of grooming

Ok, so 14 years passed between these two photos, so that’s adding some of the age to this “after” look.

But it also shows that beards can be a great way of expressing one’s style simply by the way it’s groomed.

Greg Berzinsky is a big beard “influencer,” so we expect him to always be using his hair to his advantage.

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A post shared by Greg Berzinsky (@berzinsky) on Sep 28, 2016 at 2:32pm PDT

4. Bald and bearded

For lots of guys, their chin is the easiest place to grow hair!

While these photos were taken 8 years apart, they look more like a world apart.

That is one very well-kept beard – and men also have the advantage of always looking distinguished when they go grey.

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A post shared by Al B Art … (@gentle_giantphoto) on May 28, 2020 at 5:45pm PDT

5. Stubble vs. beards

There’s an endless debate about whether the photo on the left shows a “beard” or simply stubble.

It really doesn’t matter except to show that when a beard really grows out it can continue to transform a face (not to mention show more grey).

Luckily, both look great on this guy.

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A post shared by B E A R D S E A S O N (@beardseason) on Apr 2, 2018 at 4:39pm PDT

6. A toss-up

Just like the endless debates about women with short hair vs. long hair, people will always argue about whether some guys look better with a beard or not.

At the end of the day, it’s whatever makes you confident that’s best.

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A post shared by Sir Alessio Garcai (@dilyangarcai) on Jul 13, 2016 at 7:54am PDT

7. Buff and bearded

We’ve definitely noticed a trend with guys who participate in super-active lifestyles and activities like Crossfit growing beards.

Hey, whatever helps with those reps!

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A post shared by Michelangelo – Italy (@ilbreizh) on Jan 6, 2016 at 1:13am PST

8. Pump up the volume

We love before and after photos and, if you think about it, they’re pretty brave to post – especially if you really prefer the “after.”

Props to this guy for posting the babyface underneath the big, burly beard.

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A post shared by Marxibon (@marxibon) on Mar 10, 2015 at 6:19pm PDT

9. One-year beard

Beards grow at different speeds for everyone, but this is an impressive one-year beard!

While he didn’t change much about his look from the neck down, it’s all a big change from there up.

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A post shared by Sahil Kumar ️ (@sahilkumar92) on Feb 15, 2015 at 9:40pm PST

10. Care is essential

It takes a lot of work to care for a beard like this, especially in a time when germs spread so easily.

Now guys with beards understand a bit about what women go through with all of the various products required to keep their look neat AND clean.

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A post shared by cody murphey (@codymurf) on Jan 25, 2015 at 9:39pm PST

11. Manicured but manly

Joshua Rupert is a Navy vet and self-proclaimed “gadget geek” who says his family loves his beard so much they beg him never to shave it.

It would certainly be hard for a kid to get used to the old look if they only knew their dad bearded!

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A post shared by Joshua Rupert (@ohmyjosh_darnit) on Jan 18, 2015 at 8:55am PST

12. So many options

Once you grow a beard this long, you always have the option of shocking people by shaving it off or doing an in-between by giving it a good trim.

Keep ’em guessing!

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A post shared by Daniel (@isickening) on Jan 14, 2015 at 8:52pm PST

13. Emotional growth

This man suffered from alopecia that affected the hair on his head and on his beard.

But since he grew his beard for cancer awareness, he knew that it would be humbling to do it even if it didn’t turn out perfect.

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A post shared by Husband, Father, Restaurateur (@papadaddy) on Jan 18, 2015 at 2:34am PST

14. Growth chart

Now if this guy let his beard grow until the kid was a teen that would make a spectacular photo series!

That might be going a bit overboard though.

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A post shared by Jean-claude Légaré (@jcop69) on Jan 14, 2015 at 1:52pm PST

15. Beard of awareness

Here’s yet another cancer awareness beard, although he said he wasn’t sure why beards were being used to raise awareness.

There are a couple of reasons though, one of which is to embrace the hair that so many cancer patients lose while undergoing treatment.

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A post shared by patrick jones (@pootroock) on Jan 13, 2015 at 8:06am PST

16. The weekend look

There’s nothing less professional about having a beard. It just makes a big difference if you compare a work photo to a weekend photo.

But beards can certainly be work-ready.

Or you can give up the corporate lifestyle and use your beard to signify you’ve gone rogue – up to you!

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A post shared by Steven Blackwell (@stevie_b_79) on Jan 14, 2015 at 3:37am PST

17. Ginger greatness

Wow, talk about a transformation!

You’ve gotta love when all that red hair grows out.

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A post shared by Joshua Doyon (@inkedupging) on Jan 13, 2015 at 2:36pm PST

18. Good and bad beards

There’s some interesting facial hair out there that not everyone loves.

We’ll just say that we vastly prefer the beard on the right. But it’s not our face to make a decision about.

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A post shared by Da Capo (@dacapofitness) on Jan 13, 2015 at 6:24am PST

19. Let it grow

I mean, what can we say? This is commitment. This is dedication. This is a lot of work.

We wonder how often he runs his hands through his masterpiece.

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A post shared by Transformations (@beforeandafterworld) on Aug 14, 2018 at 7:23pm PDT

20. Greybeard

Never let greying hair get in the way of a good beard.

This one took two days to grow, so he can go back and forth twice a week if he wants to!

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A post shared by Vinnie Tortorich (@vinnietortorich) on Mar 6, 2019 at 8:54am PST

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Guys can express themselves through hairstyles as well.

And they have a lot more to work with. We’re a bit jealous!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: History Cooperative