Do Beards Keep Men Warmer in Winter?

Facial hair is coarser than scalp hair and grows on a different cycle than that on the head, says Dr. Rossi, who has published research on hair and cosmetics. The anagen phase is when hair grows; the catagen phase is when it is resting; and the telogen phase is when hair falls out of the follicles. “The anagen period is shorter in beards, which is why it grows fast,” says the New York-based dermatologist. “Then it has a longer telogen period, so the hair stays in place longer.” Most men’s anagen phase for facial hair is too short to allow for a long, flowing beard, and many also suffer from bald patches caused by alopecia, leaving them with uneven beards. Dr. Rossi says dermatologists haven’t studied the phenomenon enough, but most believe the ability to grow a thick, long beard is genetic and consistent throughout the seasons.

The Heat Trap

Historically, men who worked outdoors grew out their beards, says Dr. Rossi, which led many to assume facial hair kept them warm. “Hair exists to help us regulate body temperature, so that makes sense,” he says.

When we get cold, tiny muscles in the skin contract, causing the hair on the body to stand up. “Those standing-up hairs trap air and heat onto your skin,” says Dr. Rossi. This happens on the face, as well as on the body. A 1988 European study showed that, among bearded men exposed to heat, those with bald scalps produce more than twice as much sweat as those with hairy scalps, which implies that beards trap heat, says Dr. Rossi. Another study in China in 2012 found that, among 100 participants, upper lips with hair were on average 1 degree warmer than hairless cheeks. This may explain why many men grow beards in winter and shave more regularly in summer.

The downside is that when a beard gets wet in the cold, it could freeze. Dr. Rossi believes this would likely be more common among men with long beards than those with tightly groomed ones, but if you are outside in a wintry mix of rain and snow, “a frozen beard of any length would outweigh the benefits of keeping the skin warm.”

Your Beard, Your Barrier

A well-groomed beard can have other positive effects on men. “Facial hair can protect your skin from wind, which is chilling,” says Dr. Rossi. “And hair definitely prevents the penetration of the sun.” Beard hair has a natural SPF, he says, and is usually darker than skin or scalp hair. “As far as heat-trapping goes, hair density is more important than color. But for sun protection, dark hair is better,” he says.

Like eyelashes or nose hairs, “a beard can also act as a barrier against bacteria, catching it before it can enter the mouth or nostrils,” he says, though he is yet to see studies to prove this.

Grooming 101

Dr. Rossi says he sees more patients with questions about beard maintenance. He tells men to wash their beards regularly to kill bacteria and invest in a nice pair of beard trimmers “with a designated length setting,” as well as a beard comb. For men with curly hair, he advises shaving in one direction, going with the grain. “When you shave against the grain, it creates a sharp edge that the hair can grow back into, causing ingrown hairs,” the dermatologist says.

He also recommends slathering on beard oil daily. “Because facial hair is coarser and curlier than other body hair, a beard oil will keep it soft and prevent hairs from curling back into the skin, creating ingrown hairs,” he says. An added bonus in winter: oil acts as a humectant, “trapping even more heat on the skin,” he says.