A beard is the hair that grows on the jaw, chin, upper lip, lower lip, cheeks, and neck of humans and some non-human animals. In humans, usually pubescent or adult males are able to start growing beards, on average at the age of 21. Beard hair is most commonly removed by shaving or by trimming with the use of a beard trimmer. If only the area above the upper lip is left unshaven, the resulting facial hairstyle is known as a mustache; if hair is left only on the chin, the style is a goatee. There are different styles of beards, including:
- Full: downward flowing beard with either a styled or integrated mustache
- Garibaldi: wide, full beard with rounded bottom and integrated mustache
- Circle beard: small chin beard that connects around the mouth to a mustache. Also called a doorknocker
- Designer stubble: short growth of the male beard that was popular in the West in the 1980s, and experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 2010s
- Sea captain: rounded, bottom-heavy beard of medium length with short sides that is often paired with a longer mustache
In addition to its anatomical meaning, the term "beard" can also be used as slang to describe a person who is used, knowingly or unknowingly, as a date, romantic partner, or spouse either to conceal infidelity or to conceal ones sexual orientation). The term can be used in heterosexual and non-heterosexual contexts but is especially used within LGBTQ+ culture).
