4 REASONS NOT TO SHAVE YOUR BEARD FOR THE SUMMER
Don’t even think about reaching for that razor! The summer heat can be uncomfortable and even more so with a beard, but that doesn’t mean you have to shave it off! Most people assume beards make you warmer during the summer time, which isn’t true.
I hear it all the time: “Why don’t you shave, it’s too hot” and “isn’t your beard hot in the summer?” My answer is simple. I chose to grow a beard, maintain it and embrace it. So, NO I will not be shaving off my beard! Here is a list of four reasons why you should not shave off your beard this summer. Enjoy!
1. BEARDS KEEP YOU COOL
Most people assume beards make you warmer during the summer months. This is far from the truth. Beards provide some protection from the sun's damaging UV rays and actually can help you stay cooler in the summer heat. If you have a longer beard, this will help keep direct sun off your neck, which in turn keeps your body cooler.
Another way that beards help during those sweltering days is they act like a natural air-conditioner. When it’s hot, we sweat and when sweat evaporates our bodies cool. So as air flows through your beard, it actually has an awesome cooling effect. Expert Tip: Grab a spray bottle, add a little water and spray your beard when things really heat up. As the wind passes through, it will act like a personalized air conditioner. Wow! How awesome is that?
2. SUMMER = BEARD GROWTH
To many, the idea that beards can grow more quickly in the summertime sounds far-fetched. However, researchers have actually been able to prove that this does happen. According to one study, testosterone levels increase during the summer months. This is mostly due to the fact that the skin is exposed to more sunlight during the months of summer. Vitamin D is absorbed into the body through sun exposure. When testosterone levels increase, (DHT) levels increase. Vitamin D exposure can raise these levels naturally. DHT has a direct influence on the rate at which your beard grows. So the more time you spend soaking in the sun, your beard just may grow faster.
3. A BEARD CAN BLOCK UV RAYS
Beards can actually provide you with extra sunscreen protection against harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Turns out that beards act as face shields which can block from 50 to 95 percent of UV rays reaching the skin. Studies have shown that facial hair has an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) from 2 to 21. The thicker your beard, the more protection. A beard that is 3.5 inches thick, can deliver a UPF of 21. While stubble can offer a UPF of 2. So it’s safe to say, bigger is better.
Obviously it doesn’t mean you should skip sunblock, it just means a portion of your skin is safer from the sun. Pretty AWESOME if you ask me!
4. SAVE YOU TIME
Not shaving can clear up your schedule for more important things. In 1972 a study was done by Professor Dr. Herbert Mescon of the Department of Dermatology at Boston University School of Medicine. The study revealed that the average man will spend an estimated 3,350 hours of his life shaving. That's 139 days! Almost five months! So no doubt about it, not shaving and growing a beard can save you extra time this summer. I don’t know about you, but I would rather spend that time enjoying my summer vacation than at the sink with a razor!
The next time someone ask if your beard makes you hotter in the summer, you can share some pretty awesome beard facts.
