80s Beard Styles

A bit of stubble characterizes the infamous five o'clock shadow.

After the hippie-influenced 1960s and 70s, the 1980s were rather tame with regards to facial hair. In general, younger and older men kept their facial hair growth to a minimum. Because beards were less common, men who sported beards stood out, using their facial hair to proclaim their sense of fashion, style, attitude and sense of community.

Instructions

1. Go unshaven for several days to sport the five o’clock shadow. This beard style turned apparent laziness with regard to personal grooming into a fashion statement. This style, popularized by George Michael, Bruce Willis and characters from Miami Vice, made not shaving for several days sexy and manly.

2. Refrain from shaving during playoff season. As hockey fans know, the playoff beard has its origins in the 1980s. Thanks to a tradition started by the New York Islanders, once playoff time rolls around, hockey players on all of the playoff teams stop shaving. Although this tradition originally applied only to the players, fans now participate in this tradition.

3. Stop shaving altogether. Even though long, full beards weren’t common in the 1980s, they didn’t disappear entirely. White musicians such as members of ZZ-top and William Lee Golden grew long, full beards. In fact, Golden, a member of The Oak Ridge Boys, stopped cutting his beard in 1980. Within three years, his beard was 22 inches long. In the African-American community, full beards reflected the influences of the new Islam and Rastafarian.

4. Choose razor-like precision with a tough attitude. An icon of the 1980s, Mr. T, the star of "The A-Team," sported a distinctive style of facial hair that reflected his image as a tough guy. His beard began just above his ears and contrasted sharply with his mostly shaven head.

References

• One Thousand Beards: A Cultural History of Facial Hair; Allan Peterkin
• Stuff White People Like: A Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions; Christian Lander
• William Lee Golden.com: William’s Beard
• Behold the Man: The Hype and Selling of Male Beauty in Media and Culture; Edisol W. Dotson and John Dececco
• The Technique of the Professional Make-Up Artist; Vincent J-R. Kehoe
• The Berg Companion to Fashion; Valerie Steele
• Hockey Superstitions: From Playoff Bears to Crossed Sticks and Lucky Socks; Andrew Podnieks