Study: Men Say Facial Hair Makes Them Feel Sexier, Manlier And More Mature

In the spirit of the upcoming World Beard and Moustache Championships, title sponsor Just For Men talked to real guys to find out how their facial hair defines them.

With the current national debate about the popularity of beards and 'staches raging, the study proves once and for all the positive power of facial hair.

The study shows that self-expression is the No. 1 reason men sport facial hair.

They also claim it makes them feel more masculine and attractive - and their partners like it.

To find out just how attached men are to their beards, Just For Men asked what it would take to get them to go clean-shaven.

According to the survey, one in six men wouldn't shave their beard for any amount of money, and among those that would consider shaving, half would require more than $5,000 to make the move.

Highlights of the Just For Men facial hair study:

Walk Like a Man: An overwhelming 95 percent of men said facial hair makes them feel manly.
Whisker Wars: A full mustache reigns supreme in the Northeast and South, while burly beards rule in the West.
Designer Stubble: George Clooney's regal silver beard and Bradley Cooper's subtle stubble are the most admired Hollywood facial hair configurations.
Extreme Grooming: While a majority of men sport traditional beards and 'staches, 5 percent are more daring souls who rock mutton chops, handlebar mustaches and Fu Manchus.
The Art of Beardsmanship: The average man spends more than 100 hours a year grooming his facial hair.
Love Isn't Blind: Over 70 percent of men say their partners like or love their facial hair.
"We wanted to know how men feel about their facial hair because our mission at Just For Men is to help them feel confident about their look -- whether that look includes gray or not," said Ralph Marburger, Just For Men brand director.

"With the Just For Men World Beard and Moustache Championships about to prove who has the world's finest beard or 'stache, we felt now was the perfect time to celebrate the power of facial hair."

The Just For Men World Beard and Moustache Championships is a celebration of the most dramatic and extreme facial hair in the world. Contestants will compete in 18 categories, ranging from the delicate Dali Moustache to the anything-goes Full Beard Freestyle, before a panel of distinguished judges.

The grand prize is an all-expense paid trip to next year's world championships in Leogang, Austria, on Oct. 3, 2015.

Study Methodology:
Between Oct. 10 and Oct. 13, 2014, on behalf of Just For Men, Edelman Berland conducted an online survey of 502 U.S. men age 18 or older with facial hair. Results are weighted to ensure demographic representation in line with the United States Census Bureau statistics on age and sex. The overall margin of error for this study is ?4.37 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.