It’s official. Moustaches are not sexy. Unless it’s for a worthy cause it seems. New research by Zoosk.co.uk, the romantic social network, has found that only 2% of the UK’s females prefer their romantic interest to have a moustache. However, more than half of respondents (57%) said they would be more open to romance with a man who grew facial hair for a worthy cause. So the message is clear gentlemen – if you want to grow a moustache – Movember is your month.
Relationships on Female First
The global survey questioned thousands of couples and singletons from across the globe in the UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Mexico, Sweden and the USA. For the UK, results also showed that stubble was resoundingly popular, with nearly half of British women (47%) preferring their romantic interest to have this sort of facial hair. Goatees also scored surprisingly high in second place, with 12% of women in the UK fancying one on their love interest.
Ladies in the UK will soon face a call to start embracing facial hair over the next month, because thousands of ‘Mo Bros’ will be sporting a tash in support of the charity initiative Movember, dedicated to highlighting issues around men’s health. But, men shouldn’t be too worried about losing interest from their romantic partner this month. Over 40% of female respondents said that they considered men with facial hair to be more attractive; over a third (35%) also said that they appeared more confident.
And the UK’s men seem to agree with their female counterparts. Over a third of respondents (36%) said that when they have facial hair, it made them feel more confident, with one in five feeling more sophisticated. For those that have facial hair at the moment, over a third thought they looked better with it (37%) and one in five grew facial hair because they felt like a change (21%). Over a quarter said they were lazy and didn’t want to shave however (28%) – so it’s not all about the look!
Facial hair growth is also on the up – 10% more males have facial hair these days than their fathers, with 40% of male respondents’ fathers championing the look in the past. Love of facial hair is becoming more of a family affair it seems, with fathers’ inspiring their sons to get the look.
Romance and Facial Hair in the Workplace
Zoosk’s survey also reveals that bosses should be called upon to give clearly direction about whether it is acceptable to grow a moustache during Movember. Less than half of male respondents (42%) knew for certain that facial was allowed in the workplace, with an equal number (41%) unsure. However, the good news is that only 4% of UK males reported that facial was not allowed at all, so there is potential for 95% of Britain’s workplaces to get behind the initiative, if more bosses give the green light.
British men should take the opportunity to enjoy facial hair in the workplace while they can, as double the amount of UK women thought that it was a hindrance (21%) rather than a help (9%) for men with facial hair in the workplace – with ladies stating that they looked scruffy and aren’t taken as seriously.
Romanced by Celebrity Facial Hair
David Beckham is the celebrity with facial hair the UK public would most like to be romanced by, according to the Zoosk.co.uk survey. Nearly a third voted in favour of Becks (31%) – well ahead of bearded comedians Russell Brand (7%) and Keith Lemon (3%). We thought girls loved to be romanced a funny man… but not it seems when a beard gets in the way!
It looks like new pop sensation Harry Styles is perfect just the way he is. When asked which male celebrities would look better with facial hair, only 8% of female respondents thought the One Direction teen idol would be more attractive with the rugged look. Robert Patterson is the celebrity our British female respondents thought would look better with facial hair (30%), followed by Simon Cowell (21%) and everyone’s favourite Essex boy, Joey Essex (16%).
And male respondents in the UK chose Sean Connery as the celebrity that they most idolised with facial hair, with a third agreeing that the former James Bond star suited the look.
International Facial Hair Romance
The message is clear for those with facial hair who ever relocate from the UK. Head to the United States, where nearly half of female respondents said that they were attracted to men with facial hair (43%). France is not such a welcoming destination however, with a staggering two thirds of female respondents straight out disliking facial hair (67%).
And French men seem to know where they stand with regards to facial hair growth. Nearly eight of out ten men would either grow or remove their facial hair if their female romantic interest asked them to (79%) – the highest out of every country in the survey. Facial hair growth is firmly under the thumb of French madames it seems.
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