As long as men have been able to trim their whiskers whenever they please, the beard has been going in and out of fashion. In 2016, a Wall Street Journal piece musingly stated: "If you’re like us, you may be wondering if the vogue for channeling a mountain man has overstayed its welcome." Perhaps it has something to do with the “Beards From Below” fad that was going around social media at the time. It was so bizarre, in fact, that GQ magazine called it the "facial-hair nightmare." Seeing how Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, appeared before Congress a few years later, sporting a Rasputin-like beard which could've poked our eyes out if seen from below, we can't say that's a total exaggeration.

However, recent data shows that the appeal of the lumberjack look has not only stayed, but has become more popular than ever. According to EarthWeb, 2-in-5 (or 44%) American men today sport a full beard. A number which was twice as small half a decade ago. Does this have anything to do with 65% of women preferring lads with well-groomed beards as compared to their baby-faced counterparts? Well, it's hard to say.

But it's undeniable that A-class celebrities such as Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Gosling have played a role in shaping the current trend of facial hair. I mean, how could you not enjoy a face like this? This trend has become so popular, in fact, that even the multi-million "Avengers" franchise incorporated it into their most recent film by giving all the superheroes some form of facial hair. From Bucky Barnes sporting some groomed stubble to Doctor Strange donning a goatee, it's hard to pick just one favorite.

Men grow beards for various reasons, of course. But one of the primary reasons is the sense of masculinity it can bring. Beards have been associated with strength, wisdom, and maturity. This is even backed by science: according to one paper published in 2016, ladies associated beards with men's increased masculinity. It shouldn't be surprising, then, that guys sporting full-fledged beards are also thought of as more dominant.

On the other hand, a study by the University of Hertfordshire found that bearded men are often perceived as "38% less generous, 36% less caring, and 51% less cheerful than clean-shaven men." We're better off if our dear Santa doesn't find out about this.

In order to understand the art of beard grooming, Bored Panda reached out to Brian Garcia, the owner of 'Barber'is Brian' salon in Marijampolė, Lithuania, who, over the last 9 years as a senior barber both in London and Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has seen many different shapes and styles of facial hair.

When asked about the popularity of growing one out, Brian said the period of the pandemic was a curious time, since workers were more eager to experiment when not around their coworkers in person. "Since the pandemic, most of the clients let them grow as they were working from home and they couldn't trim it professionally," he explained, "that's when they noticed that the beard suits them." Others, he said, annoyed with their itchy, shaggy, out-of-control new looks - something that the New Yorker called 'the Quarantine Beard' - came to Brian with requests to put an end to their hairy faces.

Of course, having a beard is not much fun when it's out of your control. Or simply when it refuses to grow. "The secret to growing a beard is to shave," Garcia argued. "The more you shave your beard, the more thicker it becomes. I have tried it on my client and it worked!" And while he is fully aware that it's been scientifically debunked that shaving is not a magical solution for growing facial hair, Brian says throughout the years in the field, this trick did wonders for many of his clients.

Just like with most things that require patience - gardening, yoga, not to mention trying to get into shape - most men can confirm that a beautiful beard comes with a price. Issues such as itchiness, flakiness, acne, dryness, and hair brittleness is something that is expected when one decides to grow one out. And this is where beard oil, essentially a key part of a man’s grooming routine, comes in.

"[Beard oils] help to moisturize the beard as it softens them up," he said. "Also, since your beard doesn't let air go through the skin, it protects it from beneath. The itching you have? Boom, gone! If you go on a date the same night you had your beard done, use beard oil. The smell is great and your lady will appreciate it." However, Garcia explains that one should not consider beard oils as a one-size-fits-all solution. "If you have a small beard, it won't change anything. If you have a medium or long beard - definitely go for it."

As we discuss the art of beards with Garcia, it came to us naturally to ask the most crucial question of them all: how long should you go for? "I read an article where kings and queens in Egypt were using fake metal beards," he explained, referencing the divine beards, a symbol of their connection to the gods, which adorned the chins of these legendary leaders.

"This showed that they have power and they were unique. During the ancient Greek times, beards were shown as honor, as well." Garcia is quick to remind us that his Peruvian ancestors, the Incas, had barely a single stubble on their chins but that didn't stop them from creating one of the most powerful and largest empires in America.

"As a barber, I noticed that many men want a long beard. And some don't. This made me realize that those who aimed for long beards wanted to be seen as macho men. And those with a short beard just wanted an easy-maintaining beard," he said, finally adding that "the perfect length doesn't exist."