Did The Beard Die From COVID?

Did beards become a COVID casualty? When the founder of Beardbrand reports "a drop in sales the likes I've never seen," it makes you wonder: did mask mandates and lockdowns quietly shave off our love for facial hair? Let's dig into the surprising data behind this grooming shift.

The Shocking Beard Brand Confession

Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, dropped this bombshell:

"We've experienced in 2023 a drop in sales the likes I've never seen."

Here's the deal: This wasn't just one company's struggle. The entire beard care industry has been quietly trimming down. But why? Did men suddenly abandon their grooming routines overnight?

The Google Trends That Tell All

When I dove into the data, the patterns were impossible to ignore:

• Beard oil searches peaked in 2015 and have declined ever since
• Holiday spikes still occur (gift-giving saves the day)
• Each yearly peak gets smaller than the last

But here's the twist: COVID didn't deliver the killing blow. In fact, April 2020 saw a small spike in beard oil searches. But any lockdown grooming renaissance was short-lived.

3 Cultural Shifts That Shaved the Beard Trend

1. The Hipster Hangover

Remember when every guy looked like a lumberjack who moonlighted as a barista? That hipster aesthetic fueled the beard boom - until it became a cliché. By 2018, the beard had jumped the shark.

2. The Mask Mandate Effect

Practical problem: Beards and masks make terrible roommates. The CDC even released beard-style guidelines for better mask fits, with clean-shaven being the gold standard.

Suddenly, health concerns outweighed style choices for many men.

3. The Skincare Takeover

While beards declined, skincare exploded. Millennial and Gen Z men started investing in glow-ups rather than grow-outs. A clean-shaven face became the perfect canvas for serums and moisturizers.

Industry Insights: The Numbers Don't Lie

A quick check on major beard brands tells the same story:

• Beardbrand searches: ⬇️
• Honest Amish: ⬇️
• The Bearded Bastard: ⬇️

Important note: Some decline might be due to market saturation. When Gillette and Old Spice jump in, the pie gets divided more ways.

What's Next for Facial Hair?

Don't write the obituary yet - beards are cyclical. But current trends suggest two rising stars:

1. Stubble: The perfect middle ground between clean and rugged
2. Mustaches: Thanks to "Narcos" and Henry Cavill, the 'stache is staging a comeback

The bottom line? Wear what makes you feel confident. Whether you're team beard, stubble, or clean-shaven, the best look is the one you own with pride.