Yes beards were incredibly popular (a fad) for the last 2000 years, No God, no ruler, no saint without a beard. Look at the old paintings. Worse: From Isaac Newton to the inventors of the "industrialised age", all the "founding fathers" had hair in their face. Everybody of any importance had "hair in their face". Geniouses without "hair in their face" were ignored. PS: If I would run for political office, I would grow a full beard (commanding unchallenged respect), reverting to Abraham Lincoln. OR: If the Pattaya "ladies of the night" would find it attractive to stay with Farangs with "hair in their face" I would return to Pattaya . Never shaving, staying for the next 50 years.