If you have a longish beard (not just the ability to grow facial hair), how old were you when the first visibly obvious gray strands appeared? If you have such a beard and no gray yet, about how old are you now?

I see a lot of pictures these days, especially in advertisements, of men with big muscles and the obligatory tattoos and beards, and most of the time the beards show streaks of gray. I’m a terrible judge of people’s ages, but because the gray is so common, that’s gotten me to wondering how old those men are.

Comments?

late 30s

Early 30s, already had grey.

I’m in full salt & pepper mode now at age 48, I’d say it began maybe 4-5 years ago. Not going to bother with trying to dye it, it is what it is.

I was 26 when the first one showed up. I’ll be 38 soon, and it’s at least a third white and I’ve got quite a few white hairs up top also.

That's an interesting question, sigfreund. I had breakfast with a friend this morning and we were discussing one of our coworkers. "Our boy" is about 35, I think, and has been clean-shaven for almost as long as I've known him. He's got a face that makes him look like he's 12.

In the past year, he's let his beard grow. I think he's working on the ZZ Top style, now having about 8" of beard hanging below his chin. And it's mixed (light and dark) gray.

It's an odd thing, seeing this fully gray beard wrapped around a Cabbage Patch Kid face.

It seems to me that in the view of the people who produce advertisements, at least some gray in the beard is desirable. I assume that’s to demonstrate that the guy pictured isn’t a callow kid and therefore adds to the validity of the message. My curiosity about the psychology of such things is partly the reason for my question.

I’m 42 now and have a nice gray patch that appears when I let my beard get too long. First time I noticed gray hairs was about 5 years ago but this patch grew pretty quick just in the last year.

Personally I like the look just fine.

Im a ginger, nearly 40 and no signs of gray at all. I think ill turn blonde before gray.

Gingers unite!!!

Gray first appeared in early thirties. Now at 64, mostly all gray now except for a strip along the top of the cheeks.

Yup, early to mid thirties, the gray started becoming noticeable in my beard.

Hair started to become noticeably gray in my mid to late twenties.

I started graying out in my 20's
By my 40's I was more salt than pepper and now in my 50's I look like a skinny Santa if I let it go.
Eyebrows and all are turning white as well.

quote:

My curiosity about the psychology of such things is partly the reason for my question.

We all know that fashions go in trends and cycles, but I agree with you that the “why” is the interesting part.

I wrote a long post talking about some of the facial hair trends of the past hundred years or so, but it kind of got away from me. The punchline is this: I think many men my age grew up seeing all kinds of commercials for Just For Men and plenty of fellas walking around with dye jobs that look unnatural and attract the attention they’re trying to avoid, and as a result, we’re going the other way.

Besides, we’re the only country in the world that allows lead acetate to be used in cosmetic products, including beard dye, where you’re brushing it into hair all around your mouth. I’ll pass on willfully rubbing liquid lead on my face. Maybe we don’t anymore and my information isn’t current and correct, but it was when I first started getting white beard hairs and someone quipped that I needed to get some Just For Men.

I’ll make a prediction: like chemical warfare and the need to wear a gas mask all the time, COVID will kill the beard trend that we’ve been in for a good ten or fifteen years, for all the reasons you can think of, the chief reason being that “mask on beard” looks “pants on head” stupid. I haven’t worn facial hair of any sort for nearly a year now.

The first gray showed up in my middle 40s, but I had gray on my head five or six years before that.

Around 30. With people taking Zinc supplements right now, you'll see more people getting gray hair. I take a Copper supplement along with Zinc to balance it out.

You kind of hit my tattoo concept. This generation is in love with tattoos. Way more than any generation before. You used to have to go to the circus to see a chick with sleeves now you just go to Starbucks. Not my thing, I wanted a tattoo when I was younger and in the military. I’ve aged out of a desire myself. Don’t really care either way with the exception that I have always tried to slow my kids down. Since my youngest daughter is still technically in the payroll we finally acquiesced to a small tasteful tattoo that even I think will age well. She’s a junior in college. Without our attempt to tap her brakes even she admits she would have gotten a tattoo prior that now she wouldn’t want. Whatever.

Point is this, these tattoo people will have kids. These kids will see what sleeves look like when 40 year old mom and dad don’t CrossFit quite so often and ink fades and skin sags. It’s rare to think dressing like mom and dad is cool. Tattoos are going to go back to much less popular as the generations cycle. As will beards. Just my dime store psychology.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
I’ll make a prediction: ….

Interesting observation.
With the resistance I’ve seen to masks, I had largely assumed that most men with beards wore them because they were mandated in many settings these days, not because they believed they served any useful purpose.

I definitely agree with your comments about changing styles and fads. I don’t want this thread to turn into yet another contentious dispute over tattoos, but beards can be as temporary as a single shave. My view about beards is probably uncommon because I can’t stand to skip a day without shaving. I did wear a thick, heavy mustache for many years, but felt much better without the constant nuisance aspects of it after I realized I was putting up with it for no reason. But a good friend started letting his grow just recently, so I don’t think they’re going away anytime soon.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Interesting observation.
With the resistance I’ve seen to masks, I had largely assumed that most men with beards wore them because they were mandated in many settings these days, not because they believed they served any useful purpose.

My observations agree with yours. I don't know a single guy with a beard who believes they work for their intended purpose, and I know quite a few who have them.

I have a mustache and goatee and wear a mask only when I have no other choice.

was not allowed to have a beard at work until I was in my late 40's

I had very dark brown hair,

and had gray hairs start popping in around the time I was 18,

salt and pepper (mostly pepper) at 40, reversed at 50, and will probably be all gray at 60

oddly, my beard is the same, but my mustache part is still 90% or so dark, so it looks like I have a bit of a fu man chu

I'm 37 now. I probably had a few greys here and there by 30, and pretty solid grey patches by 35. My hair is still solid brown, and I haven't really noticed any new grey in the beard in a couple of years, although it could just be sneaking up on me.