The Great Debate: Beards vs. Clean-Shaven Men

SugarDaddy.com surveyed 8,000 women in the United States, ages 19 to 30, to ask if they prefer men with beards or those who are clean-shaven. This report covers the main findings, user comments, patterns by state and city, and what the numbers say about how grooming shapes attraction.

Survey Details

• Respondents: 8,000 women

• Location: United States

• Ages: 19 to 30

• Survey Period: June 2025

• Method: Online survey (multiple choice, short answer, ranking)

Key Questions Asked

1. Do you prefer men with beards, stubble, or clean-shaven?
2. What grooming style feels more attractive and why?
3. Are certain beard or shaving styles more appealing in social or romantic settings?
4. Do your preferences change by season or occasion?
5. Does culture or location influence your choice?

Main Results

Grooming Preference Breakdown

Observation: Most women favored facial hair, with full beards and stubble together getting 66%.

By Age Group

Observation: The preference for full beards increased with age, while clean-shaven faces dropped.

By Region

Region	Full Beard	Stubble	Clean Shaven	No Preference
Northeast	34%	30%	28%	8%
Midwest	37%	31%	28%	4%
South	40%	25%	28%	7%
West	39%	29%	26%	6%

Full beards led in every region, but the South showed the strongest lean.

By City (Top Five Respondent Cities)

Note: New York women leaned most toward clean-shaven of any major city. Los Angeles and Houston women pushed beards higher.

Appearance and First Impressions

Out of the 8,000 surveyed:

Reasons for Preference

Here are the top reasons listed for each style:

Why Full Beards:

• "They look mature."

• "Full beards feel more masculine."

• "They add character to the face."

• "I like the way it looks with most jawlines."

Why Stubble:

• "Looks effortless but put together."

• "Not too rough, not too neat."

• "Gives a bit of edge but not overwhelming."

Why Clean Shaven:

• "Feels neat."

• "Looks tidier in formal settings."

• "Younger appearance."

Why No Preference:

• "It depends on the guy."

• "Style matters more than facial hair."

Season and Occasion

When asked if beard preferences changed with season or event:

Trends in Grooming

A pattern showed up by location:

• Urban respondents leaned more toward stubble and clean-shaven.

• Women in rural areas favored full beards by a 15% margin over city dwellers.

A slim majority said their grooming taste changed after seeing actors, athletes, or musicians with certain looks.

Social and Romantic Settings

When asked which style suits a first date:

For formal settings or family events:

Influence Factors

Women listed these as factors in choosing a favorite grooming style:

• Skin type or irritation risk with facial hair (32%)

• Hygiene and neatness (49%)

• Trends in social media and public figures (27%)

• Partner's job or workplace grooming standards (19%)

Quotes from Respondents

(All responses anonymous, minor edits for clarity.)

• "Beards hide skin flaws and give structure."

• "If the beard is messy, it's a no for me."

• "Stubble looks good on almost anyone."

• "Clean-shaven is the best for job interviews, but gets dull otherwise."

• "I switch what I like every few months."

Which Grooming Style is Associated with Which Trait

Frequency of Changing Preferences

When asked how often their taste in facial hair changed:

• Monthly: 8%

• Every 3–6 months: 17%

• Every year: 23%

• Rarely/never: 52%

About half said they stick to their favorite style, but a third swing between options each year.

By Ethnic Group

Ethnic Group	Full Beard	Stubble	Clean Shaven	No Preference
White	38%	28%	28%	6%
Black	42%	26%	25%	7%
Hispanic	33%	31%	29%	7%
Asian	29%	35%	30%	6%

Stubble had higher popularity among Asian respondents. Full beards led among Black respondents.

Personal Grooming Choice: How Do Women Make Their Decisions?

From the open-ended responses, most women weighed:

1. Facial shape

2.  How well the style is kept

3.  Cultural or family habits

4.  Partner's natural hair growth

Beard Type Details

Women who picked "beard" were asked to name their favorite type.

Beard Type	Share of Beard Lovers (%)
Full Beard	60
Short/Trimmed	23
Goatee	9
Van Dyke	4
Long Beard	4

Short or trimmed beards ranked higher than long or elaborate ones.

Clean Shaven Details

Women who said "clean shaven" shared what mattered most.

Top three reasons:

• "Looks neat all day"

• "No scratchy feeling"

• "Younger, fresher look"

How Women React to Beard Trends on Social Media

Out of all respondents:

• 34% said social media posts have nudged them to like a new look

• 23% said celebrity grooming plays "some role"

• 43% said trends barely affect their choice

How Important is Grooming to Attraction?

About 4 out of 5 see grooming as somewhat or very important to their interest.

Hypothetical Question: Would You Want Your Partner to Change?

Women were asked if they would ask a partner to change their facial hair.

• 62% said "yes, if I didn't like it"

• 38% said "no, I like them as they are"

State-by-State Map (Key Highlights)

• Texas and Georgia reported the highest favorability for full beards (47% and 44%)

• California leaned strongest toward stubble (35%)

• Florida is split between clean-shaven (30%) and full beard (33%)

Conclusion

Most women ages 19 to 30 in our survey prefer some level of facial hair. Full beards ranked highest, followed closely by stubble. Clean-shaven faces pulled higher scores in office settings or formal events but lagged in casual and social situations.

Many base their choice on neatness, how facial hair fits the partner's face, and shifting trends. Family, work, and regional culture can also play smaller roles. Social media sways a third of women toward new grooming styles, and about half say their taste changes every year or so.

These numbers and details help break down what grooming choices matter to young women right now. For men looking to make an impression, keeping facial hair neat and suited to their face counts the most. Preferences do change, but a well-kept look gets the nod almost every time.