👑🪒😊Here I explore my (personal) belief (don’t @ me) that there is a positive correlation between mental health and being clean-shaven. Having been clean shaven all my adult life, and having founded King of Shaves in 1993 to stop my (then) painful and unsightly shaving rash and raw skin; I invite you to read on and draw your own conclusions based on my belief that being clean-shaven can help with your mental health & well-being.
👑🪒😊Men’s grooming, including shaving, is clearly considered a form of self-care. For some men, maintaining a clean-shaven appearance can boost self-esteem and confidence, which are tied to mental health. The act of shaving can be a positive and ritualistic process—think of the focus and skill, precision required for a wet shave with a straight razor. This mindfulness can create a moment of calm, reducing stress or anxiety temporarily. On the flip side, neglecting grooming, like letting facial hair grow unkempt, can sometimes reflect deeper mental health struggles, such as depression, where motivation for self-care wanes.
🧔❌🪒But this isn’t universal—plenty of men with beards are mentally healthy, and many clean-shaven men face challenges. Social perceptions also play a role. Clean-shaven men are sometimes seen as more approachable or professional in certain settings, which could lead to positive social interactions that support mental health. Beards, meanwhile, can signal masculinity or rebellion, which might empower some men but alienate others depending on their environment. These are loose associations, though—cultural context matters, and individual preferences vary widely.
👑🪒😊There’s also the angle of personal control. Shaving is a deliberate act, giving a sense of agency in an unpredictable world. For someone grappling with mental health issues, small acts of control like this can feel grounding. But again, this could apply to any grooming habit, bearded or not.
🤷🏻♂️🪒🧔On the other hand, correlation doesn’t imply causation. A man might be clean-shaven because of workplace norms or personal style, not because it directly improves his mental health. Similarly, a beard might reflect a conscious choice or just laziness, not a mental health decline. Studies on this specific topic are scarce, and the ones that touch on grooming tend to focus on broader self-care patterns rather than shaving alone.
🪒😊😁If we dig deeper, we could hypothesize that men who prioritise shaving and skincare, using moisturisers etc. might also invest in other habits—like exercise or therapy—that support mental health. But that’s a stretch without data. The reverse could also be true: mental health struggles might make grooming feel like a chore, clean-shaven or not.
👑🪒So, is there a correlation? Maybe indirectly, through the lens of self-care and social perception, but it’s not a straight line. Mental health is complex, driven by biology, environment, and personal circumstances far beyond whether a guy reaches for a razor.
👑🪒😊If you’re thinking about this for yourself or someone else, it might be worth exploring what shaving (or not) means personally—sometimes the answer lies in the shaving mirror, it’s your choice.
👑🪒😁But, why not try it yourself. Your skin, and mental health might well thank you for it.
#ShaveForSuccess with King of Shaves.