How the Counterculture Movement Changed Beard Styles

The Glorious Beard – Beard Trends in the Counterculture and the Backlash: Beards in Rebellion – by Cara Reeder

Beards. They’re so normalized and acceptable today that you can’t go anywhere, whether it’s your workplace, or just the coffee shop down the street without seeing a person sporting a beard or mustache. 

However, just forty to fifty years ago, having a beard in the professional workplace was seen in a different light. During the 1980s and ‘90s it was seen as undesirable, even unprofessional. So why were beards so unpopular at this time in the workforce?

The Countercultural Movement brought new fashion styles and trends with it, including increasing popularity of beards. Role models of the ‘60s included celebrities such as the Beatles, who began to grow out their beards as a result of the Movement. To the activists in the ‘60s, the Beatles were not just a band, they were a cultural icon. Through their experiments both in their presentation and fashion style and through their musical choices, they were seen as different and therefore fit in with the lifestyle of rebellion that was desired in the ’60s. 

The Counterculture Movement sought to highlight originality and encouraged people to find their true self, leading many to experiment with beards and personal grooming as a sign of self identity and rebellion. As a result, many of the rising artists who came out of the Movement, such as Allen Ginsberg, grew distinctive beards. Ginsberg rose to popularity in the ‘60s as a result of his unconventional poetry and his activism in the Countercultural Movement. His epic poem – Howl – in particular, was shared in many social gatherings, and he became a recognizable leader of the Movement. His poetry is well recognized even today for its influential work on free verse, and for the cultural movement it represents. 

So how did beards go from widely accepted in the ‘60s to being considered unprofessional in ten years time? This was the result of the Countercultural Movement backlash, which was caused by the political climate and leaders such as Ronald Reagan, who brought back the standard of old ideals and norms to the average American.

In opposition to the movement of new ideas presented through the Counterculture Movement, many of the average working-class Americans preferred to stay close with the ideals they had been raised to believe centered around respectability. Leaders like Reagan encouraged such a lifestyle, leading many in the workplace to prioritize workplace professionalism, and to appear polished and formal, choosing a more clean shaven look than the beards many leaders of the Counterculture Movement had. 

Beard trends through the Counterculture Movement and its backlash show how important role models and celebrities affect style trends, including beards. This trend continues to today, where as a result of events like beard competitions and tools like social media – which open us up to new styles and ideas – we are able to openly express identity in many ways, including through beards and facial hair.  

So the next time you’re out getting that latte, or going in for another day of work, look around and appreciate all the different beards, styles and trends. Which one is your favorite, what does a person’s beard say about them?

As the Counterculture Movement showed—having a beard is not just a fashion statement, it’s a lifestyle.