Americans Prefer their Politicians Clean-Shaven

For almost 100 years, Americans have been electing clean-shaven presidents (the last presidentwith any facial hair was Taft, who left the White House in 1913). According to executives at Gillette,Boston, MA, there’s a reason why. Americans appear to trust a smooth face over a hairy one,according to the company, and 79% of all U.S. presidents have been clean-shaven.

A recent survey conducted on behalf of Gillette M3Power showed that almost half of the 500women polled said they preferred the clean-shaven look over any sort of facial hair, often statingthat clean-shaven men are perceived to be more honest than men with facial hair.

“The wearing of beards has been seen as a political liability for some time, because of the historicalbelief that they are diabolical, unhygienic or disguise the wearer’s true face,” said Allan Peterkin,assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto and author of “One Thousand Beards:A Cultural History of Facial Hair.” “Beards have been perceived as an expression which could rangefrom communist to anti-establishment.”

In addition to presidents, an overwhelming majority of the richest and most powerful men inAmerica also choose to be smooth, including: approximately 82% of the 100 wealthiest men inAmerica; approximately 95% of CEOs at Fortune 100 companies; 99% of members of the currentU.S. Senate and 100% of the G8 Chiefs of State, according to Gillette executives.October 20, 2004