An academic historian claims that the era of hipster beard may soon be over, making men without a beard triumph and men with bushy facial hair get a pair of scissors once and for all.

Alongside the 5th World Beard Day that transpired earlier in September, Dr. Alun Withey has announced the beginning of his three-year research project, entitled "Do Beards Matter." The said study will be funded by Wellcome Trust and is regarded as the first academic research to delve into the ins and outs of facial hair.

The association of beards with masculinity has long been present. In the 1700s, full beards were considered as the manifestation of male sexual authority and virility because at that time, people thought that facial hair was rooted from the heat generated in the liver, which signified lower body power.

Withey suggested that the present generation is in the middle of a long fashion era that involves beards due to the said "crisis of masculinity" that is regarded as a factor that perplexes the modern man. Growing a beard is men's subconscious way of emphasizing their masculine side, he added.

In the upcoming research project, Withey is said to investigate the manner in which beards endured the times when self-shaving or "autopognotomy" entered the scene. In 1770, the first surgical razors were invented and made available. Men then started to admire the clean-shaven Greco-Roman sculptures and thus having a smooth face became the highest sign of being a man.

In the Victorian era, however, beards rose into force again as it started to signify power and the God-given rights of British men. The people during this time were also said to imitate the great explorers of the nineteenth century such as Livingstone.

In modern times, the beard has had its ups and downs, said Withey. Generally, the popularity of facial hair is fleeting. In the 1980s, the designer stubble was the "in" thing. In the 1990s, goaties were attractive and today, full-face beards have grown a little more distinct as well. The length of the modern beard popularity is surprising, commented Withey.

Nonetheless, Withey said that although beards may be popular now, history has proven that there will be a chop to this trend. Facial hair is not meant to remain and eventually, people will once again have something to put up against these beards.

Photo: Mr. Seb | Flickr