The Report

DATE NIGHT MASTERED

When it comes to love and facial hair - these insights will help you find your perfect match!

Date Night Mastered

ABOUT THE STUDY

ABOUT THE STUDY

The “Date Night, Mastered” study offers a​comprehensive analysis of current facial ​hair trends and their impact on men’s​confidence and dating success in the UK.​​

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Dating is an occasion when men want to feel supremely confident in their appearance, in today’s image conscious world, looking sharp has never been more important.

THE EXPERTS

THE EXPERTS

​​We have partnered with Optimum Research, Behavioural Psychologist, Professor Tim Andrews, dating app Thursday and our very own Blade Master, Dan Gregory to reveal which facial hair styles are deemed most attractive across ​UK and to offer expert advice on how to achieve optimal shaving results every time.

Read the full report
Date Night Mastered

Hydro

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Key Findings

Current Facial Hair Styles in Britain

Style preferences are diverse, but clean-shaven dominates

A survey of nearly 1,000 men conducted in July 2024 sheds light on the current trends and how these styles impact confidence and self-perception. Across the nation, the clean-shaven look dominates, with 46% of men opting for this style. It's followed by stubble (24%) and short beards (20%). Despite moustaches being less popular overall (11%),they hold their ground in several regions. Goatee styles (7%), long beard (5%) and a chinstrap (2%) are the less popular styles.

THE IMPACT OF FACIAL HAIR ON FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The dating game is faster and more furious than ever

The Opinium survey of 2,000 Britons attracted to men found that almost one-third of respondents said facial hair (27%) is one of the key features that impact male facial attractiveness. So, in the digital dating world of swiping left or right, we explored the best approaches suggested by people attracted to men. They say honesty is the best policy. Over a third (36%) state that it’s important to them to see a man show his different facial hair styles on his dating profile if he likes to switch it up. Two-fifths (40%) also say that if a guy has a beard, they want to see what he looks like without his beard before committing to a date.

ONE NIGHT STAND OR READY FOR COMMITMENT

We asked daters what different facial hair styles say about men?

We asked daters seeking men everything, from which facial hair style they are likely to have a one- night stand with, to which style they are likely to settle down with. A stubbled or clean-shaven look are winners for those looking for long-term relationships, with more than two-fifths (43%) of daters seeking LTRs finding them attractive. Clean-shaven men too, are seen as reliable long-term partners by 30% of respondents. For those not looking for commitment, there was a glimmer of hope for moustachioed men, as their attractiveness level increased threefold from 3% to one in ten (10%) amongst those looking to casually date.

CLEAN SHAVEN

MOUSTACHE

GOATEE

STUBBLE

BEARD

CHIN STRAP

MUTTON CHOPS

“Evidence does show that our first impressions of the attractiveness of a person are based on first impressions of the face, both in photos and real life. Other aspects of a person, such as attractiveness of the body also play a role in overall judgements of attractiveness, but these are secondary to the face.”
- Professor Tim Andrews

Make Facial Hair a Priority

Put your best face forward

Your facial hair is a powerful tool in the dating world. It can say a lot about you, so make sure you are getting it right and not giving off the wrong message. We know that different facial hair styles send out unconscious messages to people you’re trying to attract, but there’s also a simple set of rules to follow when it comes to choosing the best style to suit your own particular face shape. Both are important.

A whopping 75% of us agree that not all face shapes suit every beard style. And almost a third (29%) of people have previously asked their men to change their facial hair to make them more attractive. But before you make any rash decisions, just hold up a moment! On the flipside, almost a third (27%) have had a change of heart about a guy after he switched up his facial hair style, and almost a quarter (22%) felt the spark fizzle when their man went clean-shaven. So, it’s important to get to know your face shape and find the style that suits you best.

Read the Full Report
Put your best face forward
“Our research proves that facial hairstyle has an impact on both perceptions of male attractiveness and also personality type. With greater understanding of these insights, men could learn how their facial hair could be a tool in their armoury to help them optimise their performance in the dating field.
– Professor Tim Andrews
Discover the best style to suit your face shape

Find Your Style

Dan Gregory, Wilkinson Sword’s ‘Blade Master’ in residence, is recognised globally for his expertise in barbering and men’s hair. Slide through to see his top tips on facial hair styling.

Bestsellers

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Hydro 5 Men’s Razor & Blade Pack

Featuring carbon coated precision blades, Hydro 5 is designed to protect

From £16.49 £13.19
20% off

Hydro 5 Ultimate Men’s Razor & Blade Pack

Designed to protect your skin from shaving irritation

From £18.49 £14.79

Hydro 5 Men’s Razor Blade Refills 4 pack

5 blades with protective gel barrier for a comfortable shave.

From £11.50

Hydro 5 Ultimate Razor Blades

Built-in shock absorption technology. 5 blades with skin guards.

From £11.50

Classic Double Edge Razor Blades

Double edge blade technology. Reduces friction, creating a smooth shave.

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Protector 3 Razor Blades

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Shaving Soap Bowl

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Classic Double Edge Razor

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Protector 3 Razor

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Cut Throat Razor

Blades are triple refined. Ideal for both a close shave or beard styling.

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