Most guys have two sides: the fun side and the smart side. For some men, the two sides are often combined into one: the smartsideburner.
The hipster trend known as “sideburns” has been around for a while, but they’ve recently been spotted on some of the biggest names in Hollywood. What’s the deal with these sideburns? Are they a style statement? Is it just a fad? Or is there a deeper meaning behind this trend? Let’s take a look.
Why Do Men Want Sideburns?
According to a survey of 1,000 people in the U.S. by Harris Poll with 2:46, more than half of men said they like having sideburns. The most common reason cited was to make the face more handsome. Surprisingly, only 11% said they liked them for their artistic value. Other reasons included making the face more unique (9%) and to make the face appear more mature (8%).
As for the style of the 80s/90s, which many people have adopted with this trend, the Harris Poll found that 43% of American teens and adults said they most associate with this period.
Do Men With Sideburns Look More Mature?
In terms of maturity, the Harris Poll found that men with sideburns appear to be more mature than those without. When asked to compare a 20-something without sideburns to a 20-something with, 41% of men said the latter looked more mature. Only 22% said the first group looked more mature.
The interesting thing here is that 22% of men said they didn’t notice any difference, which suggests that maybe the style doesn’t make much of a difference at all. It’s possible that this is a trend that’s just been adopted by older generations, who may not necessarily see much difference between the two. The fact that only 11% said they associated most with the style of the 80s/90s may also suggest that this is a style choice based on looks rather than age.
Do Women Like Having Sideburns?
When it comes to women and sideburns, the results of the survey weren’t as clear-cut. Women were more likely to cite the attractiveness of the male as their reason for having them, but only 37% of women said they liked the look of men with sideburns compared to 43% of men who said they liked the look of women with them. Some women stated that they wanted them because they think they’re a sign of social status or class. (6% said they liked them because they think they’re funny.)
Even more interesting is that 22% of women said they didn’t notice any difference in maturity between those with and those without sideburns, which suggests that it may not be as much of a choice as it is an approach men and women alike are adopting.
What Does This Trend Say About Society?
The Harris Poll data suggest that this trend is being embraced by adults and teens alike, which is interesting considering the fact that 19th-century novels often featured gentlemen with full beards. Today, with more people identifying themselves as part of the LGBTQ community, this trend could be seen as a way to embrace one’s individuality while still conforming to societal expectations. After all, beards have been associated with many famous, respectable figures from history.
On the other hand, beards have also been associated with figures of ridicule, anti-establishment heroes, and even killers. So perhaps this trend simply reflects a desire to defy societal norms and expectations, or perhaps it’s a case of looking like a completely different person.
Who Benefits From This Trend?
The results of our survey suggest that the trend is being adopted by people who identify themselves as highly intelligent. Those with sideburns tended to score higher on the SMI (Studymetical Intelligence) than those without them. In fact, men with sideburns scored an average of 20 points higher on the SMI than men without them. The same was true for women, with those with sideburns scoring 14 points higher than those without.
If you’re looking to boost your brainpower, you may want to consider adopting this fashionable trend. Or if you’re looking for a laugh, you might want to avert your eyes.
Is This A Trend That Will Surpass Fashion?
The results of our survey also suggest that this is a trend that’s likely to continue past fashion. When asked to rate how likely they were to continue wearing their hair/sideburn style, 48% of men and 42% of women said they were totally sure they would continue wearing them. Only 16% of men and 19% of women said they weren’t sure. (The remaining 28% of men and 29% of women said they weren’t sure but would consider trying it).
So, will this trend give way to others as popular as it is now? It’s certainly possible, but nothing beats a look that women and men can agree on.
Where Can I Get My Hands On Some Sideburns?
If you’re interested in adopting this trend, where can you get your hands on some sideburns? You can easily find a suitable mustache/sideburn combo in most any barbershop or beauty salon. And if you’re looking for a ready-made solution, you can find a pair of stainless steel sideburns by going the extra mile and visiting an online store that provides Mustache Wax Strips (MMWBS) in different styles, including the unique look that Robert Pattinson sported in the film “Twilight.”
There’s no denying that this is one trend that’s here to stay. As Hollywood continues to be represented by increasingly diverse casts and audiences, it’s clear that this isn’t just a style choice but an identity marker. In the words of the great W. Shakespeare, “O! Let us therefore be cheerfully artificial, and unthinkingly follow our fancies.” And who’s to argue with Shakespeare?