Beard vs. Mustache — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
Beard is a facial hair grown on the chin and cheeks. Mustache is a hair grown on the upper lip. Both signify styles of facial hair, but in different areas.
Difference Between Beard and Mustache
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A beard is a collection of facial hair that grows on the chin, cheeks, and neck, whereas a mustache is specifically the hair that grows on the upper lip. Both are forms of facial hair but differ in location and cultural associations. Beards can be a sign of masculinity, wisdom, or status, and mustaches can range from thin to thick styles, each carrying its own social implications.
Facial hair fashion often swings between beards and mustaches, which vary greatly in style and grooming needs. A full beard usually requires more extensive care than a mustache, which can be a focal point of a man's face without encompassing the entire jawline. Both beards and mustaches can be shaped and trimmed to match personal style or cultural trends, but the beard generally provides a more dramatic effect.
Historically, both beards and mustaches have gone in and out of vogue. Beards have been symbols of ruggedness and survival, while mustaches have often been associated with refinement and sometimes villainy in Western cultures. In contemporary society, both are accepted, though some professions may still favor a clean-shaven look over beards or mustaches.
Beards may be a natural state for most men if they refrain from shaving, while growing a prominent mustache often requires intentional grooming and sometimes even the use of mustache wax for styling. Both beards and mustaches can affect a man's appearance drastically, with beards generally altering the perceived shape of the face more than mustaches.
In literature and media, a character's beard or mustache can be an important descriptor that helps define their personality or social role. Beards might suggest a character's ruggedness or wisdom, while mustaches might imply sophistication, villainy, or comical traits. Both beards and mustaches serve as important tools for character development and visual storytelling.
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Comparison Chart
Location on Face
Grows on chin and cheeks.
Grows on the upper lip.
Historical Symbolism
Denotes wisdom or strength.
Often seen as distinguished.
Maintenance Level
Requires more grooming.
Easier to maintain.
Variety of Styles
Ranges from stubble to full.
Ranges from pencil to handlebar.
Impact on Face Shape
Can change perceived shape.
Affects less of face shape.
Compare with Definitions
Beard
A symbol of masculinity or maturity.
His beard was a rite of passage into manhood.
Mustache
A style or fashion statement.
The handlebar mustache made a bold statement at the party.
Beard
Anything that resembles a beard in appearance or function.
The goat's beard was tangled with burrs.
Mustache
A distinct facial feature that can alter appearance significantly.
His new mustache changed his look completely.
Beard
In botany, a tuft or growth of hairs or bristles on certain plants.
The wheat's beard shimmered in the sunlight.
Mustache
In animals, whiskers or similar structures near the mouth.
The cat's mustache twitched as it sensed movement.
Beard
To boldly confront or challenge someone.
She decided to beard the lion in his den.
Mustache
The hair growing on the human upper lip, especially when cultivated and groomed.
Beard
A beard is the hair that grows on the jaw, chin, upper lip, lower lip, cheeks, and neck of humans and some non-human animals. In humans, usually pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards.
Mustache
A group of bristles or hairs about the mouth of an animal.
Beard
A growth of hair on the chin, cheeks, and throat of a person, especially a man.
Mustache
Distinctive coloring or feathers near the beak of a bird.
Beard
A tuft or growth of hairs, bristles, or other hairlike threads on a plant or animal.
Mustache
Food or drink sticking conspicuously to the upper lip
Wiped the milk mustache from my face.
Beard
One who serves to divert suspicion or attention from another, especially a person of the opposite sex who accompanies a gay man or lesbian to give the impression of heterosexuality.
Mustache
(US) moustache.
Beard
(Printing)The raised slope on a piece of type between the shoulder or counter and the face.Also called neck.
Mustache
That part of the beard which grows on the upper lip; hair left growing above the mouth.
Beard
To furnish with a beard.
Mustache
A West African monkey (Cercopithecus cephus). It has yellow whiskers, and a triangular blue mark on the nose.
Beard
To confront boldly.
Mustache
Any conspicuous stripe of color on the side of the head, beneath the eye of a bird.
Beard
Facial hair on the chin, cheeks, jaw and neck.
Mustache
A stain or discoloration on the upper lip of a person; as, wearing a milk mustache.
Beard
The cluster of small feathers at the base of the beak in some birds.
Mustache
An unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip;
He looked younger after he shaved off his mustache
Beard
The appendages to the jaw in some cetaceans, and to the mouth or jaws of some fishes.
Mustache
The hair growing on the upper lip.
He trimmed his mustache meticulously.
Beard
The byssus of certain shellfish.
Mustache
A symbol of masculinity or sophistication.
His mustache added to his debonair charm.
Beard
The gills of some bivalves, such as the oyster.
Beard
In insects, the hairs of the labial palpi of moths and butterflies.
Beard
(botany) Long or stiff hairs on a plant; the awn.
The beard of grain
Beard
A barb or sharp point of an arrow or other instrument, projecting backward to prevent the head from being easily drawn out.
Beard
The curved underside of an axehead, extending from the lower end of the cutting edge to the axehandle.
Beard
That part of the underside of a horse's lower jaw which is above the chin, and bears the curb of a bridle.
Beard
That part of a type which is between the shoulder of the shank and the face.
Beard
A fake customer or companion, especially a woman who accompanies a gay man, or a man who accompanies a lesbian, in order to give the impression that the person being accompanied is heterosexual.
Beard
To grow hair on the chin and jaw.
Beard
(transitive) To boldly and bravely oppose or confront, often to the chagrin of the one being bearded.
Robin Hood is always shown as bearding the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Beard
(transitive) To take by the beard; to seize, pluck, or pull the beard of (a man), in anger or contempt.
Beard
(transitive) To deprive (an oyster or similar shellfish) of the gills.
Beard
Of bees, to accumulate together in a beard-like shape.
Beard
Of a gay man or woman: to accompany a gay person of the opposite sex in order to give the impression that they are heterosexual.
Beard
The hair that grows on the chin, lips, and adjacent parts of the human face, chiefly of male adults.
Beard
The long hairs about the face in animals, as in the goat.
Beard
Long or stiff hairs on a plant; the awn; as, the beard of grain.
Beard
A barb or sharp point of an arrow or other instrument, projecting backward to prevent the head from being easily drawn out.
Beard
That part of the under side of a horse's lower jaw which is above the chin, and bears the curb of a bridle.
Beard
That part of a type which is between the shoulder of the shank and the face.
Beard
An imposition; a trick.
Beard
To take by the beard; to seize, pluck, or pull the beard of (a man), in anger or contempt.
Beard
To oppose to the face; to set at defiance.
No admiral, bearded by these corrupt and dissolute minions of the palace, dared to do more than mutter something about a court martial.
Beard
To deprive of the gills; - used only of oysters and similar shellfish.
Beard
The hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
Beard
A tuft or growth of hairs or bristles on certain plants such as iris or grasses
Beard
A person who diverts suspicion from someone (especially a woman who accompanies a male homosexual in order to conceal his homosexuality)
Beard
Hairy growth on or near the face of certain mammals
Beard
Tuft of strong filaments by which e.g. a mussel makes itself fast to a fixed surface
Beard
Go along the rim, like a beard around the chin;
Houses bearded the top of the heights
Beard
A growth of hair on the chin and cheeks of a man's face.
He stroked his beard thoughtfully.
Common Curiosities
What defines a beard?
A beard is the hair that grows on the chin, cheeks, and neck of a person, usually a man.
Can women have beards or mustaches?
Women can have facial hair due to hormonal variations, but it's less common and typically finer.
What is a goatee?
A goatee is a style of beard consisting of hair on the chin but not on the cheeks, sometimes including a mustache.
What defines a mustache?
A mustache is the hair that grows specifically on the upper lip.
What's the purpose of a mustache?
Historically, mustaches have served as symbols of status, masculinity, and fashion.
How do you maintain a beard?
Beards require regular washing, combing, trimming, and sometimes conditioning.
How do you maintain a mustache?
Mustaches need regular trimming and some may use styling products for shaping.
What does a white beard or mustache signify?
A white beard or mustache typically signifies aging or wisdom.
How long does it take to grow a beard or mustache?
Growth rate varies, but a full beard can take 2-4 months, while a mustache may require 2-6 weeks.
Is it more professional to have a beard or mustache?
Professionalism varies by culture and workplace; both can be acceptable if well-groomed.
What are some popular beard styles?
Popular styles include the full beard, stubble, and chinstrap.
What are some popular mustache styles?
Popular styles include the chevron, handlebar, and pencil mustache.
Do mustaches have any health benefits?
There's no significant health benefit; it's primarily a personal style choice.
Can having a beard or mustache affect job opportunities?
It can, depending on the industry norms and company policies on facial hair.
Do beards protect from UV rays?
Yes, beards can provide some protection against UV radiation.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
