[Statikk HDM]

Hobo: My dad had pictures taken of his high school prom and imagine my suprise to see that he was rocking the curliest afro I'd ever seen.
I asked him if he had an afro pick, and he said he tried it but a twine broke off in his hair. I believe it.
I was reading some things about beard psychology and study today, called pogology. Apparently beards weren't popular in the United States into the 20th century and only academics and cranks wore them. The World Wars were also instrumental in getting people to shave for war and stay shaved and brands like Gillette used the image of a freshly shaved soldier for advertising purposes. Beards made a comeback in the 60s to 70s with the rise of the counterculture and opposition to the Vietnam War, but fell out of favor again shortly thereafter.
On perceptions of the bearded: Positive in the 70s, studies shown that people regarded beards as showing manliness and maturity, but they became associated with dirtiness and and the fringe of society/eccentric behavior. The fringe thing is an easy American culture connection but I don't think the dirtiness thing is. My face is cleaner than it ever was as I have to soap and shampoo it. Lastly, the Midwest favors beards more than any other region in America and I love right in the heart of it. Schwing!