Kiwi Men Prove Super Smooth In Facial Hair Survey

December 15, 2003

Kiwi men prove super smooth in facial hair survey

What women want and what men do is often not one and the same thing, but when it comes to guys' facial hair styles the sexes are in agreement.

A Gillette MACH3Turbo survey released today found more than two thirds of New Zealand men are clean shaven, a look the majority of women prefer.

Sixty two percent of women polled in the survey like men who are clean shaven followed by the soul patch (a tuft of hair under the lower lip) favoured by nearly 17 percent of women.

Facial hair styles such as the chin beard, stubble, goatee, full beard and moustache all received low ratings from the women surveyed.

The enjoyment of 'locking lips' with a man sporting a smooth face and a well-groomed appearance are the main reasons women like the clean shaven look. Several women also felt clean shaven men look younger and more honest, with one commenting "I don't like a Hairy Maclary!".

Of the men surveyed the next most popular facial hair style behind clean shaven, although a distant second, is stubble says Gillette Business Manager Andrea Spearman.

"Stubble is the second most favoured facial hair style by men although only nine percent of those surveyed wear it. It seems having a face free of fuzz is more popular among 30 to 39 year olds and the style that just won't go away, the goatee, does tend to be worn more by youth, mainly 18 to 29 year olds," says Andrea.

"Older men are definitely bigger moustache fans, with 18 percent aged between 50 and 59 years wearing a 'tache'."

About one in five men surveyed shave more during summer, most likely because of the hotter weather, but 11 percent of guys will shave less particularly those with moustaches!

When it comes to what influences guys' facial hairstyles, people or things sway young men more with a quarter saying women influence them and nearly 15 percent citing fashion or the latest trend.

Male celebrities also inspire New Zealand men particularly those aged 18 to 39 years. The man with the golden boot and ever changing look, David Beckham, was the most popular followed by super cool and stylish Brad Pitt. Marc Ellis was the highest-ranked Kiwi celebrity, ahead of international stars Johnny Depp and Viggo Mortenson (the stubble wearing Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings).

"There were some quite surprising and funny responses to the celebrity question with Burt Reynolds, John Walker, Kojak, Elvis Presley and a Bollywood hero all getting a mention as influencers," says Andrea.

Men aged over 50 are fiercely independent however. More than two thirds of those interviewed stated no one influences their facial hairstyle, although Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro and 'my father' affected the facial hairstyles of a few men over 60 years.

Gillette, the world leader in men's grooming, conducted the survey to keep up to date on the facial hair habits of New Zealand men and what women prefer and why.

The Gillette MACH3Turbo delivers the closest and most comfortable shave with less irritation, even when shaving against the grain. MACH3Turbo combines several innovations including Anti-Friction(tm) blades, an ultra-soft protective skinguard, a new lubrication system and an improved razor handle.

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