People worldwide have a common and prevailing misconception regarding the native American beard that Native Americans can’t grow facial hair, but does this statement hold? Is it a fact or a myth?
Your facial hair is directly linked to genetics and heredity though most people believe that your ethnicity is also one of the factors that determine whether you can grow a beard or not, which isn’t true.
Another common myth is people believe that Native Americans cut off their beards until the hair permanently stopped growing, but the credibility of the source is yet to be questioned.
Some Native American men rock a beard style, while others prefer a clean shave. It all comes down to your preference. Therefore, the stereotype of a “beardless Native American” must be removed for good.
Can Native Americans Grow Beard? Yes, They Can!
Whether you’re an African, a Native American, or you belong to a different ethnic group; it doesn’t matter because facial hair is a natural process that grows as a result of testosterone in your body. It’s a hormone that is responsible for the growth of facial hair.
Boys can see the appearance of facial hair when they hit puberty, and in some cases, they tend to develop facial hair when they hit their 20s.
Native American beard is said to be different compared to Americans of European, Spanish, Chinese and African descent with beards. Diversity in the human race results in the variation of all kinds of beards.
Can Full-Blooded Native Americans Grow Beards?
Even though Native Americans tend to be clean-faced and lack facial hair, full-blooded Native Americans can grow facial hair. However, you might expect most of it to grow sparse.
Native American facial hair is usually thinner than the hair of other racial groups. When the Spanish arrived to meet the Aztecs, they reported older men with beards. One included King Moctemuza, whose beard “though thin, looked handsome.”
Facts About Native American Beard
Native American beard is found to be more sparse and fine than the facial hair of Europeans or Africans.
Generally, it is soft, and the rate at which the beard grows is slow. It’s less voluminous, but there are some exceptions.
Some men can grow a thick and coarse beard, while others have a light beard. There is a variation in Native American Beards because there are different tribes among Native Americans and other factors – diet and environmental conditions.
Native American men have different colored beards, such as black, ginger, blonde and brown.
One of the interesting facts is there are some tribes among Native Americans who don’t have a grey beard as they grow old. In general, Native Americans possess brown facial hair.
Another myth is that Native Americans don’t like to grow a beard which isn’t justified. For example, some tribes love to flaunt a mustache along with a full beard, while on the other hand, there are Native Americans who prefer a simple clean-shaven look.
Ever wonder why the Native American beard is similar to the East Asian beard? The answer is pretty obvious. Native Americans find their origins in East Asian countries like China, Japan, and Korea.
Studies have shown that fifteen thousand years ago, the Native Americans migrated to America through Beringia, which was a natural bridge that connected Russia to Alaska.
There were many Native Americans who had facial hair like Tenskwatawa – He was a Native American political leader of the Shawnee tribe with a mustache.
What Races Don’t Grow Facial Hair?
Many people believe that East Asians and Southeast Asians have little or no beards, but you can’t generalize the statement to an entire population of Native Americans. So again, a significant role in genetics comes into play.
Currently, there are Asians and tribal groups present in Russia who have similar beards as Native Americans because their ancient ancestors belonged to East Asia before they moved to the West. In some cultures, people prefer to have a mustache over a beard.
The bottom line is Native American beards do exist. The West has a stereotypical mindset towards Native Americans that they are beardless, which is inaccurate and is often portrayed in Hollywood movies. It’s an undeniable fact that every person has facial hair that varies in color, texture, and density despite ethnic diversity.
What Did Native Americans Use to Shave?
Native Americans used a variety of tools to shave. Using sharp shards of obsidian to shave was a popular method. Using animal teeth and small knives was also common.
Many tribes considered it unsightly to let their beards grow. Usually, they would pluck it. They thought it looked unkempt.
Do Native Americans Go Bald?
Yes, Native Americans can go bald like any other race. Although, male pattern baldness is less common in Native Americans. Most keep their hair as they age, but not all do.
There are many older Natives who are naturally bald due to progressive hair loss. Some Natives even voluntarily shave their heads. Some do it for personal style, while others historically did it for ceremonial reasons.
FAQs
Native Americans have a genetic predisposition to growing less thick hair all over their bodies. This leads to their facial hair growth being sparser than people from other backgrounds.
Most Native Americans have straight hair, but some have slightly wavy locks. Curly hair on Native Americans is extremely rare.
If a Native American grows a full beard, it will be very sparse. Native Americans with a higher mix of other ethnicities in their background are more likely to be able to grow thicker, fuller beards.
In history, Native Americans typically found facial hair unsightly and unmanly, so they didn’t keep it. Today, many Native Americans still don’t wear facial hair as it grows too sparsely to look its best.
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