A recent study in the Journal of Marketing Communications compared peoples’ responses to advertisements that featured clean-shaven men and bearded men. The results: men with “neat, medium-length beards” were found to be more trustworthy and have greater expertise than men without beards.

As GOOD pointed out, this may have implications for those recent college grads in search of a job! 

Some noteworthy beards: Sam Beam (of Iron & Wine), Abraham Lincoln, Dumbledore, Santa Claus, possibly Jesus.