Pictures in Time: Men who grew their beards long and (women?) who could grow one.

A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck, but not the upper lip, of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsuteness may develop a beard. When differentiating between upper and lower facial hair, a beard specifically excludes the mustache, which refers to hair above the upper lip and around it. Beard hair can occur at any age. Some people from the age of 15 develop beard hair.

In the course of history, men with facial hair have been ascribed various attributes such as wisdom and knowledge, sexual virility, masculinity, or high social status; and, conversely, filthiness, crudeness, or an eccentric disposition. Long or extremely long beards were popular especially among intellectuals, scientists and in arty quarters. A long beard not only symbolized manhood, but also symbolized dignity. It reminded people of the ancient philosophers, and the protestant pastors, who followed the tradition of the old law prophets. A long beard, especially when worn by an older man, and it was grey or white, clearly demonstrated high intellect and reputation. For something as simple as letting the hair on your face grow, wearing a beard can be a strange and sometimes dangerous thing to do. Beards historically have been a common source of cultural controversy.

Hans Nilsen Langseth, 17.6ft

Zachariah Taylor Wilcox 14ft.

Richard Latter 12ft. 6in.

Valentine Tapley 12ft.

Alistar MacWilkie 12ft.

Louis Coulon 11ft.

Edwin Smith 8ft.

John Adam Kerpen 8ft.

Victor Preux, 7.8ft

Unknown man

S. G. Brinkley 5.4ft.

Thomas Wilkinson, 5ft

Ignatz Huber 4.6ft.

A bearded lady or bearded woman is a woman who has a visible beard. These women have long been a phenomenon of legend, curiosity, ridicule, and more recently, political statement and fashion statement. A small number of women are able to grow enough facial hair to have a distinct beard. In some cases, female beard growth is the result of a hormonal imbalance (usually androgen excess), or a rare genetic disorder known as hypertrichosis. Sometimes it is caused by use of anabolic steroids. Cultural pressure leads most to remove it, as it may be viewed as a social stigma. Notable exceptions were the famous (and usually fake) bearded women of the circus sideshows of the 19th and early 20th centuries, before so-called freak shows became unpopular.