Beards – the pride of the male grooming routine. They command respect, emit masculinity, and attract the opposite sex.

Somehow, however, it’s not just men who grow them. It’s true – women can also grow beards. It’s uncommon, but when it happens there are far fewer benefits.

Why Do Women Grow Beards?

Women across the world are sprouting beards and medical professionals don’t really know why. The most common occurrences, however, are after childbirth.

Research has shown that the hormones emitted during pregnancy can promote hair growth – including on the face. As a result, some women develop whiskers on their chin, upper lip, and cheeks.

How Can Women Deal With This?

Usually, the hormones don’t stay present for long and begin to die down after a few weeks. For that reason, doctors don’t often advise that women get worried too soon. Sometimes, however, they do persist for longer periods of time.

It’s an incredibly unfortunate occurrence, as there aren’t many options for women who have the hormone raging.

Many women who suffer from the rare condition pluck their hairs on a daily basis, but after an extended period of time, this can grow frustrating. If you have sensitive skin, it can make it even worse, causing redness, soreness, and ingrown hairs.

The Sun, a British newspaper, heard from Mariam Mitbart, a 51-year-old single mother who blogs about the condition:

“At first I was horrified to pluck the hairs on my chin every day. But after nearly 20 years of doing that my chin was very red and some of the hairs had become ingrown.

I tried electrolysis 3 times but each time it grew back. So 7 years ago, I decided I’d had enough of continually plucking and let the beard grow.”

Mariam started her blog to support other women with beards, letting them know that they’re far from alone: “I started a blog telling other women about my condition. At first, I was scared that no-one would talk to me anymore, and my mother said to me, “Do you have to shock people like this?”

Mariam received many abusive messages in reaction to her openness, but she also had positive ones commending her for being so courageous. For that reason, she keeps on writing.

Adele Suffers From the Same Condition

Back in March, Adele shocked her fans by coming out about her beard. Also a single parent, she confessed that she too had started growing facial hair whilst pregnant. At 27 years of age, she had this to say:“I actually have a beard, but I’m proud of it… I call it Larry.”

Women across the world, including Mariam, are grateful for Adele speaking so openly about it, saying that her humor has helped them to come to terms with it themselves. “Having facial hair is so difficult as a woman – so thank goodness Adele has approached the subject with such openness.”

Mariam’s Blog

If you’re interested in finding out more about Mariam and her journey through life, you can find her blog here.

​In my opinion, good for her. Growing a beard as a woman is a tricky thing to come to terms with, but Mariam is helping others with her open and bold approach to women’s facial hair. If you’re a woman with facial hair, we advise you to consult your doctor before getting concerned. Usually, the symptoms decline after a few weeks, so it’s not always something to be worried about.