WATCH: Jeopardy host Alex Trebek is igniting a “hairy” debate with his new bearded look. But is it time to get out the razors? Tess van Straaten takes a look.
At Uomo Modern Barber in Victoria’s Cook Street Village, men of all ages come for the perfect cut or beard trim.
“Beards are probably at the height of their popularity, if not dropping down a little bit,” says Uomo Modern Barber owner Steven Bailey. “We’ve had about a decade of beards so it’s almost a cliche now.”
But the finicky follicles might be growing in popularity once again, thanks to North America’s favourite game show host who is sporting a hair-raising new look.
“No need to inquire how I spent my summer vacation,” Jeopardy host Alex Trebek quipped on Monday, in reference to his new beard, as he launched the award-winning show’s 35th season. “Things got a little out of hand. Hopefully, it won’t be a distraction for our players.”
Trebek’s white whiskers are throwing fans into a hairy debate — even earning hashtags like #AlexTrebeard and #TreBeard — and Facebook and Instagram polls on “to beard or not to beard?”
But reaction on the streets of Victoria is mixed
“I think it depends on the man,” one lady said. “Some men it really suits and other guys, please shave!”
“I hate guys with bears,” another man added. “Clean-shaven all the way!”
But are men with beards sexier than men without beards? All the guys with beards said yes. And not surprisingly, those without said no.
However, not everyone can pull off facial hair. Experts say you should stay away from looks that are too big or bushy for your face and when it comes to beards and stashes, less is usually more.
“It should add to the whole semblance of the man instead of, ‘wow, I see your beard!'” Bailey says. “It shouldn’t just shock the person looking at it.”
So more grooming and less of David Letterman’s mountain man look or Late Show successor Stephen Colbert’s new beard-like scruff.
But, if you’re trying to look younger, your razor is your best friend.
“That’s something you have to consider when you grow a beard,” says Bailey. “Do you want to look older? Some guys who are young millennials are like yeah, I need to look like I’m not five-years-old.”
So under facial hair for $500…what is suave sophistication?
Tess van Straaten
