O.J. Desjardins, Elmire Barrette and Mr. Delorme, Montreal (detail), 1902-1906. Gift of Jean-Luc Allard and Lucie Surprenant, M2017.46.2.1871 © McCord Museum

The Pandemic and Facial Hair

A short guide to help choose the best facial hair style for the health crisis.

Alexis Curodeau-Codère, Freelance Journalist

November 20, 2020

If I say “viral spread” and “the McCord Museum’s photograph collection,” you may ask yourself what does COVID-19 have to do with the Museum’s collection of historic photographs? The answer, in a nutshell: masks and facial hair.

The moustache is coming back into style. In fact, it is occupying an increasingly prominent position in the facial landscape of contemporary society. Although it is just an emerging fad at the moment, we must be prepared for many other beard styles to grow in popularity. The McCord Museum’s Photography collection offers a sampling of facial hair fashions from the past, giving us a good idea of what we may expect in the future.

However, should the more elaborate beard and moustache styles of the past stage a comeback, there could be some public health issues. Studies have shown that certain types of facial hair could reduce the effectiveness of mask-wearing. While the classic moustache can easily be covered by a suitable face mask, some beard styles are harder to cover and certain types of facial hair can even compromise one’s ability to wear a mask.

To get ready for the new boom in bristles, we thought it would be a good idea to present examples of some of the challenges this trend could present to mask manufacturers. The following expressions are keywords from the Museum’s database that were used to track down images of bearded figures in its collection.

FULL BEARD

 

Left: William Notman, Max Bibaud, Montreal, 1862. I-2572.1 © McCord Museum
Centre: William Notman, Mr. Vogt, Montreal, 1868. I-30308 © McCord Museum
Right: Notman & Sandham, James Taylor, Montreal, 1882. II-63925.1 © McCord Museum

This type of beard is quite common. It is typical of a wise old man, a manly lumberjack or a hip young professional, especially when the latter is wearing a knit cap and holding a coffee.

GOATEE

 

Alphonse Albert Côté, Portrait of an unidentified man, Montreal, 1898-1906. Gift of Jean-Luc Allard and Lucie Surprenant, M2017.46.2.1219 © McCord Museum

This minimalist beard is named for its resemblance to the hair on a goat’s chin.

CHIN CURTAIN BEARD

 

Left: William Notman, R. Thomas, Montreal, 1868. I-34018.1 © McCord Museum
Centre: Notman & Sandham, Mr. McCall, Montreal, 1880. II-57773.1 © McCord Museum
Right: Notman & Sandham, Detective Cullen, Montreal, 1882. II-66481 © McCord Museum

In this style, the beard frames the jawline while the cheeks and upper lip are left clean-shaven for prickle-free kisses. The chin curtain beard is also known as a Shenandoah or Amish beard.

SIDEBURNS

 

Left: William Notman, S. R. Thomson, Montreal, 1876. II-24081.1 © McCord Museum
Right: William Notman, Captain Ball, Montreal, 1868. I-33713.1 © McCord Museum

Grown on the sides of the face, sideburns explore the transition from hair to beard. They can look a little like a curtain that has been opened to let in the light or they can help define the chin.

MOUSTACHE

 

Left: Notman & Sandham, David Watson, Montreal, 1882. II-63866.1 © McCord Museum
Center: Wm. Notman & Son, D. M. Stewart, Montreal, 1906. II-162424 © McCord Museum
Right: Notman & Sandham, F. J. Huntington, Montreal, 1882. II-63800.1 © McCord Museum

Carefully groomed hair grown above the upper lip, the moustache is a classic that is becoming increasingly popular. It offers almost infinite potential for self-expression.

VAN DYKE

 

Edmond Dyonnet, Maurice Cullen, Montreal, 1896-1897. MP-1980.197.1 © McCord Museum

An increasingly popular choice, this beard style essentially consists of a goatee plus a moustache. It is named for 17th-century Flemish painter Antoine Van Dyck. The flamboyant beard he sports in most of his self-portraits has inspired generations of bearded men.

About the Author

Alexis Curodeau-Codère, Freelance Journalist

Alexis Curodeau-Codère, Freelance Journalist

After studying visual arts and philosophy, Alexis Curodeau-Codère now works, wherever he can, to study, explore and illustrate, with portraits and images, human realities and the world's beauty. He is particularly interested in the transformative potential of storytelling, thanks to its social and political role, as well as its use as a tool for public education and learning.
After studying visual arts and philosophy, Alexis Curodeau-Codère now works, wherever he can, to study, explore and illustrate, with portraits and images, human realities and the world's beauty. He is particularly interested in the transformative potential of storytelling, thanks to its social and political role, as well as its use as a tool for public education and learning.