Jim Carrey announced he's joining what could be a growing trend: growing a "quarantine beard." He posted a selfie on March 23, saying he's planning to social distance himself from his razor during the coronavirus pandemic.
"I'm growing a beard until we all go back to work. I'll post reg pics so you can marvel at the miracle of my meaningless transformation. Normally, I try to stay on the cutting edge of entertainment. Now I shall conquer the uncutting edge. Please join me."
According to TODAY, plenty of other men are joining him as barber shops across the country close. Quarantine beards are making hair-raising appearances in Zoom meetings, sometimes making classmates and coworkers unrecognizable.
At the same time, questions have arisen about whether there could be a downside to the resurgence of facial hair. According to Business Insider, a widely cited study published in 2019 claimed that beards carry more germs than dog fur.
It's since been established that the germs on a beard aren't much different than germs on clean skin. However, experts still recommend using a beard brush to thoroughly clean facial hair. And Sara Hogan, M.D., a dermatologist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, recommends washing your beard as often as you wash the hair on your scalp.
Beards may interfere with the efficacy of face masks, however, particularly N95 respirators, where a tight fit is crucial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a handy infographic that shows which styles are best to ensure a tight seal on your face mask.