The hairy new dating trend: What is ‘Beardfishing’ and why are young people doing it?

Beardfishing is a new dating trend where men misrepresent their facial hair in their online dating profiles.

Much like catfishing—where people create entirely fake online identities—beardfishing involves using old or misleading photos that don’t accurately show their current facial hair.

This could mean posting photos where they are clean-shaven when they now have a beard, or vice versa. As a result, this can lead to awkward and disappointing first dates.

A recent study by Wilkinson Sword reveals that 47% of men admit to using photos in their dating profiles that don’t reflect their current facial hair. There are various reasons for this, ranging from wanting to appear more attractive to simply not updating their profile photos. However, this can lead to feelings of deception and mistrust when the reality doesn’t match expectations.

Facial hair is more important in dating than many might realize. The same study found that 27% of people consider facial hair to be a significant factor in male attractiveness, just behind eye color and hairstyle. This suggests that men might feel pressure to present themselves in a certain way to appeal to potential partners.

Many daters are now calling for more honesty in how facial hair is portrayed in online profiles. A growing number of users—36%—want to see men with different facial hair styles in their profiles, and 40% would like to see men both with and without facial hair. This reflects a broader trend towards authenticity in online dating.

Some people who have been “beardfished” have shared their experiences, highlighting the impact it can have. For instance, Rhiannon, a 30-year-old from London, felt “tricked” after meeting dates who looked significantly different in person due to their facial hair. Another person from Cardiff described the disappointment of meeting someone with an unkempt beard when their profile showed them as clean-shaven. These experiences emphasize the importance of accurate representation in dating profiles.

In the world of online dating, honesty about something as simple as facial hair can make a big difference. As more people seek transparency, it’s clear that accurately portraying yourself—including your facial hair—is crucial for building trust and making good first impressions.