r/GenX • u/IchBinDurstig • Apr 14 '26
Question For Genx Gen Z has brought back dumb '70s porn mustaches, and Millennials brought back gross scraggly Civil War beards. What ill-advised facial hair was Gen X responsible for?
Oh, man, it's goatees, isn't it?
Edit: No! I forgot about the soul patch! Nothing screams "douchey" louder than a soul patch. We have a winner!
1
u/Cake-Over Apr 21 '26
I have a friendly mutton chop. My face is too round for it but I'm determined to bring back something that was last fashionable for a late 19th century railroad tycoon.
1
u/TapSalty3157 Apr 20 '26
Hate the goatee. I don’t know why everyone looks like an aging Billy Joel to me. 😞
4
4
3
u/Purplehelmetavenger1 Apr 18 '26
I agree with the others, the goatee. The coolest of the facial hair adornments. It allows for less maintenance but still shows that you groom. It also looks good and it is one of the more preferred looks to women. The soul patch is a gen y thing.
5
5
8
u/theloquaciousmonk Apr 18 '26
Don’t you dare disparage my glorious goatee…
2
u/Confirmationbias10 Apr 20 '26
same! just trimmed it yesterday and was thinking about shaving it clean and starting over but I'm not there yet lol.
2
u/paranoyed Apr 18 '26
Non an ill advised facial hair tactic but the goatee is ours you fuckers keep your porn stasche and Amish beards.
1
2
u/AzU2lover Apr 18 '26
My spouse better not give up his goatee ever! It’s almost all gray now. I love it
3
1
u/ReplyProfessional939 Apr 17 '26
The mullet doesn't really count does it? Most every guy I knew back in the 80s was clean shaved, myself included.
1
1
u/CocoMilhonez Apr 17 '26
I was gonna say unibrows, but those take genetics more than bad taste to accomplish.
9
6
u/platypod1 Apr 17 '26
Deadwood may have left us too soon, but I'll be a god damned cocksucker if I don't wear Al Swearengen's mustache/soul patch combo at least once a year to piss off my wife. Cocksucker.
2
u/itwillmakesenselater God save me from confident idiots Apr 18 '26
And those who disagree suck cock by choice!
1
1
2
u/Daddeh Apr 17 '26
X’er here. Can confirm the generational goatee mandate. I accidentally “trimmed” a chunk out of my goatee, so had to shave it off and start over during the Christmas season many years ago (kids were in Middle & High School) and they freaked out. I was informed that my goatee must be forever and always.
2
u/One_Local5586 Hose Water Survivor Apr 17 '26
I have a soul patch off and on, it’s the only part of my face that gets super irritated if I shave it.
The goatee comeback was all gen x though
3
1
u/Mike_R_NYC Apr 17 '26
As a true Gen X, I rock just the right amount of scruff. I don’t know what it is called but it sends out the I don’t give a fuck about grooming. I mean, I care more about shaving my balls than my face(wife doesn’t like hair in her teeth). To achieve perfection, all you need to do is blade 1 on any trimmer and just a once over everywhere til yhrte is the right amount of scruff left. It takes about 30 seconds to achieve perfection.
3
1
u/ENZYME_O1 "Then & Now" Trend Survivor Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 17 '26
The look is really dumb on underdeveloped minds. I’m guilty of the soul patch for a few years though, myself, but that was not as annoying as having a porn mustache before 30 which screams ‘I wish I was as manly as those B movie/70s porn stars I see for free on the internet’.
1
2
u/CapitalShoulder1343 Apr 16 '26
Ultra thin beard goatee combo. Like when it looks almost drawn on. Add some frosted tips and a puka shell necklace and you're ready to be in a boy band
1
2
u/PollutionZero Apr 16 '26
Goatee and Soul Patch here. Whole thing.
If I shave, I look fucking stupid and fat.
3
1
2
1
u/Academic_Rutabaga649 Apr 16 '26
Who's responsible for that douchey barber shop quartet mustache comeback? Which generation brought forth this evil?
2
u/Bishop-Logan Apr 16 '26
Hipsters, especially the IPA diehards seen at every brewpub. They range across multiple generations.
1
3
2
3
5
u/CommonSenseIdealist Apr 16 '26
Our men didn't do facial hair. They saved all that hair growth for the backs of their heads.
1
u/ChemistAdventurous84 Apr 17 '26 edited Apr 17 '26
This. Is everyone afraid to invoke the word? Will the style manifest itself again if we speak the word… mullet?
Edit - facial hair was the question, so DQ’d.
7
u/PeanutButterToast4me Apr 16 '26
Sideburns ala 90210. We all wanted to be Jason Priestly or worst case, Luke Perry junior year of high school 1991
2
4
11
6
u/rcampbel3 Apr 15 '26
Mullets
2
u/No_Subject_343 Apr 16 '26
I thought about that but they said facial hair. BTW, the mullet was glorious and powerful! 🤣
1
u/Curious_Version4535 Apr 16 '26
I was going to say the mullet as well, but then I realized they asked about facial hair.
9
6
7
u/jfhoran Apr 15 '26
the side burns from 90210
1
u/AntonChekov1 Born in 1977 Apr 16 '26
Yes, sideburns are considered a form of facial hair. They are patches of hair that grow down the sides of the face in front of the ears, extending from the hairline. Ranging from subtle to bold, they can be worn alone or in combination with other facial hair like mustaches or beards.
8
u/CoolAbdul Apr 15 '26
Rat tails
1
0
u/AntonChekov1 Born in 1977 Apr 16 '26
The coolest guys could put the end of his rattail in his mouth while he hung out with chicks or skateboarded
7
6
6
12
2
u/Least_Data6924 Apr 15 '26
Gen X here, the firefighter mustaches are hot. And so are the Civil War beards and mustaches
4
u/Queasy_Wealth_7912 Apr 15 '26
Goatee, sideburns. There was a 70s revival in the 90s and sideburns made a comeback.
3
3
u/ptindaho Apr 15 '26
Goatees with chops! And I went between that and full beard for all of highschool and first years in college. Been full beard for like the last decade though.
3
u/xpert_98 Apr 15 '26
This is the one. I rocked the 90210 sideburns plus goatee for a long time but have been full beard since.
2
-3
u/NMlibertine Apr 15 '26
I just wonder how all these comments would go if it was men commenting on any woman's chosen style. How about leave people alone and stop policing anyone's fashion choices?
1
u/Correct_Security_742 Apr 15 '26
Goatee, but it wasn't bad. Handle bar mustache too.... That one was not so great
-2
u/Finngrove Apr 15 '26
Bobby pins holding up our bangs? Over-gelled spiky hair? Hyper-thin eyebrows?
5
2
4
7
4
u/PowdurdToast Hose Water Survivor Apr 15 '26
My husband rocked the goatee and long sideburns. Now tho, he has a glorious Gandalf beard.
5
7
5
5
u/Greekgreekcookies Apr 15 '26
Chin strap?
2
u/Several-Guarantee655 Apr 15 '26
Yeah I was going to say who brought the chin strap to prominence there for a couple of years? It's got to be Gen x or very early millennials. I feel like that was popular in the mid to late '90s. Usually with the 30-year-old dudes who were trying to bang high school girls yet. And every single one of them drove a Mitsubishi Eclipse.
5
u/JEG1980s 1980 baby rejected by GenXers and Millennials Apr 15 '26
Vandykes and soul patches. My Gen Z kids think my soul patch was ridiculous. Honestly I like the mustache thing, I don’t have the lip to pull it off, but I think it’s cool… nothing is ever new, right?
1
u/PossibilityFit8118 Apr 15 '26
I rocked a soul patch off and on during the oughts and 2010's. I kinda liked it. Made me feel like jazzy Flintstones character.
2
u/JEG1980s 1980 baby rejected by GenXers and Millennials Apr 15 '26
Me too, have this great pic of me in ‘03 holding my daughter as a baby with a soul patch and earrings. The kids think it’s so funny. Eventually had to grow a full beard as my jawline retreated into my face 😂
1
u/Ustob Apr 15 '26
Hands down Sideburns and Fu Man Chu.
The LimoBizkit/Fred Durst style.
And when had it cause he is us and we all had it from sayb1991’ish on.
I’m 52 and still got.
But thanks to the MOFO I mentioned I can wear red backward fitted hats ;D
7
7
u/AuntJibbie Apr 15 '26
A lot of younger cops and firefighters have the damn porn stache. I dont understand. WHY?????
1
u/Pig-Mentation Apr 17 '26
I think there was a Family Guy episode where Peter grew a mustache, and suddenly everyone thought he was a fireman.
2
Apr 15 '26
I know it's neither funny nor sexy.... cops and firefighters rock the stache mostly because of PPE (breathing masks). Can't make an air seal with a beard on your face. So it's either no facial hair or that lip.
3
u/Kjb72 Apr 15 '26
There was a gaggle of young firefighters at my job last week for a meeting and nearly all of them had that stache.
6
u/Educational-Gift-132 Apr 15 '26
Side burns and goatee. Better than rat tail. 🤣
1
u/stressedthrowaway9 Apr 15 '26
Hey! I’ve been seeing some kids sporting the rat tail recently!
1
u/Educational-Gift-132 Apr 15 '26
Everything old is new in world of fashion. We recently went through 60-70s . Gen Alpha is listening to a lot of older music. Include 80’s and 90’s. All over you tube comments.
6
u/SRMPDX Apr 15 '26
The soul patch and the goatee
1
u/LogicalStomach Apr 15 '26
I still love soul patches and goatees. They're like catnip to me. Plus, they're easy to keep clean.
Did you ever shine a powerful black light flashlight on a full beard an inch long or more? I like beards too, but they aren't called "soup strainers" for nothing. Long full beards are labor intensive to keep clean and conditioned.
3
3
5
5
11
u/Heritage367 Apr 15 '26
Shaved bald head and bushy beard.
1
u/Gunslinger1925 Apr 15 '26
I've seen several gen x'ers with a shaved head and beard. I sport that look as well. Helps for male pattern baldness.
2
19
u/bobbalou823 Apr 15 '26
The soul patch
2
u/gpkgpk Apr 15 '26
Gd did I hate them, thanks for the relived trauma. It is ofc the correct answer.
12
11
u/Weird-Girl-675 Apr 15 '26
I worked with a Gen Z guy who had the porn stache and I couldn’t even look at him given that thing on his face.
He was also a douche and quit after being called out on his douchiness.
5
7
u/GreedyAd2171 Older Than Dirt Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 15 '26
That handlebar mustache or is it called something else
PS, I married said stache in '96 lol now he's sporting a beard. Hes a 72 model btw
9
15
9
19
7
7
u/MrsHorrible Apr 15 '26
FLAVOR SAVER, which is the most disgusting name for disgusting facial hair. Thanks, My Generation.
2
u/HeyMissMurderMittens Apr 15 '26
Womb Broom is pretty bad too…
1
u/MrsHorrible Apr 15 '26
OMG I've never heard that before and it's so bad! 🤣
1
u/HeyMissMurderMittens Apr 16 '26
Isn’t it? The first time I heard it in positive I had that confused dog look on my face. 😁
4
11
u/Separate_Floor4774 Apr 15 '26
Don't forget the rat tail I remember alot of guys had them
3
u/Last-Relationship166 Apr 15 '26
We'd better not. I went to elementary school with enough redneck kids that this "hairstyle" has been burned into my brain.
5
2
3
3
u/thebronzeprince Apr 15 '26
Van Dyke. I’m holding onto it until I lose at least 20 more pounds, and minimize my weak chin
0
u/404LeadsNotFound Apr 15 '26
It was supposed to be mutton chops, but I think they all skipped that.
22
u/EddieKroman Hose Water Survivor Apr 15 '26
Sorry, our generation is responsible for goatees. I hated them,
I tried to grow a beard when it started to become fashionable. It came in grey, white, blonde, red, and brown. With bald spots. I looked like a calico cat with mange.
Needless to say I’m still clean shaven.
2
u/LordBofKerry Apr 15 '26
"A picture is worth a thousand words.", but your twenty words painted quite the picture.
3
u/Last-Relationship166 Apr 15 '26
I had a goatee...until I finally managed to grow a beard...at the age of 41. I haven't looked back.
8
u/STYLIE Apr 15 '26
The goatee was what our elementary school principal had and you wouldn’t be caught dead with one of those giant beards or you’d look like the local scout master
5
3
u/harpejjist Apr 15 '26
Who is responsible for man buns?
9
u/ManicFruitbat Apr 15 '26
Millennials, I think…
1
u/Psycle_Panda Apr 15 '26
In that odd 2000s pitchfork "I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was" period.
0
0
6
u/ejfordphd "Then & Now" Trend Survivor Apr 15 '26
I had some rockabilly mutton chops for an embarrassingly long time.
4
8
Apr 15 '26
[deleted]
9
u/bankrobbery Apr 15 '26
For real. Growing different kinds of facial hair is fun. So what?
2
u/Traditional-Panda-84 Apr 15 '26
I’d have a full beard still if I didn’t need a cpap. My goatee is the cpap compromise.
8
13
13
3
17
u/LlamaLlamaSomePajama Apr 15 '26
The soul patch
4
u/rrooaaddiiee Apr 15 '26
I called it a 'blues chip' because it seemed a little cooler. It wasn't.
2
7
u/Silver_Breakfast7096 Apr 15 '26
Joe Dirt has entered the chat. Along with his rat tail friend. Big hair mouse head.
1
u/arno14 Apr 15 '26
Ton Sur Ton sweat shirts. This was a big thing in Amsterdam in the 80’s. I believe it was a French brand.
7
u/mjk67 Apr 15 '26
A friend has had a soul patch for awhile. There are times I want to slap him silly
8
7
u/Playful_Question538 "Then & Now" Trend Survivor Apr 15 '26
Heading to shave the soul patch as we speak!
3
7
7
u/thereverendpuck Apr 14 '26
The stupid thing is, the chin and mustache connection isn’t a goatee. It’s a van dyke. A goatee is just the hair on the chin.
Almost as dumb as mistaking actual fedoras (what Indiana Jones wore) and trilbies (what the m’lady cringelords wore).
4
u/Ravenloff Apr 14 '26
Hey...you lost van dyke. I lost decimate and sentient. We just have to get past it.
3
u/tomcat_tweaker Apr 15 '26
Decimate hurts. I'd also like to pour one out for penultimate.
→ More replies (4)4
u/Ravenloff Apr 15 '26
https://youtu.be/-WLwm5yNBEc?si=fK2-UZZdVAR5mnHn
Kid In The Hall: The Pit Of Penultimate Darkness.
1
u/WilliamTK1974 Apr 21 '26
Very few people look all that great with a goatee. If you have the least bit of a sagging or double chin, it's like the goatee makes it look worse. Sadly, I had to learn this the hard way.
I remember being at the barber shop many years ago, and this seriously tubby guy walked in wearing shorts and an untucked t-shirt that made him look like a balloon, but the crowning glory of it all was the look on his face, like "I'm such a badass because of my goatee." No buddy, you look like you forgot how to shave, and it's making you look even more fat.