A better question than “Do women prefer beards?” is “How do I take care of my facial hair?” because, in my experience, I’ve found that women like a man who can take care of himself. That whole man-baby thing? Not Hot. So, what you should strive towards is having a face that communicates to the opposite sex, “I can handle business.”
Most women don’t want to end up being caretaker to a man-child, so, to prove you’ve got what it takes as a potential partner, prove your caretaking potential by cultivating a well-groomed face (We Can Help With That). If you do have a beard, you should be tending to it with regular trims, oils, and brushing, because a woman might love a beard but hate the scent of tomato soup radiating out of an unkempt bird’s nest. If you’ve got a more precise design to your facial hair, then keeping the patchier zones shaved, detailing your facial hair with laser precision, and regularly trimming the hairs will show women your care and attention to detail. Your face should ultimately be a sign that reads, “If I treat my face this good, think how well I’ll treat you.”
The saddening truth is not all of us can look like Brett Keisel.