A possible link between the popularity of beards and how under threat men feel is being investigated in the first ever academic study of beards

The 3 year study is being carried out by Exeter University and the Wellcome Trust in the UK and will look at facial hair and its relationshop with masculinity and heatlh.

Despite a prediction last year that 'peak beard' had been reached - they continue to be popular

I've been speaking to Dr Alan Withy - research fellow at Exeter University - about the study: