10:00am Friday 7th August 2009
By Emily Walker, Chief Reporter
The tightening of belts is not the only change to people’s appearance to come out of the recession.
A survey has found that more people in Brighton are considering growing a beard as a money-saving measure than anywhere else in the country.
The poll, conducted by YouGov, found that 20% of people in the city said they were growing a beard to save on the cost of razors.
Barber David Banks, owner of Trafalgars Barber Shop in Trafalgar Street, Brighton, said he had noticed more hairy faces around.
He said: “I suppose I have been seeing more people with a beard.
“Over the last year or so there has been an increase.
“And I save a fair bit myself by just giving my beard a quick trim with the clippers when I get into work instead of having a full shave.
“These days people tend to have shorter style beards rather than the old fashioned bushy ones.
“We don't even do old fashioned wet shaves in the barbers shop because so few people are asking for them.”
A daily shave can cost a tidy sum.
It costs about £9.97 for a pack of five Gillette M3 Power blades Ten Bic classic razors cost just over £1 while shaving foam costs from about £1.50.
Peter Lewis, of St James’s Street Barbers in Brighton, has also noticed the increasing amounts of facial hair.
He said: “More people have been coming in with a beard.
“You see them a lot more on younger people than you did before.
“I guess it's starting to become the fashion because people want to save money.”
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