May 17, 2008

Cheryl St. John on Physical Attraction

Written by Cindy Kirk in Jaunty Guests

Cheryl St.John is a RITA nominee for her novella in A Western Winter Wonderland. Her next releases are the Harlequin Historical western Christmas anthology, The Magic of Christmas 10/09, and a December HH with a title still being decided. Cheryl blogs about sexy cowboys at http://petticoatsandpistols.com/ and you can visit her at From the Heart http://cherylstjohn.blogspot.com/.

Women are attracted to the men they see as the strongest and most attractive. It’s all about biological quality, or the survival of the species. It’s doin’ what comes naturally. Female birds are attracted by the most colorful or attractive of the other gender, same with animals and mammals. Many males take part in battle rituals for the female, therefore strength and endurance win out. Nature is making sure the strongest survive, that the species will be carried on by the most capable, the best hunters and providers.

It’s our instinct to be drawn to a provider and a protector. This is why those alpha heroes appeal to us as readers. Reading romances validates the universal hope that there is one special person for everyone. Stories of successful relationships reassure us that many women around the world share our dreams.

Attraction is all about chemistry. In our heads we know that in selecting a mate, a human female must consider more than the initial attraction. The ability to make wise selections is what sets us apart from the animals. We have the ability to and the luxury of compiling all the information before we make a choice. Regrettably too many women will admit that relationships founded on sex appeal alone were not the stuff futures are made of. But there has to be something there – something that draws you to this person and keeps you attracted to him through thick and thin.

So what about facial hair — real facial hair that takes some time and testosterone to cultivate?

Mustaches are often culturally associated with wisdom and virility, and it’s not difficult to understand why. There’s something about a mustache that sings of maturity…masculinity. A subject that comes up often among writers is the youthful appearance of so many celebrities, cover models and singers. While there’s no disagreeing that Matthew McConaghy and James Marsden are fine-looking fellows, there’s something about maturity that speaks to us as women. Josh Holloway. Naveen Andrews. How many times has George Clooney been People magazine’s sexiest man of the year?

Viggo in LOTR
Josh Hollway
Patrick Dempsey
Ian Somerhalder

Now I know there are many of you who will disagree, in fact a recent survey discovered that an alarming number of women would refuse to kiss a man with a mustache. So maybe facial hair a simply a matter of taste. A big argument against mustaches has been that they’re out of style because so many men wore them in the seventies. The seventies? Men have been shaving — or not shaving — selectively since the stone age! Shaving with stone razors was technologically possible from Neolithic times. The oldest portrait showing a shaved man with a mustache is a Scythian horseman from 300 BC.

Historically, military men have often worn moustaches; in fact the number of nations, regiments and ranks were equaled only by the number of styles and variations. Generally, the younger men and lower ranks wore the smaller and less elaborate moustaches. As a man advanced in rank, his moustache would become thicker and bushier, until he was permitted to wear a full beard.

I’ll bet you didn’t know there’s an American Mustache Association. Neither did I, but they’re gung ho on protecting their rights to bear whiskers. At The World Beard & Moustache Championships 2007 there were 6 subcategories in the moustache category:

Natural Moustache - may be styled but without aids.
Hungarian Moustache - Big and bushy, beginning from the middle of the upper lip and pulled to the side.
Dalí - narrow, long points bent or curved steeply upward; areas past the corner of the mouth must be shaved.
English - narrow, beginning at the middle of the upper lip the whiskers are very long and pulled to the side, slightly curled; the ends are pointed slightly upward; areas past the corner of the mouth usually shaved. .
Imperial - whiskers growing from both the upper lip and cheeks, curled upward
Freestyle - All moustaches that do not match other classes.

Other types of moustache include:
Fu Manchu - long, downward pointing ends, generally beyond the chin
Pancho Villa - similar to the Fu Manchu but thicker
Handlebar - bushy, with small upward pointing ends.
Horseshoe - Often confused with the Fu Manchu style, the horseshoe was possibly popularized by modern cowboys and consists of a full moustache with vertical extensions from the corners of the lips down to the jaw line and resembling an upside-down horseshoe.
Moustachio - bushy moustache, with hair sometimes growing down the sides of the mouth.
Taylor moustache - a thin row of fine dark hairs along the upper lip.
Pencil moustache - narrow, straight and thin like a pencil, closely clipped, outlining the upper lip, with a wide shaven gap between the nose and moustache. Also known as a Mouthbrow.
Walrus - bushy, hanging down over the lips, often entirely covering the mouth. Popular during the American Civil War.
The GG - bushy hair grown only over the corners of the mouth, shaved in the middle.

Now we have that scruffy five-o’clock shadow look and of course soul patches.

So, what’s your preference on facial hair – thumbs up or thumbs down?
I’d love to hear about it if you’ve seen any mustaches on book covers.

6:04 am | Share This

33 Responses to “Cheryl St. John on Physical Attraction”

On May 17th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Victoria Bylin Says:

Hi Cheryl! I’m thumbs up on moustaches, at least the one on my husband’s face. He had it before we were married, so I’d never seen him without it . . . until he got a wild hair about five years ago and shaved it off.

Oh. My. God. Who was that stranger? I’d never seen him before in my life. This guy was good looking, but he didn’t have an upper lip! He looked younger without the gray in the moustache, but it was just all wrong. Terrifying is more like it!

My oldest son, looking baffled, summed it up this way. “Did you lose a bet or something?”

The moustache grew back in about two weeks. If I have anything to say about it, it’s there for good
On May 17th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Margo Maguire Says:

My husband had a full beard for all our years together - until about 5 years ago. Then BAM the whole thing was gone. I talked him back into a mustache, though. Luckily, he’s got a nice strong jawline, so he looks great without the beard, but I really like a mustache!

Hey - nice to see you here, Cher!
On May 17th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Charlene Sands Says:

Hi Cher - Well, let’s see … I prefer a man with facial hair mostly. On most men I think it enhances their looks, the more manly the better. On Brad Pitt, no way! I think he’s not appealing at all with facial hair. Some might argue the point. But Josh Holloway (Lost), Dr McDreamy and Tom Selleck, YES. Give me facial hair.
My hubby has been wearing a moustache since I met him, ten years ago, he added a goatee and I love it!

I’m off with my manly hubby today for our anniversary. Have a great day blogging!!
On May 17th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Emily McKay Says:

Oh, I am all about the facial hair! My hubby has worn a beard for most of the 18 (yikes! 18??) years we’ve been together.
When I look back on our wedding pictures of him beardless, he just looks so young.

I think I’d cry if he ever shaved it off.
On May 17th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Mary Connealy Says:

I am so sad for the men in those pictures. Women refuse to kiss them. Poor babies!!!!!

Nice post, Cheryl. Hi Cindy, I just got my hands on One Night Stand. Have cracked it open yet.
On May 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Cheryl St.John Says:

I know, Mary, can you imagine that those fellas are going without kisses? NOT!

Thanks for inviting me to blog today, Cindy! I’m excited to be here. And I really wanted to share these sexy heroes with you. :wigglebrow:

Hi to Vicki, Margo and Charlene!

Emily, my husband has had a beard and mustache nearly all our married life. He shaved it off once when my youngest daughter was two. She wouldn’t look at him, and he grew it back.

Now that’s it’s mostly white, he keeps it trimmed short.
On May 17th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Cheryl St.John Says:

Margo, I found your new book at Walmart yesterday. I moved all the remaining copies up to eye level.
On May 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Pat Potter Says:

I’m not big on facial hair, though I had one hero with moustache, and I dearly loved him. But I have to admit I kinda like the scruffy look on a certain kind of face.
On May 17th, 2008 at 11:08 am
*lizzie starr Says:

Looks like the facial hair lovers are out in force this morning. The face behind the hair makes a difference, some guys are just not made for hair–or made to be without it!

I do have issues with the ’soul patch’. too often it just looks like either they missed a spot while shaving or that’s all they can do. I really hate those that look like a Brazilian wax.
On May 17th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Linda Says:

I have to say that i’m not a fan of facial hair at all. I have to have a nice, smooth clean shaven face
On May 17th, 2008 at 11:49 am
RobynDeHart Says:

The Professor looks sexy with facial hair, but I hate the way it feels so I’m in the camp that doesn’t like to kiss the furry face. I much prefer my guy clean shaven, but I certainly can appreciate the appeal of the 5 o’clock shadow.

Thanks for joining us, Cheryl.
On May 17th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Betsy Says:

Hi Cheryl:

I can take facial hair or leave it, depends on the guy. Dennis has had a moustache off and on since we’ve been married. I prefer him without but some guys really need one, like my brother.

Good to see you here. :thumbsup:
On May 17th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Connie Says:

Hi Cheryl, Thumbs up on the moustache. My husband has had a beard and moustache most of our married life. Most would not recogize him without it. As far as kissing his fuzzy face…it all has to do with love…I love him so love everything about him…even the fuzz.
On May 17th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Cheryl St.John Says:

This is a subject that every woman has an opinion on! Either you love that face fur or you don’t. LOL

I totally agree that some men just plain look better with a ’stash.
On May 17th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Shana Says:

Thanks for blogging with us today, Cheryl. USF has a beard, and I really like it on him. I don’t really notice the whislers when I kiss him, so that’s no big deal to me.
On May 17th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Carla Capshaw Says:

I’m used to prefer a shaved face on a man, but that all changed several years ago when I started liking Gerard Butler. He’s delicious looking with a beard and mustache. Yum!
On May 17th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Cheryl St.John Says:

Oh my, yes, Carla!
On May 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Barb Says:

I know I’m going ot be in the minority here but. . .
I don’t care much for the scruffy facial hair that men sport these days. :yuck: To me it makes them look sloppy, like going out with bed hair and not doing anything about it.
On May 17th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Cheryl St.John Says:

And bed hair is in, too!
On May 17th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Sherri S. Says:

I’m in style! I have bed-hair today!!
On May 17th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Sherri S. Says:

I’m in style! I have bed
hair today!!
On May 17th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Laura Says:

I like facial hair on a man. What I don’t like though is that they can say “I just didn’t feel like shaving” where we don’t seem to have the same luxury - at least not with the same results.
On May 17th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Fedora Says:

Hmm… In general, I prefer men clean-shaven, but I have to admit that the slightly more rugged look of facial hair can be pretty sexy. I definitely prefer my husband clean-shaven, because I don’t enjoy the feeling of whisker burn
On May 17th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Mary Says:

I think Brad Pitt looks better without facial hair too —- probably because he has such gorgeous facial structure —- it shouldn’t be hidden from the world!
On May 17th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Charlotte Hubbard Says:

Hi, Cheryl!!http://jauntyquills.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wave.gif
When I look at my wedding pix, I just snicker: Neal grew a ’stache when we’d been married just a few years, and then got a wild hair and shaved it off….told him he looked like an immature Richie Cunningham (from “Happy Days”, remember?) and his face reminded me of a…baby’s butt. Needless to say, he’s had one ever since.

I once wrote a hero with a mustache and my editor then (’90’s) said it made them look like a “waiter in a cheap restaurant” so art depts. just didn’t go there. SO SO wrong!!! http://jauntyquills.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wigglebrow.gif
On May 17th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Virginia H. Says:

I think some men look good with facial hair, some don’t. My hubby has a full beard , but I think he wares it that way so he don’t have to shave, he hates to shave. Also I think its because he doesn’ have much hair on his head so he wares it on his face.
On May 17th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
cheryl c. Says:

Oh my. Those pictures are wonderful! :yes: Forgive me, but I had trouble reading your blog because I was distracted by the pictures! Anyway, facial hair depends on the man. Some men look terrible with it, and some look amazing.
On May 17th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Cheryl St.John Says:

Hey, Cheryl, I’ll remember that for next time - doesn’t matter what I blog about, just insert hunks. LOL
On May 17th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Cheryl St.John Says:

Thanks for stopping by Sherri, Virginia, Mary, Fedora and Laura!

:wave:
On May 17th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Dorothy Says:

I’m one of those that likes a guy with facial hair. Hate those little soul patches though. To me it looks like they ate something and it dribbled and they didn’t wipe their mouth. just saying….
On May 18th, 2008 at 12:23 am
ladydawgfan Says:

I have always loved facial hair on a guy, particularly a well-trimmed beard. There is just something soo sexy about it . . .

However, I do agree about the soul patch, that little leftover shave spot!! :yuck: :thumbsdown: C’mon, guys, either grow a full one or shave the little boy off!!
On May 18th, 2008 at 4:44 am
Holly Jacobs Says:

Cheryl,

I’m married to a cop with a mustache. He’s had one since we were in our teens. He shaved it once…and I begged him to grow it back right away! LOL

Holly
On May 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Cheryl St.John Says:

Thanks to everyone who stopped by. And thanks to The Sisterhood for having me here.

It was a pleasure!

May 17, 2008

Cheryl St. John on Physical Attraction

33 Responses to “Cheryl St. John on Physical Attraction”

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