Most adult women do not have facial hair because female glands and hormones step in to prevent this growth. The female sex hormone stimulates the growth of hair on the head, prompting frequent visits to the hair salon, and stunts the growth of the beard and of body hair. Of course, the female hormones do not always completely inhibit the growth of facial or of body hair, and some unwanted hair develops, but this is nothing that cannot be cosmetically corrected by another trip to the beauty salon, to the drug store, or to the doctor.

At birth, all infants are coated with a fine, fur-like down which gradually disappears as childhood approaches. The delicate hair of a child transforms into adult hair once the child reaches puberty and the sex hormones become very active (what a surprise!). This coat of hair is the final coat of hair - gender determines whether the facial hair stays or goes.

In contrast, the male sex hormone, in a steadily manner, jumps in to stimulate the growth of the beard and of body hair, while slowing the development of hair on the head. This explains the growing popularity of head creams, hair transplant clubs for men, and toupees to treat male hair loss, should it occur over time!

Most believe that men, not women, sport beards, because of Mother Nature's intervention. The most likely explanation for the opposite roles of the male and female hormones in the stimulation of hair growth flashes back to the caveman days. In those days, the caveman's beard greatly simplified life for him, as it was visible from a distance, and he could easily be distinguished as a man.

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