CDC Recommends That Men Shave Beards to Help Prevent Coronavirus

If you have a beard, this isn't the kind of news you want to hear.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, facial hair that lies along the sealing area of a respirator or face mask, such as beards, sideburns, or some mustaches, will interfere with respirators that rely on a tight face piece seal to achieve maximum protection.

Not sure what kinds of facial hairstyles will work with a tight-sealing respirator? The CDC has provided a helpful chart below withvarious beard styles, complete with a line representing a typical sealing surface.

As someone with a beard, the thought of shaving is not something that I take lightly, but better safe than sorry as they say. Check out the chart below, and you will find beard styles to steer clear of. If you have a "Zappa" or "Lampshade", those styles are acceptable, but if you want to rock the "French Fork" or the "Ducktail", you better think again.