BEARDS were once reserved for hippies, geography teachers and old sea dogs.

But celebs have rushed to grow face thatch in the past month or so.

Body language expert Robert Phipps, 45, says:

"Men grow beards to show off wonderful features or mask their faces."

The Sun Online - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2715005/What-celebrities-beards-say-about-them.html

Click on the links below for the beard-spotter's guide...

Brad Pitt - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2715005/What-celebrities-beards-say-about-them.html?offset=1

Johnny Depp - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2715005/What-celebrities-beards-say-about-them.html?offset=2

David Beckham - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2715005/What-celebrities-beards-say-about-them.html?offset=3

Rafa Benitez - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2715005/What-celebrities-beards-say-about-them.html?offset=4

Samuel L Jackson - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2715005/What-celebrities-beards-say-about-them.html?offset=5

Billy Ray Cyrus - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2715005/What-celebrities-beards-say-about-them.html?offset=6

Jim Carrey - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2715005/What-celebrities-beards-say-about-them.html?offset=7

Jarvis Cocker - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2715005/What-celebrities-beards-say-about-them.html?offset=8