But now it has gone mainstream and any Joe Bloggs is supporting some facial fuzz.
If you don't believe me, have a quick look round the office or local pub. It's no longer the case that the vast majority of men are shaving daily, because a good proportion are now unapologetically going ape.
Britain has always had a longstanding antipathy towards the beard. Stubble, as far as we were concerned, was for ecological protestors, leather-clad bikers, real-ale aficionados, down-and-outs and those who wouldn't know what fashion was if it hit them in the face. Women probably disliked facial hair more than anyone else. Men with beards were a turn-off and made us feel suspicious. They were an object of feminine disgust and ridicule and we'd never, ever want to kiss a man with one. But that was all before our favourite men got a liking for that five o'clock shadow.
Think Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Dave Grohl, Justin Timberlake, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Gosling and Daniel Day-Lewis. Not since the days of Bert Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson have so many leading men been so free with their facial hair. You can now spot beards in Hollywood films, bands and even fashion billboards – D&G and H&M being prime examples.
And we all know that where celebrities go, the rest of us are bound to follow.
There appears to be four cutting edge looks to choose from. The full beard (Russell Crowe) is big bushy and worn with attitude; the Hollywood beard (Brad Pitt) is perfectly groomed; the faux ghetto beard (famously adopted by Ali G) is the "street" look, while the rock 'n' roll beard (Dave Grohl) is called the muso look.
So why are so many going for furry faces? Experts believe it's a sign of the times, a reaction to scrubbed, shaved, plucked and waxed men. It's a backlash against the heightened grooming expectations unleashed with the rise of metrosexuality.
Men, both straight and gay, it appears, want to feel rough and manly. For the past several years we've been stripping guys of their body hair. Maybe now it's time for the pendulum to swing the other way.
One thing is sure. Some trends stand up and announce themselves with such bombast you can't help but notice their arrival.
Others seep quietly into the culture and you wake up one day and find you are surrounded by them. So it is with beards.
A social rehabilitation has occur-red under our noses, or should that be chins, and the female jury is still out on the subject.

FOR...
Sue Peel lives with her husband Mike in Sowerby Bridge.
She works at a Brighouse nursery

THERE is something inherently virile and masculine about a beard.
It evokes a mountain climber, an explorer, a warrior. It shouts "I'm a man and I'm not going to exfoliate or put on moisturiser or toner".
I've always preferred men with beards. I find them attractive and sexy. They can make a man look more distinguished and intelligent, not to mention younger.
When I first met Mike 19 years ago he had a beard (it was dark then) and that's one of the things that first attracted me to him. It's part of his make-up and character and I honestly don't like it when he is appearing in some production - he's a thespian - and has to shave it off. Another important fact is Mike likes his beard and I think men should be allowed to make their own decisions in life. Women are seeing good-looking, famous guys like Brad Pitt with beards and are starting to warm to them, which is brilliant news.
Mind you, I have to say Mike's beard sometimes gets in the way of a good kiss. I insist he uses a conditioner on his beard otherwise it would feel like a scrubbing brush.
I'm definitely a full beard sort of woman. A nicely trimmed beard is smart, but the fashion trend of sprouting designer stubble doesn't impress me.
What Mike lacks on top in the hair department, he more than makes up for with his chin pie.

AGAINST
Janet Smith lives in Elland with her two daughters, Amy and Kate.
She works in PR and is also a yoga teacher

I'M trying to think of all the reasons why, as a woman, you wouldn't want to find yourself uncomfortably near to a beard.
Like, living with one, I mean. Waking up and finding one on the pillow next to you (attached to your bloke, of course; not some strange primeval joke you have to take on the chin).
Or like staring out over your Crunchy Nut Cornflakes and seeing the full Viking look staring back – and, of course, wondering if it is possible for Crunchy Nut Cornflakes to take root in a beard and just grow there. Or fester. Or go off and go green. And smell.
Or like a goodbye kiss on the doorstep that instantly reminds you of your pan scourer, the one that's pitted with bits of pasta after a particularly glutinous spag bol pointedly refused to be removed from your serving dish.
However, if that beard is attached to George Clooney or Brad Pitt, there could be a certain devil-may-care attitude to a having a hairy affair. Why let a few stray whiskers come between you and dear George? A girl can turn a blind eye to some things.
But imagine sharing anything with Robinson Crusoe, Karl Marx or even Tom Selleck – an ice-cream, a kiss, a duvet?
If you're turning the other cheek, make sure it's clean shaven.

Do men look better with beards? Vote now in our poll on the right.