Beard A beard was a growth of facial hair that was common among humanoid s . In numerous species , such as Human s , the growth of facial hair was a secondary sex ual characteristic of the male of the species . Not all males allowed their beards to grow , and they were generally removed by shaving them regularly with a razor . ( ; ; ; ; ; ) Most Tellarite s also wore beards . Data experimented with wearing what he described as " a fine , full , dignified beard " in early 2365 . Data felt that such a beard " commands respect and projects thoughtfulness and dignity . " His crewmates described his beard as being " very different " , and were especially amused after Data began stroking it and inquiring whether such actions made him appear more intellectual . ( ) Beverly Crusher believed that with the invention of the razor , beards had become little more than an affectation . She attempted to goad bearded Riker , Worf , and Geordi La Forge into betting a clean shave in a round of poker . The game was interrupted by a page for the senior staff , however . ( ) Facial hair was a common evil trait in Human storytelling . In the wake of Admiral Norah Satie ' s witch - hunts in 2367 , Captain Jean - Luc Picard told Lieutenant Worf , who was disgusted with his own conduct ( he had strongly supported , and even assisted , her investigations until she made an accusation against Picard which he knew to be false ) , that " " villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot . Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged " " . ( ) Worf regularly had his beard cut in Mot ' s barbershop aboard the . ( ) When Worf ' s adopted mother , Helena Rozhenko , noticed " a touch of gray " in his beard , she reassured him that " " Rozhenko men have always had beards of iron gray . " " ( ) Bajorans . Bajoran s were capable of growing beards . Although not necessarily required for religious reasons , some Bajoran monks and ranjen s wore beards . ( ) Notable male Bajorans with beards : Humans . Humans were also capable of growing beards . Sometime prior to his return to the in the 2270 s , Doctor Leonard McCoy grew a beard after his service on the " Enterprise " was completed . ( ; ) He got rid of it after being beamed aboard the refit ted " Enterprise " by Kirk and prior to resuming his position as chief medical officer . ( ) In 2365 , William Riker grew a beard , having grown annoyed at people telling him how young he looked . Q made light of it , commenting that Riker was never so stolid " before the beard " . ( ) Riker kept the beard for a decade until 2375 , when he shaved it off at Deanna Troi ' s suggestion . After the shave , Data was somewhat skeptical of his friend ' s newly clean - shaven appearance . ( ) Riker eventually regrew his beard . ( ) Benjamin Sisko began growing a Van Dyke while visiting Bajor in 2371 . His son , Jake , took note of the Van Dyke and asked him what it was , to which the elder Sisko stated that he felt it " was time for a change . " The elder Sisko asked his son what he thought of it , to which Jake replied that he liked it . ( ) " In an alternate timeline in which Earth was destroyed by the Xindi weapon , armory officer Malcolm Reed wore a style of beard known as a " circle beard " or " moutee " in 2165 . " ( ) Notable male Humans with beards : Klingons . Klingon s found beards to be a symbol of courage . ( ) Most Klingon males had short beards , but did not generally have associated sideburns . This was apparently a stylistic choice , as some Klingons , such as Kras and Gorkon , did have sideburns . ( ; ) Notable Male Klingons without beards : Vulcans . Vulcan s and the closely related Romulan s , were also capable of growing beards . Some Vulcan master s and other religious figures grew short Van Dykes or full beards . ( ; ; ) " In the mirror universe , and wore similar short Van Dykes while they were members of the Terran Empire . " ( ; ) " wore a goatee while a member of the anti - Terran rebellion . " ( ) Notable male Vulcans with beards :