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5[[quoteright:350:[[Series/{{Arrow}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arrow_stubble.png]]]]
6[[caption-width-right:350:Stubble ain't no trouble.]]
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11->''"I'm trying to think of the last action movie I saw with realistic facial hair. I sometimes wonder how these guys go through days of unremitting action while still finding time off to use an electric shaver on the stubble setting."''
12-->-- '''Creator/RogerEbert'''
13
14So you're an AntiHero, or maybe TheDrifter or an equally gritty protagonist MadeOfIron. Now, how to get street cred as a badass Mofo? [[StuffBlowingUp Cause big explosions]]? Shoot with GunsAkimbo? Nah, just stop shaving!
15
16In the wonderful land of Hollywood, the law of GoodHairEvilHair is irrevocably ingrained in concrete. To wit, the only people who don't shave are {{Action Hero}}es; everyone else has good hygiene. Even {{Mooks}} are better groomed, or are ugly and easily distinguished from our hero.
17
18Especially fun when the hero has a perfectly shaved head (unless naturally bald or getting there) and a five o'clock shadow. Even when starting a film with a perfectly smooth jaw, all it takes for the hero to grow his five-o'clock shadow is the sound of gunfire. BigDamnHeroes don't sweat when anxious; they grow ''facial hair''.
19
20May grow out into a beard if given enough time, unless he keeps it stubbly by choice. Tends to grow ''on'' a LanternJawOfJustice. Contrast BeardOfSorrow, which is usually temporary. Opposite of the PermaShave.
21
22Not entirely unrealistic, as men with dark facial hair but slow beard growth (and especially with lighter skin for contrast) can get a 5-o'clock shadow by noon, which then stays perma-stubble for days without any maintenance.
23
24Almost ubiquitous among MrFanservice characters, given the common FemaleGaze perspective that [[ManlyFacialHair facial hair is manly]], but too much is unappealing.
25
26For examples of cartoon characters having stubble due to LimitedAnimation, see SolidCartoonFacialStubble.
27
28----
29!!Examples:
30[[foldercontrol]]
31
32[[folder:Advertising]]
33* A commercial for Energizer Batteries featured a man whose beard grew back within seconds after he shaved it. As a result, he had to bring his electric razor (powered by Energizer batteries, of course) with him wherever he went, and shave his beard at the most inopportune moments.
34[[/folder]]
35
36[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
37* Mr. Satan from ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' has a 5 o'clock shadow with a fully grown handle bar mustache.
38* Holland from ''Anime/EurekaSeven'' has some around his chin, and it does make him look fairly badass (you can see him without it in a flashback, though).
39* Protagonist Shinichi from ''Manga/KoreWaKoiNoHanashi'' has a bit of stubble on his chin, which he rarely -- if ever -- shaves off.
40* Yuuichirou from ''Anime/SailorMoon'' has long hair with bangs and a face full of stubble, even though other young men his age (like Mamoru, for example, who even references having to shave) are clean-shaven and well-trimmed. It is revealed a few episodes after his appearance that he is the son of wealthy parents that on business/living abroad, and he hopes to find an identity other than being a rich kid, so he might be purposely trying to look unkempt to hide his family history.
41* In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'':
42** Kaji has stubble, probably because of his confusing and [[DoubleReverseQuadrupleAgent ambiguous job description]], which probably makes him too busy to shave. It's {{lampshaded}} a lot by some of the characters: Misato criticises it a lot and thinks it makes him look lazy and careless; Hikari refers to him as "the cool-looking guy that never shaves", and Asuka thinks that it makes him look much more attractive. Kaji's fangirls agree with Asuka.
43** Younger Gendo in a flashback to the early days of his partnership with Prof Fuyusuki. After his wife's death, Gendo [[BeardOfSorrow grows out his stubble]] into a thick beard.
44* Ozma Lee in ''Anime/MacrossFrontier''.
45* It's pretty subtle (as in, you might not notice it unless you pay close attention), but Mugen has some very slight stubble and the faint beginnings of a mustache throughout ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo''. Makes sense, as he's supposed to be 19.
46* TheMenInBlack from ''Anime/SerialExperimentsLain''; their perma-stubble makes it very clear they're dangerous and that something very wrong is going on.
47* Father Alexander Anderson from ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'', ChurchMilitant [[TheJuggernaut Juggernaut]].
48* Nicholas D. Wolfwood from the ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' anime.
49* Sanji from ''Manga/OnePiece'', as well as a number of less frequently seen characters, among them Shanks, Buggy, and Smoker.
50** [[spoiler:Sanji jumps to full-blown goatee after the time-skip.]]
51** Capone Bege has some, to reinforce the [[TheDon mafia]] aspect. Funnily enough, his infant son [[StrongFamilyResemblance somehow inherited it]].
52* Any and all [[CoolOldGuy cool older mentor figures]] from anything written by Creator/KenAkamatsu. Including, but not limited to, Takamichi from ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' and Seta of ''Manga/LoveHina.''
53* France, Turkey, and Grandpa Rome from ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers''.
54* Kobayashi, the SinkOrSwimMentor from ''Manga/TheLawOfUeki''. It seems more to show laziness than badassitude, though he does have his badass moments.
55* Sven from ''Manga/BlackCat'', moreso in the manga. In the anime, he shaves the stubble 'stache.
56* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
57** Resident CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass Isshin Kurosaki sports beard stubble, although no moustache stubble.
58** Kisuke Urahara has very mild beard stubble as part of his disheveled, laid-back persona. He always portrays a BrilliantButLazy image, but that image hides his true GadgeteerGenius nature instead.
59** Shunsui Kyouraku wears an unshaven look as part of his genuinely BrilliantButLazy persona. He has the full beard and moustache stubble.
60** Coyote Starrk is Shunsui's EvilCounterpart, so is also BrilliantButLazy. He also has something of an American gunslinger persona and the goatee stubble to complete the look.
61* Konata's dad Soujirou from ''Manga/LuckyStar''.
62* Dr. Tenma from ''Manga/{{Monster}}'' grows one as a part of his ExpositoryHairstyleChange.
63* Dr. Shamal, ChivalrousPervert from ''Manga/Reborn2004'', as well as the sexy scientist Verde.
64* Gauron from ''Literature/FullMetalPanic''. He's a rather unusual example, in that he's one of the most AxCrazy, [[DepravedHomosexual depraved]], [[ForTheEvulz evil]] {{Big Bad}}s on the show.
65* Raigyo from ''Anime/XamdLostMemories'' has a particularly literal example of perma-stubble that manages to stick even ''immediately after he shaves''.
66* Sakuraba in ''Manga/Eyeshield21'' gets the stubble and shaved head to signify that he's a serious athlete and not just a pretty boy.
67* Takuma Fudou from ''Manga/GetBackers'' - an AxCrazy PsychoForHire who is Ban's StalkerWithACrush. He's also called an "old man" (he's 28) by a lot of the characters - presumably characterized so by his five o'clock shadow.
68* Lieutenant Colonel [[spoiler: [[ADeathInTheLimelight no... ''Brigadier General'']]]] Maes Hughes of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' has a this too. His daughter Elysia complains about it when he hugs her.
69* Manji from ''Manga/BladeOfTheImmortal'' has a rare case of ''literal'' perma-stubble. His {{Immortality}} locks him into the state he was in when he was first [[CursedWithAwesome cursed]] with it, thus he can neither shave it off or grow it out.
70* Dr. Ozaki from ''Literature/{{Shiki}}''.
71* Benny of ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', the NonActionGuy of the crew.
72* Jean-Baptiste Bessières in ''Napoleon -- Hadou Shingeki'', just like his real-life counterpart. However, so far he hasn't displayed any of the traits usually associated with this trope.
73* Julie Sakuma Dmitriyevich from ''Literature/SundayWithoutGod''. Being in his thirties, he's older than the rest of the cast, and his stubble sets him apart from the immortally youthful Hampnie Hambart.
74* Kankichi Ryotsu from ''Manga/{{Kochikame}}''.
75* Senai of ''Manga/TheUnpopularMangakaAndTheHelpfulOnryoSan'' has a perpetual day-old beard.
76* Isamu Kenmochi, a police detective and a FriendOnTheForce with Kindaichi in ''Manga/TheKindaichiCaseFiles'', always has a stubble. Amusingly, his stubble serves to lead to a EurekaMoment for Kindaichi to solving a case and as a source of comedy -- an author's note at one point during TheSummation of that case actually indicates that Kenmochi had recently shaved himself before SummationGathering, even though he looks as stubbly as ever.
77[[/folder]]
78
79[[folder:Asian Animation]]
80* In ''Animation/HappyHeroes'', Huo Haha, a villain introduced in Season 8, has a noticeable stubble on his chin.
81[[/folder]]
82
83[[folder:Comic Books]]
84* Also, ComicBook/{{Gambit}}, from ''ComicBook/XMen'', until very recently.
85** ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} as well, though the movies have him pretty well cleaned up at times.
86*** Depending upon the era, ComicBook/ThePunisher certainly qualifies - during his NinetiesAntiHero phase, he had stubble so often his action figures had it. Since the Creator/GarthEnnis reboot of the 2000s, he's gone clean-shaven (although it has returned on occasion during Ennis' Marvel Max run).
87* Rarely is ComicBook/NickFury ever seen without his 5 o'clock shadow. One has to go back to his Howling Commando days to see what he looks like clean shaven.
88* DependingOnTheArtist, clean shaven Bruce Wayne sometimes grows an instant rugged stubble the moment he puts on the Franchise/{{Batman}} mask. It's also reliably a part of any disguise as a disreputable character.
89* Lampshaded in the case of Desperate Dan of the British ''ComicBook/TheDandy'' comic: his stubble, like everything else about him, is super-tough, so removing it is very, very hard. It also grows back super-fast.
90* In {{ComicBook/Fables}} Bigby Wolf has to constantly shave because of his ancestry. This becomes a minor plot point in one issue [[spoiler: because members of the SS were expected to be clean shaven and Bigby needed to impersonate one]].
91* Gen, [[ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo Miyamoto Usagi's]] bounty hunter friend. Also Sanshobo.
92* In the '90s, and in certain titles over the past year or so, you could expect any male over the age of eighteen who didn't already have a full beard or goatee to sport this, usually in either Marvel or Image comics. Practically the only one to escape was Captain America.
93* Comicbook representations of [[ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron Soontir Fel]] seem to veer around this interestingly. As a youth pre-conscription, he was clean-shaven. After gaining some renown as a [[AcePilot fighter pilot]] and starting to teach more pilots he grew a very neat goatee. But as various things happened and he lost faith in the Empire, [[http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/565408.html he started getting more and more stubbly]]. He tended to have stubble after [[DefectorFromDecadence defecting]], too. Not all the time, but, for example, there's a point when all of the Rogues are cut off from civilization for long enough that all of the human males grow stubble. A few scenes later, everyone but Fel has found time to shave. Yet he never has an actual beard.
94* The Swoofs from ''ComicBook/TheSmurfs'' story "The Astro Smurf" (and its AnimatedAdaptation) have what appears to be a ring of Fred Flintstone stubble around their mouths, though it could also simply be TribalFacePaint. Even [[TheSmurfettePrinciple Swoofette]], who is Smurfette in disguise, has it!
95** In the app game ''Smurfs Village'', the stubble patch around the Swoofs' mouths is much darker.
96* Both Jesse Custer and Cassidy from ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'' are this for the majority of the series.
97* Moses "Blackjak" Fisk of the second ''ComicBook/AtariForce'' series has a fully-formed mustache amidst a face full of stubble.
98[[/folder]]
99
100[[folder:Comic Strips]]
101* Back in TheSeventies, the Israeli comic strip ''ComicStrip/DryBones'' joked about Yasser Arafat's stubble. "Does he only appear in public on the third day after shaving? Does he have a faulty electric razor? How does Yasser do it?!?"
102[[/folder]]
103
104[[folder:Fan Works]]
105* Franchise/MonsterVerse fanfiction ''Fanfic/{{Abraxas|Hrodvitnon}}'': The Russian ColonelBadass who helps to combat Ghidorah-derived monsters, [[Characters/AbraxasHrodvitnonHumans Lieutenant Commander Pasternak]], has a five o'clock shadow that's turning into the beginnings of a short beard.
106
107* In ''Fanfic/AmazingFantasy'', Peter was stuck with this because he couldn't ''afford'' shaving supplies or the time to do it while swinging around New York as Spider-Man. Izuku eventually manages to nudge Peter into visiting a public bath to shave with Hisashi's leftover shaving products. Peter misses a few spots out of embarrassment for doing this in view of other naked guys.
108[[/folder]]
109
110[[folder:Films — Animation]]
111* Joaquin from ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife'' appears to have a five o' clock shadow.
112* All male hyenas from ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King|1994}}'', most notably Banzai and Ed, for some reason have perma-stubble, which is simply a patch of darker fur around the muzzle.
113* If you look closely in ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'', Megamind has perma-stubble when masquerading as Bernard. Justified, since Bernard had 5 o'clock shadow when Megamind scanned him with the disguise watch.
114* ''WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado'': Spanish con men Tulio and Miguel spend days wandering through the Amazon, with no visible access to ''soap'', let alone shaving supplies. Tulio's perma-stubble look stays immaculate through the entire film.
115* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Mr. Kieslowski has a five o'clock shadow in all his appearances.
116* Ralph in ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph''. Living in the dump doesn't give you access to a razor, so this is kind of inevitable. It's not very visible as far as Perma Stubbles go; in fact, his 8-bit appearance lacks it entirely.
117[[/folder]]
118
119[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
120* Creator/ClintEastwood. Although, in the ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'', it's on the edge of becoming a full beard.
121* Creator/ToshiroMifune plays a gruff and disheveled samurai in various films who usually goes unshaven. Mifune often sticks his arm up through his collar to absently rub his stubbly chin, which has become an iconic image for the actor and the character.
122
123* Batman is sporting this in both his identities in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice''.
124* ''Film/BerlinSyndrome'': Andi is always unshaven but arguably doesn't have enough facial hair to qualify for a beard.
125* John [=McClane=] of the ''Franchise/DieHard'' series has the shaved head variety in the [[Film/LiveFreeOrDieHard fourth film]].
126* ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork'': Snake Plissken, though the film takes place over a single night, so naturally it never changes.
127* ''Film/GleahanAndTheKnavesOfIndustry:'' Mark spends the entire movie in the liminal space between "clean-shaven" and "bearded."
128* ''Franchise/HarryPotter'': The title character alternates between this and clean-shaven in the [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince last three]] [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows films]]. In ''Deathly Hallows'', it's understandable since he and his friends are on the run from Voldemort's regime and living in the woods. {{Lampshaded}} by Dumbledore in ''Half-Blood Prince'' when he says to Harry, "You need a shave" before they leave Hogwarts and follows it with a HesAllGrownUp monologue.
129* ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' has this in all four films. He might START clean shaven, but as soon as he puts on the Hat, he has at least 3 days growth. It's {{lampshaded}} in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'': "Shorty, where's my razor?" Probably the modern TropeCodifier.
130* Snow in ''Film/{{Lockout}}'' has stubble. Sexy, sexy stubble.
131* Franchise/MonsterVerse: [[Characters/MonsterVerseRussellFamily Mark Russell]] in ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'' (in which he's one of the main protagonists) and ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'' is a cynical, GoodIsNotNice if comparatively competent character on the heroes' side who has a five o'clock shadow.
132* Jeff Speakman in ''Film/ThePerfectWeapon'' sports a five o'clock shadow that's actually just painted on.
133* Colter Stevens has perma-stubble in ''Film/SourceCode'', even when the person he's inhabiting is clean-shaven. Which might be justified by the concept of "residual self-image": Colter simply remembers himself looking like that.
134* Nearly every ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' movie has an example. Kyle Reese in ''Film/TheTerminator'', John Connor in ''Film/Terminator3RiseOfTheMachines'' and ''Film/TerminatorSalvation'', and most of the resistance in ''Salvation'' including Marcus Wright.
135* ''Literature/TolkiensLegendarium'':
136** Aragorn of ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' has about two weeks of stubble for three films, until he becomes king and instantly grows a regal beard. Elves can't grow beards, so the stubble works as a symbol that he's an outsider among them and not comfortable with the fact.
137** Kíli in ''Film/TheHobbit'' retains the exact same stubble length for the entirety of the first two movies.
138* The low-budget movie ''Film/{{Trancers}}'' is a rare instance where the explanation is shown on screen. Jack Deth used futuristic technology to jump into his ancestor's body 300 years earlier. When he jumped, his ancestor had his face lathered up and was about to shave. Since Jack didn't know anything about twentieth-century shaving methods, he just wiped the foam off his face and went unshaven for the rest of the movie.
139* PerkyGoth ManChild Gary King in ''Film/TheWorldsEnd'' sports (highly untidy) facial hair, which coupled with his generally ungroomed appearance shows what a self-destructive lifestyle will do to you. [[spoiler:He's clean-shaven -- and sober -- by the end of the movie]].
140* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'':
141** ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'':
142*** Hank has light stubble throughout the movie which is meant to make him look older than his clean-shaven appearance in ''First Class''.
143*** Sunspot sports a 5 o'clock shadow, making him unique among the Free Mutants.
144** ''Film/XMenApocalypse'': Charles has faint stubble instead of being clean-shaven (which is his regular look in the franchise), and at first, it seems to convey to the audience that he hasn't fully reclaimed his heroic Professor X identity. He's a relaxed, content principal, teacher, and low-key mutant activist, not a commander of a paramilitary group like in ''Film/XMenFirstClass''. However, once he decides that it's necessary for him to step up his role as a leader of mutants, he still keeps the extra facial hair--this illustrates that Creator/JamesMcAvoy's character is "rougher-around-the-edges" than Creator/PatrickStewart's in the original timeline. Xavier's stubble is also a ShoutOut to Detective James "Sonny" Crockett from ''Series/MiamiVice''.[[note]]Charles' costumes were directly inspired by the character on the TV show.[[/note]]
145[[/folder]]
146
147[[folder:Literature]]
148!!!'''In General:'''
149* In many variants of OurVampiresAreDifferent (Such as Creator/AnneRice's), vampires can't change the length of their hair, because their regeneration simply causes it to grow back to the original length in minutes. Hence, they're stuck with whatever hair-length they had when they were "turned". Thus, for a vampire, having perma-stubble could actually be justified.
150!!!'''By Work:'''
151* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''
152** Nobby Nobbs is described in one book as "clean-shaven. At least, he was clean-shaven the last time he shaved."
153** Commander Vimes is also often described as badly shaved, and is the Disc's gritty action hero. Like Fitz, below, his father died when he was young, and he insists on shaving himself because then he sees Sam Vimes in the mirror; if he had a servant do it, he'd see the Duke of Ankh.
154* Fitz Kreiner, from the ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'', has a more realistic variant -- he's just bad at shaving.[[note]]FridgeBrilliance: his father died when he was quite young, which might explain it. Or maybe it's just because he's TheKlutz.[[/note]] So he's often described as stubbly. It suits him, as he's an ActionSurvivor.
155* True to its hardboiled roots, the hero of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' is often described as having a light stubbly beard, though the length of said facial hair occasionally fluctuates. While any sort of stubble is noticeably absent from nearly all the cover art, the first few graphic novel adaptations had a hairier Harry more in line with the books' descriptions.
156* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', Blight is always seen with his scruffy beard.
157* ''Literature/TheLegendOfDrizzt'': Artemis Enteri is described as having a stubbled beard that "no amount of shaving could ever lighten."
158* Bendel, from ''Pettersson & Bendel''.
159* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''
160** Stannis sports a beard that is trimmed so short, it's just a shadow along his jaw.
161** Lower class, sellsword Bronn has a stubble of a beard. It's a shock to Tyrion to see him freshly shaven.
162* Lawrence from ''Literature/SpiceAndWolf'' is consistantly depicted with a freshly growing beard.
163* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': In ''Literature/RhythmOfWar'', Shallan notes that she's never seen her assosciate Vathah cleanshaven, but he's also never grown a full beard. As a result, he looks "rough" compared to the rest of the Lightweavers.
164* ''Literature/TimeScout'''s Kit Carson always sports a little mustache, but when things go to hell during ''Ripper Season'', he ends up with manly stubble.
165* In John R. Powers' ''The Unoriginal Sinner and the Ice Cream God'', the main character, Tim Conroy, describes his pal Bill Weatherly thusly:
166--> Weatherly was a rather strange fellow. He always had what appeared to be a three-day growth of beard, which meant that he must have gotten up every morning and shaved off one day’s growth.
167* Lampshaded in ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'', where Vasher's perpetual beard stubble leads Vivenna to wonder if he actively trims it too look like that. [[spoiler:It's eventually revealed to be ''literal'' perma-stubble; Vasher's a [[OurGodsAreDifferent Returned]], which means his appearance changes only if he actively wills it to.]]
168* ''Literature/WolfHall'': Cromwell mentally comments that More's busy schedule of hair shirts and self-flagellation must take away time from shaving.
169* In ''Literature/AnUnkindnessOfGhosts'', nearly every upperdeck man who doesn't have a full beard keeps his face stubbled. Theo's clean-shavenness makes him a rare violator of the norm.
170[[/folder]]
171
172[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
173* One of the signs that Wesley on ''Series/{{Angel}}'' TookALevelInBadass is when he grew some stubble, though it started out as a BeardOfSorrow.
174* On ''Series/{{Arrow}}'', Oliver sports that after some time spent on the island. He's shown to grow it into a beard by the time he's rescued and then keeps the stubble once he gets back to civilization. Also during the island days, [[spoiler:Slade]] had some stubble that he probably keeps in check thanks to one of his many blades.
175* Mitchell from ''Series/{{Being Human|UK}}''. He even shows up to an interview with a few days' worth of stubble.
176* Booth from ''Series/{{Bones}}''.
177* ''Series/BurnNotice'':
178** Michael Westen grows a five-o'clock shadow in the second season mid-finale. This episode he portrays a hard-drinking bodyguard to catch the attention of a would-be kidnapper. It fits the character personality, but also makes him that much more badass when he "gets religion" and fights back.
179** Sam Axe never met a razor he liked. He gets called on it in the fourth season.
180* Jeff Winger on ''{{Series/Community}}'' starting in season 3, possibly showing that Greendale has made him less uptight.
181* On ''Series/{{CSINY}}'', Danny Messer was originally clean-shaven, then grew a BeardOfSorrow after being shot in the back and temporarily paralyzed. Once he recovered, he traded it in for stubble for the remainder of the series.
182* ''Series/DarkAngel'''s Logan Cale sports the unusual combination of ActionHero three-day stubble and NonActionGuy glasses.
183* The title character on ''Series/{{Dexter}}''. He's shown shaving in every opening sequence, but we see no more than a few swipes at his neck, so he apparently cultivates the look intentionally.
184* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
185** The Second Doctor has one, but it's to indicate scruffiness rather than badassness. His CriminalDoppelganger Salamander, by contrast, has darker stubble indicating his relative sexiness compared to the Doctor.
186** The Tenth Doctor, which he seems to lampshade when he encounters the Fifth Doctor:
187--->'''The Doctor:''' Check out this bone structure, Doctor, because one day you're going to be shaving it!
188* Jayne Cobb on ''{{Series/Firefly}}'' goes between this and an actual beard.
189* Peter Bishop from ''{{Series/Fringe}}''.
190* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
191** The Master Torturer hasn't quite grown out his beard.
192** Jorah Mormont never really grows a full beard.
193** Stannis Baratheon, in lieu of his book counterpart's neatly-trimmed beard.
194** Balon Greyjoy is an abusive, hypocritical, self-serving asshole who's badly in need of a shave.
195* Luke Danes on ''Series/GilmoreGirls'', the grumpy bear and Lorelai's WillTheyOrWontThey Love Interest. Does he ever get a beard in the entire show? No, Luke looks best unshaven.
196* Dr. Derek Sheppard from ''Series/GreysAnatomy'', which is probably the reason why he's nicknamed "Dr. [=McDreamy=]" by his fangirls. Also Alex, Jackson, and sometimes Mark.
197* Max Blum of ''Series/HappyEndings'', sometimes called "fuzzy face".
198* Sylar, the brain-stealing supervillain from ''Series/{{Heroes}}''. In his meek {{Clark Kent|ing}}ish persona Gabriel Gray, he is clean-shaven and wears glasses. As soon as he manifested his powers and learned that EvilFeelsGood, he grew stubble. (Well, alright, not immediately. But the only time we see him shaving off the stubble is when he visits his mother, who didn't know what her son had been up to.)
199** Peter jumped between being clean-shaven and stubbly in Season 1, which became non-existent in Season 2, returned with a vengeance in Volume Four, and hasn't seemed to disappear since. Also, Future Peter 1.0 was made of this.
200** Mohinder also had stubble much of the time. Future!Mohinder as of "Five Years Gone" replaced this with a full beard (and glasses).
201* ''Series/{{House}}'':
202** House always looks disheveled, a combination of his disability and his personality. The stubble is lampshaded in several episodes. Then in one episode, House actually shaves his face clean, and the result (and character reaction) is so jarring that he looks like a stranger, highlighting how much the stubble is associated with his character. On another occasion, Dr. Wilson tells him, "I lied. I've been lying to you in increasing amounts ever since I told you you looked good unshaved a year ago."
203** In later seasons, Dr. Chase got some stubble too, causing many of his fangirls to squeal in delight.
204* ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'': King Viserys isn't particularly action-oriented himself. Rather, his perma stubble is a shorter sort of BeardOfSorrow, or at least definitely becomes one after he loses his beloved wife Aemma.
205* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': If a man has stubble when he's transformed into a vampire, his facial hair is immutable because he'll never be able to get rid of it or grow new hair again, as demonstrated by Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac.
206* The titular character from ''Series/JackRyan'', as played by John Krasinski, lurches between degrees of this depending on the season. First season; he flips between clean and noticeable five o’clock shadow. Second; heavy stubble that turns into full-grown beard by the end. Third; lighter stubble that stays consistent throughout the season.
207* The titular character from ''Series/JackTaylor'', as played by Iain Glen. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by his mother, who asks if he's ever shaved.
208* Cyrus Lupo from ''Series/LawAndOrder'', particularly since Ed Green left and he's now the senior partner.
209** Though in 20.12 the Lt called him on it, telling him (and the junior) to get a shave because he was not in Fallujah any more.
210* Cal Lightman of ''Series/LieToMe'' is rarely shown clean-shaven.
211* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'':
212** Halbrand sport a five o'clock shadow befitting his disheveled looks. Even after getting clean and an armor, he still keeps his stubble, resembling Aragorn.
213** Elendil has a neatly trimmed stubble befitting his noble roots.
214* ''Series/{{Lost}}'' has an interesting case of this. Despite having very limited access to a razor, almost none of the males have grown beards. Maybe slowing down the growth of facial hair is yet another special quality of the island. The rest is covered under ImprobableHairstyle.
215** Though Locke is shown shaving his head in the hatch.
216** Jack's stubble is actually parodied in a sketch on ''Series/MadTV1995''. Apparently, the only razor Jack has access to is a sharpened seashell which apparently only keeps his beard at 5 o'clock shadow.
217** On more than one occasion characters have questioned Hurley's beard growing ability.
218** Charlie's stubble borders on a beard, although in a season three episode he is seen shaving it off.
219** Sawyer always rocks it.
220* Lucifer Morningstar in ''Series/Lucifer2016'' has a permanent five-o'clock shadow, though this may be because his appearance is [[spoiler:under his subconscious control]]. It threatens to become a ''BeardOfSorrow'' in S4 [[spoiler:when Chloe goes to Europe for a month]].
221* Don Draper of ''Series/MadMen'' has a permanent five-o'clock shadow (that gray color on his cheeks), even after being shaved by his barber.
222* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
223** Kilgrave in ''Series/JessicaJones2015'' has a permanent five o'clock shadow.
224** ''Series/Daredevil2015'':
225*** Matt Murdock almost always a few days' of stubble, even though he's an attorney and really out to look more professional. It's thought that he either doesn't often have enough time to shave, what with living two lives, or that his blindness makes it more difficult than it's worth to get a close shave.
226*** Christian Blake, a corrupt cop on Wilson Fisk's payroll, has a five o'clock shadow.
227* Din Djarin in ''Series/TheMandalorian'' has some patchy stubble during his sporadic unmasking scenes, implying that he removes his helmet so rarely, that he doesn't bother shaving.
228%%* Several guys on on ''Series/MenInTrees''.
229* Sonny Crockett on ''Series/MiamiVice'' was probably the TropeCodifier. Electric shavers didn't even ''have'' a "stubble" setting before the show aired. That was introduced as a direct response to Sonny Crockett's popularity.
230* Dash from ''Series/MinorityReport2015'' is always seen with some peach fuzz.
231* ''Series/MondayMornings'': Dr. Ty Wilson has a five o'clock shadow. He's played by Creator/JamieBamber and he's a major HospitalHottie and MrFanservice. Befitting for his character who is a brilliant neurosurgeon, TooCleverByHalf, who messes up and goes through off-and-on [[HeroicBSOD Heroic Blue Screen of Death]] phase.
232* Callen from ''Series/NCISLosAngeles''.
233* Charlie on ''{{Series/Numb3rs}}'' has varying amounts of stubble throughout the show.
234* ''Series/PerryMason2020'': Perry starts off the series as a ShellShockedVeteran and DefectiveDetective who sports a few days' of stubble at all times. Only once he passes the bar and starts appearing in court does he show up completely clean shaven.
235* Shawn from ''Series/{{Psych}}'', who has actually woken up with less stubble than when he went to bed.
236* Dr. Cox on ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' sometimes. For the most part, he's clean-shaven. Though he did grow it out one season, and then J.D. started doing it.
237* Dr. Harry Cunningham from ''Series/SilentWitness'' was clean-shaven for his first few seasons, then started sporting stubble and retained that look for the rest of his time on the show. It's entirely possible he made that choice so he'd finally stop being mistaken for a student.
238* John Sheppard of ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' has a fluctuating level of stubble, but he is never fully without it.
239** Daniel Jackson of ''Series/StargateSG1'' had one for the first few episodes of season nine (allegedly it was to help tell him apart from Cam Mitchell who had just joined the show), but quickly went back to being clean-shaven. However, he was sporting stubble again in his final appearance in ''Series/StargateUniverse''.
240* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' invokes this trope in "Fair Haven". Janeway develops an interest in a holodeck character and tweaks his settings to be more her type. Among these changes, she first erases his beard, but then puts it back with specifically two days' growth.
241* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''
242** Dean Winchester. This was done in part to make his actor, Creator/JensenAckles, look older than Creator/JaredPadalecki, the actor playing Dean's younger brother, Sam. To an extent, it's pretty necessary. Take a look at him in the seventeenth episode of the fourth season, where he's clean-shaven and looks about five years younger than he does in the rest of the episodes. There were some other factors at play there, but still.
243** Starting in season 8, Sam grew stubble, too.
244** Castiel. Justified in that he's an [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel possessing a man]] and the body is either in stasis or Castiel maintains it the way it was when he took possession. The actor himself, Creator/MishaCollins, also seems to have a case of stubble too.
245* ''Series/{{Taken}}'': From "Dropping the Dishes" onwards, Charlie Keys has this level of facial hair.
246* ''Series/TeenWolf'': Derek, after the first couple of episodes.
247* ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'': Derek Reese has what is dubbed a "permanent three-day growth".
248** Kyle has some as well, [[spoiler:even as a hallucinated ghost]].
249* ''Series/TheWalkingDead2010'': Rick spends the first few seasons of the show with a case of stubble that takes quite a while to graduate into something that could be called a beard. In later seasons, however, he's got a definite beard that ranges in length, sometimes straying pretty far into mountain man territory.
250* Agent Steve Jinks on ''Series/Warehouse13'' has a permanent 5 o' clock shadow, in contrast to clean-shaven Pete and goatee-sporting Artie.
251* On ''Series/WolfHall'', Sir Thomas More has a perpetual two-days beard. The effect is to make him look slovenly rather than tough, part of the general subversion of More's mainstream image conveyed through ''A Man for All Seasons''.
252[[/folder]]
253
254[[folder:Music]]
255* Michael W. Smith in the '80s and '90s.
256* All over the place in CountryMusic; nearly everyone has stubble, a beard or a goatee. It seems a lack of facial hair is forbidden unless you're Music/GeorgeStrait.
257* Music/GeorgeMichael, from his last days in Wham! until at least the late [[TheNineties 1990s]].
258* Music/EltonJohn wore this [[http://www.allmusic.com/album/honky-chateau-mw0000650320 on the front cover of]] his ''Honky Chateau'' album.
259* Robby Krieger of Music/TheDoors.
260* In TheEighties, French SingerSongwriter Music/SergeGainsbourg looked increasingly slovenly with a permanent stubble as he became alcoholic, gaining the FanNickname "Gainsbarre".
261* The Music/{{Vocaloid}} character Tonio has stubble and a tuxedo in his boxart, giving him a bit of an unkempt-opera-singer TuxedoAndMartini vibe. The fandom took this and ran with it.
262[[/folder]]
263
264[[folder:Podcasts]]
265* Invoked and parodied with the main character in the {{Podcast}} SciFi RadioDrama ''Log of the Crimson Lien''. He's descended from genetically-altered humans, and, as a result, has extremely sparse and slow hair growth. Years upon years of not shaving has still only resulted in a 5 o'clock shadow, which he keeps because he thinks it makes him look like a rugged space adventurer.
266[[/folder]]
267
268[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
269* Wrestling/ScottHall, going all the way back to his WWF days as Razor Ramon.
270* "Hollywood" Wrestling/HulkHogan in Wrestling/{{WCW}}. Particularly ridiculous because his hair is trademark blonde and the stubble was black.
271* Wrestling/{{Edge|Wrestler}}, however, when he was sent to {{hell}} by Wrestling/TheUndertaker he came back with a beard, suggesting he ''[[SubvertedTrope was]]'' maintaining it.
272* Wrestling/{{Christian}}, after his breakup with TagTeam partner Edge over [[GreenEyedMonster envy.]]
273* Wrestling/HiroshiTanahashi as he made his transition from the happy baby{{face}} to [[{{pride}} haughty]] "[[TheAce ace of the universe]]" began to grow some, which one would think would be the opposite with his supposedly increased work schedule.
274* Wrestling/CMPunk, coinciding with the disappearance of his {{cult}} of {{straight edge|evil}}, which could suggest [[InvertedTrope he was too busy "saving" people before.]]
275* Wrestling/AdamCole occassionally develops these due to stress, such as when his options to put off a Wrestling/RingOfHonor rematch with Kyle O'Reilly were gradually exhausted. Adam Cole's just too sexy for a full on beard.
276* [[Wrestling/RandyOrton Randy]] [[https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwetlc/2013/john-cena-randy-orton-tlc-match-photos#fid-26218431 Orton]]
277[[/folder]]
278
279[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
280* ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem'': Upon awakening at night, a vampire's body resets to its condition at its first death. To his eternal annoyance, the ancient and elegant [[VampireMonarch Prince Augusto Vidal]] was Embraced with a week's scruff, so he [[DefiedTrope sees a barber first thing every night]].
281[[/folder]]
282
283[[folder:Video Games]]
284* The officer outfit for the Herald of Insight of ''VideoGame/BloodlineChampions'' shows how he must be deserved that rank (in an RankScalesWithAsskicking manner) with this.
285* As of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'', Dante has one. Oddly, it's a different color from the rest of his hair. It's uncommon, but not unheard of, for facial hair to come in a different color than the rest of a man's hair. Supposedly, Dante's hair color actually was originally brown until his demon bloodline kicked in, though this still doesn't explain why it only changed from the eyebrows up. It's more prominent in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' since Dante is now roughly middle-age.
286** Although the game only takes place over a couple of days. Evening One: Dante kills Sanctus, everything in the town except the Berial fight. Night One: Nero fights Berial, everything in the castle. Day Two: Everything in the forest and headquarters for both Dante and Nero. Night Two: Dante's leg of the castle and fight with Berial. Day Three: Dante kills Agnus and the final battle.
287* The characters in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' were given a minor makeover in the Champion Edition, and one of those was giving a shadow to Ryu.
288* If you look hard enough at the large posters, you can see that ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' protagonist Altair has stubble.
289* Several of the ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' classes namely: The Heavy, The Soldier, The Sniper, The Engineer and The Spy (or what little you can see through his mask) look as if they haven't shaven in a week. As for the others, while the Medic has a shadow enough to show he's a ''man'' who shaved ''yesterday,'' the Scout is so devoid of facial hair that it's as if his balls haven't even dropped yet. The Demoman has a fine bushy beard that seems to be a style choice, and the Pyro is [[TheFaceless none of your damn business]].
290* When Solid Snake's being an [[{{Wangst}} angsty]] self-proclaimed bastard in the first ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', he's clean-shaven. In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', when he's being far more personable and open, cue a shadow--apparently to invoke a [[WalkingTheEarth vagrant living on a miserable budget]], according to the character designer. Interestingly enough, an EasterEgg allows Raiden to give Snake a shaver as a present right at the start of the game, which causes him to be clean-shaven towards the end. You just have to find it first. (His [[HoYay friend]] Otacon also has stubble, but that's more about being an unkempt {{Otaku}} than a badass.)
291** In the ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' graphic novel, the artist draws Snake [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/226153_full.jpg smooth-faced]] at the start of the story, [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/metal-gear-solid-digital-comic-working-title-20060125115007814_640w.jpg gritty]] towards the middle, and with a [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/9818_hs.jpg young beard]] towards the end (and on the cover of the PSP version), suggesting he just grows facial hair very quickly.
292* As a [[AffectionateParody gentle send-up]] of the Action Movie Hero type, Double H from ''VideoGame/BeyondGoodAndEvil'' sports stubble.
293* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
294** The default facial preset for a male Commander Shepard--which is a head-scan of Dutch fashion model Mark Vanderloo--has an impressive one of these, as well as a variation of stubble available for customized faces.
295** Shepard's lieutenant, Kaidan Alenko, also has this. It's even more apparent with the third installment's improved textures.
296** Joker has one that's on its way to becoming a beard. In the first game, he even jokes he'll have to turn down a medal because the brass will want him to shave, which is not going to happen as he's "spent seven weeks working on this baby".
297* Another one from Creator/BioWare: [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Carth Onasi]] has a case of this.
298* Volke, an assassin in the ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series, has stubble in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]''. He also happens to be one of the most badass and wittiest characters in the game. In the sequel, ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]'', he's wearing a scarf that covers his chin, but he exchanges the stubble for even more badass lines.
299* Henry and Walter of ''VideoGame/SilentHill4'' are in dire need of a razor.
300** To be fair, Henry has ''way'' bigger problems to deal with, and Walter...well, he's [[AxCrazy Walter]].
301* ''VideoGame/SilentHillDownpour'': Murphy Pendleton, being a convict, probably hasn't had a good shave in a while even before he got stuck in Silent Hill.
302* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
303** Auron in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' has a short growth the entire game. [[FridgeBrilliance It's almost]] [[JustifiedTrope like he's]] [[DeadAllAlong not aging]]... Given that his character design is in many ways a callback to the samurai archetype often played by Creator/ToshiroMifune, it's no surprise that he would share the laxness toward shaving as well.
304** [[TheBigGuy Snow Villiers]] of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII''. Unlike many examples, he's a proper ([[IdiotHero idiot]]) hero from a small town. Fittingly, his blonde hair makes his stubble a bit more subtle.
305** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV''[='=]s character creation menu, although most faces (for all races) are clean shaven (with full-grown beards and moustaches under the "facial features" setting), male Hyur Midlanders have one exception: option 7 is just Perma-Stubble added to option 5. Incidentally, these options are based off the "Meteor Survivor" player stand-in from the CG trailers, who started out clean-shaven in the Legacy opening, but picked up stubble for ''Stormblood'' and never found a razor.
306** Ardyn of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' is portrayed with stubble in his older age. Official art showing him as a young man showed him with a full beard. [[spoiler:Also subverts the usual use of the trope, as he's not just a villain but the BigBad of the game]].
307* [[RebelLeader Torn]] of the ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' series seems to have this, though it's lighter than the rest of his skin...a five o'clock AM shadow?
308* Ryotaro Dojima of ''VideoGame/Persona4'', though given how he's characterized it's more a sign that he's overworked and stressed out by his job as a detective.
309* Calvin, the AdventurerArchaeologist and an eligible bachelor from ''VideoGame/HarvestMoonTreeOfTranquility'' and ''[[VideoGame/HarvestMoonAnimalParade Animal Parade]]'', has stubble.
310* Bishop from ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2''. This detail is even mentioned in his in-game description, probably to underscore his polar-opposition to Casavir, who is clean-shaven.
311* Again with Creator/BioWare, [[HeroicBastard Alistair]] of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' (also an example of MrFanservice), though somewhat unusually his is blond. Most non-bearded male [=NPCs=] are also stubbly unless they're elves. The sequel also has stubble on [[LoveableRogue Varric]] (an unusual non-bearded dwarf) and [[ByronicHero Anders]] (who has brown stubble despite his blond hair; perhaps he bleaches?). As of Inquisition, [[ThePaladin Cullen]] has perpetual five o'clock shadow and [[TheChainsOfCommanding bags under his eyes]], despite his romance's "Disney Prince" reputation.
312* Raven from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia''.
313* In ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'', Geralt and most of the men in the setting have stubble to various degrees. Geralt is unique in that you can actually shave him, or let his beard grow, or anywhere in between. If you do shave him, it's never quite a clean shave, as is what happens when someone only uses a single blade.
314* Franchise/{{Batman}} again, in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum''. Actually, he begins the game clean-shaven and winds up with stubble by the time it's over. Which in the timeframe, was probably all of one night (but maybe his facial hair does grow that fast).
315** Though we have no idea how long Batman tangled with the Joker before he brought him into Arkham.
316** In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'', he shows impressive foresight by having stubble at the very beginning of the game, meaning he doesn't have to grow it over the night.
317* ''VideoGame/TheSims2'' allows you to ''configure'' your characters with stubble -- which is relatively tame, considering that the same function allows you to change your hair color and length, ''longer OR shorter''.
318* Glas from ''VideoGame/FearEffect'' has stubble in both games, as well as the cancelled third game.
319* Angeal Hewley from ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'', in contrast to the baby-faced {{Bishonen}}s Genesis, Sephiroth, and Zack.
320* John Marston from ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'' has one.
321* In ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemptionII'', Arthur's default facial hair is a five o'clock shadow that you can either choose to grow or shave.
322* If you don't have York shave in ''VideoGame/DeadlyPremonition'', he can eventually grow a full-blown beard. However, no matter how often you ''do'' make use of that razor, he always has a permanent five-o-clock shadow.
323* Sam Fisher in ''VideoGame/SplinterCell''. Also, if you horse around too long on missions, he'll eventually grow a thicker one.
324* Ethan Seed, the BastardBastard of [[SinisterMinister Joseph Seed]] in ''VideoGame/FarCryNewDawn'', has a considerably hairless face compared to the BeardOfEvil sported by his father, and to his bearded uncles [[AmoralAttorney John]] and [[SociopathicSoldier Jacob]] from [[VideoGame/FarCry5 the previous game]]. It's [[SeriousBusiness one of the reasons]] Ethan is [[TheScrappy a less popular villain]] than the rest of the Seeds.
325* Isaac Clarke from ''Franchise/DeadSpace''.
326* Soap [=MacTavish=] from ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare''.
327* Jacques Blanc from ''VideoGame/Onimusha3DemonSiege''. He was granted the oni power, allowing him to use whip-based weapons. Bonus points because [[InkSuitActor he is modeled]] after Creator/JeanReno.
328* Eoleo shows up to ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'' in stubble. His [[{{Pirate}} career]] indicates the action anti-hero interpretation, but the fact that he's an adult player character in a series full of [[KidHero teenage heroes]] probably contributes to it, too.
329* Averted in ''VideoGame/MaxPayne3'', as Max starts the game with some stubble and ends it with a full beard [[spoiler:and a shaved head]].
330* Beginning in ''VideoGame/Tekken3'', which takes place after a 20-year TimeSkip, Paul Phoenix started sporting some gruff-looking stubble in addition to his AnimeHair. Video game magazine ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' said it made him look "older and angrier" in their ''Tekken 3'' preview, which is a good assessment.
331* Chris Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy from ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' have both adopted a scruffy look in the more recent games. It seems that the [=BSAA=] doesn't have any [[MildlyMilitary regulations]] concerning facial hair, in spite of being a military organization that responds to bio-hazardous incidents.
332* In ''VideoGame/HaloReach'', Jorge is the only Spartan to have a substantial amount of stubble, being the oldest and most experienced member of Noble Team.
333* The protagonist of ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'' has a blue-tinted shadow on his LanternJawOfJustice, between his massive muttonchops. If the player chooses to have him [[ImportantHaircut shave the chops]], the whole of his lower face will have that heavy blue tint.
334[[/folder]]
335
336[[folder:Visual Novels]]
337* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'':
338** In the fourth game, Phoenix Wright sports one, signifying his significant change in life and personality.
339** Gumshoe has this, along with a perpetual bandage over what is presumably a shaving cut. Since everyone in the games only has one sprite (unless time travel or costume change is involved), he never changes.
340** Detective Badd, in ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigations'', probably because he's designed to resemble your stereotypical HardboiledDetective.
341* ''Spirit Hunter'' series:
342** In ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterDeathMark'', two of the appearance options for the protagonist have him with a scruff of facial hair. Rather than marking him as a badass, though, it instead shows him as an unkempt, {{amnesiac|hero}} drifter.
343** The protagonist from ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterNG'' can also have facial hair which, in contrast to ''Death Mark'', highlights his blunt, badass personality.
344* Motomi from ''VisualNovel/TogainuNoChi''. Although all the other males in Toshima are clean-shaven...
345[[/folder]]
346
347[[folder:Web Animation]]
348* Robbie from ''WebAnimation/EddieAtTheLMV'' is the shortest in the band (even the female members are taller), so he has stubble to look as old as everyone else.
349* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': General James Ironwood was originally a clean-shaven man. However, since the fall of Beacon, he has been sporting an unshaven look, with the stubble reaching all the way up to his cheek bones. He's been run ragged. By the time of Volume 7, it's grown into a full BeardOfSorrow.
350[[/folder]]
351
352[[folder:Webcomics]]
353* Toivo, Larry's gay Neanderthal best friend in ''Webcomic/GroovyKinda'' When Toivo's pirate double, Mancanilla, shows up, their stubble is identical even though one was freshly shaved and the other was trying to grow a beard.
354* A shepherd in ''Webcomic/{{Erstwhile}}'' has stubble, presumably to show that he's, well, just a shepherd. [[spoiler:He doesn't even appear clean-shaven at the heroine's wedding]].
355* Dimo the Jaegermonster from ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' is a badass, and he has the stubble to match. The exception being the time he was made to [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20151211 clean up]] for a ball. While his (unseen) evil dimension counterpart apparently had [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20191204 two goatees.]]
356* Displayed by semi-fallen angel Rumisiel in ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}},'' in stark contrast to his clean-shaven boy scout of a brother. It suits his [[TheStoner stoner]][=/=][[TheSlacker slacker]] persona quite well.
357* ''[[http://www.stubblecomics.com/ Stubble Comics.]]''
358* [[NoNameGiven {...}]] of ''Webcomic/HannaIsNotABoysName'' has one, since he's...well...[[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies dead]]. He's also a master of {{deadpan|Snarker}} [[FirstPersonSmartass sarcasm]] and very protective of his friends. [[DrJerk Doc Worth]] also has stubble, although in his case it's less badass and more because he doesn't care enough about his appearance to shave it.
359* ''Webcomic/RoninGalaxy'': Giancarlo's goatee isn't the neatest one, its surrounded by plenty of stubble.
360* Rocko Sasquatch in ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob.'' He learns that he is [[spoiler:actually a Bigfoot who was exiled for being born bald; ironically, his beard and eyebrows are the only significant hair on his body]].
361* Several of the characters in ''Webcomic/StubbleTrouble'' are permanently bald (they're furries who like to shave off their fur; try to figure that one out).
362* Commander Badass of ''Webcomic/ManlyGuysDoingManlyThings'' (though a couple of days without shaving gives him a [[http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/548 full beard]]).
363** At the other end of the scale, you have [[http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/1016 Jared]].
364** [[http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/1295 It doesn't take even half a day for Commander Badass to get a full beard, actually]].
365* ''Webcomic/TheFoxSister'': Alex sports a perpetual 5 o'clock shadow.
366* ''Webcomic/AccursedDragon'': [[spoiler:Coven has this once his curse weakens enough for him to grow facial hair. Later on, he grows it out into a beard]].
367* Hartwig from ''Webcomic/AshfacesDaughter'' sports one of these.
368* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', the Aberration that looks like an Australian has this in his human form, to complement the "[[AwesomeAussie Crocodile Dundee]]" look.
369[[/folder]]
370
371[[folder:Web Videos]]
372* WebVideo/RedLetterMedia: Mike Stoklasa regularly sports a trimmed beard that is so short that it's essentially two days' growth of stubble.
373* Though he's clean-shaven on occasion, WebVideo/TheSpoonyOne is most often seen with a face full of stubble.
374* WebVideo/PawDugan. Especially prominent in that [[ItMakesSenseInContext close-up of his mouth]] from his ''Theatre/HedwigAndTheAngryInch'' review.
375* Roger from Website/MenInBlazers has stubble thick enough to be a light beard.
376* Ethan from WebVideo/H3H3Productions. He calls it a "patchy beard".
377* Built up in ''WebVideo/TheAutobiographyOfJaneEyre'' when it came to Mr. Rochester, who inherited a family company and should be a serious businessman, but has a tattoo and wears striped socks with skinny jeans. In the tenth episode, he was only shown from the waist down, but then in the next episode, his face is revealed ... with a face full of stubble.
378[[/folder]]
379
380[[folder:Western Animation]]
381* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Parodied with Tiffany Oiler, a goblin boy who has perpetual teen-boy peach-fuzz on his face.
382* Bruce Banner in ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' (but not the Hulk, strangely enough).
383* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', Dexter's Mom comments to his Dad, that he looks especially rugged today. Dad replies that it's because he hasn't shaved for a couple of days.
384* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', Timmy wishes to be an action hero. He instantly gets muscular and has a five-o'clock shadow.
385* Fred Flintstone from ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'', Homer's spiritual ancestor. It shows his rather uncultured look rather than implying a sexy look.
386* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Bender grows rust around his mouth when he doesn't drink. This is a display of FridgeBrilliance since alcohol and effervescent drinks can be mildly acidic, and acid is a rust remover.
387** Knowing the writers of ''Futurama'', the odds of this being a coincidence are virtually nil.
388* "Grunkle" Stanford Pines from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''.
389* Hoss Delgado from ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy''.
390* In ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons'', George Jetson sports this look for some reason, even though he lives in the future where anything can be done at a push at a button.
391* ''WesternAnimation/TheMarvelousMisadventuresOfFlapjack'': K'nuckles is blue. For the most part, the series is content to let you assume that he's an example of AmazingTechnicolorPopulation in a series that otherwise lacks the trope...except for one episode that implies it's some sort of stubble-wig he puts on every morning.
392* Matrix from ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot''.
393* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'': Benson's gumballs are meant to resemble this.
394* Stu Pickles in ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}''.
395* Homer Simpson of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', though, in his case, it's more to accentuate his low-brow nature. If he shaves, [[SpontaneousMustache it still grows back in a matter of seconds]]. In [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS14E17ThreeGaysOfTheCondo Three Gays of the Condo]] he shaves off his muzzle by accident at one point and uses a spray-on can of stubble to replace it.
396* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': Clone trooper Jesse has a perpetual face full of stubble.
397* Chris on ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama''. He temporarily clean shaven in "A Blast From the Past", but regains his stubble in the next episode.
398* Pete on ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace''.
399* If we wanna argue robotic facial hair, one could say that ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' Ratchet has what at least ''looks'' like stubble. Even without the three little dents that are consistently drawn on his face, the area around his mouth is colored purplish-blue, like five o' clock shadow.
400* ''WesternAnimation/{{TUGS}}'': [[TheBigGuy Big Mac]], [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Zebedee]], and [[ResignationsNotAccepted Johnny Cuba]] all have this look.
401* Colonel Hunter Gathers from ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'' maintains his perma-stubble ''even after getting a sex change operation''.
402[[/folder]]
403
404[[folder:Real Life]]
405* Certain men (and particularly certain ethnic groups) have facial hair anatomy such that it is extremely difficult to shave cleanly. This is particularly true for men of African descent whose hair grows in at a narrow angle. Shaving can also actually be more dangerous for such people since closely trimming hair at such a narrow angle makes it far more likely for the hair to become [[{{Squick}} ingrown]]. While some of these people do diligently shave anyway (particularly if they are a minority in cultures that have a taboo against facial hair), they never quite look ''clean''-shaven.
406* Some people's facial hair just grows very, very slowly, meaning that it could take as much as a week before you actually notice it has gotten longer. The opposite is also true. Coarse, dark facial hair against very pale skin is nearly impossible to wipe off short of removing the top layer of facial skin. The end result of a normal shave is a near-permanent five o'clock shadow. (Creator/JonHamm is a good example. He's almost always clean-shaven on ''Series/MadMen'', but never entirely loses the shadow.)
407* Some men who usually maintain full beards will choose a five o'clock shadow look during the warmer months as a cooler alternative and as a way to bypass the "itchy" phase of beard growth when they wish to grow it back.
408* Even without any of the above reason, using electric hair clippers with a short spacer permits maintaining a neat, even stubble for far less effort than shaving clean.
409* UsefulNotes/RichardNixon's stubble was so apparent that he had to shave two or three times a day throughout his public life to avoid looking slovenly. For his 1960 presidential debate against UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy, Nixon used a makeup powder called "Lazy Shave" ([[http://cabinetmagazine.org/issues/24/chamberlain.php "Hides the beard!"]]) to hide his five o'clock shadow. It looked terrible. The contrast between sweaty, grizzly-chinned Nixon and handsome, tanned Kennedy is widely believed to have decided the outcome of the very close 1960 election.
410[[/folder]]

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