In the 1990s long facial hair – and beards in particular – were completely out of favour. This was exemplified by Roald Dahl in his children’s novel The Twits (1980) :
‘Mr Twit was one of those very hairy-faced men. The whole of his face except for his forehead, his eyes and his nose, was covered with thick hair. The stuff even sprouted in revolting tufts out of his nostrils and ear-holes. Mr Twit felt that this hairiness made him look terrifically wise and grand. But in truth he was neither of these things. Mr Twit was a twit.’
Moustaches, Whiskers & Beards by Lucinda Hawksley, National Portrait Gallery