How to Grow a Beard, 1539

woodcut of man's face with long beard and hair

“Dear Past, Your discussion of facial hair is intriguing, but I am not sure that I can grow such an excellent beard. Can you help? Sincerely, Wanting to Woo with Whiskers.”

Try this:

To make hair and beard grow. Take honeybees in quantity and dry them in a basket by the fire, then make a powder of them, which you thin out with olive oil, and with this ointment, dab several times the place where you would like to have hair, and you will see miracles.

Traicté nouveau, intitulé, bastiment de receptes

Know what’s even better than a beard? A beard made of bees. Ladies will go wild.