4-Year-Old’s Priceless Reaction to Dad Shaving Beard

A 4-year-old boy had an amusing reaction when he saw his dad without a beard for the first time. Ashleigh Young from San Diego, California, recorded the moment her son, Laceson, discovered his dad, Quiyon, looking quite different. Beards can be significant for children, especially concerning their parents.

A study by the University of Queensland, involving nearly 500 children and young people, found that kids as young as two perceived bearded men as older, stronger, and more masculine. However, the same study noted a preference for clean-shaven faces when asked which looked ‘best.’ Children with bearded fathers showed a more positive attitude towards facial hair, indicating that familiarity plays a major role in children’s perceptions of beards.

This might explain Laceson’s reaction to Quiyon’s new clean-shaven appearance. According to Ashleigh Young, the decision for her husband to shave off his beard was not personal but necessary. ‘He is in the Navy, and there are tightening regulations on facial hair and medical shaving waivers in the military, so he had to shave,’ Young explained to Newsweek.

Young anticipated Laceson’s shock, as ‘My son has never seen him without a beard.’ She was ready with her camera for Quiyon’s big reveal. ‘I’ve seen other kids’ reactions to their dads shaving, and knowing how funny my son is, I knew it would be a moment worth capturing,’ she said. ‘I expected his facial expression to be funny, but his responses and sounds made it even more hilarious.’

The reaction was shared on TikTok via @ashleighmarie.x0, garnering over a million views. In the video, Laceson emerges from a room and is taken aback by his father’s new look. He exclaims in surprise and asks his dad, ‘What’s wrong with your face?’ Both parents burst into laughter. Laceson continues to examine his father, asking repeatedly, ‘What’s wrong with it?’ and ‘What’s wrong with your beard?’ His father explains that he shaved it off. Laceson presses further, ‘Why is it gone?’ and ‘Why did you shave it off?’

Despite his initial shock, Young noted that Laceson is slowly adjusting to his dad’s new appearance. ‘He’s getting more accustomed to it each day, though he still makes funny remarks like, “Look, he has no beard,”‘ she shared.

For Laceson, his father’s clean-shaven face might remain a constant. ‘As it stands, he’s not planning on growing it back anytime soon,’ Young said, suggesting the 4-year-old will have to adapt to his dad’s new look for the foreseeable future.