Over the course of the past few years, men’s collective penchant for a full beard has grown from barely there to boldly uncompromising. The aughts’ designer stubble look has evolved slowly but surely to the point where a densely forested face worthy of a Spartan warrior is now perfectly socially acceptable – nay desirable – all the way from Salford to Shoreditch.

Spurred on by hirsute models like Patrick Petitjean and Ricki Hall, and celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio and David Beckham, many of us have been inspired to try our hand at this key grooming trend – with varying degrees of success.

As with all things fashionable (read: cyclical), though, the beard’s bubble could be about to burst, with barbershops across the UK noticing a marked decline:

“We have seen a steady decline in bushy, fisherman-style beards,” says Bradley Stainton, founder of barbershop and eponymous grooming brand Pankhurst London. “Most men are now veering towards a clean shave, while those who are choosing to keep the beard are instead opting for a shorter, much more groomed style.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by the likes of The Telegraph and The Guardian here on home soil – both of which have run stories on the decline of the beard – as well as TIME and The Washington Post across the pond.

But what exactly has spurred on such a shift from the hirsute to the hairless? “The large beard really only suits a small percentage of people with a very specific personal style or look. At Pankhurst, we’ve tried to usher in a more groomed finish, which we feel suits a broader range of the men who visit us,” says Stainton.

So, are you tired of fishing last Tuesday’s Weetos out of your facial fuzz? Or concerned you’ve forgotten what your chin looks like? Then, it may be time to bid farewell to your beard.

Once you’ve made the decision to go sans stubble, it’s essential you shave your beard correctly, lest you end up with a red raw phizog resembling streaky bacon.