UPDATE 25/07/2025: V5.0 - now fully base game compatible, download here
UPDATE 14/03/2025: I received reports of the mod not working: subsequently, I have discovered the mod is not completely base game compatible, as previously confirmed by Flerb. In order for everything to function completely, the following packs are needed: EP01 Get to Work, EP05 Seasons, EP07 Island Living, GP01 Outdoor Retreat, GP04 Vampires, GP05 Parenthood. I have managed to get it to work without any packs, but there are some intermittent transition issues, so I am not happy to release this at this stage. I am, however, working closely with a much more knowledgeable modder to see how we can make this base game compatible again, please be patient with us!
Last updated in 2020, this mod broke for me many patches ago - and I have now managed to make it function again! (I think it continued to work for some people? I don't know how)
Automatic beards was one of my favourite realism mods, before it stopped working for me; and I have asked several modders, in the past, whether they would be interested in looking into making it function again - which is really a tough ask when everyone has their own things to work on!
I am so happy I was able to get this to work, so I wanted to share it with everyone else!
Full description by Flerb (TL;DR below it):
How the mod works Male sims of your choosing will automatically grow facial hair! The option is available from teens to elders.
To activate beard growth on a sim, click on any sink object in game and choose a beard colour out of the default EA 18 colours.
Beards will grow slowly over time as in real life. There are also 2 addons to let you choose a different speed to match your game play style. Just make sure the main automatic beards and the addon are in the same folder. No addon will grow beards in the normal timespan.
Time to a medium beard is as follows: - normal life ~3 days - short life addon ~1.5 days - long life addon ~12.5 days
Beards are assigned to the lipstick layer and will blend in with a sim's "permanent" facial hair style over time. This layering allows for interesting combinations of colour and compatibility with custom content beard styles. For example a sim with a goatee will retain their goatee after shaving.
Trimming and Shaving Sims are able to trim their beards to shorter lengths or shave at any sink. A sim can only shave stubble, so if they have a beard they will have to trim it first. The picker options will change accordingly. Sinks will get dirtier when shaving or trimming beards, clumps of hair will fall on the floor. Sometimes sims that shave might nick themselves.
If a sim can't wait for their beard to grow in, they can order Beard Growth Tonic found on the computer under "Order...". Be cautious as Sim Pharmaceuticals has not properly tested the tonic and it may cause side effects if not used properly...
Growing a beard comes with challenges, namely that of almost unbearable itchiness!! After a few days of stubble, sims with low hygiene may start to feel itchy and a bit miserable. A trim, shave, shower, or bath will bring much relief. Elder sims will only be able to have grey or white beards. They should automatically change to grey after a while, or when traveling between lots.
There is also a 7th growth stage Wizard Beards! Only elders can grow one, and many elders may die before they are able to. It helps for a sim to already have a beard as an adult. Of course drinking the beard tonic can help accelerate things.
there are 2 meshes included as animation props shaving razor 94 polygons electric razor 78 polygons
There are many CAS items, all clones of beards, but they are not to be found in CAS mode.
TL;DR: 1. Teens to Elders need to turn on the beard growth by selecting any sink, then choosing a beard colour 2. As time passes, you will see stubble, then full beard growth 3. Shave by clicking any sink 4. If you have a beard, you need to trim before you can do a close shave NOTE: you can choose facial hair in CAS for your sim - the beard will still grow, and you will see them slowly blend together, until it's a full beard. When you shave, your chosen CAS facial hair will be returned to how you wanted it!
Originally, beards only grew for sims Young Adults to Elders, but since teens are pretty much adults in the game, I wanted them to also grow beards - so it has been enabled for my V4.6 (if anyone wants a separate YA-E version, do let me know!)
FILES: - Flerb_Automatic_Beards_normlifespan_V4.6 - Fixed by zee.package - REQUIRED to make mod function - Addon_Flerb_shortlifespan.package - OPTIONAL to make beards grow quicker - Addon_Flerb_longlifespan.package - OPTIONAL to make beards grow slower
