History Main / SeriouslyScruffy

* Sebastian Castellanos of ''VideoGame/TheEvilWithin'' originally had PermaStubble as part of his gruff, hard-bitten detective look and dressed in a utilitarian yet still stylish way, complete with a WaistcoatOfStyle. By the time the sequel rolls around, he's let it grow into a scruffy BeardOfSorrow and is dressed down in a beat-up army jacket, as indicators of what a dark place he's been stuck in from the emotional trauma he suffered both before ''and'' after his experiences in the previous game.

'''Homer''': Marge, look at me. We've been separated for a day, and I'm as dirty as [[AcceptableTargets a Frenchman.]] In another few hours, I'll be dead. I can't afford to lose your trust again.

* ''Manga/ElfenLied'''s resident HotScientist Dr. Arakawa is working so hard that she never has time to take a shower. Becomes a RunningGag in a show that desperately ''needs'' the levity.

* As ''Manga/SevenSeeds'' takes place AfterTheEnd and personal grooming is not an urgent priority to them, majority of the characters will end up looking scruffy as things go along. The biggest, visual examples are Hana, whose long hair becomes so unkempt, entangled, and split-ended, she ends up cutting it short. Aramaki, whose short hair grows down to his waist during the 15 years he's spent wandering the earth alone, including a pretty impressive beard that he eventually shaves off. And Tsunomata, who later appears with long stubbles in his face, though he shaves the stubble away to keep behind a scruffy, sort-of beard around his jawline.

* ''Manga/SkipBeat'' has this occur with Erika Koenji during her second appearance. She has been in an accident and, due to psychological trauma, is unable to move her legs anymore and is bound to a wheelchair. She's still festering about the accident, leaving her hair disheveled, and generally ignores her appearance, which she usually keeps pristine.

* ''Film/{{CHUD}}'': KingOfTheHomeless A.J. has a few days growth of beard in all of his scenes.

** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110404 Vanamonde von Mekkahn is seen looking disheveled with stubble after spending days prepping for an inevitable follow up attack on Mechanicsburg.]]
** After [[spoiler:the time skip]] Gil is shown with stubble, dark circles, red eyes, and rumpled clothes due to spending the last [[spoiler:two and a half years]] fighting of the Other and numerous rebels and insurrectionists all while he trying to figure out a way to [[spoiler: undo the time stop on Mechanicsburg and save Agatha and Tarvek as well as everyone else in town]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': After the events of "Hollow Mind", [[spoiler:Hunter is forced to go on the run from the Emperor's Coven, and is found days later living in the closed down auditorium at Hexside. By the time Gus finds him, Hunter's hair is filthy, his face is scratched, and he's ditched his Golden Guard uniform in favor of his old, dirty Flyer Derby shirt and a blue cloak that looks like he dug it straight out of the dumpster. According to Gus, he definitely also ''smells'' like a teenaged boy who hasn't seen a shower in a week.]]

* Inverted by Dr. Stein in ''Anime/SoulEater''. When his appearance is going downhill, it's usually a sign he's [[SanitySlippage in no fit state to work]]. In the anime, [[spoiler: after the Kisin is released]], Soul drags Maka away from her studies to play basketball in order to avert this trope.

* When Jerrica is stranded on a desert island in ''WesternAnimation/JemAndTheHolograms'', the always clean-shaven Rio is seen leading the rescue efforts with a five o clock shadow to signify his tireless searching. Because [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair Rio has purple hair,]] his stubble is also purple.

This trope is about characters who, for various reasons, don't have time for the usual grooming rituals or to keep their personal space tidy. It can be a one time thing (to show a given character is under pressure or has become obsessed with something) or part of their normal characterisation. Either way, they have something other than their appearance on their mind.

Characters who frequently show this trait include the DefectiveDetective (and their more well adjusted colleagues when the situation's ''really'' serious), the {{Salaryman}}[=/=]WhiteCollarWorker (especially if they're a BeleagueredBureaucrat), TheAtoner, {{Workaholic}}s and the AbsentMindedProfessor. The PanickyExpectantFather is an example of the "one time" variation (although looking after their new offspring might make the trope stick). It can also be a sign of a BunnyEarsLawyer, SanitySlippage, VillainousBreakdown and the reason somebody's a GeniusSlob. Someone who MustHaveCaffeine will often display this trope with or without the two being connected (in the former case, it might be cleared up after they've had their fix). PlotPoweredStamina tends to have this as a side effect when it's being played more realistically.

Supertrope to MessyHair and EinsteinHair (which specifically marks someone as a MadScientist). Compare FashionableAsymmetry and RummageSaleReject for other wardrobe problems, BeardOfSorrow and MessOfWoe for depression induced deterioration and ForgetsToEat. Contrast ThePigpen (who's a mess because they're lazy rather than busy) and the more positive AdrenalineMakeover.

* As ''Manga/SevenSeeds'' takes place AfterTheEnd and personal grooming is not an urgent priority to them, majority of the characters will end up looking scruffy as things go along. The biggest, visual examples are Hana, whose long hair becomes so unkempt, entangled and split-ended, she ends up cutting it short. Aramaki, whose short hair grows down to his waist during the 15 years he's spent wandering the earth alone, including a pretty impressive beard that he eventually shaves off. And Tsunomata, who later appears with long stubbles in his face, though he shaves the stubble away to keep behind a scruffy, sort-of beard around his jawline.

* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' often shows this trope when the team are burning the midnight oil (along with many empty or half empty boxes of pizza and cigarette stubs). Mainly Ishikawa (and whoever ends up helping him), since he does most of the [[MissionControl research related work]]. Togusa also falls into this when he's investigating the death of a former colleague in "Interceptor".
* ''Manga/SkipBeat'' has this occur with Erika Koenji during her second appearance. She has been in an accident and, due to psychological trauma, unable to move her legs anymore and is bound to a wheelchair. She's still festering about the accident, leaving her hair disheveled and generally ignores her appearance, which she usually keeps pristine.

* In ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad The Belgariad]]'', Belgarath is introduced as a drifting storyteller with a shabby appearance. It's revealed in the prequel ''Belgarath the Sorcerer'' that this is careful design on his part: the costume - made by one of the finest tailors of Tol Honeth - has no holes under the patches, the fraying of his tunic is woven into the cloth, and his shoes are unmatching and look like they were found in a ditch, but are actually well-made. The rope for a belt is an artistic touch on his part.

* The ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'''s unshaven and scruffy cop Samuel Vimes prefers to conform to this trope, although his wife is quite insistent that he maintain appearances after he marries her. One of his monologues even notes his disgust at a palace guard's sword, since it didn't show any nicks and dents and clearly never saw any use (as opposed to a well maintained sword which still showed wear and tear). He's described by far more put-together newsman William de Worde in ''Literature/TheTruth'' as being able to "rumple a helmet."

* The video for "Le Café" by Oldelaf features an office worker who slowly deteriorates thorough the day, thanks to the stress caused by work and too much coffee. The result is played for BlackComedy.

** As of Volume 4, the previously clean-shaven General Ironwood has gained {{Permastubble}}, which serves as a visual indication of how he's becoming increasingly stressed and overwhelmed by his responsibilities as one of the few people who knows what's really going on. By Volume 7, he's sporting a full BeardOfSorrow, and looks permanently exhausted.

** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110404 Vanamonde von Mekkahn is seen looking a disheveled with stubble after spending days preping for an inevitable follow up attack on Mechanicsburg.]]
** After [[spoiler:the time skip]] Gil is shown with stubble, dark circles, red eyes and rumpled clothes due to spending the last [[spoiler:two and a half years]] fighting of the Other and numerous rebels and insurrectionists all while he trying to figure out a way to [[spoiler: undo the time stop on Mechanicsburg and save Agatha and Tarvek as well as everyone else in town]].

'''Homer''': Marge, look at me. We've been separated for a day, and I'm as dirty as [[AcceptableTargets a Frenchman.]] In another few hours I'll be dead. I can't afford to lose your trust again.

* During the early Twentieth century, being clean shaven was the fashion; therefore, being bearded was a sign of either slovenliness or extreme poverty (or both), the more unkempt the beard the worse the person having it appeared. However, once revolutionaries such as Karl Marx started wearing the beard (both out of necessity and a political statement), it became fashionable for communists everywhere to grow a long, scraggly Beard of the Proletariat.

* ''Manga/ElfenLied'''s resident HotScientist Dr. Arakawa is working so hard that she never has time to take a shower. Becomes a RunningGag in a show that [[{{Gorn}} desperately needs them]].