Guest Post Article By Alex Rogers
A recent study has found that women find men with facial hair more attractive. If that’s the case, then perhaps getting a beard trim before a night out could change your fortunes. However, not all beard styles work for everyone. Your facial features, amount of hair, and lifestyle are what determine a suitable style. We have narrowed the list down to seven styles to help you decide.
1.) The Stubble
Stubble refers to the short stumps of facial hair that grows after a few days. It is the shortest style and the easiest to maintain. The stubble makes you look a little rugged and adds some maturity to a babyface. The stubble can be short, medium, or long. It is a smart way to hide facial imperfections, such as acne.
How to Trim It
The stubble is by far the most effortless style to achieve. You trim it with very little to no special tools; all you need is a trimmer. A guard setting of about 3-4mm should do the trick. You can remove the guard to get a closer trim of the cheeks and everything below Adam’s apple. Ensure your condition regularly to prevent the pain ingrowths. Additional measures, such as exfoliating, can help reduce rashes.
2.) BeardStache
The beard stache is a hybrid between stubble and a stand-alone mustache except, the mustache is left to grow longer than the beard. This style makes a bold statement; you are a risk-taker. Since it draws attention to your mustache, it’s great for guys with a prominent chin.
How to Trim
This look can is achieved either by trimming down a full-grown beard or growing from scratch. Use a trimmer to keep the beard at a stubble length while allowing the mustache to grow out. The difference should not exceed two-guard settings. Maintaining the beard stache is similar to that of stubble. However, the mustache will require extra attention. Use a mustache comb to keep it and untangled. Add a little mustache wax when combing and style it how you want.
3. Goatee
The Goatee style requires leaving a thin strip of facial hair both above the lip and on the chin. Some variations of the goatee connect the two pieces of hair, forming a circle around the mouth. If you struggle to grow a full beard like me, then the goatee might be a fair compromise. The goatee is ideal for angular faces but also has a slimming effect on rounder faces.
How to Trim It
The goatee looks deceptively simple. However, it requires both precision and a rigorous grooming routine. The first step is allowing your facial hair to grow to a comfortable length. Trim the mustache to stop at just the edge of the upper lip. The goatee should end just below the jawbone. It is advisable to shape it dry because hair relaxes when wet. You might trim off too much with damp hair. Use a razor and shaving oil to clean shave the surrounding areas to create a well-defined goatee.
4. Short Beard
The short beard is the shorter version of a full beard. It is ideal for both office environments and the club. The beauty of this style is that it is perfect for all faces. You can mess with the sides to either create a thinning effect or to increase the width to the face.
How to Trim It
The two main tools for the job are a beard trimmer and a wet razor. The first step is to allow your beard to grow out. About 1 cm should be enough. Use a beard trimmer to give the beard a uniform length. Stop trimming just outside the beard’s natural line leaving space for finishing touches later. Remove all stray hairs and give the lower neck a smooth finish with a razor. You can also fade the sideburns for a neater look.
5. Full Beard
This style is the father of all beards. Maintaining a full beard is a full-time commitment. You will need to invest in a complete set of beard grooming tools to succeed. The full beard works for face shapes. You just have to know how to shape it to flatter your face.
How to Achieve It
This style is more about growing than cutting. You will need to comb and brush the beard to make it grow a specific direction. Use a trimmer on a high setting to keep the length uniform. After which you can use a pair of grooming scissors to fine-tune. You will need to condition, moisturize, brush, and comb daily to keep your beard thick and fresh. To avoid ruining your beard, visit your barber once in a while to style it for you. Doing this will give you a template to follow when grooming at home
6. The Chin Strap
The chin strap features a beard with a clean-shaven mustache. The beard is thinned completely along the jaws. This style works for those with well-defined jawlines. It requires steady hands and precision tools to do this one.
How to Achieve It
Starting a washed dry beard, give yourself an even trim with a blade setting of about 3-4 mm. The next step is to mark out the thin strip that runs from ear to ear. You can then proceed to shave your cheeks and neck clean, leaving only the strap. A rotary shave is more suitable for this task. The edges of the chin strap for a more defined finish
7. Circle Beard
The circle beard is a popular style. It is a longer, fuller goatee. Both the mustache and the beard are left to grow to a uniform length. Because it is tidy and shorter than a full beard, you can rock both in the office and at the local pub. However, it only works if you have an oval or round face structure.
How to Achieve It
Let your beard grow a bit before trimming. Once the beard has reached about 1mm, you can start shaving. Getting the circle right is the hardest part of the process. It is advisable to let a professional help out with this step. Use a grooming scissor to get rid of unruly hair. You will also need to regularly trim off the facial hair that grows outside the circle. Remember to wash, comb, and moisturize periodically to avoid rashes.
In a Nutshell
Growing a beard can be very rewarding if done correctly. The trick is to pick beard styles that flatter your face and agree with your lifestyle. If you are not going to have enough time to groom the beard, then opt for something simpler. You also don’t want a beard that will get you in trouble at work. Above all, be patient. Growing a full beard takes time.
About The Author
Alex is a beard aficionado who loves everything to do with men’s style and grooming. After discovering how much difference simple style and grooming made to his life; he started his blog and brand Norse Grooming to share valuable tips & products with others.
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