Beards remain a fashion trend that you can't ignore, and it's getting bigger rather than smaller. Due to the corona misery, a significant number of men have had to work from home involuntarily. And because you don't have to be sharply dressed behind your laptop, many men started experimenting with not shaving. In quite a few cases, the beard was successful and became a permanent part of their appearance. After the crisis, you'll see many acquaintances returning with a substantial goatee!
Are you one of those new converts who at some point said “F*ck it” and threw their razor in the closet? Has your beard grown long enough to be trimmed into a neater model? Then you should check out these tips. These are a few beard models that are currently gaining worldwide attention. Maybe there's the perfect chin shrub for your face type!
The Van Dyke
With this short beard + goatee, you look slick and elegant. Comparisons with a Victorian gentleman, a Hollywood star, or a talented painter (bingo!) are obvious. Although you also have something of the devil... the Van Dyke is striking, daring, and cool, and a good choice for men with a somewhat 'softer' appearance, a narrow chin, or a babyface.
Wait until your beard is a centimeter long. Then shape it with a trimmer or a razor. All the hair above your chin must go! Make sure your goatee connects with your beard with a thin line. Trim your beard occasionally as it grows to achieve that V-shape. Also, keep your moustache in check to prevent getting a circle beard!
The Balbo
The Balbo, not the Bilbo – in the Lord of the Rings films, the hobbit was about the only one without a beard. Feel free to use those films as inspiration for your facial hair! The name “Balbo” comes from an Italian henchman of Benito Mussolini – but you probably don't want to tell your date that. It doesn't matter who started this trend, because the Balbo is an impressive and masculine beard model.
A Balbo beard is a beard that extends from your chin over the lower edges of your face, but leaves most of your cheeks free. The beard can be kept short, but can also grow quite thick and long. It must be kept neat in any case. You can connect it to your head hair via your sideburns (if you have them). Your goatee is also integrated into this mighty mane. The Balbo is a beard with a loose ('floating' moustache). It can be quite thick and even extend a bit beyond your lips.
How to make a Balbo?
Your beard should be nice and full, especially on your chin. Then neatly shave the sides and keep them trimmed. Especially for men with a somewhat rounder face, this is a good beard, as it makes your face appear more angular, longer, and more masculine. Also, men who suffer from acne on their chin or the edges of their face will be pleased with the Balbo.
The Chin Strap
This is one of the most popular beard models among celebrities in the United Kingdom. The chin strap is a thin, neat beard growth that grows along the edges of your jaws, then goes up at a right angle via the sideburns. It can be worn with or without moustache and a goatee.
Wait until your beard is at least a week old. Then shave your hair in a straight line away from your cheeks, except for a thin line at the bottom. Keep this beard well-maintained, and keep it short – a chin strap should not be longer than a centimeter.
The chin strap emphasizes your face shape, specifically your jawline, and provides extra focus on your facial expressions. Especially if you have a strong jawline, this is a recommendation!
The Garibaldi
Another Italian in the list?! It's no secret that Italians have an eye for good hair fashion. Moreover, the smooth Southern Europeans are popular with women – enough reason to pay attention! Guiseppe Garibaldi was an Italian national hero who defended the country in the 19th century and united it. His distinctive beard made him a style icon back then – and this model is now, more than a century later, a hit again!
The Garibaldi is a long, full beard where the moustache transitions into the beard. At the bottom, it is round or flattened. On the sides, the beard can extend well beyond your cheeks. How high you let the beard grow on your cheeks is up to you. As you would expect from a beard named after a guerrilla fighter, the Garibaldi does not need to be extremely well-maintained. Also, beard oil or other products for beard care are not necessarily needed for this wild growth.
You need to let your beard grow for at least half a year – the Garibaldi can have a length of 12 to even 20 centimeters. Then trim or shave the bottom of the beard into the desired shape, and Guiseppe is ready. These beards are a great choice for men with an oval or rectangular face. A medium-length hairstyle goes well with this hairy jewel.
The stubble beard
Did you not feel like shaving for a week during the lockdowns? Congratulations, you've automatically achieved the stubble beard! A stubble beard is the most natural and popular beard model. Here, your facial hair is less than a millimeter (short stubble) to a centimeter (long stubble) long. The hair on your lip – it's too little to call it a mustache – you keep at the same length.
Not shaving for one or two days up to a week is a good basis for a stubble beard. After that, shave or pluck away stray hairs to make the whole look well-groomed. Optionally, shave the beard somewhere on your cheeks in a straight line. The area above that you should maintain. The stubble beard must be regularly renewed by trimming the hair to a short length with a beard trimmer.
Especially for men who have good hair growth on the cheeks, a stubble beard looks good. But in principle, this simple beard is suitable for everyone. And it's a great start for men who are unsure if they really want a beard. Just try it out once and see how the stubble suits you!
Clean shaven
This will also be a trend in 2024. Due to the cursed face masks, many men have started shaving completely smooth. Even former beard wearers. Well, what can we say? It looks very neat on many men and feels good – no prickly hairs can be a relief, especially if you've had a beard for years. Many women also love to touch a smooth facial skin.
A clean shaven look is easy to create, but labor-intensive to maintain. If you're serious about your new beard model (well...), shave with a razor and with shaving foam or shaving gel. Use aftershave to hydrate and care for your facial skin. Repeat this ritual every morning. Especially men with a strong jawline can present themselves well clean shaven!
