Let’s be honest, there isn’t a single man out there who hasn’t tried to rock the stubble. Hell, I’m sure there are plenty of women too, but that’s a whole different topic. The year 2015 saw the rise of the beard in popular contemporary grooming, with popular figures like Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp and Fidel Castro (sorry not sorry) all wearing hair on their faces.

But how does one achieve such splendiferous facial fur I hear you ask? Well to be honest we’re not going to look at the really long stuff, just in case be spill over into the realms of science. Instead we’re going to concentrate on succulent stubble, how to grow it, and why it’s the new trend taking over the hipster beard.

The Classic Look

Gone are the days when to look classy, you had to walk around with a face so clean-shaven, you had to take off ten layers of skin as well as your hair. My grandfather shaves twice a day which; given my awfully sensitive skin, just sounds like a physiological impossibility. Let’s hazard a guess that it’d probably be too much effort for most men too.

Thankfully it seems that stubble is acceptable these days, so don’t panic shave if you’ve got an interview lined up, or you’re meeting your girlfriend’s parents. Stubble is in – the public loves it, but more importantly so do the chicks. Anyway, if you want some classic examples of well-groomed stubble go check out pics of David Beckham or Gerrard Butler. We’re here to talk styles and grooming.

Styles of Stubble

Gone are the days when to look classy, you had to walk around with a face so clean-shaven, you had to take off ten layers of skin as well as your hair. My grandfather shaves twice a day which; given my awfully sensitive skin, just sounds like a physiological impossibility. Let’s hazard a guess that it’d probably be too much effort for most men too.

Thankfully it seems that stubble is acceptable these days, so don’t panic shave if you’ve got an interview lined up, or you’re meeting your girlfriend’s parents. Stubble is in – the public loves it, but more importantly so do the chicks. Anyway, if you want some classic examples of well-groomed stubble go check out pics of David Beckham or Gerrard Butler. We’re here to talk styles and grooming.

Grooming Those Goatees

Ok so we’re not talking about goatees but that alliteration though am I right? Anyway, here are some things to consider when it comes to growing and maintaining some healthy hairs.

First off you need to ask yourself if the stubble look is for you. Is your face ugly? If it is then just whack a beard straight over that thing. But if the answer is no then yeah you might be worthy of the stubbz. You should grow stubble if shaving regularly causes the skin to flare up if you need a boost of manliness, or at the request of your sassy but totally smart girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband.

Obviously if you just physically can’t grow a beard, don’t attempt it at home – get down to the doctor for a nice big needle full of hormones. If you’re not prepared to maintain the stubble then stop right there, because you’ll not enjoy the maintenance it requires. Also, remember that sassy yet smart girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband? If they don’t like the rugged look and feel, then probably best not to anger the powers that be.

OK, So What Do I Need to Do?

Shaping up your stubble requires precision. It is a craft, and with and piece of craftsmanship you’ll be needing the right tools. What does an aspiring stubblenter or stubbletrician need in their toolkit then? Well, you’re going to need an exfoliating face scrub, some shaving gel, and a decent razor; preferably a wet-shaving blade and an electric razor.

I can’t stress enough that you can’t skimp on these pieces of kit – they can make or break a shave and when it comes to stubble, there is no surrender.

The exfoliating wash is the first step in the shaving process and as such it lays the foundation for the real craftsmanship. Think of it as the sanding down a piece of wood before you carve it up into a series of flourishes and intricate detail. Buy a high quality scrub and make sure you exfoliate that face good; removing dead skin and lifting your hair for a smooth glide.

Next you’ll be taking that shaving cream bottle in front of you. No not that one, the other one. The expensive one you just paid an absolute bomb for. So take the shaving cream/foam/gel and apply to the area you’ll be shaving. Make sure it’s absorbed in; preferably for around 30 seconds, before diving into the action. This helps to soften the hairs and open the follicles, to give much smoother shaving experience.

Finally, you’ll want to take your weapon of choice and begin shaping the stubble. This is where the real skill comes in, so enjoy and savour the movement. It’s really important to shave in the direction the hair is growing, as this’ll reduce any tugging and pulling that can lead to rashes and nasty stuff.

At the shaving stage it’s pretty key to take your time, don’t rush. We all know you want to show off your new-found facial fur but just hold on for a second. Keep track of how much hair you’re taking off too, because you don’t want to remove too much stubble and be left with a chin strap – they were only cool in the 90s.

So you’ve finished and it’s all looking great. What happens though when that luscious shape starts to grow wild and unruly, like a navy dockyard after all the bars have thrown out for the night? Well, we recommend using that electric razor we told you to buy. Electric razors are great tools for maintaining your stubble at a set length; especially as most electric shavers will come with a gradable clipper head.

Whilst the major work comes in the first three steps of grooming, this final stage is essentially the bread and butter for sustaining stubble. Keeping that beard in trim (no pun intended) will be what makes it appear well tended, whilst avoiding the potential for looking scruffy and uncouth.

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Without further ado, let’s jump into the top 5 styles of stubble; shedding some light on their origin and what’s required in their upkeep.

1. The Traditional

The traditional is that classic David Beckham look. Yes someone else invented it before him, but he wears it really well. It’s a 50/50 combo made up with equal parts of grooming and pouting.

Be warned though that whilst it is the stubble in it’s simplest and most sublime form, it does require a fair amount of grooming to maintain. You might want to invest in a pair of tweezers, and some signature Beckham boxers.

2. The Shaped

The shaped beard is a little thicker than the traditional. It looks great with long or short hair, but take note you’ll be doing a lot of trimming. Invest in that electric razor already and make sure you find a grade that suits the contours of your face.

You’ll also want to get comfortable with shaving around that Adam’s apple, as you’ll be doing this a lot. The shaped stubble variety requires you to remove any stray neck hairs, so as to draw more attention to your wonderfully styled face.

3. The Heavyweight

This one is borderline beard territory, so be prepared to monitor that length at all times. I mean get the ruler out when taking trips to the bathroom, or when sat at the desk when no one is looking etc.

The heavyweight takes between 4 and 6 weeks to germinate typically. It also requires the same level of maintenance as the traditional and shaped combined – making it one of the more fussy furs to maintain. The fact it also borderlines on beard is near-sacrilege, but it does look pretty tight so we’ll give it a pass.

Properly groomed the heavyweight stubble is a real winner. Again, it looks great with both long and short hair, and can even add a whole hunk of masculinity to your head once fully bloomed.

4. The Subtle

Simplicity is beauty. Not sure who said that but whatever, it sounds deep. Australian actor Chris Hemsworth rocks the subtle stubble, showing that even Hollywood stars don’t have to hire a beard stylist to look good.

The subtle is all about that electric razor – putting to good use the lower grade trim settings. Use that low grade to make you look pure high grade. Plus the subtle is much more satisfying to stroke than something bushier and itchier.

5. The ‘V’

This one takes a moderate amount of maintenance but it’s my go to stubble. The ‘V’ requires a level of prepping to make sure you don’t get a scruffy and uneven finish, but it’s worth the hassle. Exfoliate to the max before shaping this bad boy, and leave for 2-3 days before doing it again.

With this one there are two key factors: paying attention to how fast your hair is growing, and pruning with precision. The faster the hair growth the more frequently you’ll need to shave it; making this one a potential source of pain for people with more tender skin. Precision trimming here, however, will leave you looking like a Gibson Flying-V.

Extra Bits

So we’ve laid down some top tips for keeping your stubble looking trim, stylish and rockin’. How about keeping that stubble healthy? I’m sure if you’ve read this far you probably know about hair oil. It can be a useful tool when it comes to ensuring your stubble is smooth and touchable.

Most beard oils are formulated to soften coarse, dry follicles – keeping the itchiness at bay. Great for you and anyone you might be cuddling up to.

It’s really important to have a little think about your borders. By borders I mean the bits around the edge of your stubble. Some styles of short stubble don’t need a whole lot of trimming, but those that do you’ll want to be extra careful.

When it comes to trimming those borders you’ll want to be very precise, otherwise, you could end up with an uneven and shaggy mess. All of our top 5 styles need that element of precision, so make sure your razor is nice and sharp to avoid unnecessary tuggage.

There are also a few key areas to think about when shaping the edges of your stubble. The first one to watch is the area of the cheekbones. You’ll want to get rid of any unruly stray hairs here for sure.

Heading down a little have a think about the cheeks themselves – if you’ve got high-growing hair here then give it a little trim. When doing this though don’t forget our next top tip; crop that hair in a line that is parallel to your jaw line. That way things will look neat and in proportion.

Conclusion

So hopefully you’ve got a whole chunk of hairy stuff to think about right now; all the way from styling to styles, to the kind of man-kit you need to keep that stubble looking fly. It’s important to keep in mind that everyone’s facial hair is different, as are the reasons for growing it. Embrace the stubble if you can grow it, but make sure that you take proper care.

Your facial hair can be like a beautifully carved oak throne. It could even be a striking iron throne, so sharp that it may as well be forged from the swords of a thousand warriors.

Just remember that no matter how much time and effort you put into your stubble, the whole point is that it needs to look perfectly unkempt. It’s a badge of honor displaying your manliness, yet also showing that you care about your appearance enough to spend time on it.

It’s one of the least common beard styles of 2016. It’s warm, stylish, but also non-intrusive. You guessed it – it’s mutton chops.

Mutton chops is a bold fashion style to go for, but if you can pull it off it’ll go down like dynamite. Read on to find out everything you know about this in-your-face beard style.

What Are Mutton Chops?

It’s a good question and a really great place for us to start. Mutton chops – also known as sideburns, are stretches of facial hair expanding down a man’s cheeks, often forming a triangular shape that resembles a piece of meat. It sounds strange, but it’s what they are.

They’re typically grown from the ears down to the jawline, but they can also be mixed up and connected to other facial hair items such as a mustache or goatee.

History of Mutton Chops

From presidents to peasants and everyone in between, mutton chops – or sideburns – were worn by absolutely everybody. They were the height of fashion and a way of displaying class, intellect and masculinity above other competing males.

Nowadays, mutton chops are somewhat less fashionable, but they’re donned by a few brave males bold enough to pull the style off and make it work for them. Gone are the days of 1800’s civil rights activists in bowler hats and suits – it’s the modern man’s turn now.

There are those that believe that since Elvis Presley left this earth, mutton chops have been poised and ready to make a comeback. In the 70’s and 80’s, the disco era saw them donned by dancers, cops, hairy porn stars and hairy pornstar cops. Liam Gallagher from britpop band Oasis even brought them into the 90’s.

They’ve yet to surge into popularity yet, but that doesn’t mean they won’t. It also doesn’t mean that you can’t look seriously badass with a pair of them gracing your cheeks.

Wolverine’s Mutton Chops

How to Grow Mutton Chops

Like any beard style that we discuss on this site, mutton chops start with a period of continuous growing. Whether you grow out a full beard first and trim out is up to you. Fortunately, unlike most other styles, with mutton chops this isn’t necessary.

To secure a pair of mutton chops that’ll make any aristocrat envious, follow these simple steps:

1) Stop Shaving

Naturally, if you want to grow facial hair, you’re going to have to stop shaving. This is the first step and probably the easiest to do. What you don’t want to do, however, is dispose of your razor. For some other, full-face styles such as the Bandholz, throwing away your shaving instruments can be a great way of maintaining motivation for your beard.

It’s a long process and looking scruffy and itchy will cause many people to drop off along the way. With mutton chops, however, this doesn’t have to be the case. Since the style only occupies the side of your face, you can start shaving the centre areas, mustache, chin and neck whenever you feel like it.

By doing this, you’ll also help yourself to avoid the scruffy look that’s typically associated with growing a beard.

2) Set Clear Lines to Shave Around

You don’t want to shave too close to the mutton chops initially, as if you cut too close it’ll look scruffy whilst you grow them back to their original thickness. Mutton chops are characterized by their wide and bushy shape, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Leave yourself sufficient room for movement in the future, as what you want your beard style to look like may change.

3) Allow Time to Grow

Depending on your facial hair growing abilities, each person will need to allot a different period of time for this step. It can be easy to lose motivation during this part of the process, but it’s important to keep in mind your original goal.

When you stopped shaving, you did so on the basis that you wanted to craft a mighty beard style.

4) Complete Shaping

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. Once you’ve been growing your mutton chops for a long enough period – usually 4-6 weeks, it’s shave time. Sculpt the final touches to your mutton chops by removing any excess cheek, jaw and central facial hair. A simple tip that people often don’t think about doing is to use clear shaving cream/gel so you can easily see where you are shaving ensuring that your lines are looking sharp!

5) Maintain Your Mutton Chops

Once you’ve perfected your beard style, it’s not quite over. Your mutton chops will require regular maintenance to ensure that they’re on top form. Although the style is characterized by its bushiness and broad structure, that doesn’t mean that your mutton chops have to be like this. In fact, the majority of all mutton chops styles are maintained regularly using a beard trimmer. With this – and a few other select products – you can seriously up your beard game.

Items You’ll Need

Just like any other beard style, you will need some specialized beard tools to achieve a decent mutton chops look. At the bare minimum, you should use: 

1) A Beard Trimmer

This item is an essential for any well-respected and to-do gentleman boasting a bushy beard style. A top level beard trimmer, such as one from the Philips Norelco range, will cover everything you need. It’ll also be ideal for full-body grooming; in case you have other areas that also need taming. Also be sure to check out our massive guide on choosing the right beard trimmer if you don’t know where to start.

2) Beard Shampoo

With long beard hair comes itchiness. It’s an unfortunate fact, but it’s definitely one that’s best tackled early-on. By investing in a beard shampoo, you’ll be able to subdue and directly treat any dry skin, avoiding the dreaded ‘beardruff’.

3) Beard Oil

Once you start to gain substantial length to your mutton chops, they’re going to start to get pretty prickly. This can easily be managed by a good beard oil, which will both soften your beard hair and promote future growth. We at Beardicure absolutely love the oil produced by Smooth Viking, so it’s well worth checking out.

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Take these tips and products into hand and you’ll soon possess a wolverine beard that’ll even make the finest of bearded men jealous.

An Introduction to Beard Styles

As a man, your beard is an extension of yourself. It frames your face, it keeps you warm at night, but it also does so much more – it defines your personality.

Beards are quickly growing in popularity and with this has come a rise in demand for beard styles that will get men looking their very finest. With so many different face shapes and personality types, however, how can you be sure to pick the right one for you?

Coming from a bearded man who’s made more than one facial hair mistake in his life, trust me when I say this – there is nothing more frustrating than biding your time for 5 weeks growing out your face hugger, only to cut it into a style that doesn’t work for you. More than once I’ve made this slip-up and have had to start clean again.

Don’t Make the Same Mistakes I Made!

Don’t worry though, I’m not about to let the same thing happen to you. In this article, I’m going to give you a round-up of the different top beard styles.

We’re going to go all the way from bushy beards to thin beard styles for the slow-growing gentleman. If you’re struggling to find motivation, I’m even going to give you a few reasons why you should explore different beard styles.

Strap yourself in and read on to find your perfect look this season.

Why Should You Explore Different Types of Beard?

Far too often, the bearded male grows complacent, settling for whatever look is gracing his face at the time. It’s understandable – growing a beard takes a lot of time and dedication and, as I’ve already mentioned, changing beard styles can be a pretty risky move.

If you don’t experiment, however, how are you going to know that you’re on the top of your game? A couple of trims and a bit of shaping could have you on peak form, after making only a few minor changes.

The perfect beard styles are out there and finding the one for you will boost your masculinity, improve your confidence and ultimately, make you irresistible to the opposite sex. Take a look at some of the beard styles that your face could definitely be rocking.

This Season’s Top Beard Styles

The Bandholz

Created and aptly named by founder of BeardBrand, Eric Bandholz, this beard is an all-out war against clean shaven styles. Characterized by its bushy appearance and characteristic lack of trimming, this style is perfect for anyone looking to push their beard game to the max, without having to invest much time into maintenance.

Eric quit his job in the corporate world after receiving too many negative comments about his face mane. He’s subsequently dedicated his life to the bearded cause and has built a brand that focuses on products for bearded men.

Perfect For…

This style is perfect for the nonchalant man with fast-growing facial hair, who also isn’t afraid to take risks. If you live in a cold area too, this one is definitely going to help you out during those chilly months.

Beard styles like this are particularly well-suited to men with diamond, oval, triangle, inverted triangle and oblong face shapes.

Achieve This Beard Style By…

Letting your hormones run rampant and throwing your razor in the trash are the primary steps to this style. A two-month stint in the secluded wilderness is also an option, as Leonardo Di Caprio was sporting an impressive Bandholz in The Revenant. Hopefully you’ll manage to nail this beard style minus the bears. It’d probably help to get those hormones pumping, though.

The Bandholz requires minimal maintenance, so it can be achieved by simply leaving your genetics to do their thing. If you struggle to grow hair quickly, you might be better off checking out some thin beard styles.

The Garibaldi

Do you often find yourself struggling to make time for a morning grooming routine? You’ve come to the right beard style. The Garibaldi is a truly stylish face bush that any man would be proud to bear.

This style is slightly better kept than the Bandholz, so it will need trimming once in awhile. As a result, it’s best to hang onto that razor for now.

Perfect For…

Similar to the Bandholz, the Garibaldi is perfect for people who are time-poor but genetics-rich.

This beard style is perfectly suited for those with rectangular or oval faces.

Achieve This Beard Style By…

If you’re gifted with the power to grow, let your hormones do the talking and sit back. Minimal grooming is needed to keep this style in check, although the occasional trim will be required.

Goatee Overflow

Also referred to as the Hollywoodian, the goatee overflow is a prime combination of the goatee and an excellent mustache. If you’re looking to free up some real estate on your cheeks, this beard style is for you.

Originally made famous by Brad Pitt, this style has now left California and is being sported by men across the world.

Perfect For…

If you’re looking for a beard style without the excessive cheek hair and mutton chops, this one is for you. It’s also one of the best styles for patchy types of beards.

This look is perfect for people with an oval or square face shape. You’re probably beginning to see the trend with face shapes here. If you’ve got an oval face, lucky you. You’re going to be able to pull the majority of these styles off without looking like a mix and match Lego character

Achieve This Beard Style By…

Leave your facial hair untouched for a couple of weeks, or until a medium length stubble has cropped up. After this, begin by sculpting a tight line fitted around your jaw. Next, shave down from your cheek line until the length meets that of your lower lip. It’s up to you, but it’s usually a good idea to make sure your cheek line is shaved parallel to your jaw.

Friendly Mutton Chops

Do you want to look fun and approachable, but with a quirky, masculine edge? The friendly mutton chops will nail it for you. Also known as the sideburns, the term was coined by American Civil War general Ambrose Burnside. What a name.

Perfect For…

This beard style is perfect for those with an oval, square or circular face. It’s also ideal for men with strong chins that they don’t want to draw further attention to with facial hair.

Achieve This Beard Style By…

As with most beard styles, it starts with a period of continuous growing. Nail this style by letting your hair grow out for around 4 weeks, then shaving out your chin and lower lip. Depending on your preference, you can also trim and shave your neckline up to meet your jawline. Continue to grow your mutton chops and mustache until bushy.

Full Beard

Without a doubt the most masculine of the beard styles, the full beard is also the most popular. Whether you want to set yourself apart from the rest with a more unique style is up to you, but the full beard is a style that many can rock to perfection.

Perfect For…

This beard style will work for pretty much everyone, as you will no doubt have seen from the sheer number of men sporting it. It is, however, best suited to men with a triangle, inverted triangle or diamond face shape.

Achieve This Beard Style By…

Your ability to command this style is, sadly, largely down to genetics. If you excel when it comes to growing hair pretty much wherever, this style isn’t going to pose too much of a problem. However, if you’re looking for beard styles for patchy beards, this one probably isn’t for you.

To get this look, stop shaving altogether for a period of 4-6 weeks. After that, style in clean lines with your razor on your neck and cheek lines. Depending on how quickly your hair grows, maintain a set length by trimming it as required. This will help to keep your beard stylish and looking tidy.

Van Dyke

Coined by the popular painter Anthony Van Dyke, this beard style has surged in and out of popularity since his life over 300 years ago. Combining two popular elements of facial hair, the Van Dyke involves a high level of styling precision and maintenance to keep both the mustache and goatee on point.

Anthony Van Dyke

Current Van Dyke Style

Perfect For…

If you have a narrow chin, this style is absolutely perfect for you. It’ll help to draw attention away from it and accentuate it, making it look larger, wider and more pronounced. Should you want to strengthen your jawline too, you can also extend this beard style with a chin strap.

Achieve This Beard Style By…

Grow your hair out until it becomes long, fine stubble. This can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks, depending on how quickly your facial hair grows. After you’ve got a good length to work with, slowly begin to sculpt your facial hair, removing it from both the left and right sides of your cheeks.

Without shaving your mustache, sculpt the soul patch under your bottom lip into the desired shape and leave the beard to grow until about 2 inches in length. Again, this is down to personal preference. If you want to become a bearded Rapunzel and push the beard length to the max, we say go for it.

Balbo

Robert Downey Jr. has been rocking this style for years and for good reason – it’s awesome. Throughout The Avengers movie series, he’s maintained this style to perfection and shown the rest of the male world how it’s done. If you like his style, why not give it a go?

Robert Downey Jr.

Perfect For…

Much like the Van Dyke, this beard style is perfect for those with a narrow chin who are looking to strengthen and pronounce it. The Balbo can also help to draw attention away from other features, such as a larger nose.

Achieve This Beard Style By…

Before beginning this beard style, you need a sufficient canvas to work from. Make sure you let your facial hair grow out for a good 4-6 weeks. If you have trouble growing hair on your cheeks and are looking for beard styles for patchy beards, the Balbo could work well for you.

After you’ve got your beard to a good length, begin to shave off any cheek, jaw and neck hair on around the center of your chin. Then, carefully shave the gaps between your mustache and goatee.

Products You’ll Need

Although beards are free and grow on their own, they unfortunately don’t groom themselves. This means that there are a few items you’re going to need to help your style along the way.

In fact, there are even some items listed below that’ll promote fuller and faster beard growth. Take a look to find out what you’ll need:

1) A Beard Trimmer

In order to perfect any of the beard styles mentioned above, you’re going to need to invest in a purpose-built trimmer for your beard. This doesn’t necessarily have to be the most expensive model on the market, but you should look for one that comes with a warranty and will last you for several years. You can usually get a good one for around $20.

One of our favorites is the Philips Norelco Multigroom. At that $20 mark you’ll get a beard trimmer from an industry-leading and widely recognized brand who produce reliable and high-performing products.

In the kit, you’ll receive the main trimmer, a travel case and several length attachments to contour your beard and get it looking its best.

2) Beard Balms and Oils

During the beard-growing process, especially if this is your first serious facial hair, your skin isn’t likely to take a pounding. In order to promote a healthy complexion, we suggest you invest in a good beard balm or beard oil.

Once again, these aren’t going to break the bank. In fact, you can pick up a good beard oil or balm for around $15. For that money, they’re well worth the purchase.

Beard balms and beard oils will help to moisturize the underlying skin on your face, reducing your chance of developing the dreaded ‘beardruff’. They’ll also reduce the chance of you developing ingrown hairs and can even work proactively to promote hair growth.

3) A Beard Brush

This one might sound a little strange, but a beard brush is a piece of kit you don’t know you need until you don’t have one. Trust us – by that point, you’re really going to need it.

In unison with beard oils and balms, a good beard brush will help with even product distribution and will massage the underlying skin to promote a healthy complexion.

On their own, they’re an essential tool to make sure your beard remains knot-free and is looking its finest at all times.​

​For an in-depth look, check out our review of the top 5 beard brushes. My personal favorite from the list is Smooth Viking beard brush. It’s made with 100% boar hair and works better than any I’ve seen before.

Keep It Clean

It might seem obvious, but be sure to work a good beard wash into your daily washing routine. Beards can help to stop any infections or viruses from entering your body, but for a short time they’re still going to be stuck within the hairs. To start with, a regular sensitive hair shampoo will work fine for your beard. If you start to experience any dry skin, it’s time to invest in a proper beard shampoo.

If this is your first beard grow, check out our guide on growing a beard. You’ll find some useful tips on how to grow a beard the right way, which will no doubt save you time and effort down the line.

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As with your dress sense, beards are a great way of defining what kind of man you are. Whether you’re going for longer or patchy beard styles, you’ve got the power to make it happen. Pick your look and start growing!