Growing a beard is more than a simple act of letting facial hair grow; it is an art form that embodies style, confidence, and individuality. In today’s fashion-forward world, a well-groomed beard acts as a personal statement, reflecting both trend awareness and personal flair. Whether you’re just beginning your beard journey or are a seasoned veteran looking to revamp your look, the selection of the right style is crucial. The thirteen popular beard trends curated for you offer a diverse range of options, each catering to different facial structures, personal preferences, and lifestyle needs.
From bold, thick beards that highlight masculinity to sleek, trimmed styles that convey modern elegance, there is something for every man. For those who prefer a touch of expertise, a skilled barber at a New York Barbershop can transform your look, ensuring that your beard is not only stylish but also impeccably maintained. A professional barber will provide personalized advice, helping to shape your beard in a way that enhances your facial features, leading to a refined and polished appearance. With these insights, achieving a modern, appealing look is within reach, turning your beard into an asset that complements your overall style.
1. The Classic Full Beard
The full beard is a timeless embodiment of masculinity that commands attention and respect, remaining a stalwart choice among men across generations. To cultivate a classic full beard, patience and commitment are essential, as it demands thoughtful care and maintenance to preserve its natural shape and fullness. Achieving the perfect full beard begins with growing your facial hair evenly over time, allowing it to reach a substantial length before any major shaping.
Regular grooming is crucial, including routine trimming and the application of nourishing beard oils to maintain thickness and luster. The beauty of this style lies in its versatility; it can be tailored to complement a wide range of facial structures. A square face might benefit from a well-rounded beard, while a longer visage can be softened with fuller beard look growth along the chin and jawline.
Consulting a professional barber adds an extra layer of expertise, ensuring that your full beard not only fits your personal aesthetic but also accentuates your natural features, creating a distinguished and polished appearance that aligns with both traditional and modern trends.
2. The Stubble Look
The stubble look offers an effortless and rugged style that exudes a casual yet confident vibe. Ideal for men who prefer a low-maintenance approach to grooming, this style suggests a robust masculinity without the demand for a fully-grown beard. Achieving the perfect stubble involves allowing your facial hair to grow out to a short length, typically around 1-3 millimeters. The key to maintaining this look lies in careful trimming and shaping, ensuring the stubble remains neat and evenly distributed across the face.
While the stubble look may appear to be a simple option, achieving and maintaining it requires attention to detail. New York Barbers are specialists in this style and can expertly shape your stubble to complement your facial features, offering personalized advice on the perfect length and contour that suits your jawline and cheek structure. Regular upkeep is crucial, as unkempt stubble can quickly transition from stylish to scruffy. By visiting a professional barber, you ensure that your stubble always looks polished, enhancing your facial aesthetics and conveying a meticulously curated ruggedness that is both modern and timeless.
3. Goatee
A goatee is a classic choice that keeps things minimal while still stylish. This versatile style involves grooming only the hair on the chin, often paired with a mustache to create a distinct and balanced look. It suits both professional and casual settings, making it a popular choice among men who desire a refined yet edgy appearance.
To achieve the perfect goatee, precision is essential; it requires regular shaving of the surrounding facial hair while carefully trimming the goatee itself to maintain a sharp and defined shape. The versatility of the goatee allows it to be tailored to fit different face shapes and personal preferences, whether opting for a narrow or broader style, with clean lines or a slightly softer edge.
Regular visits to a skilled barber can ensure that your goatee complements your facial features, providing expert advice on the ideal length and shape that best suits your lifestyle and personality. With the right care and attention, the goatee not only enhances your appearance but also projects a confident and sophisticated image, bridging the gap between traditional elegance and modern flair.
4. The Van Dyke
The Van Dyke beard style is a timeless trend that combines a meticulously groomed mustache with a distinct goatee, creating an appearance that is both sophisticated and classy. Originating in the 17th century and named after the Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck, this beard style has become a symbol of artistic elegance and refined masculinity.
To achieve the Van Dyke look, the mustache and goatee are styled separately, with no connecting hair on the cheeks, emphasizing clean lines and precision. The mustache is often kept full and can be styled in various ways, from a natural look to more curled tips for added character. The goatee, on the other hand, is centered on the chin, sometimes extending slightly along the jawline but always distinct from the mustache.
Maintenance is key to keeping the Van Dyke looking sharp. Regular trimming and shaping are essential to preserve the distinct separation between the mustache and goatee, preventing a sloppy appearance. This style suits a variety of face shapes and can be adapted to personal preferences, whether opting for a narrow or broader goatee or experimenting with different mustache thicknesses.
Employing the expertise of a professional barber can be invaluable in perfecting and maintaining the Van Dyke. A skilled New York barber can offer insights on the ideal angles and grooming techniques, ensuring that your Van Dyke complements your facial features and aligns with your personal style. With its classic allure, the Van Dyke offers a confident, cultured look that bridges traditional sophistication with contemporary elegance.
5. Bandholz Beard
For those who want to make a bold statement with their facial hair, the Bandholz Beard is an excellent choice. This style encourages letting your facial hair grow naturally, showcasing its fullest potential without the constraints of trimming or styling. Named after Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, the Bandholz Beard exudes a sense of rugged masculinity and freedom. Typically, it requires about six months of dedicated growth to achieve its voluminous and substantial appearance.
The key to a successful Bandholz is patience and commitment, as it allows you to embrace the natural texture and growth patterns of your beard. Regular grooming with quality products like oils and balms is essential to maintain the beard’s health and luster, while occasional shaping can be performed to tidy up stray hairs and define the overall shape. This style pairs well with a casual or adventurous aesthetic, offering a commanding presence and an embodiment of unrestricted personal expression.
6. Short Beard with Mustache
Combining a neatly trimmed beard with a defined mustache provides a sharp and clean look that effectively enhances facial features. This style involves keeping the beard relatively short, often just a few centimeters from the skin, while the mustache remains slightly longer for a noticeable contrast. Precision is crucial in maintaining this look, requiring regular trims to ensure the lines are clean and the mustache distinctly stands out against the shorter beard.
The versatility of this style allows for experimentation with mustache forms, from classic shapes to modern twists, offering a tailored approach that fits various face shapes and personal preferences. It’s a sophisticated option suitable for both casual settings and formal occasions, presenting a well-groomed and polished appearance that speaks to a balanced blend of modernity and tradition.
7. The Hollywoodian
The Hollywoodian style is a distinct facial hair look characterized by a combination of a mustache and a beard that connects along the jawline, with the cheeks cleanly shaved. This style is particularly popular for its ability to emphasize the jaw and chin, creating a chiselled and defined appearance. The Hollywoodian doesn’t cover the entire face, focusing instead on strategic coverage that highlights specific facial attributes, making it a flattering option for various face shapes.
To achieve the Hollywoodian, start by growing out your facial hair fully, allowing the areas around the jawline and mustache to develop some length. Once the growth is sufficient, shave the cheeks and any unwanted areas with precision to ensure a sharp, clean divide between the beard and the rest of the face. Regular maintenance is essential to keep the lines crisp and the connection between the mustache and beard seamless. This style offers a classic yet contemporary look, often associated with silver-screen icons, and its timeless appeal works well in both formal and casual environments.
8. The Five O’Clock Shadow
The five o’clock shadow exudes a unique blend of ruggedness and sophistication, offering a laid-back charm that is effortless yet undeniably stylish. This look is characterized by a light stubble that appears days after a clean shave, providing a subtle layer of facial hair that enhances the natural contours of the face. It appeals to those seeking a masculine edge without the commitment of maintaining longer styles, making it ideal for busy individuals who appreciate low-maintenance grooming routines.
To achieve the perfect five o’clock shadow, begin by shaving your face completely smooth and allow the hair to grow back naturally over the next day or two. This style thrives on its simplicity, so avoid trimming or shaping until the stubble reaches an even and desirable length, which typically occurs within 24 to 48 hours, depending on your hair growth rate. For those with faster growth, using a stubble-trimmer can help maintain the ideal length and ensure consistency.
Regular moisturizing is recommended, as the short hair of a five o’clock shadow can sometimes lead to dry or irritated skin. This dapper style suits any occasion, offering a relaxed yet polished appearance that can transition effortlessly from professional settings to casual outings, making it a versatile choice for modern gentlemen.
9. Chin Strip
The Chin Strip is a minimalistic yet bold facial hair style that adds a strip of hair running perfectly down the center of the chin, providing a distinctive edge to your facial style. This look is particularly effective for those seeking a unique statement that differentiates them from more conventional styles. The Chin Strip highlights the length of the face and can be especially flattering for individuals with rounder face shapes, as it creates an illusion of length and definition.
To craft the ideal Chin Strip, begin with a clean-shaven face to serve as a blank canvas. Using a trimmer, carefully mark the area along the center of the chin, ensuring the strip is proportionate in width and evenly extends from beneath the lower lip to the point of the chin. Precision is key; even minor deviations can impact the symmetry and overall aesthetic of this style.
Maintenance for the Chin Strip requires regular trimming to keep the edges sharp and the length consistent. Incorporating a good-quality shaving gel or foam can aid in defining the borders, enhancing the sleek appearance. As with any facial hair style, appropriate skincare is essential to prevent irritation, particularly around the edges where the skin is more exposed. The Chin Strip offers a blend of simplicity and boldness, perfect for contemporary men seeking to make a subtle yet impactful impression in any setting.
10. The Verdi
The Verdi is an elegant and charismatic style that combines a short, sculpted beard with a distinct, clean mustache. Ideal for those who appreciate a refined look, this style offers both sophistication and manageability. The hallmark of the Verdi is its neatly trimmed beard that typically spans about three to four inches in length, maintaining a full yet controlled form that complements most face shapes. The accompanying mustache is kept separate from the beard, with the corners slightly curled, providing a touch of vintage charm.
To achieve the perfect Verdi, begin by letting your beard grow out to your desired thickness while maintaining regular trims to ensure a neat appearance. Attention should be given to the mustache, which should be waxed and shaped regularly to maintain its classic curl. A good quality beard oil is essential for keeping the hair soft and the skin nourished beneath, preventing dryness and flakiness.
11. Mutton Chops
For individuals drawn to vintage aesthetics, mutton chops offer a striking and bold facial hair choice. This style evokes the grandeur and bravado of classic looks, characterized by sideburns that extend to the lower jawline while leaving the chin area clean-shaven. Mutton chops can be styled to varying thicknesses, from refined and understated to robust and full-bodied, truly capturing the spirit of eras gone by.
Crafting the ideal mutton chops requires precision and patience. Start by growing out the sideburns and shaving the chin area to create a stark contrast. Regular maintenance is crucial to avoid unwanted overgrowth and to ensure that the chops symmetrically frame the face. High-quality trimmers and regular shaping sessions are recommended to preserve clean lines. Applying a moisturizing balm can keep the skin in optimal condition, especially where the beard and shaved areas meet. Mutton chops offer a dramatic and timeless statement, perfect for those who wish to honor the stylistic traditions of the past while making a powerful contemporary impression.
12. The Anchor
The anchor beard is an elegant and contemporary style that emphasizes the jawline with a distinctive shape resembling a ship’s anchor. This style requires precision in its execution, combining a pointed beard with a disconnected mustache for a modern and fashionable look. To achieve the perfect anchor beard, start by growing a full beard along with a mustache. Once the desired length is reached, use a quality trimmer to shape the beard into a clear outline along the jaw, extending towards the chin in a triangular point.
A critical element of the anchor beard is the separation between the mustache and the main beard section. Carefully trim the area between the mustache and the top of the beard to create a clean gap, ensuring the mustache remains well-defined and distinct. Routine grooming and shaping are essential to maintain the sharp lines and prevent stray hairs from detracting from the sleek appearance. Additionally, applying beard oil can keep the hair soft and the skin underneath hydrated, supporting overall beard health. The anchor beard is perfect for individuals seeking to emphasize facial features with a crisp, defined aesthetic that merges classic and contemporary influences.
13. Ducktail Beard
The ducktail beard combines the fullness of a traditional beard with a contemporary twist that features a gradual taper towards the chin, reminiscent of a duck’s tail. This style exudes both elegance and ruggedness, making it a popular choice for men who desire a well-maintained yet natural-looking facial hair style. To achieve a ducktail beard, start by allowing your beard to grow to a substantial length that will enable the tapering effect at the chin.
Once the desired length is reached, the key is to carefully trim the sides of the beard, maintaining more volume towards the bottom. Use a quality trimmer or scissors to shape the beard, ensuring that the taper gently narrows towards the chin, forming a rounded point. This shape helps to elongate the face, providing a slimming effect that enhances facial features.
Maintaining the ducktail beard requires regular attention to keep the taper symmetrical and the overall beard looking tidy. Using a beard comb will help in evenly distributing beard oil, which is vital for keeping the beard hair soft and skin moisturized. For a polished finish, consider applying a slight touch of beard balm, which can help in setting the shape and taming any stray hairs. The ducktail beard is a versatile and sophisticated style, offering a fresh take on the classic full beard and adding a dash of modern refinement to one’s appearance.
Conclusion
It is vital to avoid common beard trim mistakes which could impact the style negatively. A skilled barber knows how to make your beard look fuller and well-structured, enhancing your overall appearance. As trends shift and change, experimenting with these styles at a reputable New York Barbershop can ensure you achieve the perfect beard style that suits your personal flair.
