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Top 5 Timeless Styles
Want a facial hair style that’ll stand the test of time? Read on for our expert guide…
When it comes to styling, trends that have come and gone over the years, but a cool clutch of looks always stay relevant. Here are a few that you can spot on any man, anytime, anywhere and in any era, simply because they will always work.
Beard Scruff
What’s not to like? It’s low maintenance, can be dressed up or down, and can help save a ton of cash on razors. Beard scruff is also a style that works with virtually all face shapes, so it's a worry-free option.
Get the look
- Adjust your clippers to the highest setting first in the effort to achieve the desired length. This will prevent you from taking too much off at the outset. If need be, adjust to the lower setting to go shorter.
- Start from the base of the neck and trim upwards (towards chin), and go AGAINST the grain.
- Always overlap the last area trimmed to guarantee consistent beard length.
The 5 O'clock Shadow
The 5 O’clock shadow is a lighter version of beard scruff. The facial hair is subtle enough that the style doesn’t come off as being as all intentional. It also makes for a style that gives the heavy beard grower a second look before having to shave it all off for the next day of work.
Get the look
- Shave your face in the morning. However, stay away from shaving too close - i.e. against the grain. This will allow for a freshly shaved face for the day (to please the boss). By the evening time this look should be in full effect!
- If you’re not such a heavy grower, it make take up to two or three days to achieve this look.
The Goatee
This style never grows old. In fact, it's a beard choice that continues to evolve to fit the era it's in. From the Musketeer to the Full Van Dyke and everything in between, the goatee always finds a way to stay relevant. It’s both practical (it’ll help you're hide an extra chin) and stylish (perfect if you’re looking to make a statement).
Get the look
- Use electric clippers to trim all facial hair to the length of a quarter to half an inch.
- Next, with a razor, shave both the neck and cheeks, moving towards the mouth with each stroke. On each side of the face stop when you have a remaining band of hair about half an inch wide, extending from the tips of the mustache to the base of the chin.
- Next, use the razor to shape the bottom of the chin.
- Finally, for the mustache, shave directly under the nose creating a space of approximately a quarter of an inch
The Mustache
Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds, Clark Gable, Billy Dee Williams, Brad Pitt, Richard Pryor, Ron Burgundy... Ok, you get the point. Mustaches have been around for ages and have been a facial hair style option for many. Worn neatly across the top lip keeps it classy and not overly ‘trendy’.
Get the look
- Start by cleanly shaving the cheeks, chin and neck. The mustache hair should not extend more than one inch past the sides of the mouth.
- Use trimmers to trim the hairs just above the top lip.
Sideburns
Sideburns have been making statements for years, picking up momentum in the late 60s and then reappearing (with a pretty strong following) in the early 90s. Now they're back with a lot more style and creativity. Whether you're wearing mutton chops like Elvis or ice picks like Ludacris, the styles keep changing. But the look is always known as simply sideburns.
Get the look
- Take a break from growing your beard for 3-4 days. If your facial hair grows slowly “double” the days.
- Choose the shape and length that best fits your face. Keeping in mind that if your face is long and thin the length should not go below the ear lobe. If your face is round and full, keep them shorter (mid-ear). And if the jaw line is square, try to keep the sideburns narrow.
- Once this has been established, shave the rest of the beard, keeping the sideburn hair according to the overall look you chose in the previous step.
- Use a beard trimmer to trim the sideburns and keep the edges clean while maintaining fullness.
