Tired of having to shave every morning and eager to adopt a new look, don’t hesitate to adopt a mustache or beard. But for this, you should also respect the lines of your face and the current trends. What type of beard to adopt? Here is a little overview to guide you in your choice.
The 3-day beard
She no longer needs an introduction. As its name implies, it’s about letting your beard grow for a few days (often a bit more than 3 in reality) for a virile face.
Among its variations, you can also try out the stubble or evening beard, but also the 10-day beard or short beard. The latter will particularly allow men with weak hair growth not to appear neglected with a 3-day beard and to have a fuller beard.
The sculpted beard
Unlike the 3-day beard, this one is meticulously crafted, with perfectly designed outlines thanks to a precision trimmer or a straight razor. This beard is generally adopted by young professionals, keen to appear mature and well-groomed. The only downside is that it requires very regular touch-ups (2-3 times per week) and, if you do it yourself, flawless handiwork!
The long beard
Endorsed by hipsters, the long beard is currently the most in style, without going as far as the Sébastien Chabal style. However, it must be fully embraced by the person wearing it and requires daily care.
To keep a smooth and shiny beard, use beard oil and a comb, perfect for reducing small frizz and taming your beard.
The long beard should be avoided if you have an oval face and a prominent forehead, as it risks further lengthening your face.
The Nicolas II beard is an alternative as it is a long beard, accompanied by a moustache whose tips are sculpted with wax. Rather risky, the choice of this beard demonstrates perfect mastery of style and shaving.
The Goat or Goatee
Very fashionable at the beginning of the 2000s, the goatee still has its followers in 2017, even if this style is not the most trendy at the moment. This small beard under the chin can take different shapes and is often associated with a mustache (in reality, the goatee surrounds the entire mouth, while the chin beard takes place on the chin only). For its maintenance, it is appropriate to shave the rest of the beard, at the cheeks level, in order not to appear neglected.
Some stars have indeed worn it for a long time, like Brad Pitt, Matthew McConaughey or even Leonardo DiCaprio. The goatee will particularly suit round faces, in order to add some length to them.
The Anchor or Balbo
We’re not far from the goatee here, but this mustache is accompanied by a beard sculpted into the shape of an anchor, hence its name, Balbo referring to the politician Italo Balbo. Of course, this beard also requires regular trimming without a shaking hand. But when it is well trimmed, it really adds character to your face. Ask Robert Downey Jr. what he thinks of it& nbsp;!
The Van Dyke
This beard, whose name comes from a Flemish portraitist who made it known, consists of a straight beard, associated but not connected to long mustaches. Its particularity lies in the point it forms. Pierce Brosnan, Viggo Mortensen, or even Christian Bale have recently tried to make it their own.
The Sideburns
Also known as “sideburns“, these are the patches that descend from the temples to the top of the jaw, thus framing your face. Out of fashion since the 1970s, they are slowly making a comeback in recent years. Be careful, however, to trim so as not to leave too much length, at the risk of having “tufts” at the ears. They will match perfectly with a goatee and can harmonize an elongated face. The classic example of this look is of course Wolverine!
The tacky looks and beard shapes to forget
Among the types of beard that are completely outdated, first note the soul patch. It is a point of beard under the lip that would almost go unnoticed if it were not now considered ridiculous. Its variant, the postage stamp, which is nothing more than an elongated soul patch to the chin, no longer has any followers either!
Finally, we also advise against the beard necklace. It works for Robert Hue, but please, do not give in to this ugly temptation.
And what do women think about it?
Even though beards are in fashion, a large majority of women prefer closely shaved men (83%). However, there are differences in tastes depending on their age. More modern, the 3-day beard is indeed more appealing to younger women under 35 years of age, who find it sexy, than to older ones, who sometimes see it as repulsive.
Similarly, if 40% of women consider facial hair as a sign of accepted masculinity, the older women get, the more they admit to disliking the beard.
As for the goatee, opinions remain mixed regardless of the age of the women surveyed : neither for, nor against! Most, however, consider it more of a whimsical experiment than a look to adopt long term.
On the contrary, when it comes to the mustache, all women seem to agree as 77% of them admit to hating it and considering it old-fashioned!