Beards Shave Away Years—or Your Double Chin
David Beckham’s neat and trim scruff is both rugged and urban. (Photo: Getty)
While we think of scruff as a rugged and manly accessory of sorts, it can also be quite strategic and transformative. Perhaps that’s why we’ve seen such an uptick of beards in the last year, in Hollywood and on the street—think David Beckham, Bradley Cooper and Joshua Jackson. “Facial hair can massively change the way a man looks. It can camouflage a multitude of sins while hiding half the face,” says celebrity groomer Lucy Halperin, who works with leading men like Steve Carrell and Jason Bateman. “If you’re lucky enough to grow a beard, it can hide a multitude of blemishes, redness and even a double chin.”
Erica Sauer Dulley, celebrity groomer to Ansel Elgort, Will Arnett, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, agrees. “Beards are extremely flattering,” she says. “They thin the face—they can hide a little bit of weight in the neck and cheeks, and for a guy who already has a thin face it can help define his jawline, with the contrast of scruff to neck.”
Indeed, the way a beard is trimmed dramatically affects a man’s appearance. “To enhance the jawline,” for example, “groom underneath the chin more to tighten the neck,” says Halperin. Sauer Dulley adds that this super kempt style will create the illusion of a stronger jaw. Further-more, “To hallow out the cheeks, the trick is to keep the hair on the sides of the face and neck area shorter,” says Halperin. Sauer Dulley likens this technique to contouring with makeup. “Much like women use a bronzer to define under their cheekbones, a man can use his beard to do the same,” she says.
There are tips for your mustache area, too. “If you trim the beard and scruff above the mouth to the exact line of the lip it can serve to make the lips look more defined and pop,” says Sauer Dulley. “The skin between the lip and the beard works as a liner.”
Leading man Bradley Cooper pairs his facial hair with a tuxedo. (Photo: Getty)
Whatever the shape, keeping your beard groomed and clean is imperative. “Facial hair is much coarser than regular hair, so using an oil treatment at night—my favorite is REN’s Vita Mineral Omega 3 Oil ($45)—will soften the hair and allow for a closer shave in the morning,” says Halperin. Sauer Dulley says you should be prepared for some serious maintenance. “Long beards should be groomed daily with scissors, watching for out-of-control hairs, while scruff can be maintained with a good clipper like Andis on a daily basis, making sure there are no wild hairs on the out-skirts.”
Will Arnett prefers to be clean shaven, and it’s a look that works for him. (Photo: Getty)
Despite this full-on facial hair moment, it’s important to find a style that suits you rather than blindly following a trend. “Some men can pull off a beard at every length, but everyone should be conscious of what the most flattering beard for them is,” says Sauer Dulley. “A little fuller neck and face can pull off a full beard; a strong jaw does well with scruff; a guy looking to achieve more of a jawline should have a shaped shorter beard.” And if the bearded look just isn’t your thing, don’t fear: “It’s very on-trend right now, but everyone must remember that when shaved it takes 10 years off a man,” says Halperin.
Related:
It’s Not Cool or Uncool, It’s Just Facial Hair
