Alteration of facial hair is useful in getting a new look for men. One reason for the popularity of facial hair styling is that a few changes make a big difference in appearance. Some fashion experts even feel that facial hair styling is more effective than getting a new haircut.
Shape of Your Face
The shape of your face plays a big role in determining what style of beard or moustache (or both) looks good on you. What you can do is experiment with different styles to see what works for you. For example, a thin chin-centric beard should work really well for a round face as it offers definition and appears to lengthen the face. A good facial hair style should accentuate your better features and conceal your flaws, if any.
Before You Begin On Your New Facial Hair Style
Facial hair styling can be done easily at home, with a razor and some creativity. But before you begin, make sure you have the right gear. A sharp razor is mandatory along with good shaving foam and warm water. The razor should preferably have a single blade. Make sure you moisturize your face adequately before you begin. This softens the hair and skin and it becomes easier for you to shave or trim precisely. Warm towels are also effective at softening your skin.
Facial Hair Styles You Could Try
1) The 5 'o clock Shadow:
Perhaps the most popular and conventional facial hair style is the 5 o' clock shadow. This gives you a rugged look. This slight stubble is called the 5 o' clock shadow because it commonly appears around 5 p.m. on your face, if you shaved yourself clean in the morning. This style can be easily acquired, as all you have to do it let it grow and then keep it trimmed for maximum effect.
2) The Full Beard:
A full beard is a style that few men can pull off. As the name suggests, this style requires you to stay away from the razor until the hair on your face is fully grown. This is because, with a full beard, there is a thin line between looking groomed and unruly. You could try a slight growth first and see if that works for you. If it does, you can advance to growing a full beard.
3) The Goatee:
The classic goatee is another safe style to try out. It gives you a youthful appearance and emphasizes the cut of your chin. You can throw in a handlebar moustache or a tuft of hair below your lip for added effect.
4) The Soul Patch:
If you have a prominent jaw, a small patch of hair below your lip (called the soul patch) should look good on you.
5) The Circle Beard:
The circle beard is a style that is very popular with Indian men. For this you need to shave off everything but your moustache and goatee and let them meet so that it forms a perfect circle. You can make it rectangular too, if it suits the shape of your face. You can alter this circle beard by shaving off the area that connects the goatee and moustache. Throw in a soul patch and you have Johnny Depp's trademark look.
Other Styles of Facial Hair
Extending your sideburns to meet the goatee is another look you could try, though this requires a bit of skill. Preferably have it done by a good stylist, as it is important for the chin straps (the hair extending from your sideburns to your goatee) to be symmetrical. You could also try shaping your sideburns in different sizes and designs. This again is best done by a stylist as attempting designs before a mirror can be a difficult task.
There are many other ways that you could mix and match any of these facial hair styles to find something that suits you best. Make sure that you do not try any experimenting just before an important event. But if something does go wrong, you can always fall back on the clean-shaven look which is safe and stylish in its own way.
