The goatee beard style represents an excellent, straightforward compromise between sporting a full beard and just a mustache. When groomed and maintained appropriately, goatees offer a fashionable and versatile means to showcase your personal style with confidence. This style is particularly appealing for individuals who are committed to upkeep and for those whose mustache seamlessly connects with their chin beard. If you believe that the goatee beard style aligns perfectly with your aesthetic, preparing in advance can greatly enhance your experience with this striking look. However, shaving a goatee can be a bit challenging, often requiring a learning curve that involves careful planning and preparation, especially for beginners. Once you become accustomed to the process, you’ll discover numerous ways to personalize this trendy appearance.
Some Goatee Shapes Suited for Different Face Types
1. For Round Faces: Opt for a Pure Goatee
A pure goatee is characterized by a chin beard without a mustache, coupled with a completely shaved jawline. This style is particularly flattering for individuals with round faces, as it helps to accentuate the jawline and create a more elongated appearance. As a classic goatee option, it is relatively easy to maintain.
2. For a Professional Appearance: Maintain a Well-Groomed Goatee
If you aim to uphold a polished, professional image and your workplace adheres to conservative grooming standards, a thick or unkempt goatee may not be ideal. Choose a more subtle style that you can maintain consistently, ensuring your goatee complements your professional life. A well-groomed goatee can convey creativity, innovation, and professionalism.
3. Triangular or Round Faces: Go for an Anchor Style
The anchor goatee style, true to its name, features a chinstrap beard, a soul patch, and a mustache. This style emphasizes the jawline, making it particularly suitable for triangular or round face shapes.
4. The Van Dyke Goatee for Oblong Faces
For those with short hair and clean-shaven skin, the Van Dyke goatee, which includes a chin beard, mustache, and soul patch, is an excellent choice. This style is especially flattering for men with oblong facial features.
5. Square Faces: Combine a Goatee with a Mustache
A combination of a goatee and mustache enhances the strong jawline characteristic of square faces, creating a classic look with a mustache, chin beard, and clean-shaven cheeks and jawline.
How to Shave and Trim a Goatee Beard
Step 1: Allow Your Facial Hair to Grow
Before you begin the process of shaving a goatee, it's essential to let your beard grow out fully. Allow the hair around your chin, lips, and nose to develop, even though the initial phase may be uncomfortable due to itchiness and patchiness. This growth period, ideally spanning one to two weeks, provides a solid foundation for shaping your desired goatee. Using beard oil during this growth stage can facilitate the process and alleviate itchiness while potentially promoting faster hair growth.
Step 2: Brush and Trim Your Goatee
Utilize a beard comb or trimmer to evenly trim the hair on your neck, cheeks, and above your lip. Pay particular attention to shaping the hair around your chin and mustache, ensuring uniform length throughout. Once you achieve a satisfactory length, it's time to start defining your goatee shape. Begin trimming from the neck and gradually work your way to the chin and cheek areas. The aim is to establish a foundation for your goatee shape before focusing on the final details, which will help you visualize your desired look.
Step 3: Outline with a Washable Marker
For beginners, having a clear visual representation of how you want your goatee to appear is crucial yet often confusing. To simplify the process, trace around your facial hair, including the neck, cheeks, and upper lip, with a washable marker. This technique will provide you with a guide for shaving and ensure your goatee looks balanced and even. Just be sure to choose a marker that can be easily wiped off.
Step 4: Create Clean, Crisp Lines on Both Sides of Your Goatee
Begin by trimming the hair from your chin toward your ear, using gentle, steady strokes. This technique helps prevent accidental shaving into your existing beard outline. By applying this method to both sides of your goatee, you can achieve an even trim. Once both sides meet your satisfaction, sharpen the corners of your goatee. Utilizing downward strokes is the easiest method for achieving precise edges, particularly around the chin and where the goatee meets the mustache.
Step 5: Shape Your Goatee
After clearing away any stray hairs, begin defining the edges of your goatee using a fresh, sharp razor or guardless trimmer. Start by making small cuts on your neck, gradually working your way to your chin and cheeks until you are pleased with the outline. Typically, goatees should not extend past your mouth, so be cautious as you shave to avoid overlapping with your smile or dimples. The outline on your neck should sit two to three fingers above your Adam's apple; if it seems too low, you can always adjust it later. Take your time during this process to avoid any noticeable mistakes, as most people will overlook minor imperfections. If needed, you can always start fresh after a few weeks by shaving it all off.
Step 6: Clean and Shave Your Face to Highlight Your Goatee
Now it’s time to shave your jawline, cheeks, and neck thoroughly using your preferred razor. Begin by spraying your skin with warm water, followed by applying shaving cream. Employ single, continuous strokes against the grain of your hair growth until the areas surrounding your goatee are hair-free and smooth. Be particularly careful not to disturb the sharp edges of your goatee while shaving beneath your chin.
