With summer just around the corner, many men decide to switch up their beard styles to suit the warm weather. While practical, shedding a few pounds around the neckline can also take inches off your overall appearance. The top styles this year are sleeker and more refined, making light work of maintenance, but with lots of visual interest. No one says you have to shave off all you beard, but these tips will keep you looking your best on the beach!
If you are coming into the male grooming arena, growing out a beard (See: How to make your beard grow faster) will depend on your genetics and patience. Don’t be scared to try different styles to get a feel for which works best for your face shape. Just because one beard looks awesome/awful on someone else, do not discard a potential life partner. Your beard is a great way to add something new to your looks, and is the epitome of masculinity.
Look at these top seven beard styles for men this summer:
1. The Moustache
The Moustache has been coming back in a big way, and summer is no exception. If you can’t bear the thought of taking it all off, consider trimming underneath to champion this classic style. The Moustache hails back to the late 50’s, and is a masculine, strong style that will take you from the office to vacation with style and grace. Accentuate your mouth with no more than one inch of sideways growth. To style, invest in a mustache wax that will help you create different looks with a strong, fragrant hold.
See also: How to grow a beard
2. The Low Cut Beard
The Low Cut Beard is a great compromise that lets you wear your usual style, but without feeling grizzly and sticky. This low intensity beard retains the winter style, but has a lower hair density to let you feel more breezy. This is also a sharp, yet casual look, and works well for outdoorsy types. The tip is to learn how to fade the neckline correctly, to minimize the hairline and growth. Using a beard oil will help soften new growth, and leave you feeling softer for longer. The softer your facial hair, the more likely she is to snuggle into it.
3. The Norris Scripper
The Norris Scripper is an inverted ‘Hollywood’ style, where all the hair removed except from one focal, facial area. If you’re dabbling with beards, this can be a fun way to test the waters without growing out a full-size beard. It is similar to a Soul Patch, which is frowned upon (to the point of social shunning), but sharp enough to keep you swinging this summer. This is a great look for those with strong jawlines. To shape this beard, invest in a beard trimmer that has the ability to edge and shape your beard, such as this Andis T-Outliner.
4. The Short Boxed Beard
The Short Boxed beard is a flexible look, and retains the heavier layer at the bottom of the face for fullness, yet lightens the overall appearance. This is another great contender for compromising your beard in warmer weather, and won’t leave you feeling naked. Different thickness’s can be worn across the face to give you your own unique look this summer. Make sure you connect the pieces with good fading. Tidy up shabby ends with a beard oil and beard comb to keep this look clean and interesting.
See also: How to grow a handlebar moustache
5. The Chin Curtain
The Chin Curtain shows how far the Goatee has come. This modern twist is an aggressive version of the Short Boxed Beard, and takes more off the length, with an attention to the lower facial lines. Keep this style in shape, and it will reward you with a long-lasting and flexible style that works in your favor. This style can be thinned to a minute line around the face if desired. Keep a razor handy to tidy up those sideburns for a clean look. The Philips Norelco Foil Razor is a great choice for trimming your beard daily that won’t aggravate sensitive skin.
6. The Dirty Shave
If you’re blessed with free time this summer, the Dirty Shave can be a liberating experience that breaks the rules of shaving. You will need to keep this style in shape to avoid the Hobo look, but a quick smooth shave will rest weeks of causal beardedness that lets you feel free and away from the grips of daily life. You can also rock this style over the weekend without offending anyone. The trick to this style is to use an exfoliant to allow facial hair to grow without any irritation or razor burn.
7. The Anchor
The Anchor is a trendy summer accessory that will set you apart from the crowd. This can be exaggerated during summer as a quirky style, or lessen the sharp lines to create a modern twist that will see you into fall. The short, light beard style is functional and looks great on men of most ages – exactly what you want from classic beard styles. While this does look daring, you might be surprised how easy it is to work into your life. To shape, use a beard trimmer followed with a mustache wax to hold the hair in place.
Are you changing beard styles? Leave a comment below and let us know if any of these inspired you!
