Men's Facial Hair Styles
"To shave, or not to shave - that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the nicks and cuts of outrageous grooming, or take a stand against a bare face and, by opposing, grow a mustache and beard."
With apologies to the late Mr. Shakespeare (who, by evidence of portraiture, was fond of facial hair himself) I decided to make a little joke of what is for some people a fairly serious subject matter. Throughout the span of recorded history, facial hair on men has gone in and out of fashion so often that it is often difficult to track. Facial hair on men has at different times been a symbol of virility, maturity, social standing, nonconformity, countercultural identity, and just plain personal pride.
The level of obsession some men have with their facial hair far surpasses the preoccupation some women exhibit with the hair on their heads. While many women prefer a clean-shaven look for men, a significant number find facial hair quite attractive, a sentiment shared by even more men. Young men in their late twenties and early thirties are showing a renewed interest in cultivating and styling unique facial hair designs.
Despite the influx of new trends in men's facial hair, it's worth noting that there's rarely anything truly novel. All current facial hair styles originate from a handful of basic styles. One could argue that all men's facial hair styles are variations and combinations of three basic areas: the upper lip, the chin, and the sideburns.
Here are some basic styles of men's facial hair and a description of what makes them unique.
The Chin Curtain: This style of facial hair is often depicted in the media when showcasing the United States' Amish community. The style is marked by facial hair grown only along the lower part of the face at the chin and following the jawline.
While many Amish men still sport traditional chin curtains, modern variations are also observed, featuring trimmed ultra-thin lines or even intricate patterns along the jawline.
The Goatee: Throughout history, the goatee has remained a popular style, appearing in countless variations. It is distinguished by its confinement to the chin area. It can be worn closely trimmed or grown long and full, sometimes styled into geometric shapes with combing and clipping.
Modern variants often feature close trimming and may extend to cover the entire area below the bottom lip or just the chin itself.
The Goatee with Mustache: Incorporating a mustache into the goatee creates a distinct look with as much versatility as the traditional goatee style.
This style has also been seen in long and closely trimmed variations, and it can be shaped to appear more square or round, depending on the wearer's facial structure. Similar to the goatee-only version, it is modernized by close-trimmed and thin variants.
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