Let’s face it, beards are big. Just look around you, most likely you know at least one bearded man in your friend circle and if you go outside, you’ll definitely see more bearded men in the streets then ever before. Facial hair is not just big in fashion though, it’s also literally BIG. A lot of bearded men try to sport a majestic beard at least once in their lifetime. We can’t blame them, big manes are awesome. However, how do you know when enough is enough and weather it will actually suit your face? There are few things that you will need to take into account while sporting a long beard.
All beards are great, but there’s just something about a full long beard. Naturally people perceive it as a sign of masculinity, wisdom and dominance. No wonder so many beardsman sport full long manes. However, there’s a difference between just simply letting your beard grow and crafting a majestic thing of beauty.
There’s a distinct difference, though, between simply growing a big-ass beard and crafting a gigantic thing of beauty. The former is prone to taunts and derision from your clean-shaven friends and colleagues; the latter commands respect from even the staunchest of razor loyalists. Trouble is, the dividing line between the two isn’t always apparent. Anyone can let their facial hair keep sprouting; it takes a keen eye to ensure that your burgeoning face-bush skews less wildling and more dandy wildman. The key is in recognising which of your beard’s attributes are most in need of attention and taking care of them accordingly. But exactly what qualities are you to look out for?
First off, there’s the issue of length. While short, trimmed beards tend to come off more professional than their elongated counterparts—if only because they take up less visual bandwidth—the truth of the matter is when it comes to length, all you need is balance. Do you have a long, skinny face? Then a longer beard is going to turn you into a gaunt Gandalf faster than you can say, “Fly, you fools!” Got a rounder visage? Then you’ve got a lot more room to grow, since a longer beard is only going to help to even out your features. Basically, all you need to do is figure out the shape of your face, and a decision on length should come easily.
Volume is also a major factor. That is, how thick and bushy does your facial hair grow in? Some men are #blessed in this department; the stuff on their face grows with gravity, stretching down and away from the face as it lengthens. Others, unfortunately, not so much. If you sympathise more with the second group, then you’re going to want to prune the shrub pretty often to keep your ideal proportions in tact.
Above all else, however, what separates the wheat from the ridiculous, overgrown chaff is control. Even the longest, fullest, most unabashedly enormous beards can look precise and put-together as long as the hair appears to have been given the appropriate attention. Whether that means running a comb through it, using a beard balm or oil to tame the strays, or simply cutting it back when necessary, you’ve got to show your beard who’s boss to ensure that your chin gets the admiration it deserves.