Don't scratch your chin wondering why your female partner finds Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar or Saif Ali Khan hotter than you. Women simply love men with stubbles. Period. Coleen Khan, a hairstylist says, "A light stubble is the look of the day.

Young men prefer it over the clean cut look as it makes them look rugged and manly." Actor Kunal Kapoor seconds her. He says, "Men in general look good with a stubble." No wonder the Gen X is flaunting their teeny-weeny patch of facial hair in style. So, here are some reasons why you need to sport a stubble:

* "If you have a very thin face, then a stubble will make it look fuller. You can keep the length a bit high on the cheeks and have a 'rough patch' on the chin," suggests hairstylist Javed Habib. "A stubble makes your face look more angular. For someone like AB's baby, it camouflages his plumpness around the cheeks. Ditto for Fardeen Khan," says Javed.  

* Well, the fair chocolate boy look isn't hot anymore. "Actors like Saif Ali Khan, Shiney Ahuja or Zayed Khan like to sport a stubble as a bit of coarse hair adds a touch of macho to their appearance. It also makes them look mature," says hairstylist, Aalim Hakim. 

* "A person with a soft chin or a weak jawline can benefit from a stubble too. But he should keep the neck area clean. Actors like Emraan Hashmi and Vivek Oberoi often flaunt this look," opines Aalim. 

* A stubble can highlight your stronger features and hide the flaws. Javed says, "The light beard draws attention to Abhishek's eyes, high cheekbones his better features. At the same time, the stubble looks super sexy on men with chiselled features, say Kunal Kapoor or Arjun Rampal." 

* The stubble, when it is trimmed into a rounded or square shape, reduces the appearance of a double chin. Men on the other side of 30 can do with a stubble as it will take some years off their faces.  

* For those, who find shaving too time-consuming, sporting the stubble is the easier way out. Churchill Vincent, a marketing executive says, "Everyday shaving makes my skin rough. So, I like to sport a stubble instead. And it looks cool as long as it's groomed well. The five O'clock shadow is there to stay."

* "Men with a heavy face should keep a stubble instead of a beard the latter will make their face look fuller. Moreover, men with uneven growth of facial hair might find it difficult to grow beards, hence stubbles are a better idea," advises Javed.

* Guys with pimples, freckles or acne scars on their faces can also try a stubble. Check out MS Dhoni's stubble look and you will know what we are talking about.  

* For all you razor fans, we suggest you experiment with a stubble. If the first few strands make you look a little more handsome, then make the look your own. The stubble is a timeless classic !

Killer Looks
Style Statement: Style is about being who you are and saying what you want. Though my stubble is not my style statement, I think it goes a long way in portraying a certain image that I wish to project at that time
On a High: I love glares and am honoured to be associated with KL which caters to a young target audience that wants to look stylish and cool
Fashion Faux Pas: I think sporting an unkempt look to work is the biggest faux pas. Also, you should sport what you feel confident in to avoid goof ups. Wearing sunglasses in the night is just not hot

urmimala.banerjee@mid-day.com