Chikna is clearly out. These days it is more fashionable to constantly experiment with one's facial hair. Actor Kunal Kapoor says, "People sport a beard for different reasons, to look mature or hide flaws. I have experimented with a goatee, a full beard as well as a stubble." The actor doesn't believe in sticking to one look. Here are some beard options that you can experiment with.
Full beard
"Growing a full beard requires a lot of patience. Keep your beard more pointed if you have a long face," advises hair stylist Aalim Hakim. A full beard is grown to camouflage facial defects or to aid sheer laziness
Personality type: Mature, masculine, sagely, precise
Grooming tip: "Keep a small scissor and barbering comb in handy. You can comb your beard and cut it according to a desired length. Use a bit of wax to make it shine," says Aalim
French beard
From Sean Connery to Che Guevara, this is the most iconic of beard styles. You can experiment with the French beard at the cheeks or the chin, keeping it thin or thick think of Ajay Devgan, Anil Kapoor or SRK in Chak De
Personality type: Mature, professional, no-nonsense
Grooming tip: "You need a good trimmer to maintain your Frenchie. Be careful with the lines while shaving. You can use a good beard clipper with twin blades to get different looks. And dye your greys," says Aalim
Goatee
Traditionally, the goatee is a tuft of hair on the chin, but what we see today is a more hybrid style a bit of growth from the lower lip joining a thin moustache a la Johnny Depp. "The goatee can suit almost every face cut with a bit of variation," says Aalim
Personality type: Eccentric, non-conformist and perfectionist
Grooming tip: The outer edges of your goatee should never extend past the smile lines of your face. Make clean corners at the jawline. Get rid of all the stray hairs with a clipper
Chin strip/ soul patch
A line of growth on the chin is a chin strip while a soul patch is a small growth just below the lower lip. "These styles look funky and are preferred by youngsters. Those who don't want the hassle of growing a full beard can opt for this," suggests hair stylist Coleen Khan.
Personality type: Easygoing, fashionable, creative
Grooming tip: These are two of the easiest styles to maintain. Just shave nicely to keep them in shape
Grooming your beard
A messy and unruly beard just doesn't gel with the corporate suit-and-tie image. So, here are some tips to maintain your stubble or beard:
* Buy the right tools if you plan to trim your beard yourself. You will need a pair of professional barber's scissors to do the trimming. A beard trimmer is a great option
* Don't trim a wet beard or moustache. Wet hair is longer. When it dries you may find that you have trimmed too much. Always trim before a big wall mirror
* Always moisturise before shaving. Apply your lotion before you apply the shaving gel
* A few stray hairs can be removed with a trim razor. Plucking them is not recommended
* Always shave downwards ie, from the sideburns to the cheeks, from the chin to the neck. Follow the direction of the growth to avoid uneven patches
* Gently pat and wipe your beard dry with a towel. Blow drying your beard is a disastrous idea
* Comb it with a wide toothed comb to remove the tangles !
Does your beard suit your face?
A full beard looks good on a round, square or oval face
A French beard looks great on a round face. It hides a weak jaw or double chin
A goatee looks good on an oval or triangular face
A stubble looks best on a square or broad face. Guys with a slim face can also experiment with it
A chin strip or soul patch looks good on a triangular, square or oval face
urmimala.banerjee@mid-day.com
