How to Grow a Hipster Beard

Co-authored by Juan Sabino

Last Updated: March 7, 2022 References

A well-groomed beard makes an immediate impression, but it doesn’t happen overnight. The first requirement for growing a fashionable set of whiskers is patience, as letting your facial hair reach its full thickness can often be a slow process. On the plus side, this will give you plenty of time to consider different looks. Once you’ve built up a nice bushy base, you can try out various trendy trims and styles until you find one that suits your unique facial structure.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Growing Your Beard

1
Shave down to the skin. Start by removing whatever growth has already accumulated on the lower part of your face. That way, you can ensure that the new growth will come in evenly. Use an electric beard trimmer to buzz off the majority of the hair, then go over the stubble with a razor and shave gel.^{[1]
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- If you’re reluctant to get rid of your facial hair entirely, you can also use your beard trimmer or pair of grooming scissors to clip the hairs to an even length.
- A close shave will also stimulate the follicles and square off the ends of each hair, making new growth appear thicker.
2
Give your beard time to fill out naturally.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Juan Sabino
Professional Barber
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} For most men, it will take somewhere between 4-6 weeks for their facial hair to reach full coverage. From here, it’s just a matter of letting it get longer. Aim for at least half an inch of growth before attempting any new styling methods so that you’ll have enough to groom.^{[3]
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- Feel free to let your beard continue growing for as long as you like. The thick, shaggy look is among the most popular modern styles.
- Hang tough through the itchy phase—it usually won’t last for more than about a week.^{[4]
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  Juan Sabino
  Professional Barber
  Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.}
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3
Touch up outlying areas as your beard grows. Shave or pluck stray hairs that start encroaching on your neck or upper checks. You want most of the growth to be concentrated around your mouth, lower cheeks, and jawline. However, it’s important to resist the urge to trim or otherwise interfere with your beard during this time.
- Start shaping the “lines” of your beard early. These are clean edges where facial hair ends and exposed skin begins.
- Taking off too much hair will leave your face looking uneven, and being forced to correct a lopsided beard will just set your growth back.^{[6]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Styling Your Beard

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Shape your beard to your face. Trim your beard so that it enhances your face’s natural contours. If you have a longer head shape, cropping the chin short while leaving a little length on the sides can help balance things out. Likewise, if you have a squared jawline, cutting the sides and leaving the chin longer will create a lengthening effect.^{[7]
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- The goal is to get your face shape as symmetrical as possible.
- A pair of sharp grooming scissors will offer your more control over the length of individual areas than an electric beard trimmer.^{[8]
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2
Keep it scruffy. One of the signature characteristics of the classic hipster beard is its unchecked fullness. To achieve this look, all you have to do is simply go a little longer between trims. It can also help to fluff your growth with a beard comb to max out its volume.^{[9]
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- Try not to let your facial hair get so long that starts to look wiry or dirty. There’s a thin line between dashing and disheveled.
3
Jazz up your mustache. Twist the ends of your ‘stache into a playful handlebar style, or curl them upward in an old-timey flourish. For a neater, more professional profile, comb a long mustache smooth and smooth the hair on the lower part of your face into a gentle taper. Fine-tuning the individual areas of your beard will lend it some added depth and keep it from look like one big formless mass.
- Rub a dab of wax into your goatee to better group the hairs and make them more pronounced.
- Offset your mustache by trimming and drawing your chin hair into a point.^{[10]
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4
Experiment with alternate styles to cover inconsistent growth. Men plagued by patchy cheeks can keep the upper area short and highlight fuller sections like the mustache and chin instead. Those who have trouble growing a bristling mustache might try shifting emphasis to the jawline where the hair tends to come in thicker.^{[11]
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- Not all beards are created equal. Cultivating your facial hair is all about understanding your natural growth patterns and choosing a style that best highlights your individual features.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Caring for Your Beard

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Wash your beard every few days. Lather up with shampoo to remove dirt, dust, and excess oils, then finish with a conditioner to lock in moisture and add body.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Juan Sabino
Professional Barber
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} You can repeat this routine once or twice a week, depending on the length and fullness of your beard.^{[13]
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- There’s no need to shop around for beard-specific products. The same cleansers you use on your head hair will work just fine.
- Washing your beard too often can strip it of its beneficial natural oils, leaving it looking dry and unhealthy. This is especially true if you’re using harsh soap products.
2
Use a quality beard oil.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Juan Sabino
Professional Barber
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} After washing and drying your beard, shake a few drops of oil into your palm and smooth it through the hairs from root to tip. Use your fingers to work the oil close to your skin. The result will be a softer, healthier beard that holds its shape longer.
- The best time to apply beard oil is just after a hot shower when your pores are open.
- Not only does beard oil soften coarse facial hair, it’s also useful for fighting off itchiness, which is usually the result of dry skin.^{[15]
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EXPERT TIP

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Marlon Rivas is a Barber and Owner of MGX Professional Men's Grooming, a barbershop based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the founder of Busystyle.com, a service that provides online scheduling services to businesses in the barbering and beauty industry. Marlon has over 15 years of experience in managing and providing barber services.

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist

Our Expert Agrees: Adding beard oil gives your hair a more uniform, fuller look because it controls straggly, frizzy hairs. If you add a beard balm, you can tame a fluffy beard and flatten the hairs out.
3
Comb out your beard. Combing is essential for easing out tangles and preventing a scraggly, unkempt appearance. Brush the hairs in the direction you want them to fall. This will give them a sleeker, more streamlined look.
- For best results, invest in a special beard comb. The teeth on a beard comb are strong, stiff and perfectly spaced to separate hairs while adding volume.^{[16]
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4
Maintain clean beard lines. Trim along your upper cheeks to keep the contouring tidy and distinct. To determine where you beard should end, place two fingers above your Adam's apple and shave everything below this imaginary line in a gentle curve from ear to ear. This will help you avoid the dreaded neckbeard.^{[17]
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- A neckline that’s too high can create the unfortunate illusion of a double chin, while one that’s too low may come off looking sloppy or out of control.^{[18]
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Community Q&A

Question

I'm a goat. How do I do this?

Community Answer

You're in luck! Since you're a goat, you should have no problem growing your facial hair. Once it's time for a trim, seek the assistance of a qualified b-a-a-a-a-arber.

Warnings

Get your head hair cut regularly. Since the hair on your crown also affects your head shape, a scruffy beard and shaggy locks don’t make the best combination.

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