For those who find stubble and short beards to be too boring, there are plenty of different beard styles to choose from that have been popular throughout history. Plus, these styles also happen to look good today, so you don’t have to worry about looking out of date by adopting an older look. Whether you’re looking for something simple like the goatee or something more elaborate like the Van Dyke beard, here are five historical beard styles and how to achieve them!
THE VAN DYKE
The Van Dyke is a classic beard style that features a trimmed goatee and mustache. The fullness of the goatee should extend no more than two fingers below the corners of the mouth. The hair on the chin should not be trimmed or shaped in any way, but simply left to grow naturally. To achieve this look, use some quality beard wax or styling cream and comb your beard down. Or if you're using balm, rub it into your skin and then comb it out with your fingers.
THE SOUL PATCH
The soul patch is a small area of hair just below the lower lip, which was popular in the 1950s. To get this look, you'll need to grow out your mustache and beard and then trim it so that there's a triangle-shaped area right below your lower lip. You can use an electric trimmer or scissors for this.
THE GOATEE/MUTTON CHOPS
The goatee/mutton chops combination can be achieved in two ways. The first way is by shaving the cheeks, moustache and chin then leaving a long strip of hair on the chin. The second way is by shaving the cheeks, top lip and moustache with a short beard on the jawline. To get this look, grow out your sideburns and trim with scissors until they meet your jawline. Then use a shaver to trim any excess hair off your upper lip and cheek area.
THE CHIN CURTAIN
The Chin Curtain has its origins in Ancient Greece and Rome, where it was a sign of power. The Chin Curtain is achieved by shaving a strip of hair from the bottom lip up the jawline under the chin. To get this look, you will need to shave your neck and jawline with a razor or electric shaver.
THE VIKING BEARD
The Viking Beard is an iconic beard style that has been around for a long time. It's a huge beard with long, thick sideburns and a wide mustache. To get the Viking look, start by growing out your beard to at least five inches in length, then let it grow wild and unruly. The longer and thicker your sideburns are, the better.
