Short beards are most definitely in. You only need to walk down any high street in the country for proof, or just switch on your TV. You’ll be sure to spot one of the many A-list celebrities sporting classy short beard styles right now.
If you’re keen to try out the short beard trend for yourself, a boxed beard is a great way to get started. Some beard styles suit certain face shapes better than others, but the short, boxed beard will complement virtually any – whether you have an oval, square, round or heart-shaped face. Short beard styles are pleasingly easy to shape and maintain too.
So how do you grow a short beard of your own? And how do you trim a short beard and maintain your look? Follow our steps below.
How to grow short beard?
Although short beard is a classic, it needs some grooming efforts. So, if you've decided to ditch the clean-shaven look to adapt a new stylish, short, bearded look, then the first step is to grow out a beard long enough to fit your short beard styling activity. Here are some tips that might help you:
Identify your style and let your beard grow accordingly. If your beard has a unique growth pattern or is patchy, then let it grow as per the style needs. For example: If you're opting for the basic short beard then make sure your beard grows at least 3-5 mm before you can cut it short.
Be patient – Just like bad hair days, there are bad beard days. So, worry not even if you notice your beard transforming differently every week as it grows.
Maintenance is the key here. Depending on what style you're planning to achieve, it is best to clean out the unwanted areas – like the neckline or cheek lines. Also, always keep your beard clean and tidy by regularly washing it, keeping it dry yet hydrated, and combing it with a beard comb.
Read more about how to fix a patchy bear.
How to trim a short beard?
Step 1: Let it grow
Before you can think about how to style a beard of any kind, you’ll have to first grow out your facial hair. Patience here is vital – it might be extremely tempting to grab your razor to shave it all off at some point in the journey. That might be because you're in the itchy stage, you feel like it’s taking too long to grow or you don’t feel like you’re looking your best. But if you want to grow a boxed beard, you have to push past this stage.
And so, to the inevitable question: how long does it take to grow a short beard? Well, there are a lot of factors to consider – from your genetics to your lifestyle. Yes, even the quality of your sleep and diet can influence the speed of your facial hair growth. The same factors also apply to its thickness, so don’t be too hard on yourself if it takes you longer than some of your peers.
With those caveats out the way, here’s an answer for most people. It generally takes around 4 to 6 weeks to grow a beard that can be worked into a specific short style.
Step 2: Use a beard brush
Once your beard grows into something substantial, brushing it with a non-plastic beard comb will help straighten and give volume to your beard. A well-made wooden comb will prevent hair static and hair-pulling pain. Using a beard comb also helps to optimise your blood circulation, directing it towards the hair follicles and stimulating growth.
Here’s a pro tip: It might seem unnatural at first but brushing from bottom to top is actually the best way to make your beard appear full and gapless. Another thing: don’t brush your beard while it’s wet – this weakens the hair follicle and create knots, and you don’t want to have to deal with those! Once you have a strong, workable beard, you can move on to shaping your short beard.
Step 3: Trim beard
While some lucky men can pull off the more rugged look that comes with freely developing facial hair, the neat short beard look requires a little more TLC. This is why it’s important to learn how to trim a short beard.
Before actually getting to define your beard’s edges, you’ll want to make it less bushy so that it’s easier to work on. You could use a pair of scissors, but in today’s world there are far more precise options for an even trim. The safest and quickest way to trim your short beard well is to use a quality beard trimmer like the Braun 5 BT5260 Beard Trimmer, Braun MGK7221 All-in-one Trimmer, Braun PT5010 Precision Trimmer, or Braun Series XT3.
If you opt for Braun BT5260 Beard Trimmer, then you get 39 length settings in 0.5 mm step sizes for an effortless trimming experience. Thanks to its contour edging, you can now create accurate lines and edges on neck and cheek with the main beard trimmer head. Moreover, its short beard comb allows you to maintain a short beard up to 0.5 to 10mm. This trimmer not only helps you with beard trimming and styling, but also with hair clipping.
If you're looking for an all-in-one styling kit, then Braun MGK7221 All-in-one Trimmer can be your go-to tool. Its AutoSensing technology reads your beard 13 times per second and adjusts the power of the trimmer motor to its thickness, providing an effortless trim. You can now achieve any beard length from 0.5 to 21 mm with this trimmer, thanks to the four comb attachments that come along. It not only lends you a helping hand with beard trimming and styling but is an ultimate styling kit that lets you clip hair and also manscape.
It's all in the details, they say! If that’s the case even with you then you might want to get your hands on the Braun PT5010 Precision Trimmer. It does precisely what the name suggests. When you to define those sharp lines and shapes and trim the hard-to-reach areas like nose and chin, this can be your buddy, thanks to its extra small head. With its 5mm and 8mm combs, you can now trim your facial hair exactly to the desired length. Moreover, its ergonomic shape lets you handle the trimmer intuitively and flexibly.
Another good trimmer for you can be Braun Series XT3 Manscaping Kit, which is all-in-one tool for you shaving, trimming, and styling needs. This electric razor and beard trimmer comes with a 4D-Blade technology – one blade with four cutting elements (two side trimmers and two central shaving zones) that make 450 movements per second. It also comes with different comb attachments – for face (1, 2, 3, 5 mm) and for body (0, 3 mm) – and a SkinGuard cap to help you trim and shave safely. Moreover, it is 100% waterproof and has a 360-degree rubberized grip handle, which means you can enjoy a mess-free trim in the shower.
Once you have your trimmer ready, simply select your preferred beard length, fix the desired attachment and work it on your beard to achieve a harmonious length.
Step 4: Create preferred shape
Irrespective of the type of short beard style, the key to a striking look is to have neat edges. With the Braun 5 BT5260 or Braun Series XT3 or other Braun trimmer of your choice mentioned above, you can create a perfect style with accurate lines and edges. You can achieve an even look by trimming the extra hair above the top line, connecting your sideburns to your moustache. The Braun PT5010 can come handy here to help you tidy up the sideburns in symmetry, so they look same on both sides. Finally, you can finish up by trimming the neckline.
Also read beard styles for men's face shapes.
Step 5 - Wash
Now that you’ve successfully trimmed your short beard, the only step left will be to keep it that way. Washing your facial hair around twice a week with a bespoke beard wash will help remove dirt without stripping the precious natural oils away. Remember, the skin on your face is different from that on your scalp – a specially created beard oil or beard moisturiser applied after washing will help keep it looking its best. Beard moisturiser can also help prevent flaky skin and an itchy beard, so use it whenever you feel like you need it.
Additional tips
So, now that the basics are clear, here some other extra tips that you might want to consider:
All beard styles don't suit every face type. There are different styles in short beards, too. So, decide on a beard style as per your face shape.
Use a good-quality beard brush. Just because you have a short beard, doesn't mean you don't have to maintain it. Using a beard brush to comb your beard helps it stay in shape as well as keeps it clean. It removes any dead skin cells and dirt that may be trapped in there.
Just like your hair needs conditioner, your beard needs it too. The best way to keep your beard and skin beneath moisturised is to use beard oil and balms. It helps soften your beard hair and reduces any irritation caused by trimming.
Pay attention to other parts of your face too. With shorter beards, other facial features tend to grab more attention as compared to longer beards. So, keep your nostrils, ears, and neck well groomed. The detail trimmer head of the Braun MGK7221 All-in-one Trimmer can help you with this.
Short Beard styles
A range of short beards exists, from the French beard style to the elaborate mini triangle beard. But there is really something to be said about the short, boxed beard, a mature, and sophisticated look that instantly commands respect. Once you’ve grown and prepared your beard for styling, there are two types of boxed short beard style for you to choose from: low and high. Although both styles feature strong sideburns, the main difference between them is where you shave in your cheek line. Remember – both of these styles can work to bring out the bone structure of your face, so choose the one that makes most sense for you.
Low short boxed
A low boxed beard follows the jawline closely with neat coverage, before curving upwards below the ears. This means that to achieve the low boxed beard style, you will have to remove much of the facial hair from your cheeks. In doing so, use your trimmer neatly shave the top line. This will create a substantial but low slope-shaped line going from the top of your sideburn to the bottom of your moustache.
High short boxed
As the name suggests, a high boxed beard has higher lines, covering more of the cheeks before meeting the middle of the moustache. Getting a high short, boxed beard is therefore simply a case of opting for more facial hair coverage than the low version. Instead of blending with your chin hair, the line running from your sideburns will meet your moustache at the corners of your mouth. Pay attention to your natural features here – it’s the best way to assure symmetry.
Short stubble beard
A short stubble beard is a simple style yet helps you achieve a classic, flattering look. When it comes to stubble, nothing can go wrong, as the length is a personal choice here. Simply, choose the desired length setting and grade all over. Clean shave your neckline to style a well-groomed, smarter look.
Classic Goatee
One of the most popular short beard styles, the classic goatee is all about width. The key to styling this beard is to go for a width that's not too wide or narrow, as it can change the way your face looks. It is always safe to start with a wider patch and then work with the shape until you're satisfied.
Read here to know more about How to grow and style a goatee
The Van Dyke
Remember Johnny Depp's style? Well, it's this one! Van Dyke is similar to Balbo, but only shorter and cleaner. It is very much a goatee style but without the sideburns. It is triangular in shape at the chin with a moustache. The length of this beard can be your choice, depending on what suits your face shape.
Takeaway
Grooming and maintaining a short beard require patience but is sure to give the look of your dreams. A short beard highlights your facial features and sits there without hiding the face shape. So, in order to look suave and don a celebrity-like look, you have to take care of your beard and treat it like a royalty.