Van Dyke Beard: How to Grow, Trim & Maintain This Iconic Style?

Have you been considering switching your beard style? Well, then growing a Van Dyke beard should definitely be on your list. This beard style perfectly combines the essence of old-fashioned sophistication and the trends of today. Even though the Van Dyke of this beard’s name was a 17th-century Flemish painter, this groomed style isn’t an ancient relic. It is one of the go-to beard styles of many A-list celebrities. And now you too can recreate it with ease. Read on as we've enlisted the steps of growing a Van Dyke beard and how to trim it. But before that let’s understand what a Van Dyke beard style is and how it looks.

You may be wondering what a Van Dyke beard looks like. Well, this classic beard style takes a simple moustache and adds a chin beard. This moustache and chin combination is similar to the goatee style but the big difference here is that the moustache and hair on your chin won’t be connected.

The gap between the moustache and chin beard is where your trimming skills will come into play as Van Dyke facial hair takes some carefully edged lines. We’ll run you through how to master this style but also be sure to explore the latest and greatest moustache styles for men.

If you’ve decided this beard style is the one for you, you’ll want to know how to grow a Van Dyke beard. Here’s how to achieve it:

• Start growing out your beard till at least 2 cm in length. On trimming, this length will help you get the perfect definition between your moustache and chin hair required to achieve the Van Dyke beard style.

• Make sure that your moustache and the beard growth on your jaw and chin areas are at an equal length.

This might take a few weeks or more so be patient and as your beard grows be sure to follow our guide on how to take care of your beard to avoid matted hair and irritated skin.

The angular look of a Van Dyke beard takes some careful styling so ensure you know how to shape a Van Dyke beard before you dive in and start trimming the full beard growth that we suggest starting with.

Start by combing your beard. You should direct it downwards to prime your full beard for transformation into the Van Dyke beard style.

Take a beard trimmer of your choice, without any comb attachment and remove the hair between the bottom edges of your moustache down to your jawline. The Braun MGK7221 All-in-one Trimmer is an ideal pick for this beard style. It comes with 4 combs and 13 length settings which provides the ultimate styling precision. It is engineered with AutoSensing Technology that reads your beard 13 times per second and adjusts the power of the trimmer. All of which give you the perfect cut.

Next up in terms of how to shave a Van Dyke beard is removing the hair underneath your chin beard.

Once you’ve shaped the goatee on your chin, tidy up any extra growth on your cheeks and jawline, just leaving the moustache and chin beard.

Finally, with this goatee shape, use your electric trimmer of choice to remove hair joining the moustache and chin and create the definition that gives the Van Dyke beard its distinctive look. Use the Braun XT5100 Trimmer & Shaver to give the final touches. It comes with 1, 2, 3- and 5-mm comb and has a 4D-Blade technology which gives your close shave. Its ergonomic design makes it easy to handle and gives you the precise cut required for the Van Dyke Beard.

Braun understands your beard styling game and presents a range of trimmers and stylers that suit your needs. The Braun 9-9355 Wet & Dry Shaver is designed with a precision head lock which sets the fully flexible shaver head in five positions. It provides you with a precise shave with its SyncroSonic™ technology which reads your beard and adjusts power accordingly. It is 100% waterproof which enables you to shave using water or a foaming gel. Another best option on the block is the Braun MGK7331 10-in-1 Beard Trimmer. It has SensoAdapt technology that adapts power to your specific beard length and density, giving you a precise cut. Its head has a wider cutting area which shaves more hair in one simple stroke. Lastly, it's washable and waterproof.

Our guide to beard style according to face shapes suggests that a Van Dyke beard will work best with a round face as the pointed chin beard gives an angular edge to your jawline.

However, the Van Dyke beard style is versatile and you can style a thicker look along your jaw if you have a sharper rectangular face shape. So, when it comes to how to style a Van Dyke beard, you’ll have the best chances of success with a rounder face, but this look can easily be grown out into other similar shapes such as a full goatee.

Growing a Van Dyke beard is quite easy and fun to create. The upkeep of this beard style is also minimal. You simply need to trim any overgrown hair with a comb attachment that suits the length. With your personal charm and this iconic beard style, you will be unstoppable! So, follow the steps on how to trim a Van Dyke beard discussed above and create this look right away using Braun stylers and trimmers.