Written by Sammy Weston

Tue. 30. July.

 

In the words of Jack Passion, acclaimed author of The Facial Hair Handbook, “With his mane, the lion presides over the jungle as king… If the beard is solid, subtle, and sharp you’re looking at self-actualized enlightenment, the pinnacle of manhood.”
   

There are many styles man chooses to adorn his face, all of which unique in their own way but none of which convey the same message.  

 

The Full beard
The full beard can be considered the ultimate symbol of alpha-male status, of pure manliness. According to Passion, the full beard image could be considered the male equivalent of child-bearing hips. While calling for much maintenance, the full beard can be a symbol of “virility, shyness, mania or laziness”, depending on how one chooses to wear it.

The Goatee
Similar to the full beard, the goatee image can range from quite basic to a representation of high class. Again, all depending on how the man chooses to take care of his face. Commonly believed to be more of a mature look, more often than not the goatee is reserved for older men. In fact, according to ancient lore, legend claims the right to wear a goatee upon one’s face must be earned through age and distinction.

 

The Scruff
This look is a little more mysterious than the rest. Is it the beginning of a beard? Has he just been lazy the past couple of days? Sporting the scruff takes precision and accuracy to achieve the image that you simply do not care. This grungy appearance of designer stubble is sure to attract the odd bit of attention due to its mystifying allure.

The Sideburns
The thing about sideburns is that they are a very non-committal style of facial hair. As Passion mentions, sideburns are a tell-tale sign of “a man finding himself…Not yet willing to grow out a beard, [he] has begun to let his sideburns grow in to test the waters.” Sideburns are best implemented to compliment other styles such as a mustache or stubble.

 

The Moustache

Historically associated with a number of negative stereotypes, the age of the ‘stache is returning to full glory once again. Easily believed to be the most elusive of all facial hair styles, the moustache is a sure fire sign that this man lives without fear. When achieved, as well as maintained, the moustache becomes the epitome of “cool” and provides the illusion of the utmost class. Due to its difficult nature, many men strive to adorn their upper lip with a well-kept ‘stache, unfortunately many also fail. The truth is this look is not for everyone, in fact there are countless gentlemen incapable of growing a sufficiently full mustache.

About The Writer:
Sammy Weston is a 28 year old writer living in Boston, Massachusetts. Throughout his life Sammy always maintained a strong affinity for men’s fashion, and after receiving a degree in Communication from UMass Amherst, he set out to share his fashionista wisdom with the world. He is currently a freelance writer for M & M Direct, a men’s and women’s fashion service based out of the UK.