Beards - what style to suit your face shape?

Facial fringing/furniture/fuzz or fur- whatever you like to call it, you can't have failed to notice that this year gentlemen have gone beard crazy. The look has been brewing for awhile with the Hoxton hipsters, and male fashion editors leading the way, but after this year's BAFTA's where you couldn't move for beard sporting stars - George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Stephen Fry, Daniel Day-Lewis, to name just a few, they've now become mainstream fashion.

So in order to give you a little help on what type of beard you should be growing to suit your face shape I asked the guys over at Pankhurst Barbers - Stefan Avanzato and Alex Rugg. Read on for their tips on how to make sure your beard suits your face shape.......

RECTANGULAR SHAPED FACE

This is a longer face shape with straight sides, wide forehead and an angular jaw line. The aim here is not to make the face look any longer than it already is, so to suit this face shape wear a full, shallow and wide shaped beard and keep the neck trimmed and short but blended. Avoid extra length at the chin area. 

ROUND SHAPED FACE

With this face shape the length is about the same as the width and it has a curved outline and fuller cheeks. This shape will benefit from added angles and a beard that will lengthen and slim the face. This can be done by wearing a beard with the moustache and chin kept slightly longer than the cheeks. This will bring the eye inwards towards the middle of the face, and won't add extra weight or width to the cheek and jaw area. Avoid fullness at the sides.

SQUARE SHAPED FACE

The length and width of this face shape are a similar length and it has a square jaw, straight sides and a wide forehead. For this face shape, again you want to lengthen it slightly so keep the neck short and tapered and keep the cheeks and moustache shorter and the chin a little longer but not too long.

HEART SHAPED FACE

A heart shaped face is characterised by a wide forehead and narrow jaw line. In order to balance it out short stubble or a short well groomed beard will take the emphasis off the wide forehead and give depth to the jawline. Avoid shaving the neck and leaving a sharp line. Instead blend the hair from the neck to the weight of the beard. 

PEAR SHAPED FACE

This is an unusual face shape where the jaw line is wider than the forehead. The widest point is usually just below ear level and it has a curved appearance. A sharp line along the jaw can break up the heaviness of the jawline when the beard is longer - use a razor to shave the neck. If the beard is shorter, use mini clippers on a shorter setting so you still get a slight appearance of stubble. Keep the chin area slightly longer to bring the emphasis into the middle of the face. 

OVAL SHAPED FACE

The length is equal to one and a half times the width, with forehead very slightly wider than jaw and a curved outline. This is an ideal face shape to have and almost any shape beard will suit!

To book an appointment at Pankhurst barbershop with Alex or Stefan call 020 7287 9955020 7287 9955 or pop into the Newburgh Street shop.

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