How to Grow a Van Dyke Beard

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The Van Dyke beard, named for the 17th century Flemish painter Anthony Van Dyke, is an attractive facial hair style that has recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. At its simplest, a Van Dyke beard is a goatee , or chin beard, combined with but not connected to a mustache. The sides of the cheeks are left completely smooth. Read on for instructions on how to create this classy look.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Creating the Van Dyke

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  1. Whether you’re a beard-styling expert or this is you're first time growing a beard, your face is your canvas - start fresh. Have a clean shave and then wait a week for your hair to even out. Your face is ready for the Van Dyke when your stubble has grown out to about ¼ inch.
    • For some people it may take more than a week for the hair to grow back in. If you’re patient, you’ll be rewarded with a better-looking Van Dyke.
    • If you’re reluctant to start from scratch, you can create the Van Dyke from facial hair that already exists. However, it’s much more difficult to control the final outcome when you aren’t working with fresh hair.
  2. Go ahead and apply it all over your chin, above your lip, and up to your sideburns.
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  3. Begin by shaving your sideburns and cheeks. Start near your ears and remove your sideburns, as well as most of the hair on your cheeks, leaving approximately 2 inches (5.1 cm) to both sides of your mouth. Shave the hair from the bottom and sides of your neck, stopping just above your Adam’s apple. Leave your moustache and soul patch intact. The end result is what’s called a “circle beard,” a still common style that was popular in the 1990s.
  4. Wash away any excess hair or shaving cream. The precision work is about to begin, and you need to be able to see what you’re doing. At this point, it’s helpful to use just enough shaving cream to guide your razor, without covering up all your hair. [2]
  5. Create a neat goatee . Carefully trim the hair from your neck until you are left with a small, neat beard, resembling a goatee. [3] Scissors or an electric razor will help you control the overall shape and definition of your chin hairs. Classically, the Van Dyke beard is somewhat pointed; wax will help your hair retain its shape.
  6. Leave the skin around your soul patch (if you grow one) completely smooth.
  7. Measure twice, cut once, as a single errant swipe could force you to start all over again. Like the chin beard, the classic Van Dyke mustache is pointed and very neat.
  8. Make sure you didn’t miss any visible hairs. Run your hand over your cheeks and around your beard to feel for rough spots, and go back over any you find with a razor.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Maintaining the Look

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  1. [4] A small beard comb works wonders when it comes to identifying and removing stray whiskers . . . and food crumbs. The Van Dyke is a refined look; inattention will show!
  2. The shape of your chin beard has a huge effect on your overall appearance, so keep the lines clean as time passes. While new beard growth is inevitable, daily attention to your face, and precision upkeep of your mustache, soul patch and chin beard area with a pair of sharp scissors and a beard trimmer will help you extend the mileage on your Van Dyke.
  3. Beard and mustache wax - especially when applied with a twist of your fingers - can turn your Van Dyke into a show stopper at a party or special event. Be sure to wear clothes as stylish as your beard.
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  • Question
    What is a soul patch?
    Community Answer
    A soul patch is a small tuft of facial hair directly below a man's lower lip.
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      Tips

      • If you plan on pushing the limits of your facial hair flexibility, an adjustable shaving mirror is highly recommended. There are a range of options available online, with the best being back-lit and fogless for post-shower styling.
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      • Once you get comfortable with different styles, get creative with changing your style as your new hair grows in. A Van Dyke can become a goatee can become a full beard.
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      • Based on your own body, new hair might be visible (and visibly ruining your style) within a few hours or days of trimming your beard. And make no mistake: the elegance and attraction of a well-styled beard is turned on its head when your 5 o’clock shadow rolls in. If you don’t have the time to keep your style in check, bite the bullet, shave your face, and plan your next project.
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      References

      1. ↑ Woody Lovell. Professional Barber. Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.
      2. ↑ Woody Lovell. Professional Barber. Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.
      3. ↑ Woody Lovell. Professional Barber. Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.
      4. ↑ Woody Lovell. Professional Barber. Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      A Van Dyke beard is a popular beard style that combines a goatee with an unconnected mustache. You’ll need to grow about a quarter-inch of stubble to style your facial hair into a Van Dyke. Start by shaving your neck, sideburns, and cheeks until you’re left with a circle beard. Then, shave a little hair from between your mustache and chin beard. Finally, trim your mustache so it’s neat and a little pointed. You’ll need to trim the edges regularly to keep them defined. For more tips, including how to use wax to emphasize your Van Dyke beard, read on!

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