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A little stubble can be just as attractive as a full beard, especially if it’s properly kept and maintained. Grooming your stubble requires a bit more work than simply not shaving, but putting the time and effort in will give you a Hollywood-grade look that’s sure to make you the center of attention wherever you go.
Steps
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Stop shaving. Let your stubble grow to the point of being a short beard. As with a regular haircut, you can always take more off, but you can’t put back what is no longer attached. Grow your beard to a length that you know is slightly longer than you’d ever want to keep your stubble.
- How long this will take depends entirely on your particular beard growth. For some men this may take three or four days while for others it could be over a week.
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Use a long setting on your hair trimmer. Start with a slightly longer setting on your trimmer such as a 4. This will take all of your hair down to an even length. Especially for men with dark, thick beards, this setting will probably be too scruffy for the look they want, but it works for some—think Hugh Jackman.Advertisement
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Shorten in increments. Once you have an even length to work with, begin trimming your stubble down in increments to find the right length for you. The length you decide on will ultimately depend on your hair density, hair color, and how clean of a designer stubble look you want. [1] X Research source
- Remember that you may also choose to keep the stubble on different parts of your face at different lengths to achieve a cleaner look. You may decide that the best look for you is using a 3 setting along your jaw and moustache but a 2 setting on your cheeks to create a more blended look that fades rather than ends dramatically. [2] X Research source
- Don’t worry if taking the length down makes spots like your cheeks feel patchy. Some men such as Ryan Gosling rock the designer stubble look with barely any hair extending onto their cheeks. You’ll clean up those patchy spots in the next step.
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Clean the edges. Once you have the length of your stubble where you want it, you can take care of stray hairs or asymmetrical spots by cleaning up around the edges. For this, you can take the setting guard off your trimmer to use it as a set of electric clippers, or you can use a plain old safety razor. [3] X Research source
- Common areas to clean up while edging include the sparse hairs some men get high up on their cheek bones or upper lip hairs that might take away from the definition one wants in his moustache.
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Decide how you want your neckline stubble. For many men, deciding how they want the stubble look to transition to their neckline is the hardest part. If you decide on a slightly longer, more rugged look with your stubble, then you probably want to keep some stubble on your neck as well. For a cleaner look—or if the hair growth on your neck is too patchy—then you can clean it up in an easy way.
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Fade the hair at your neckline. If you decide to keep some of the stubble on your neck, then fade it out. Shorten the length to a 2 setting past your jawline and then to a 1 setting around your Adam’s apple. This allows you to fade the hair out in a natural way without leaving a sharp contrast between stubble on your face and a smooth neck.
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Shave it just beyond your jawline. If you keep a shorter, cleaner stubble look and don’t want the hair to extend to your neck, then you can shave it smooth just beyond your jawline. Take your fingers and feel for the spot just behind your jawbone under your chin where the skin gets soft and you can push at it; this is the spot where you want to create your natural edge for your neckline. [4] X Research source By shaving starting at this point, you allow the stubble to extend down the visible portion of your jawline and the sharp contrast line stays hidden under your chin.
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Decide your face type. Though men may like the designer stubble look for several reasons, you should especially consider it if you’re prone to shaving irritation and ingrown facial hairs. Maintaining the hairs at a short length can help clear up skin, and it can also give baby-faced men a more rugged, handsome look.
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Stop shaving to gauge your beard growth. Some men may think they can’t pull off stubble due to sparse or patchy facial hair growth. When shaving every day or two, this can be hard to determine since some hair may simply grow more slowly. Stop shaving longer than you normally would—up to a week even—and decide then if you believe your hair growth can warrant a stubble look.
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Be prepared to maintain it. If you’re looking for a truly low-maintenance facial hair style, then the stubble look may not be for you. Though you don’t have to tend to stubble every single day, you’ll still have to clean it up approximately three times a week, and the process can potentially take longer than regular shaving alone. [5] X Expert Source Tiffany Carnevale-Russo
Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Interview. 14 September 2021.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionI am 17 years old I am not getting a properly-shaped beard. How can I get one?Curtis FairgrieveCommunity AnswerThat will depend on your genetics. Ask your dad, uncle, grandfather what age they were when they were first able to grow a beard. Some men have full beards at 14, while some men are in their thirties and unable to sprout anything on their cheeks. If you want a shorter style, opt for a pencil beard or a goatee instead. Don't worry, though, maybe you'll just have to wait another couple of years for your beard to finish developing.
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QuestionIs clean shaven the best look?Community AnswerIt depends on your personal preferences.
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QuestionWhat is the best length to grow stubble?Community AnswerIt's up to you. Leave your stubble at a length you like, or ask other people what they think about it.
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Tips
- Electric beard razors with adjustable attachments are the best way to regulate stubble growth. It is very difficult to make an even trim with single-blade razors or non-electric razors, and patches or irregularities will often result.Thanks
- Try testing out your stubble over a weekend, on vacation, or during another period of time during which your appearance is not as important as usual. The rate of beard growth and the effects are often unpredictable when working with stubble.Thanks
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Warnings
- Ingrown hairs are common with stubble. These will appear as a small bump on the skin with a hair protruding. Pick these off with tweezers. Do not use fingers, as dirt in nails could lead to infection.Thanks
- Hair close to the face that is constantly agitated by shaving or trimming has a tendency to develop oils and irritate the skin. Be sure to wash the area in and around the stubble frequently to avoid pimples or other unsightly developments. [6] X Expert Source Tiffany Carnevale-Russo
Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Interview. 14 September 2021.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Adjustable facial hair trimmer
- Razor
- Shaving gel
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9d3_4IwIgo
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9d3_4IwIgo
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9d3_4IwIgo
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9d3_4IwIgo
- ↑ Tiffany Carnevale-Russo. Licensed Cosmetologist. Expert Interview. 14 September 2021.
- ↑ Tiffany Carnevale-Russo. Licensed Cosmetologist. Expert Interview. 14 September 2021.
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To make sure you have an even amount of stubble, first let your facial hair grow out for about 1 week. Then, shave it down using the long setting on an electric hair trimmer. Once you have an even length to work with, trim the hair in increments to create the design you want. If you encounter any stray hairs or rough edges, clean them up using a standard safety razor. For tips on how to trim or fade your neckline stubble, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Didn't know where or how to decide the shape of my beard, didn't consider trimming to different lengths around the edges, and didn't know that trimming released skin-irritating oils so I will now shampoo after trimming rather than before. Thanks." ..." more
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"Didn't know where or how to decide the shape of my beard, didn't consider trimming to different lengths around the edges, and didn't know that trimming released skin-irritating oils so I will now shampoo after trimming rather than before. Thanks."
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"This is my first time doing this and I found this article to be very insightful. I will try this since I thought the entire face could be one length. This video is also very helpful. Thanks!"
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"I have been struggling with how to style my facial hair, especially since it didn't grow in evenly. This article gave great tips and pointed out things I didn't think about."
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"Perfect for me. Stubble makes me look older and better. I'm 23 and have a baby face. Great article, thank you."
"I really found the video to be very useful. He did a great job explaining how to grow and maintain stubble."
