From zero to sexy: How to create perfect stubble
Nothing says “I didn’t sleep at home” like a stubble beard. From Clint Eastwood to George Clooney, Hollywood has turned stubble from an everyday guy’s everyday struggle into the epitome of sexy, stylish cool.
Heavy stubble, or a 5 o’clock shadow, separates the men from the boys. Grooming and maintaining a stubble beard can highlight cheekbones on a square face or disguise a weak chin on the less-chiseled.
Here’s how to create and maintain your own sexy stubble in four easy steps:
1. Grow your beard out. Avoid shaving for several days to let your natural stubble grow to at least 3 cm.
2. Trim your neckline. Carefully trim to create a line under your chin. Keep your neck nice and tidy below the line. Trim the area of your beard beneath your cheekbones, carefully forming a downward oval shape. Or draw a straight diagonal line from the beginning of your sideburn to the edge of your mustache. Then tidy up the area below your mouth. For more advice on perfecting your stubble beard neckline, check out our quick guide to mastering the perfect shape here.
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3. Create your stubble. Set your stubble trimmer between 1 and 3 cm and trim the rest of your beard evenly. To find the length that suits you best, start with a longer setting, moving down to a shorter setting to find the ideal stopping point. Once you’re there, tidy up under your chin with a shaver.
4. Maintain your stubble. Trim and shave regularly to maintain your preferred length and keep the edges of your stubble beard neat.
That’s it: a perfect 5 o’clock shadow, for a carelessly-cool look. Wear it with confidence. When you’re ready to move on, remember that stubble is also an excellent gateway style for bolder beards. Consider growing it out to get the scruffy beard.
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