About Face

If youre blessed with a jaw of granite, less is definitely more. A square face looks best with a close-cut beard or even the look of five-day growth, says Myriam Zaoui, founder of the Art of Shaving. Think Matt Damon or Ben Affleck. For round mugs like Jack Blacks, a goatee lends a leaner appearance, emphasizing length rather than width. Zaoui warns, A full beard on a pudgy face will accentuate the roundness. Heres where picking a barber with an eye for architecture and a good trimmer is money. Butching up a heart-shaped baby face like Leonardo DiCaprios requires only a few days growth and a deft hand. When opting for a full beard, make sure it follows the chin line. Also, err toward a closer trim to avoid masking the outline of your face. A full beard trimmed either round or square can disguise a prominent chin on a diamond-shaped face like Richard Geres. A few weeks time is enough to know if you can get the beard growth you desire. If its not coming in after that length of time, wave the white flag. Regardless, Zaoui says, All facial hair needs to be groomed regularly, as it grows more rapidly than the hair on any other part of the body. An initial beard shaping should be performed by a barber, and then a routine reshaping on a monthly basis is recommended. Send a letter to the editor about this article.