Growing, cutting, trimming, caring & styling a goatee

Along with the full beard and stubble, the chin beard and goatee are among the most popular beard styles. They're timeless and can be adapted to suit your face shape. From a casual accentuation of your facial features to a stylish statement, you can let your creativity run wild. And especially if you're constantly struggling with gaps in your beard, the chin beard is meant to be.
In this article, you'll learn everything about growth, styling, and what to look for when trimming. Plus, helpful graphics and inspiration for your new look.

The basics: What is a goatee, who does it suit and what variations are there?

The best thing about a goatee is that it suits everyone thanks to its endless styling possibilities. If you want, you can lengthen your face with a narrow, longer goatee. If you don't want that, you can simply leave it wider and shorter. You can wear it the classic way, at a slightly shorter length across the entire width of your chin – a petit goatee – or connect it to your sideburns – this is called a chin strap. In contrast, there is also the henriquatre. This only grows around the mouth and is not connected to the sideburns. You could even braid your goatee, once it's a certain length, or combine it with a mustache. As you can see, there are (virtually) no limits.
We have compiled a few styling ideas and the most common variations – with and without a mustache:

Step 1: How to grow a stylish goatee

Well, let it grow. It's kind of obvious, right? No matter what kind of beard you want, your facial hair needs to grow first. The advantage over other beard styles is that letting it grow is a bit easier, as there's little risk of gaps that then need to be covered up. You can either just let it all grow and then shave into the desired shape, or you can start shaving rough outlines right away, leaving only the part you want to keep.
How long it takes depends on what you want. If you have a short goatee, you can probably start trimming and styling it after 1-2 weeks; if you have a longer beard, you'll have to wait longer. You can find out what you can do to speed up growth in this article: Stimulating beard growth . If you're new to the field and would like more information and tips on the subject, this article will help: Growing a beard . But: you want a goatee, so don't be afraid to at least trim it .

Step 2: Cut & trim goatee

Is your beard long enough? Great, then get your beard trimmer and beard shampoo (solid or liquid ). Because before shaving and trimming, you need to clean your face and beard with beard soap. This is a must, as is an aftershave cream or aftershave spray tailored to your needs. Once your hair is (air-)dried, your trimmer can trim your beard to the length you want. The general rule is: start longer and gradually get shorter. If you want to keep a very long goatee, try using beard scissors. This requires a bit more sensitivity, though.

Now it's time to trim the contours. For this, you can use a beard trimmer like our Brooklyn Blade . It's important that the trimmer can cut precise contours. Always cut away from the beard to avoid cutting too far in or drawing an uneven line. How you proceed exactly depends on the style you have chosen. If you want to combine the goatee with a mustache , we recommend you take a look there too. And then we need a safety razor , a straight razor, or whatever you would otherwise use to shave your goatee. If you're not sure whether wet or dry shaving is better for you, take a look here first. Anything that doesn't belong in your desired beard shape can go. If you've drawn proper contours beforehand, this step should be child's play. A detailed shaving routine can be found here .

You should take your time trimming and cutting your hair the first time. If the template fits, subsequent trimming and cutting will be much easier. How often you need to trim and cut your hair depends entirely on your growth. Go with your gut feeling and what you feel comfortable with. You'll surely find your own personal routine soon.

Step 3: Rich care for your goatee

Yes, you need to take care of your beard. Not every day with beard shampoo, but you should wash your face and beard with water every day. Especially if you've opted for a larger beard style rather than a soul patch, your beard and the skin underneath will appreciate rich care. There are many different options, but please pay attention to the ingredients: microplastics, for example, are a big no. Do yourself and the environment a favor and choose natural cosmetics . Whether your skin and beard prefer beard oil , face cream , or conditioner depends on your skin and beard hair needs.

The cool thing about a goatee is that you'll rarely experience itching , since the beard style only covers a small area of ​​your face. Should it still occur, it's quickly resolved with our tips .

Step 4: Styling a goatee: How to shape your beard

This is arguably the most exciting step in your goatee journey. Want to twirl it? Then beard wax —or, for a stronger hold, beard wax—will help you maintain the shape longer. A beard brush not only shapes your beard, it also makes the hairs more manageable by distributing oil from your skin throughout the beard. If you're growing a long goatee, you'll definitely need a beard comb for detangling and tangle-free beard hairs. Beard oil will add a little shine.
Or you can use a flat iron, blow-dry your beard with a round brush, or braid a little work of art. As you can see, you can express yourself freely here.

Chin beard or goatee?

The two terms are used almost synonymously. Essentially, a goatee is a variation of a chin beard; both are located below the chin, with the goatee being just a bit narrower. A goatee is often called the "little brother" of a chin beard. How long you want your chin beard to be is entirely up to you. However, experts recommend letting the goatee grow past the edge of your chin. Beyond that, there are no limits to the length you can choose. You can also braid your goatee or even combine it with a mustache.