The Van Dyck beard, named in honor of 17th-century Flemish painter Antoon van Dyck, is an attractive type of shave that has recently made a comeback. In short, it consists of a pointed goatee and a mustache not joined together, while the cheeks are completely shaved. Read on to see how to reproduce this classy look!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Creating the Van Dyck Style
Step 1. Start with a clean-shaven face
Are you a shaving champion? Or a beginner? Remember that the face is your canvas - so start from scratch. Shave it completely and wait a week for the hair to be even. When the beard has grown to about 0.5cm, the face will be ready to reproduce this style of shaving.
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Achieving this length may take more than a week for some men. But if you are patient, you will be rewarded with a much more attractive Van Dyck beard.
Grow a Van Dyke Beard Step 1Bullet1 - If you don't feel like starting from scratch, you can recreate the Van Dyck beard from an existing beard. However, remember that it is much more difficult to control the final result when you are not working on new hair.
Step 2. Apply the shaving cream
Apply it all over the chin, over the lip and up to the sideburns.
Step 3. Leave a circular beard
Start by shaving the sideburns and cheeks. Start from the ears and remove the sideburns, as well as most of the hair on the cheeks, leaving about 5cm on either side of the mouth. Shave the hair at the base and along the sides of the neck, up to just above the Adam's apple. Leave the mustache and goatee intact. The end result will be the so-called "circular beard", a shaving style in vogue in the 90s.
Step 4. Rinse your face thoroughly
Wash away any remaining hair and shaving cream residue. Now the real precision work begins, and for that, you have to see what you are doing. At this point it is useful to use that little bit of cream just needed to guide the razor, without completely covering the hair.
Step 5. Precisely outline a pointed goatee
Carefully shave the neck hair until you leave a small pointed goatee. Scissors or an electric razor will help you control the shape and define the hair on your chin. Traditionally, the Van Dyck beard is slightly pointed and a little bit of wax will help keep that shape.
Step 6. Separate the mustache from the beard on the chin
Make the skin around the goatee completely smooth (if you have decided to make it grow).
Step 7. Shave your mustache with scissors or an electric razor
Measure carefully every time you need to cut, as a small mistake could force you to start over. As with the goatee, the classic Van Dyck mustache is pointed and well defined.
Step 8. Wash your face again
Make sure you have not left any unruly hairs still visible. Run your hand over your cheeks and around your beard to check for unwanted hair and, if necessary, use your razor again.
Method 2 of 2: Taking Care of the Van Dick Style
Step 1. Comb your beard
A small beard comb works wonders when it comes to identifying and removing unwanted hair… or food crumbs. The Van Dyck beard creates a refined look: poor care is immediately recognizable!
Step 2. Keep the edges well defined
The goatee shape has a big effect on the overall look, so keep the edges well defined as time goes on. Although beard growth is inevitable, daily attention to your face and constant care of your mustache, goatee and chin through the use of a sharp pair of scissors and a razor will help ensure the durability of your new look.
Step 3. Use some wax to make the effect even more beautiful
Beard and mustache wax, especially when applied by twisting your fingers, can turn your shave into a style hit at a party or special event. So make sure you are also dressed in style!
Advice
- Depending on the person, new hairs can be visible (and thus ruin the effect) within hours, as well as days after shaving. Don't forget: the elegance and attractive looks of a stylishly trimmed beard fade when regrowth is visible. If you don't have time to look after your style, grit your teeth, shave and go for another cut.
- Once you are comfortable with different shaving styles, use your creativity to change your look as the hair grows back. A Van Dyck beard can become a simple goatee, but also a long beard.
- If you intend to constantly change your look, it is advisable to use an adjustable mirror. There are a number of options available online, including the backlit and fog-free mirror for post-shower shaving.
