Big, thick, untamed beards were once a symbol of bold, brawny, braggadocio men. In the West, men would grow their ferocious facial locks to express utter masculinity, while in the East many saw their thick beards as a sacred rite. And now, in 2016, it has again become a fashionable trend to grow a forest of facial hair.
Aparticulary macho, ancient beard-style has recently made a come back. Finding its way into pop culture by the likes of Rick Rubin, Justin Foley, and Tait Fletcher, the “Garibaldi” beard has become the ‘it’ style for young, hip men from Brooklyn to Tehran.
You must be wondering what on earth the “Garibaldi” is. This beard style, characterised by having a thick, full, long, and rounded-at-the-bottom beard worn with a stache, is attributed to Giuseppe Garibaldi, a legendary Italian politician and nationalist from the 1800s who was as famous for his big beard and long stache, as he was for his exemplary politics. Though it may look to some like a simple matter of not shaving, this is far from a mountain-man style, and requires some styling and care to keep it looking rugged and chic, rather than, well...homeless and sad.
The full, thick beard style is timeless, chic, and downright attractive, and growing one out is a wonderful experience every style-conscious man must try, at least once in his life. It will develop your confidence, patience, and might just give you a brand new swagger. It worked for Garibaldi.
How to Grow It
If you hate shaving every five minutes, and you mastered the art of patience, then this might be the perfect new look for you. Start off by growing your beard out. This typically takes about four to five months, depending on how fast your hair grows. During this time, only shave the area on your cheeks where your desired beard line will begin. Wait until it is 15 to 20cm long, then begin to have your barber slightly trim the lower portion and the sides to achieve a round design. Continue to regularly shave to maintain a sharp upper beard line.
How to Style It
As for the moustache, you can either maintain long, wild-man whiskers for an ultimate Garibaldi look, or you can trim them a bit and keep it neat, which is preferred. Remember, the main focus is the beard. The best part about this style is that it requires little styling as the messier the beard, the more rugged and natural you’ll look.
How to Maintain The Look
Maintaining your style requires only cheek shaving and an occasional, simple trim from time to time. However, taking care of your beard is vital.
How to Care For a Beard
Throw away your scissors and razors and get a beard care kit and beard moisturising oils to keep your beard healthy and moist, otherwise it will start doing some funky things to your face, from in-grown hairs to nasty, matted hair. Rinse your facial hair daily, and after each wash apply beard oil. You can use a blow dryer to add volume, or you can just stroke it downwards with a boar’s brush to avoid split ends and beard damage. — [email protected]
Buy the Best Beard and Hair Products
1. Spaloon
Qurum Street, Qurum
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2. Leather & Lather
Oman Avenues Mall
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