Frequently asked questions

What does my facial hair reveal about my personality? What style suits my face shape? What's the latest facial hair trend / what's hot and what's not? How do I use my facial hair to make the most of / disguise certain facial features? I have very light hair growth - what styles can I get away with? I want to grow a different style, but I'm not sure where to start?

What does my facial hair reveal about my personality?

Experimenting with your facial hair is a great way to express your individuality, you can tell a lot about a person from their facial hair and how often it changes:

• Adventurous beards or Stand Out Moustaches are often perceived as rebellious or creative

• Sideburns are considered to be diligent, dependable, & hard working

• Highly Intricate Styles (such as the circle beard) that take time to create suggest a guy is patient and detailed

• Clean-shaven men come across as being open and honest, as they're not hiding behind any facial hair

What style suits my face shape?

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  Square: An all-over beard that's clipped close to the face works well, as it makes the face appear more slender and less box-like.

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  Rectangular / Oblong: A 'chin strap' or a full beard will visibly shorten the length of the face.

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  Round: Carefully maintained moustaches flatter very round faces and help give the face a narrower, oval appearance.

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  Triangular / Diamond: A full beard often works well to visually bulk up the face and to detract from the narrow jaw and small chin, as do long and thick sideburns.

What's the latest facial hair trend / what's hot and what's not?

There's not one definitive trend in grooming for 2009, but an assortment of styles Choose any of these three key trends and you're definitely onto a winner:

• Rugged outdoor - The beard is back. A contradiction of un-kempt and styled, this outdoor look is a sure fire way to get you noticed.

• Groomed goatee - A more pronounced style of goatee featuring softer stubble along the jaw, this new look is contemporary and cool.

• Close crop - a sprinkling of stubble without the 'forgot-to-shave' look.

All can be easily achieved using the award winning Quattro Titanium Precision.

How do I use my facial hair to make the most of / disguise certain facial features?

Some recommendation on styles to balance out strong facial features are:

• Receding chin - a full beard or a carefully clipped goatee

• Protruding chin - a short beard and a moustache cropped close to the face

• A large nose, narrow lip, or high forehead - a moustache paired with a soul patch

• Receding hairlines and bald heads - a close clipped full beard, or circle beard

• Double chin or Weak jaw line - a dark-colored beard or stubble will add definition or hide extra chins

• Ruddy complexion / blemishes or scars - a full beard can help to conceal these

I have very light hair growth - what styles can I get away with?

Light hair growth does not mean you need to remain clean-shaven:

• Goatee styles may work well for you if you have trouble growing hair on your cheeks but not on your chin.

• Jawline beards are a good option if you can't grow a moustache but can grow hair along your chin.

The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment, and you'll soon find a style that looks good, and that you're comfortable with.

I want to grow a different style, but I'm not sure where to start?

A good place to start is to find a picture of the style you like (from a magazine or the internet), then don't shave one weekend, so you have some growth to experiment with on the Sunday evening. If you don't like what you've designed, you can always shave it off before work the next day.

Or, if you're not ready for a radical new look, a good place to start is your sideburns, which you can either grow longer, or shape to frame your face, to make a more subtle change.

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Frequently asked questions

What 'look' works best for the ladies and what should I avoid? Is it true that women think men with facial hair are more manly? Most Hollywood stars and footballers can pull off wacky facial hair styles - will the ladies think I'm trying too hard if I copy them? How can I tell if she really likes it or if she's too polite to say what she really thinks? I'm worried my beard will give women stubble rash, which I assume will be a real turn off?

What 'look' works best for the ladies and what should I avoid?

Overall, the sexiest thing is a man who is confident in his appearance, so I'd say go for something that makes you feel comfortable and allows you to express the real you. Some ideas are:

• Stubble generally packs a good punch of sex appeal but don't forget to trim to avoid a full-grown beard, which isn't so attractive! This is backed up by some recent Northumbria University research which revealed that ladies prefer the George Clooney / Brad Pitt, stubbly chins to clean shaven or full beard faces.

• Sideburns also have sex appeal and style but again, just a smidgen of extra sideburn can really make or break your profile so be sure to keep them trimmed.

• Radical facial hairstyles can be dashing and intriguing, which us women like, but don't under any circumstances go to crazy extreme measures to achieve these looks. Fake facial hair and make up are no-go's - if it aint real, us girls aren't interested!

Is it true that women think men with facial hair are more manly?

No.

There's definitely something about facial hair that expresses manliness - I guess biologically it shows that they're oozing testosterone! However psychological studies have found that women want dominant males, but ones friendly enough to care for offspring, and they tend to see these traits in clean-shaven faces.

In my opinion, manliness emerges from confidence, and to be confident, you need to be happy and comfortable in your own skin by choosing a look and image that's right for you.

Most Hollywood stars and footballers can pull off wacky facial hair styles - will the ladies think I'm trying too hard if I copy them?

No - as long as you keep it real.

Us girls are always asking our hairdresser for the latest celebrity style and there's nothing stopping you blokes getting a little inspiration from the stars as well, but let's keep things in perspective. Experimenting with their 'look' is one thing, and thinking you're just like them is quite another.

How can I tell if she really likes it or if she's too polite to say what she really thinks?

You should really be doing what makes you happy and not changing anything in order to make a woman happy.

There are so many different styles to choose from so how could you possibly know what she's going to like and dislike? If you keep second-guessing, you'll never get anywhere. Just relax and be you.

I'm worried my beard will give women stubble rash, which I assume will be a real turn off?

So many men don't realise that this can be a serious issue for us ladies - stubble can hurt! I'd suggest using a conditioner, which will make the hair less coarse and dry. If that doesn't work then try trimming the beard to a length that's not so coarse, or else compromising with a different style that features less hair.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I avoid facial ingrown hairs? I always get a really bad rash after shaving - especially on my neck. What can I do? Can I use a razor to safely shave other parts of my body? How should I shave if I have bad acne? Do I still need to apply sunscreen if I have a beard?

How do I avoid facial ingrown hairs?

Although unsightly and sometimes painful this is a common occurrence that can be avoided.

Causes - Ingrown hairs occur when the hair is cut off beneath the skin's surface, gets trapped inside the follicle and then curves back on itself and grows into the surrounding skin. This can irritate the skin and cause a red, lumpy reaction, made worse next time you shave and sometimes leading to infection.

How to prevent them - Exfoliate and moisturise regularly. The former to remove dead skin cells and release trapped hairs, and the latter to keep skin soft and allow hairs to grow through the surface more easily. Always shave after a hot shower with a sharp razor in the direction of the hair growth so you don't distort the follicles. Don't stretch the skin tight while shaving to avoid too close a shave.

How to deal with them - soak a towel in hot water and put it on the skin for a few minutes to soften the hairs. Using sterilised tweezers, loosen the end of the hair and leave it for a couple of days before plucking so the skin can heal back around the hair shaft so that it can grow correctly in future. Keep the area clean and dry to minimise future infection.

I always get a really bad rash after shaving - especially on my neck. What can I do?

There are two types of shaving rash:

1. Caused by ingrowing hairs (read tips above)
2. Due to a persistent infection in the follicles themselves. Some key ways to avoid this are:
• Always wait at least ten minutes or so after you have woken up so the 'puffiness' in your face can go down.
• Have a hot shower and then prepare your beard with a good quality foam or gel to soften the hair and make sure bristles can be cut without pulling and irritating the skin.
• Use a sharp razor - blunt or dull blades can increase irritation.
• Shave in the direction of the hair growth - shaving against the grain of the beard causes friction when the razor passes over the skin.
• Apply a soothing balm afterwards to calm the area and help control any irritation.

Some shaving products are such as Titanium coated blades can also help to reduce irritation, as can power razors such as Quattro Titanium Energy which gently pulse to reduce the pressure you need to apply to the skin when shaving.

If your skin is really bad, you could stop shaving for a while to give it a chance to heal itself before trying shaving again. If it still doesn't settle then it's worth asking your doctor about antibiotic treatment.

Can I use a razor to safely shave other parts of my body?

Yes.

Razors can be used to remove hair from the legs, underarms, back or the pubic area - but as with the face, shaving against the growth direction can cause ingrown hairs or irritation so proper shave rules still apply.

In the same way that bacteria can be transferred from one person to another, it can also be transferred from one area of the body to another, so use a clean, sharp razor and rinse it in warm water after use to ensure it's clean and hygienic for the next time you use it.

Remember - if you can't see or reach the area properly, don't attempt to shave it yourself!

How should I shave if I have bad acne?

If you suffer from acne, shaving can be a real pain in both senses of the word, and your daily routine will need extra care. For a more comfortable shave, apply good shaving practice but always shave lightly so that you don't cut into the blemishes. Aim for less irritation rather than the closest finish.

Wash the face with warm water and a gentle soap to soften the skin and open the pores or warm the face with a hot wet flannel for 30 seconds. Then use a good quality shaving gel or foam that doesn't contain alcohol and is designed for sensitive skin - using this with a shaving brush will help to lock in moisture and raise the facial hairs. Instead of aftershave, use a deep cleaning facial cleanser. It will have the same effect but will also help kill the bacteria that cause the acne.

Power razors such as Quattro Titanium Energy can also help as the gentle pulses mean you need to apply less pressure to the skin when shaving.

Do I still need to apply sunscreen if I have a beard?

Yes.

As with your scalp, your chin is still vulnerable to UV rays - even if it is covered with hair. How much UV light penetrates will depend upon how your beard is styled as well as the thickness of your hair type. In fact, most sun damage occurs during every day routines so you should be using a daily moisturiser with an SPF already incorporated.

For protection against stronger rays, try using a clear lotion or dry oil spray which are generally easier to apply on top of any type of body hair - and won't leave the tell tale white marks where it hasn't been rubbed in.

If you've recently restyled your beard or shaved it off, remember that the skin underneath will be extra vulnerable, so up your UV protection.

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Frequently asked questions

What's a respectable length for my facial hair? How do I keep my facial hair in good condition - should I wash it? How can I be sure not to embarrass myself by getting food stuck in my facial hair? My facial hair has flecks of grey in it - is it OK to dye it? Is facial hair acceptable at work / on a date?

What's a respectable length for my facial hair?

This totally depends on your commitments for the day / week / month in question, but here are some growth guidelines:

• Day 1: Five o'clock shadow - hardly noticeable, acceptable for any occasion

• Day 2 - 4: Stubble - suggests that you've not made an effort - unacceptable for job interview, 1st date or Client meetings

• Day 5 - 8: Designer Stubble - No longer negligence and you can wear it with style and conviction - well received on 1st dates

• Day 8+: Hair will need trimming every couple of days to maintain the designer stubble effect

• Day 8 - 14: Bristle - Most awkward stage of growing a beard - advisable to action during 2 week holiday period - not acceptable for work

• Day 14 +: Will continue to grow at five inches a year - acceptable for most work and social occasions when over the age of 50!

How do I keep my facial hair in good condition - should I wash it?

Yes.

You should treat it no differently to the hair on your head - if anything, it's even more important to keep this hair clean and free from bacteria. I'd also recommend conditioning it - especially if it gets a little coarse and dry - and if you have a full beard, or a handlebar moustache, then make sure you comb it too.

How can I be sure not to embarrass myself by getting food stuck in my facial hair?

Practise makes perfect here, and for the first few weeks I'd suggest a trip to the toilets after each meal to assess the food-in-beard situation. As time goes by, you'll become more confident, and be able to discretely remove crumbs with your napkin whilst at the dinner table.

Drinks like milkshakes and frothy coffees are a nightmare when you have facial hair of any description, so avoid at all costs on a first date!

My facial hair has flecks of grey in it - is it OK to dye it?

Yes.

Lots of men do this - often to hide specks of grey, or (ginger!) that bizarrely don't make an appearance on their heads. There's nothing wrong with it at all, and you can either get products that have been specially formulated for facial hair, or you can ask a professional to do it for you.

Is facial hair acceptable at work / on a date?

At work - sometimes.

Your work may well have rules and regulations about your facial hair, just as they do with your clothes, but it's worth asking what the guidelines are. You never know, they may be keen for you to express your creativity! If it's still a no-go, you can always experiment on weekends and when on holiday.

On a date - yes.

There are no restrictions here as it's a great opportunity for you to express your true personality - just like you do with the clothes you chose to wear.

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