These days, clean-shaven is no longer the only way to look well-groomed. Stubble may still have a rugged feel but instead of scruffy and sloppy, it’s now considered sophisticated and stylish. When done right, stubble can enhance your features, define your jawline, and create a mature and masculine appearance. On top of that, it can also make you appear more handsome and banish that terrible “baby-face” look. While stubble can be a great excuse to skip shaving every day and save you time during your morning routine, it does take work. Without proper care and maintenance, your polished facial hair can quickly end up looking unkempt. So, if you want to be able to wear your stubble to the office with pride, it’s best to know how to achieve the perfect look.
Contents
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What is Stubble?
Stubble vs Beard
Will Stubble Suit Me?
How to Grow a Heavy Stubble
How to Trim and Maintain Stubble
How to Style Your Stubble
Best Stubble Trimmers
How to Get the Perfect Stubble
FAQs
What length is a stubble beard?
Is a stubble beard attractive?
Why can't I grow stubble?
How long does it take to grow stubble?
What helps stubble growth?
What is Stubble?
Stubble is the somewhat ambiguous length of facial hair between clean-shaven and a short beard. Depending on how quickly your hair grows, stubble can be anything between a few days and a couple of weeks of growth. Although stubble is similar to a short beard, its lesser length means that the hairs don’t come away from the skin as much. This means that you can create a distinguished and manly look with stubble without moving into the wilder territories of a beard.
Stubble vs Beard
Stubble, when done right, looks like the perfect facial hair growth. While the first day or two may simply appear like you forgot to shave, after the third day or so, it’ll begin to look deliberate and ruggedly stylish. Its short length also allows for a clean and more polished look than a beard. While beards can be styled and appear well-groomed, properly maintained stubble will always appear neater. Perfect for gents whose office won’t allow a full beard, stubble is a great alternative. It offers the same masculine appeal without the extra untamed aesthetics.
Will Stubble Suit Me?
Unfortunately, facial hair doesn’t suit every gent, so be aware before growing stubble that it may not turn out as planned. You’ll never know until you try, however, so don’t be afraid to give it a go. Just think, the worst that will happen is that you’ll have to shave it off. If you’re not prepared to maintain your stubble, don’t bother growing it because it’ll simply end up looking messy. If you often have adverse reactions to regular shaving, stubble could be your ideal option.
When growing stubble, be mindful of the overall appearance. If it’s coming in patchy and simply looks a bit bare, a clean-shaven look may be a better option. Also, once your initial stubble is grown, listen to comments from friends and colleagues. Chances are, if you’re getting a lot of compliments, you should keep the stubble. If people are still asking if you forgot to shave after a week or two, however, stubble may not be suitable for you.
How to Grow a Heavy Stubble
Every gent’s facial hair grows at a different rate and thickness, so ultimately, your genetics will determine how thick your stubble will grow. That being said, things can diminish or increase your capabilities of growing heavy stubble. Stress, bad diet, and physical damage will all slow down and affect growth negatively. Having a good and healthy lifestyle, on the other hand, will always help you achieve the best growth possible, but there are a few more things you can do to help your stubble along. Taking supplements, such as biotin, zinc, vitamin B, and magnesium can help your hair to grow faster and healthier. Likewise, a boost in testosterone will also help you grow heavier stubble. As well as working out to boost testosterone, you can also eat more red meat, spinach, nuts, avocados, olives, broccoli, and olive oil.
How to Trim and Maintain Stubble
Stubble may be designed to look effortless, but don’t be fooled. You’ll need to put a little time into caring for your stubble to achieve the right look. To maintain the ideal look, you’ll need to groom, trim, and shape it regularly. You still want a natural and rugged appearance, however, so don’t overdo it in the grooming department. Create a routine for trimming, depending on how quickly your stubble grows. Generally, grooming every 2-4 days will keep your stubble looking suitably stylish. The idea is to maintain a length that’s neither too short nor too long. You want to lightly trim and shape your stubble for a natural yet tidy appearance.
Before trimming, exfoliate your skin by washing your face with a washcloth and quality face wash or facial scrub. Then, apply shaving oil and leave for 30 seconds to soften your facial hair for trimming. When using the trimmer, be sure to have a light hand to maintain an organic appearance and avoid creating obvious straight edges or sharp lines. Trim whiskers to a uniform length before setting the trimmer slightly shorter to blend the edges. The aim is to create a natural-looking fade from stubble to bare skin. Clean shave the areas outside your stubble, such as cheeks and your lower neck. Doing so will create a cleaner look and eradicate stray hairs. Afterward, apply some aftershave to calm the skin and soothe irritation.
How to Style Your Stubble
Unlike a beard, stubble doesn’t need much styling. Not only does its short length mean lower maintenance, but it also means that a natural appearance is best. While you’ll, of course, want to keep your stubble trimmed and clean up stray hairs around your cheeks and below the Adam’s apple, it’s best to otherwise leave your shape as it organically grows. When it comes to cleaning and grooming, stubble doesn’t need to be shampooed. Simply cleaning your face regularly with a facial cleanser will do the trick. Also, regularly softening skin and stubble with some moisturizer and beard oil will make your stubble look conditioned and polished while helping to keep itchiness and dry skin at bay. Try to avoid moisturizers containing alcohol, however, as these can dry out your skin. Also, keep an eye out for specific stubble and scruff softeners to create soft and touchable facial hair.
Best Stubble Trimmers
Before growing stubble, you need to be armed with an electric trimmer with guard attachments. A quality trimmer will make it easier to maintain the perfect stubble length and keep hairs even, so you appear sharp, not scruffy. Not only will these top trimmers help you keep your facial hair in check and stop it from turning into a beard, but they’ll also allow you full control to ensure it doesn’t end up too short either.
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How to Get the Perfect Stubble
- To find your perfect stubble length, start by growing a short beard and then slowly shorten the length of your facial hair until you reach your desired look.
- Use a good quality electric trimmer with adjustable lengths to easily ensure your stubble is the perfect length.
- Regularly trim your stubble to maintain it.
- Be sure to use a shorter length on your trimmer when trimming the edges of your stubble to create a natural fade to bare skin.
- Use facial cleanser daily and beard oil/stubble softener regularly for soft and itch-free facial hair.
FAQs
What length is a stubble beard?
Stubble has a rugged feel to it and can be a great way to accentuate your jawline. For facial hair to be considered stubble, it is around 3mm in length, which is about three days of growth.
Is a stubble beard attractive?
A stubble beard is one of the easiest facial hair options and one of the most popular. The short length also makes it an incredibly versatile option that is also low maintenance and has a decidedly rugged yet stylish appearance. Many men and women find this to be one of, if not the most attractive facial hair style.
Why can’t I grow stubble?
Poor beard growth is often linked to low testosterone levels. This could be the reason why you are unable to grow stubble. You can stimulate hair growth by eating well, exercising, and having good habits, but there are certain beard and face oils you can try that may also help.
How long does it take to grow stubble?
How long it takes to grow stubble depends on your hair growth rate, but in general, it should take around 3 to 4 days. On average, a man’s facial hair grows at a rate of one-half inch per month.
What helps stubble growth?
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including eating enough fruit and vegetables, and good habits can help keep your hormone levels balanced and provide your body with enough nutrients for the hair to grow. You can also take supplements, such as Vitamin B, designed for hair growth, and use beard oils and balms to stimulate growth and hydrate the skin.
