Thinking about growing a goatee? Here’s the lowdown on this divisive facial hair style.
Of all the different beard styles out there, the goatee might be the most maligned. That’s not because all goatees look bad — rather, it’s because many goatees are hard to pull off.
That said, the goatee as a category of facial hair is a bit misunderstood. For one, the mental image you have of a goatee probably actually isn’t a goatee (but more on that later). But also, goatees can range from thin and wispy to thick and bushy.
What’s so tricky about the goatee is that it’s essentially halfway between a mustache and a beard. If styled poorly, a goatee can make you look like you tried to grow a beard and failed.
However, when styled and groomed properly, a goatee can be a refined, low-maintenance look. But there’s a lot to consider when growing out a goatee, so it’s crucial to know a few fundamentals first.
What Is a Goatee?
First things first — what is a goatee? According to Merriam-Webster, a goatee is “a small pointed or tufted beard on a man’s chin.” That definition is mostly true, but it doesn’t cover all the bases.
The most accurate definition of a goatee is a facial hair style without any growth on the cheeks or neck. Depending on the style, a goatee can have hair on the chin, mustache, and/or soul patch areas.
Traditionally, the term goatee referred to pointed or tufted hair that resembled the chin of a goat. (And, yes, that’s how the style got its name.) Purists will still argue that real goatees only have growth on the chin, but the definition has shifted over time.
However, any style referred to as a goatee will have significant hair growth on the chin. The amount and type of growth varies by style.
The absence of hair on the cheeks and neck is another requirement for a style to be called a goatee. Goatees are disconnected, meaning that the facial hair is isolated on the face in some way. This is in contrast to a full beard, where the sides, mouth, and chin are all connected by facial hair.
How to Style a Goatee
Because goatees are shorter than full beards, they don’t require a whole lot of upkeep in terms of styling.
However, it’s absolutely imperative to keep a goatee well-trimmed. With full beards, you can get away with some messiness. But with a goatee, even a few stray hairs can make you look unkempt.
Make sure your goatee gets trimmed regularly to the length required by your desired style. Depending on how fast your hair grows, this might happen every week or once a month. If you have an extremely short style, you can easily do this at home with a beard trimmer. For longer styles, you might want to let your barber or stylist take care of it.
The exact styling will vary based on the kind of goatee you have. Pencil-thin goatees won’t need any styling at all, while some full circle beards will need daily styling.
As a rule of thumb, you should still use beard shampoo or wash, beard conditioner, and beard oil on your goatee. You can also use products like beard balm, beard softener, or beard wax.
If your goatee has a prominent or disconnected mustache, you can also use mustache wax. This way, you can style your mustache separately to get the look just right.
Finally, comb or brush your goatee daily. For shorter goatee styles, a comb will suffice, but a brush will handle longer styles better. This will keep your goatee looking fresh, and it’ll also help distribute natural oils throughout the hair.
How To Shape a Goatee
The way you shape your goatee will depend on the exact style you’re going for.
In general, you want to think about the outline of your goatee and trim it accordingly.
Almost all goatees should have extremely defined outlines in order to look clean and neat. Having an untidy outline just makes a goatee look scrappy.
4 Goatee Styles
Here are 4 of the most popular goatee styles (ranging from true goatees to full circle beards).
Goatee
A regular goatee only has hair growing from the chin. Generally, a true goatee is about the same length as the chin. However, sometimes, a goatee will extend out past the end of the chin on either side for about an inch.
In terms of length, a goatee is typically no longer than an inch. Shape-wise, many goatees will have that thin tuft that resembles an actual goat. Others will have even hair that simply follows the curve of the chin.
Circle Beard
The circle beard is the most common goatee style. It’s named for the rounded shape created by the mustache connecting to the goatee. Of course, this doesn’t create a true circle, but it does enclose the mouth area.
Shorter circle beards tend to look more angular, but longer circle beards can more closely resemble true circles. In both cases, this style requires a neat trim with clean lines to avoid looking too messy.
Disconnected Goatee
The disconnected goatee is essentially a circle beard where the mustache and goatee aren’t connected. It’s an easy style to grow, so it’s great for guys who are growing out their facial hair from scratch.
Like the circle beard, the disconnected goatee can be shorter and thinner or longer and thicker. It’s fairly low maintenance, though you’ll want to make sure the sides of the mouth remain clean-shaven.
Van Dyke
A Van Dyke is a type of disconnected goatee characterized by a longer mustache and a chin tuft. Like its namesake Anthony van Dyck, the Van Dyke usually features a handlebar mustache and a small tuft. However, there are plenty of variations.
More broadly, any disconnected goatee with a wider mustache and thin, tufted chin hair could be considered a Van Dyke. The T shape created by the mustache and chin hair is a crucial element of this style.
Goatee FAQ
Need a quick breakdown of the goatee? Here are a few quick answers to common questions about goatees.
Are Goatees in Style?
Yes, but some goatees are more in style than others. It’s more common to see a circle beard or disconnected goatee than it is to see a true goatee.
Why Is It Called a Goatee?
The goatee is named for the style’s resemblance to a goat’s chin hair.
Who Looks Good With a Goatee?
It depends on the style of a goatee. As a rule of thumb, more angular goatees will benefit guys with rounder faces. On the flip side, rounder goatees can help soften an angular face.
Final Thoughts
The goatee is a good choice for guys who want subtle yet unique facial hair. Most goatees are easygoing, though the circle beard can give off an air of seriousness.
As with all styles of facial hair, the best goatee for you will depend on your personal preferences, hair type, and face shape. The styles listed here are classics, but there are tons of goatee variations out there, so be sure to research.
Questions? Comments? Leave them below!
Ask Me Anything