Mutton Chops: A Guide to a Cooler Face

When it comes to mutton chops, you may think of two things: actual mutton chop or the mutton chop beard. We’re talking about the latter today, although there’s a time and a place for recipes and cooking tips. Today’s blog, however, is about beards, not meat.

The mutton chop has been around for hundreds of years, and it’s become a timeless symbol of masculinity along the way. Trust us when we say that this beard is making a comeback, and it might be on its way to being more popular than ever. 

Read on to learn about famous mutton chop beards, the different directions this style has taken, and how to grow and style your own in five easy steps.

What Are Mutton Chops?

The classic mutton chop is a type of beard in which the sideburns are grown out to the cheeks, leaving the mustache, soul patch, and chin clean-shaven. This style is something of an inverted goatee, but “inverted goatee” isn’t quite as catchy. 

The Mutton Chops Story

The mutton chop look has been around since the early 1800s, and it was primarily in vogue among the upper class at the time. The lack of facial hair in the goatee area provided a distinct look that paired perfectly with a starched collar, scarf, and tie — the primary attire of the time.

Throughout the years, mutton chops have developed and evolved into a number of styles. In the late 1870s, men started connecting mutton chops to their mustaches, sparking a new trend of growing mutton chops and mustaches longer than four inches. 

By the 1900s, mutton chops pretty much disappeared into the mist for a while. Luckily, those millennials brought back this facial hairstyle with a vengeance. Thanks, guys!

Modern Mutton Chops

Nowadays, the classic mutton chop involves a lot more than just extra-long sideburns. 

You’ve got the subtle mutton chop look, which is often very short and features a bit of stubble. There’s also the neat mustache-mutton chop combo, sometimes called the friendly mutton chop. 

That’s not all, though. We have the wild mutton chop, which features grown-out sideburns and a mustache alongside shaved chin hair. Finally, there are clean-cut mutton chops, which are perfectly edged and not too long. As you can see, “mutton chops” is a bit of a blanket term.

Famous Mutton Chop-Wearers

Many men in history have pulled off the mutton chop beard and made it a style worth imitating.

One of the most famous pairs of mutton chops that come to mind right away is none other than X-Men’s Wolverine. We’re specifically talking about when the mutant was played by the legendary Hugh Jackman. Not only did Jackman make this beard look completely badass, but he also paved the way for new adaptations of this particular beard style.

However, Hugh Jackman didn’t opt for this beard out of his own volition. The iconic Wolverine character has sported mutton chops since his first appearance in the comics. However, some stars actually choose mutton chops rather than growing them for a role.

John Lennon, the beloved singer-songwriter from the Beatles, sported a classic mutton chop look from time to time. With the bushy sideburns reaching to his cheeks, John Lennon really pulled off mutton chops. With his tea-shade glasses and shaggy hair, it was a glorious combination.

Likewise, Elvis blessed us with his music and his impact on style. With his signature long sideburns, which were grown out just enough to not completely cover his cheeks, Elvis became one of the few torch-bearers of the mutton chop trend in the 50s.

How Do You Grow Mutton Chops?

Let’s try out the classic mutton chop: sideburns that extend to your cheeks with no mustache, soul patch, or chin hair.

Step One: Wash Your Beard

The first step in achieving the classic mutton chop look is washing your beard. 

We suggest you take a warm shower before shaving to soften your facial hair and open up the hair follicles for a smoother shave. When washing your facial hair, use Beard Shampoo, which removes bacteria and dead skin from your beard while conditioning your hair. After you rinse off, towel dry your beard and face completely before any trimming.

Step Two: Have a Plan

After you are fresh, clean, and dry, it’s time to look in the mirror and make that mutton chop outline. 

You’re more than welcome to create your own take on the mutton chop look, which can include a mustache or some chin hair. However, for the classic mutton chop, you will need to remove your mustache, the hair around your mouth, chin hair, and any hair growing on your neck. 

Step Three: Trim the Chop

Now it’s time to get your mutton chops. This step takes some work, but the final product is definitely worth it. Grab the PT45 Beard Trimmer and get to work. 

You can start by obliterating your mustache. Depending on the mutton chop variation that you’ve chosen, use the trimmer to cut from the ends of your mouth straight down to your chin.

Next, trim the hairs from under your mouth and create a border by shaving a horizontal line along your jaw. Continue trimming along the entirety of your jawline, making sure not to leave any gaps. 

Now that you have your entire outline trimmed, remove any unwanted hairs around your chin, mouth, and neck, leaving only the hairs on your cheeks and sideburns.

Maybe you’re looking for something a bit more modern than the standard mutton chop look. No problem — try the friendly mutton chop. This particular style is the same as a classic mutton chop but includes a mustache connecting to the cheek hair. 

So, it’s the same steps, minus removing your ‘stache. If you want to opt for the friendly chops, this is where you’ll skip trimming your mustache.

Step Four: Apply Oil

To grow your facial hair and keep it healthy and thick, use our Cedar Beard Oil or Sandalwood Beard Oil. These two oils support your beard with extra hydration and nutrients, so you won’t end up with bristle-brush-beard (try saying that three times fast.) 

Apply a few drops of beard oil to your palms, rub your hands together, then evenly distribute the oil throughout your facial hair, massaging it onto the skin underneath your beard as well. Not only do these oils penetrate deep into your skin for a boost of growth, but they also smell incredible!

Need an extra boost for growing a longer beard? Try our Beard Growth Oil. It’s the perfect product to help you achieve your beard goals. This concoction provides intense hydration and activates growth for a stronger, longer, and thicker beard with ingredients like castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, and more. It’s just the right tool to use for obtaining your new mutton chop.

Step Five: Maintaining Your Beard

Now that you have the mutton chop you want, make sure to keep it that way. 

It may take daily maintenance to keep your mutton chops by getting rid of the unwanted hairs stragglers along the way — but it’s worth it. Using a Straight Edge Razor, you can keep your beard lines fresh with superior control and precision right in the comfort of your own home. That definitely beats paying $35 for a beard trim at your local barber shop.

You can grow your chops out as long as you like. However, if it comes to a point when you need to do a bit of tidying up, use one of the eight interchangeable guides from the PT45 Beard Trimmer to quickly trim away any length or too much thickness if need be. 

Make sure to continue applying any of our beard oils throughout the growth and maintenance process as well. Staying consistent with your beard care routine will keep your mutton chops soft, easy to style, and smelling nice.

Final Thoughts on Mutton Chops

Trying out the mutton chop beard takes a lot of courage and confidence, especially since not many men opt for this kind of look in 2022. It hasn’t been “in style” for quite some time (over 200 years, in fact) but since beards have made a major comeback as of late, experimenting with different styles is the best way to see what works for you.

Facial hair is an art, and all of the great artists experimented from time to time. Growing your own pair of healthy, thick mutton chops might be your facial hair magnum opus — but if not, you can always shave the chops off and start over. That’s the beauty of growing a beard; you can always swap your style whenever you want.

Sources:

John Lennon - Songs, Wife & Death | Biography

Hair Follicle: Function, Anatomy, and Conditions | Healthline

The great Victorian beard craze | BBC News

Miss mutton chops? Here’s a recipe for you | The Irish Times