How To Shave a Goatee: Tips for Shaving and Grooming Goatees in 4 Easy Steps
Let’s talk about the goatee, one of the most popular — yet sometimes overlooked — facial hair styles out there.
Some say that only a few can really pull off this look, but stars like Robert Downey Jr are proof that that’s not the case. So, if you have a goatee, keep on rockin’ it. However, we at The Beard Club disagree with the idea that only a few can get away with this style.
It can be intimidating to keep trying different facial hair styles, and there are as many goatee styles out there as there are beards. Don’t be afraid to experiment! Just because it was named after the unruly chin hair of a goat doesn’t mean the goatee can’t be sleek, stylish, and professional.
It might seem simple enough to perfect the goatee — it’s only growing a bit of chin hair, right? Wrong.
We all have different facial hair, which means you might look best with a certain type of beard or goatee. We can help you achieve the look you want by explaining how to shave and maintain a great goatee perfectly.
What Is a Goatee?
Although this particular look dates back hundreds of years, the term “goatee” originated in the late 20th century. People started calling this facial hairstyle a goatee due to its similarities with the hair on a goat’s chin. That doesn’t sound too appealing — but growing a good-looking goatee is an art.
You might think of just some chin hair with completely shaved cheeks as a goatee. However, goatees can be paired with your mustache or become a part of your full beard as well. There are so many directions to take with a goatee — that's the beauty of this deceptively simple style.
So Many Styles — Which One Is Best for You?
Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular goatees to give you a sense of which one is right for you.
Classic Goatee
This is where it all began.
The classic goatee is the original, and it could be the easiest of all the styles to grow as well. The only thing you have to do for this look is to shave all the rest of your facial hair off. This style works best with men that have round or oval faces.
Full Goatee
A full goatee refers to a mustache, soul patch (the hair right under your bottom lip), and chin hair that is all connected together with hair growing around the sides of your lips. This look can work on just about any man, but keep experimenting with the length you are going for.
The Van Dyke Goatee
This particular style was named after 17th-century artist Anthony Van Dyk.
This look includes both a mustache and chin hair that don’t connect together. Some men opt for this look based on preference, while others cannot grow facial hair around their lips to form the connection and end up with an unintentional Van Dyke. Don’t worry, though; this look has been flaunted by stars like David Beckham, Michael B. Jordan, and Johnny Depp, just to name a few.
Goatee With a Beard
Even though beards take up all the free real estate on your face, there are styles that incorporate goatees as a focal point along with your beard. This style involves growing all your facial hair, connecting the mustache, chin hair, and cheeks but accentuating the goatee area.
To achieve this look, your goatee needs to be longer than the rest of your facial hair. The goatee-beard combo can work well with those who can grow a full, thick beard and want to flex their facial hair muscles a bit.
How Do You Grow a Goatee?
Want to try one of the looks but unsure of where to start? No worries, we got you covered.
Follow these few steps in order to get a perfect goatee:
Pick the Goatee You Want
After doing some research, pick the goatee style that works for you. Whether you want to start fresh with a clean-shaven face or work with the facial hair you have now, make sure you have a clear idea of what you are going for.
Growing Your Facial Hair for a Goatee
If you want to begin with no facial hair for a new crisp look, make sure you shave off all of your facial and neck hair, including any stragglers.
The best product to use to get off all your hair quickly and easily is our PT45 Trimmer. Once you have a clean-shaven face, you will want to let your facial hair grow out for about two to four days.
Giving your beard some time to grow leaves you with enough length to shape your new goatee. While waiting for your hair to grow, use Beard Growth Oil to help moisturize your skin and stimulate your hair follicles.
Going From Beard to Goatee
Have a full-grown beard but want to try a goatee? No issues here!
First, brush your mustache and beard with a Beard Brush, which will help smooth out your hair and get it ready for a trim. Then, using your trimmer, you can take away all the unwanted hairs from your neck and face to shape your new goatee perfectly.
Trim your chin hairs downward for an even look that is free of stragglers.
Getting That Goatee
Now we finally get to it — let’s make your goatee dreams come true.
Whether you started fresh and waited a few days for your hair to grow or you are cutting down from a beard, these next steps are fairly the same:
- Using your trimmer, shape your goatee outline. Start by lifting your head back and trimming the outline where your chin ends.
- If you have facial hair by the sides of your lips, create another outline going from where your mustache ends down to the chin while rounding the bottom corners.
- The lower lip, which grows the soul patch, will need shaping as well. Make sure to trim the hairs into a triangle with the point facing down to your chin. Remove any soul patch stragglers once you complete your triangle.
- Next, square your sideburns. The general rule for sideburns is to square or cut the ends right above the opening of your ears.
- Got your outline? Awesome. Now, trim away all the extra hairs on your cheeks, jawline, and neck. Make sure to stretch the skin around your neck when taking the hair off, which makes trimming easier.
- Some men like to keep their mustaches when growing goatees, whether the two are connected or not. However, if you decide to remove your mustache fully, you can do so now. Trim away your mustache carefully. If you have hairs by the sides of your tips, slowly remove them to be trimmed right beneath the sides instead.
- Once your hair is trimmed into the shape you prefer, continue to shave down your cheeks, jawline, and neck completely. This will provide the cleanest look for your goatee.
Maintaining a Killer Goatee
Now that you’ve got the perfect goatee, wash your face off from any cut hairs.
With freshly-shaved skin, you need to make sure you apply the proper products to help fight against razor bumps or breakouts. You can use an alcohol-free facial exfoliator or wash to remove any bacteria from your skin.
After exfoliating or cleansing, use our Beard Cream, rubbing it into your goatee to keep it moisturized. This product can also be rubbed into your cheeks and neckline to avoid itchiness after shaving.
If you would like to keep your goatee in place and clear out any straggling hairs that just can’t seem to be tamed, use our Beard and Mustache Wax for an all-day hold, keeping your goatee right and tight.
A Final Word on Goatees
There are so many different facial hair styles out there that we all have already tried or want to try.
Each style takes hard work, maintenance, and experimenting to achieve the best look for you. The goatee is a solid first step towards growing a beard as a beginner, but it’s also a fun style to try for experienced beard growers.
Already got a beard but want to try out sporting a goatee? Go for it! The best thing about facial hair is that it can grow out fairly quickly — and you can shave it off if you decide this look is not for you. Wherever you’re at in your facial hair journey, join us at The Beard Club for the best advice, tips, tools, and products for all your goatee needs.
Sources:
Cool Goatee Styles | The Trendspotter
Razor Bumps: Causes, Home Remedies and Treatment | Healthline
