18 November,2014 08:21 AM IST | | Dhara Vora
Facial fuzz is back! And, it's not just been spotted on hipsters, but on runway models and celebrities too. As an ode to the hot and the hirsuite, and with International Men's Day on November 19, here's a handy style guide so all you guys can learn to rock this look, just like a star
Male Models
Male models for brands such as Etro (third from left) and Giorgio Armani (extreme right) have been seen sporting all kinds of beards on international runways this year. pics/getty
Barber talk
Julie Robinson, international barber, trainer from Truefitt & Hill, who is currently in the city, tells us, "George Clooney had a great beard before he shaved it off for his wedding. If you are looking for detailing and chiselling, David Beckham has got it perfectly right. Ryan Gosling had a well sculpted one too."
Beards and stubble, if trimmed well, can help give one a chiselled look. "For those with a round face, having shorter hair on the neck and taking some hair away from the neck will help create a stronger jawline. It all depends on creating shadows in the right place for giving an illusion."
Julie Robinson, barber
For taking care of your beard, a sharp clipper is a necessary tool in your grooming kit to take care of the length. You will also need a good razor to shave off some areas, so that your beard is in shape. Always shave in the direction of your hair growth to avoid in-grown hair. A light oil or beard oil will help smoothen your hair. "Use a cleansing scrub to clean the skin underneath your beard to avoid ingrown hair and maintain hygiene," suggests Robinson.
Hair tales
A hipster-style beard calls for a groomed hairstyle to make one appear like a styled homeless man. Take notes from David Beckham's side buzzed hair with a perfectly-combed top that helps add a strong silhouette, overall.
Leonardo DiCaprio. Pic/Getty
Stock up on hair gel or wax to comb your hair back, though you need to maintain hygiene to save yourself from the dust it would attract.
From carrying off an Alice band to buzzing his sides, football star David Beckham has always been on the style pages, and now sports a chiselled beard. Pic/AFP
You can also sport the man bun or the 'mun', like Leonardo DiCaprio, whose look fits the humanitarian-meets-star persona.
How to style it well
"We had specially selected three male models with full beards with an idea to bring some freshness to menswear at our recent show in Delhi. Two of the models had gone to Paris, and we had asked them not to shave. We paired the beard with dhoti to make the almost skirt-like dhoti look masculine. Also, the colour combination was such that it would make the beard stand out," says designer Raghavendra Rathore. Rathore feels that the trend of sporting a heavy, full beard is a temporary fashion, which is big in Europe too, "King George V or the French royalty have always sported beards; and the kind of beards you see people grooming are very similar to these."
A model sporting a beard on the runway as a part of designer Raghavendra Rathore's recent show in Delhi
"People have to be at work, it is not possible to grow a beard, arbitrarily. It works more for people in the creative industry, as a form of their expression. A moustache on the other hand, is a very practical trend," explains Rathore. He feels that ethnic wear will always work well with a beard, be it a waist coat or a bandhgala. Fabrics with a thicker texture such as tweed do great justice to a beard. The fit of your clothes needs to be sharp as well.
Local heroes
Fawad Khan. Pics/Datta Kumbhar, Satyajit Desai
Fawad Khan played a charming prince to the hilt by sporting a sculpted beard (a stubble in pic) in his recent film Khoobsurat. (Above) Ranveer Singh equally charmed the ladies with his cheeky smile and a well-trimmed beard for his look in the film, Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela.
Ranveer Singh.
Actor/singer Jared Leto has a fan following longer than his beautiful hair. The biggest challenge that faced his hairstylist was to style him for the Academy Awards such that he would not end up looking like a girl. The beard plays a big role in lending him the lovable rocker image and his eclectic dressing sense adds the finishing touch.
Actor/singer Jared Leto
Andrew Garfield appears more mature than his clean-shaven look in The Amazing Spider-man.
Andrew Garfield. Pics/Getty
2014's most talked-about beard
Austrian drag artiste, Conchita Wurst (real name: Thomas Neuwirth) won international acclaim and attention this year by winning the Eurovision Song Contest. Neuwirth, who has said that he is a gay man, became an LGBT rights champion with his decision to sport a beard while being dressed as a woman for his stage appearances.
Thomas Neuwirth. Pic/Getty
Self help
Fashion designer Pranav Mishra is one designer who stands out in the crowd with his full beard and equally edgy self styling. "I have had a beard for almost eight years now, since the time I sprouted hair on my face," he says. "I oil my beard every three days. I tried sourcing beard grooming products here but it wasn't really successful. So, a regular shampoo and conditioner that you would use for your head hair is what I use," says Mishra.
Fashion designer Pranav Mishra. Pic/Shadab Khan
Mishra feels that dressing up with a beard is no different than dressing up normally, as the key is not going too loud. "Sharp suits always look great with beards, so do sporty clothes. Don't force any look and go overboard, stay casual," he advises.
Model Ricki Hall is one of the foremost names when it comes to making beard popular in the fashion industry.
Model Ricki Hall. Pic/ Getty
Combined with his array of tattoos, Hall has captivated the minds of the fashion world with his edgy appearance.
