FACING UP TO BEARDS

Beards are cool once more.  Note the numbers of young celebrities sporting short, quite neat styles, including James Blunt, left, and members of Radiohead and Manic Street Preachers, as well as Savile Row’s Patrick Grant of Norton & Son, right, and its clear facial hair is making a come back

This is despite the fact that 91per cent of women claim to prefer their men clean-shaven, according to recent research.  But a trim beard is undoubtedly preferable to unkempt stubble, so we look at the benefits of growing one.

Quite apart from losing the daily chore of shaving, by growing the right sort of beard a man can conceal or improve upon his facial characteristics. The style must also suit the face shape.

So a long, thin face should not have a long beard or a goatee, but one trimmed closely around the chin, and with sideburns to add width. Conversely, a round, full face can benefit from a goatee on the chin, adding length – whereas hair along the jaw line will only emphasise the roundness.

Luxury shaving gift set here from Truefitt & Hill, price £135.

Someone with a small chin should never go for a moustache alone, as that will only make it seem even smaller.  A full set or goatee is best. A square jaw can be softened by a rounded beard, keeping any sideburns trimmed flat, while a bald head calls for a minimal beard.

Having grown and trimmed and perfected the style, the most important thing then is to keep it clean and in good condition. A visit to a good men’s barbers, such as Trumpers or  Truefitt & Hill, will provide valuable advice for the novice beardee.

Sanex for Men has recognised the new beard trend and recommends its Dermo Active shaving gel, a low foaming formula that allows shaving lines to be clearly seen, and Dermo Active face wash, which is soap free and helps alleviate the itching that can be experienced when first growing a beard.

BRYLCREEM BOYS OR NEW SCRUFFS?

Brylcreem, the hair product of Brylcreem Boys fame, that enabled men to  have flatly slicked back hair styling in the 1930s and 40s, has just launched a new product that aims to give quite the opposite effect. 

First produced in 1928, the original was a mix of emulsion, mineral oil and beeswax, and a few other chemicals, that ensured no hair was out of place in an absolutely plastered, highly polished effect. It was particularly popular among RAF pilots during the War, who came to be known as the Brylcreem Boys. The actors who represented them in the recent film clearly weren't using the product, as their hair styles were not slick enough.

Left, the original Brylcreem boy in a 1940s advertisement.

Brylcreem fell from favour as longer, softer hair styles came into vogue. Now, the makers have launched Brylcreem antiStyler, a scruffing paste to to help create a ‘just got out of bed’ look, to add to their other waxes and gels geared to young and scruffy tastes.

But it could be that the original Brylcreem effect may be more in line with emerging trends.  A smarter, slicker styling is being favoured in fashion circles, though it has to be said, there is little evidence of this yet on the average High Street.