This article was written by Timmy Yanchun and by wikiHow staff writer, Dan Hickey. Timmy Yanchun is a Professional Barber and Co-Founder of Svelte Barbershop + Essentials. Svelte Barbershop + Essentials is a men’s grooming company, specializing in men’s hair, beard, skin, and shave products, originally located in the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California but has now branched out to 3 locations across Los Angeles. Timmy has been cutting hair since age 13 and opened his first of 6 barbershops at age 18. He is also the co-founder of the newly launched brand LTHR, the world's first wireless hot lather machine for barber quality shaves at home. Timmy and Svelte have been featured in GQ, Men's Fitness, and Hypebeast.
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Does a 5 o’clock shadow beard just happen, or can you get this look on purpose? 5 o’clock shadows used to be considered an unfortunate consequence of shaving every morning, but thanks to some celebrities rocking the look, it’s now a stylish and rugged facial hair choice that’s easy to get and maintain on your own. That’s why we’ve put together a handy guide to growing, styling, and maintaining the perfect 5 o’clock shadow beard for the office or for date night. If you’re ready to turn some heads with your stylish stubble, keep scrolling!
This article is based on an interview with our professional barber, Timmy Yanchun, co-founder of Svelte Barbershop + Essentials. Check out the full interview here.
Things You Should Know
- A 5 o’clock shadow is a short, stubble beard that looks stylish, professional, and attractive when the lines are maintained and the hair is uniform length.
- It takes about 2 days to grow enough stubble for a 5 o’clock shadow. People who already have a beard can trim down to a shadow whenever they like.
- Trim your beard with an electric trimmer. Start with a #2 guard, then go shorter if desired. Fade out the edges with a #1 or #0 for a natural look.
Steps
Growing and Trimming a 5 O’clock Shadow
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1Wait 24 to 72 hours to grow your stubble if you’re clean shaven. Stop shaving for a few days to let your hair grow in naturally (remember, this look is meant to appear unintentional). Shape your beard when you’ve got some substantial growth to work with.[3]
- When in doubt, wait longer than you think you need to. You can always trim the hair shorter if it’s too long for your liking.
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2Wash your face with an exfoliating scrub and hot water. Use a gentle store bought exfoliating cleanser or make your own by adding some brown sugar to olive oil or coconut oil. The hot water will open up your pores and soften your facial hair, and the exfoliant will remove dead skin cells for a smooth trim.
- Exfoliate before any facial hair maintenance, whether you’re trimming a 5 o’clock shadow or preparing to shave totally clean, to reduce skin irritation.
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3Trim your entire beard with an electric trimmer and a #2 guard. Shave upward (against the direction of growth) to get an even and symmetrical trim all over. Trim with a #2 guard if your stubble is on the longer side, then size down to a #1 (or even a #0) if you want it shorter.[4]
- Keep a light wrist and don’t push too hard—let the electric trimmer do the work for you.
- Purse your lips together to flatten out your mustache area for easier trimming. Aim to keep your mustache hair the same length as your beard hair.[5]
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4Fade out the edges of your 5 o’clock shadow for a natural look. If you want your beard to look more kempt and less rugged, stick to a #2 or #1 guard on your chin, mustache, and cheeks. Trim your sideburns, jawline, and cheek lines with a #0 or a #00 guard to fade out and blend the edges.[6]
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5Shape your cheek lines for a sharper, intentional look. The focus of a 5 o’clock shadow is on the cheeks and chin, so clean up anything that’s above your cheek line for a clean style.[7] Shape your cheek lines freehand or use a beard shaper tool to get perfect, symmetrical lines.[8]
- If you have a rounder face, try a straight cheek line at a steep angle to lengthen your face.
- If your face is long or angular, try a curved cheek line to soften the contours of your face.
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6Shave your neckline to keep a clean, groomed appearance. Use an electric or bladed razor to shape the neckline parallel to your jawline. Start in your Adam’s apple area and follow your jawline outward, moving closer to the jawline as you approach the ears. Aim to keep the neckline midway between your jawline and the first wrinkle in your throat.
- Be extra cautious and use a light touch when you’re using an electric trimmer on your neck.
- Regardless of your stubble length or style, a neck beard will detract from the rugged look of your 5 o’clock shadow.
- Try not to go all the way up to the jawline. This looks good on some people, but the majority of guys look better with a slightly lower neckline.
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7Rinse away loose hairs and apply aftershave to soothe your skin. Splash your face with warm water to remove tiny hairs, then rinse with cold water to tighten up your pores. Finish with a moisturizing aftershave spray or gel to avoid razor burn and keep your skin moisturized.[9]
- Since the hair is so short, you most likely don’t need beard oil or other facial hair products to keep your beard clean and healthy.
References
- ↑ https://www.baldandbeards.com/five-oclock-shadow/
- ↑ https://www.readysleek.com/5-o-clock-shadow-things-you-need-to-know/
- ↑ https://www.baldandbeards.com/five-oclock-shadow/
- ↑ https://www.baldandbeards.com/five-oclock-shadow/
- ↑ https://beardstyle.net/5-oclock-shadow-beard/
- ↑ https://www.baldandbeards.com/five-oclock-shadow/
- ↑ https://beardstyle.net/5-oclock-shadow-beard/
- ↑ https://www.baldandbeards.com/five-oclock-shadow/
- ↑ https://www.baldandbeards.com/five-oclock-shadow/