When it comes to the ¼ inch beard, you may find that it is a style that isn’t that popular with most guys going for around a 10mm beard. However, for those in the military, there are strict guidelines regarding beards.
Here we will run you through all you need to know about the ¼ inch beard such as how to grow and trim it and why the military (for those of you wanting to serve) have their expectations on beards.
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GROWING A ¼ INCH BEARD
The ¼ inch beard falls in the area between heavy stubble and a short beard. How long it takes to grow this kind of beard can vary between 3 days to a month depending on how fast your hair grows. For some others, it could take 5 or 6 weeks. It all depends on your hair growing genes.
Yet, there are things you can do to help your face fur grow fast such as exfoliate the skin to keep the pores clean and healthy. Moisturizers can also encourage beard growth by providing your skin and hair follicles with the nutrients that they need. It’s a great option for those guys who suffer from skin conditions that affect beard growth.
You can also use beard oils that contain natural oils such as jojoba, argan, coconut, grapeseed or hemp oil to keep your skin clean and the hair healthy.
Allow the beard to grow out for around 6 weeks. You may notice patches as your beard grows during this period, but don’t be concerned as individual hair always grows at different rates.
TRIMMING YOUR BEARD
You have patiently grown your beard to a length that allows you to transform it into an awesome ¼ inch piece of face fur. Let’s get on with the trimming.
- Preparation is the key here so make sure that your trimmer is ready to go and free of any hairs.
- Give your beard a good wash with beard shampoo to clean the skin and hair as well as soften your beard.
- Grab your trimmer and clip on the number 2 guard. This will allow you to trim your beard down to ¼ inch (6mm). When you are trimming go with the grain (going against the grain can cause you to thin out areas which means a patchy looking beard).
- Trim in downward strokes and have the trimmer at a 90-degree angle. Tightening your skin will allow the hairs to stand out at right angles, which allows for a more even trim.
- Once you have your beard looking neat and symmetrical, it’s time to style it.
- Remove the guard from your trimmer so that you can trim away any excess hair that you don’t want. For the neckline, you want to start a finger width above you Adam’s Apple and trim. Carefully style your sideburns, we don’t want you nicking or cutting your earlobes. Follow the natural curves of your cheekbones to trim the hair from your cheeks.
- Decide whether you want curves or straight edges for the final look. It all depends on your face shape. Go curvy for square, oblong, triangular or diamond-shaped faces and crisp lines for rounder faces.
- Finish off by cleaning up the excess hair from the basin and bathroom counter. Give your trimmer a clean so that it’s ready to go next time you want to trim your facial fuzz. Give your face and beard a good wash and comb your beard to remove any loose hairs.
- Grab some beard oil and apply it evenly through your beard.
- Enjoy your day.
To keep your beard in tip-top shape, make sure that you trim it at least once a week.
WHY SHOULD I GROW A ¼ INCH BEARD?
For those of you wanting to venture into the ¼ inch beard world but wonder whether you should, there are several reasons why you ought to give it a try.
SEE IF YOU LOOK GOOD WITH A BEARD
Short beards are a great entry-level into the beard world. It’s like a “try-before-you-buy” option to see if a beard suits your style or not. There is no full-on beard-growing commitment and if you don’t like it you can grab your trimmer and shaver and say good-bye to your beard.
IT’S MORE MANLY THAN STUBBLE
Stubble is great and something women dig. However, if you are after a more manly look then a ¼ inch beard is going to give you that more manly style.
IT GIVES YOU A MORE PROFESSIONAL LOOK
Short beards err on the side of caution, so you have a more conservative look. If you are in the corporate world and don’t want to look out of place (like a lumberjack in a suit and tie) a ¼ inch beard is ideal. It’s a clean, professional type of beard that looks great both inside the office and in more casual settings.
YOUR PARTNER WON’T SUFFER
Hairs from stubble can be hard and coarse. That’s not good when you are having a romantic time with your partner. A ¼ inch beard, well-groomed and moisturized, will be soft and you won’t have to worry about your significant other complaining about stubble rash.
SHORT BEARDS AREN’T DOMINEERING
A short beard is subtle and doesn’t scream out “Look! I’m a beard”. It’s a middle ground beard that is recognizable yet not in your face. So for those of you that want to make a statement but not go overboard, a ¼ inch beard is a great choice.
IT’S EASY TO MAINTAIN
For guys that are busy and don’t have time for a full-on grooming routine, short beards are ideal. They are low maintenance and, as we have already mentioned, should be trimmed weekly (but it all depends on how fast your facial hair grows).
THE ¼ INCH BEARD AND THE MILITARY
We mentioned that the military has strict standards when it comes to facial hair. All soldiers should be clean-shaven and the only exceptions are for religious or health reasons. If you are wanting to join the armed services (the US Navy is an exception when it comes to beards, allowing personnel to have trimmed and well-groomed beards), we are going to take you through why, usually, beards are a “no-go” area.
IT’S A HEALTH ISSUE
When serving in the armed forces, you will be deployed to anywhere in the world, which includes places that are hot and unclean. Also, when on active duty, sometimes taking care of yourself drops down the priority list. That means that your beard can become dirty and harbor harmful bacteria such as staphylococcus, streptococcus, and enterococcus.
Also, unwashed beards can lead to itchiness as well as beard dandruff which is typically caused by dry skin. Serving in hot environments is going to suck the moisture out of your skin.
The solution, as far as the military is concerned? No beards!
EVERYONE IS THE SAME
The banning of beards in the military stems from the tradition that there is a group identity. Everyone is the same. There is a strict dress code that all soldiers must adhere to, that includes being clean-shaven. Having no beards is also an indication of the professionalism expected within the armed services. That means there’s no beard envy and no boasting that “mine is longer than yours”.
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IT INTERFERES WITH WEARING GAS MASKS
Imagine you are in the midst of a battle and there is a chemical gas attack happening. You slip on your gas mask only to find that your bushy beard is making it difficult. That’s not good for you, nor for your fellow soldiers who have made a brotherly oath to look out for one another.
Being clean-shaven eliminates the problem and your gas mask fits and seals properly so that you are safe. Those who are allowed to have beards are under strict regulations to have it no longer than ¼ inch (or ⅛ inch) in length. This allows for the safe wearing of the masks while still having a beard.
ALLOWANCES ARE MADE FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES
A US military memorandum from 2017 looked at the issue of military personnel being able to wear a beard if it was for religious purposes. In considering waivers for beards for religious purposes, it was deemed that beards are acceptable as long as they reflect the soldier’s religious practices.
Also, the military, in considering the issue of personal protective equipment, began to look into ways where gas masks and other forms of protection can be changed to allow for safe fitting for bearded soldiers.
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YOU HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION
For some guys, shaving can be a painful experience. Razor bumps are a condition where tiny lumps form on your skin and can be caused by distressing hair removal, severe shaving, as well as one’s genes. Typically, it is African American males (that’s not being racist, it’s just stating facts) that suffer this condition more than any other race due to the genetic disposition for curly hair (the main contributor to razor bumps).
Guys that have a medical condition that is aggravated by shaving can get a waiver that allows them to grow a beard.
THE MILITARY’S STAND ON BEARDS MAY BE CHANGING
Since it has introduced rules that allow for beards under special circumstances, there has been a general push for beards to be allowed within the military.
Research and a lot of top-level discussions have been underway to see if the regulations should change, but as yet there is no final decision and it is still a matter of maintaining the standards, safety and professionalism of those serving in the military.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
For those of you who want to join the police, fire department, or other emergency services there is good news.
Beards are allowed, yet there can be strict rules as to what style of beard you can have. Short beards and all its varieties (we will list a few later) are okay.
As with the military, the main concern is that a beard that is too long and bushy can prevent you from properly wearing personal protection equipment (that is, gas or oxygen masks).
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THE ¼ INCH BEARD CAN BE USED TO GAIN TRUST
For guys who are trying to gain the trust and respect of religious groups such as Sikhs, Muslims and Jews, a beard can help break down the walls of prejudice.
For these faiths, the beard is an integral part of their belief and for those of you who want to extend a hand of compassion and understanding, growing a beard is a plus.
As an example, armed forces serving in Afghanistan grew beards as a way to develop a bond with Afghan tribal leaders.
STYLE OPTIONS FOR YOUR BEARD
We have seen that there is a range of reasons for growing a ¼ inch beard. When it comes to styling it, you have so many choices and it all comes down to which one you love the most.
SQUARE FACES
Men with square faces can choose to go with a square goatee where the cheeks and neckline are cleanly shaven. The beard forms a squarish shape that attaches to a mustache and highlights your jawline.
If you want to soften the edges of your face, then a circle beard will help. It’s a goatee that is styled so that the beard and moustache form a circle around your chin and mouth.
The Royale Beard is a sleek design that is made up of a floating moustache and an anchor style beard.
Everyone is familiar with the goatee, it’s a great style that helps add that something special to your chin. If you want a more subtle goatee you can thin out the soul patch and chin line to make a Petite Goatee.
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ROUND FACES
For guys with rounder mugs, a short beard with defined edges will give your face sharpness. You can try a Boxed Beard that has trimmed sides and a squared-off soul patch.
Another style is a Balbo Beard that runs along the cheek and necklines without any sideburns and has a floating moustache.
If you like a minimalist look, then try an Anchor Beard which is a thin strip of hair that runs along the jawline and attaches to a thin soul patch. A floating moustache completes the overall look.
A Boxed Goatee is a cross between the Boxed Beard and goatee. The goatee forms a square shape around your mouth and chin and gives your face some great clean lines.
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OVAL FACES
Guys with oval faces can rejoice that they have been blessed with the ideal shape. You can get away with just about any style without having to worry if it makes your face look too round or square.
Goatee, Full Beard, Anchor Beard, Balbo, the list of short beard styles are endless and whatever one you choose to rock with will mean you’re going to look great.
RECTANGULAR AND SQUARE FACES
With this type of face, you have two options: you can either highlight your features or add some curves to break the lines.
Mutton chop beards will help define your rectangular face by bringing attention to your natural lines. Trim your beard so that it runs along your cheekbones and jawline.
If you want to get in touch with your inner cowboy, you can go with a Gunslinger Beard which runs from your sideburns and along your jaw then forms a goatee style beard with your mustache.
A Chin Strap beard can help accentuate your rugged jawline and amazing chin.
For those that want to break the hard lines from your face, you can go with a full beard that is trimmed to round off the cheeks. You can also add a curve along your neckline.
STILL NOT SURE IF YOU WILL SUIT A SHORT BEARD?
For those of you that are still dilly-dallying about whether a beard will make you look stunning (or the complete opposite), there is a way that you can see how you will appear.
Some great apps allow you to see what you really will look like with a beard. Here are a few you can try (we don’t have any association with any of these apps or developers ):
Beard Photo Booth
- Developer: Bhavik Savaliya
- iOS
- Strike a pose and then choose your short beard. There are 30 free online styles you can choose from.
Beard Booth Studio
- Developer: Oplytic LLC
- IOS
- Snap and match a beard to see how amazing you look. There are 9 freestyles to choose from. If you love the style you can share your new upcoming look on Social Media. How’s that for committing yourself to the cause!
Beard Booth – grow a beard
- Developer: Florian Winter
- iOS
- Take a picture or choose one from your camera roll, select your beard (from the 40+ options). Tweak the look and then consider how attractive you look with some facial hair.
- Once you have had a look at yourself with your virtual beard, then it’s time to step it up and grow yourself a real piece of face fur.
Beard Photo Editor
- Developer: Z Mobile Apps
- Android
- You won’t get a detailed look at how great a beard suits you, but it allows you to have a general idea.
Beardify – Beard Photo Booth
- Developer: Apptly LLC
- Android
- You won’t be able to use images from your photo gallery with this app. So it’s a selfie only. But you’re just seeing what beard works for you, so no real issue, right?
Looking after your ¼ inch beard
You have grown a healthy-looking beard but you want to make sure that it looks it’s best.
To keep your beard in tip-top shape, make sure that you moisturize it at least once a day. This will keep your skin from drying out.
Shampooing and conditioning your beard will ensure that it remains soft and fluffy. Good beard oil will provide your beard with what it needs to look shiny.
Give your beard a daily comb. This will allow you to style it (after you have put in your beard oil) as well as removing any loose hairs.
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How to fix a patchy ¼ inch beard
Patchy beards aren’t a great style to rock, but you don’t need to feel like you have to kiss your facial fluff goodbye.
Trimming at the wrong angle, skin conditions and hair growth issues can all contribute to patchy looking beards.
The great news is that these problems can be easily resolved. If you have trimmed too much of your beard, just go over it to even it out. The worst-case scenario is to shave the whole beard off and start again.
Skin conditions can typically be brought under control with the proper moisturizer and skincare regime. Make sure that you use products that contain natural products that will provide your skin with the minerals and nutrients it needs.
As we have already stated, hair grows at different lengths, so be patient and allow your beard to grow out and then trim it back.
If you still notice that your beard has patches you can use a cheat and fill in the gaps with a cosmetic pencil. Don’t think that it’s a solution that will take care of bigger patches. Sadly, it won’t.
TIME FOR A ¼ INCH LOOK
The ¼ inch beard is an entry into the short beard world and provides a great range of benefits. It is a beard that allows you to experiment with a new look (for those of you who are clean-shaven) through to being a beard that is low maintenance yet provides a vast range of styling options.
Unfortunately, for those of you out there wanting to serve your country in the military, beards are only allowed under certain waivers. The navy is cool about beards, so for those potential sailors out there, you’re good to go (with strict regulations on grooming).
Take the plunge into the bearded world with a ¼ inch beard that will have you looking amazing, professional and masculine. What more could a guy want?
We’d love to hear about your beard story and what made you decide to take the plunge. Feel free to leave a comment and tell us all.
Meet Mo Parker, the visionary founder of The Beard Brotherz. Mo's passion for redefining modern masculinity led him to create a platform that celebrates the diverse interests and journeys of men today. With a commitment to authenticity and inclusivity, Mo's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication shine through every facet of The Beard Brotherz. From grooming and fashion to tech and wellness, Mo's multifaceted approach mirrors the platform's essence, offering a welcoming community for all to embrace their unique paths in the modern world of manhood.
