The big bushy beard thing. We get it. A lustrous chin wig has long been a symbol of masculinity, virility and even wisdom; a hairy badge of honour, if you will. All the best people have them too: Jason Momoa, Brian Blessed, Zeus, Gandalf…the list goes on.

As manly as they may be, massive beards don’t exactly scream ‘excellent grooming habits’. Which is why, as well as being a hallmark of badassery, they’re also heavily associated with chronic shower dodging. If only there was a beard style that made its wearer look more polished, not less.

Enter: the faded beard. This finely tuned flavour saver straddles the line between masculine and manicured. It’s the sort of facial hair that says, “Yeah, I iron my T-shirts. That doesn’t mean I couldn’t get a grizzly bear in a chokehold should the situation call for it”. And quite frankly, if that’s not the kind of message you want your chin to convey, you’re beyond help.

What Is A Faded Beard?

The fade has become an important element in modern barbering. It involves creating a smooth transition between hair of differing lengths. On the head, that means blending long hair on the top with short hair on the back and sides. Beard-wise, it’s about fading chin hair into cheek hair and cheek hair into sideburns.

When done right, it’s a precision look that pairs nicely with similarly just-so haircuts, like a slick back or pompadour. A good fade makes a beard look intentional. Like a conscious style decision as opposed to just something that grew out of your face while you were sitting in a darkened room playing Xbox.

Is A Faded Beard Right For Me?

Despite all the plus points, faded beards aren’t without their drawbacks. Yes, you’ll look sharper, but that requires time, money and maintenance. If you want to keep your fade looking fresh, you’ll need regular trips to the barber as well as a few of your own tools at home for upkeep. If you’re the kind of guy who favours Call of Duty binges to… well, anything else, the fade might not be for you.