Having a weak chin doesn’t need to be a physical trait you simply accept without putting up a fight. Growing a goatee is a simple, inexpensive way to resist. I’m about to list the very best goatee styles for a weak chin.
I’ll first briefly explain exactly why goatees work so well for this purpose before launching headfirst into the list we’re all here for.
Knowing why they work will make them all the more satisfying and will make your decision even easier.
I’ll then briefly touch upon some other fantastic benefits of goatees that you may not have initially thought of.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
Why Goatees Work So Well For Weak Chins
A goatee is by definition a style that consists of hair on the chin but not on the cheeks. The true definition has been blurred over the past few decades, with most goatees now incorporating mustaches as well.
The “purist” definition would be a “tuft of hair on the chin” and nowhere else. But this hasn’t really been in style since the ‘50s. You’ll still see it now and again, however.
Semantics aside, having hair on the chin but not on the cheeks almost always produces one, specific result. That result is to elongate the chin.
The longer the chin beard, the more pronounced the effect. It’s a simple illusion that works incredibly well.
Overall, it makes the face look more oval-shaped, which is often considered the most conventionally attractive to the average person.
Having a well-sculpted, neatly-trimmed goatee is what really adds zest to this illusion. Unfortunately, a poorly-groomed, ragged goatee simply won’t do, no matter how much length and structure it might add to the face.
The better the sculpting of the goatee, the more pronounced the effect. Every man’s face is different, however. To determine what specific goatee style works best for a weak chin, experimentation is necessary.
Hopefully, the next section of this article will give you a burst of ideas to work with.
Trim it regularly, brush it with a boar bristle beard brush, and regularly apply some beard oil. Nourish it, cherish it, enjoy it.
The 8 Best Goatee Styles For A Weak Chin
1. The Circle Beard
Ah, the Circle Beard. Also known as a Full Goatee, it’s arguably the most common goatee style you’ll see on your average day.
Put simply, it consists of a chin beard and a mustache that connect to each other and encircle the mouth. It’s a small, sleek, and effective goatee style that’s unsurprisingly easy to maintain.
Of course, there isn’t any hair on the cheeks. There won’t be on any of the styles on this list. To have hair on the cheeks is to desecrate the sacred rule of goatee grooming.
But a Circle Beard works well as a goatee style for weak chins because it distracts from it while not drawing too much attention.
It’s a very subtle effect that elongates the chin and the face without making it too obvious. The style also benefits from phenomenal versatility, seamlessly fitting into almost any context whether it’s casual or formal.
It’s also a favorite goatee style for men with round faces, but that’s the topic of a different article.
2. The Goatee With Chinstrap
The goatee with chinstrap is an interesting hybrid style that works for multiple reasons. But first, let’s talk about what it is.
It’s best to think of it as a Full Goatee with the added extension of a strip of hair that runs along the jawline from ear-to-ear.
This strip of hair is called a “chinstrap”. When worn in isolation with no hair elsewhere, the chinstrap tends to receive a pretty cold reception. It can sometimes be seen as “immature”. Of course, this is up for debate – I’m not taking sides here.
But the addition of a chinstrap to a Full Goatee not only looks credible but also a little bit more interesting.
Going back to the topic at hand, this hybrid goatee style works well for men with weak chins. Sure, it elongates the chin. But it also adds definition to the jawline.
Having a strip of hair running along the angle of the mandible contours and adds structure to the jawline very effectively.
Definitely one to consider.
3. The Extended Goatee
This style is simply a Full Goatee with the bottom edges tailing backward along the jawline partially. It only extends along the first third of the jawline, unlike the chinstrap which extends along the whole jawline.
With the style, the sideburns are frequently cut very short. For some reason, this nuance compliments this particular style very well.
Once again, the style elongates the chin and makes the chin look fuller. But the tailing back of the bottom edges makes the jaw look a little broader and also gives it definition.
The beauty of it is that the style isn’t much harder to trim or maintain than a Full Goatee. This is in contrast to the goatee with chinstrap which can take a little more time.
4. The Traditional Goatee
Also known as the “classic goatee”, it’s a style I’ve alluded to already. It’s the original goatee. What purists might consider the only goatee, or at least the only true goatee.
These arguments are for another day. Essentially, it consists of hair on the chin and nowhere else.
This could be a small chin puff, a little tuft, a long curl, a Viking-esque braided beast, etc. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that there is hair on the chin and nowhere else.
There is nothing on the cheeks, mustache area, or neck. If there is, it isn’t a traditional, classic goatee style.
It isn’t as popular as it was back in the 1940’s and ‘50s. But you’ll definitely still encounter frequently because of how simple, sleek, and elegant it can look.
For a man with a weak chin, this may be all that you need. Exactly what you need. You may not want to deal with the hassle of maintaining a fuller goatee style like the others on this list.
You may just want some hair to flesh out the chin – to elongate it and nothing else. If you feel I’m speaking directly to you, this style may well be the one.
It’s surprising just how many different ways you can style hair on the chin which is why it’s so fun to experiment with.
5. The Goatee And Handlebar
The Handlebar Mustache. Its history is vast and flavored, spanning from as far back as the Celts, to famous Wild West figures and now to modern-day hipsters and style gurus.
It’s definitely aged well, and it isn’t hard to see why. The style is eye-catching, distracting, and interesting.
The mustache is defined by the prominent upward curls of its edges. Unsurprisingly, when done properly, they really do resemble the handlebars of a bicycle.
Goatees are extremely popular. Globally, it’s one of the most common facial hairstyles you’ll encounter. It is truly an international style.
But given how popular they are, they may not be as interesting as some of the more unique styles.
That’s why I’m such a huge fan of hybrid goatee styles, where the goatee is combined with another popular style to create something a little more dazzling.
Combining the goatee with a handlebar mustache is a great way to go. It consists of a full goatee with a connected chin beard and mustache. The mustache, however, dons the upward curls of a handlebar.
Of course, it possesses the usual benefits of goatees for weak chins that I’ve already mentioned in this article. But it also has the benefit of distraction.
A handlebar mustache is eye-catching and distracting, and because of this, it distracts from a weak chin.
This may not be something you want to pursue purely for the sake of distraction. Don’t choose it unless you actually like the look of a handlebar. If you do, well then the benefits of wearing one would become obvious from day 1.
6. The Van Dyke
This one leads nicely on from the last, simply because of how similar they are. But it’s important to know the distinction.
A Van Dyke goatee also consists of a chin beard and a handlebar mustache. There are two main differences from the “goatee with handlebar”, however.
- One is that the chin beard and mustache are disconnected. They don’t touch each other, and if they do it should never really be labeled a Van Dyke.
- The second difference is that the chin beard is frequently trimmed into a downward-facing triangle or similar-looking structure.
You may not have both of these features present. But if neither of them are, an alternative definition and label should strongly be considered. Calling it a “Van Dyke” just wouldn’t seem right.
The Van Dyke is definitely a goatee variant because it follows the sacred principle of there being hair on the chin but not on the cheeks.
The benefits of this style for a weak chin are the same as the ones for the “goatee plus handlebar”. I just wanted to include this style on the list because of how popular it is, as well as how unclear its definition can be.
Here’s a full article on the goatee vs the Van Dyke if you’re interested.
7. The Long Goatee
This style is defined by length and not by shape. Any of the styles above could, in theory, be considered a “long goatee” if they met this length criteria.
It’s hard to deny that “long” is a very subjective term. One man’s “long” is another man’s “short”.
But adding length to the chin beard is a great way to make the illusion of a longer chin more prominent. How long you make it and what you do with it is up to you.
You choose to keep it bushy and broad, or tight and twirled. Why, you could even braid it.
It’s just important to know that goatees can be defined in terms of both shape and length. Both of these factors can be used to your advantage.
8. The Soul Patch
It may not fit seamlessly into this list, but the argument that it is a goatee variant could definitely be made. Why? Because technically, it’s hair on the chin.
Again, the semantics aren’t as important. Arguments about definition are rarely helpful, considering I just want you to be as fully informed as possible.
If the soul patch gets you intrigued even just a little bit, then it’s been totally worth having it on this list.
The way in which a soul patch differs from a classic, traditional goatee is this – it’s a patch of hair immediately beneath the lower lip.
It isn’t on the end of the chin like a classic goatee is.
The soul patch works well for men with weak chins because it just adds a little bit of fullness. It also has the added benefit of being distracting while remaining subtle at the same time.
The soul patch is also frequently incorporated into other goatee styles. Check out my article on the goatee with soul patch if you’re interested.
Carving out a neatly-defined soul patch is a nice little touch. When it comes to the actual shape you trim it into there are more options than you might have initially thought. Circular, triangular, square, and more.
Sometimes the simplest additions can have the most pronounced effects.
Some Other Glorious Benefits Of Goatees
Goatees may be great for adding structure and fullness to a weak chin, but here are some other phenomenal ways in which a goatee could work for you.
1. They’re easy to maintain
Of course, this does depend on the length and the complexity. Although the Long Goatee is popular, it isn’t anywhere near as common as shorter goatee styles.
A simple, Full Goatee is remarkably easy to groom and maintain. Having no hair on the cheeks completely takes away the need to groom a large proportion of the face.
Sure, you’ll need to shave them. But the usual obligations of beard grooming don’t apply to this region of the face.
2. They’re great for patchy cheeks
Patchy cheek hair is a frustration that plagues many a bearded man. It’s an area of the face which often doesn’t play ball.
You could have the thickest and most masculine bristles on your chin and above your upper lip, but still have weak, limp, and lifeless cheek hair.
I wouldn’t recommend miracle cures for patchy facial hair – they just aren’t worth pursuing. Honestly, the best solution for this patchy problem is simply removing the hair from your cheeks entirely.
Adopting a facial hairstyle that disregards the need for cheek hair entirely is often the simplest and most effective solution.
Enter – the goatee.
3. They’re incredibly versatile
Goatees are versatile in terms of both how you can style them, and how well they work in both casual and formal scenarios.
Not a whole lot to explain here, but it’s important to know just how universally accepted this style is.
No matter where you go in the world, it’ll work. No matter what you’re doing, whether it’s attending a wedding, job interview, or heading to the local grocery store – it’ll work.
As you can see from the list above, the style “goatee” can mean so many different things. As long as they follow the principle of there being hair on the chin but not on the cheeks, there are so many different ways in which you can style them.
They’re incredibly fun to experiment with, which is why I have so many articles on goatees on this blog. Trust me, they aren’t done yet either.
Conclusion
There are goatees for weak chins that may not have been included on this list. But after hours of research, these are the ones deemed most effective.
Hopefully, this article has infused you with goatee knowledge, as well as cleared up some confusion around definitions.
There’s a lot more to the goatee style than you may have initially thought. They add depth, structure, contouring, fullness, and more.
Its popularity is undoubtable and its influence is very far-reaching. Plus, it just hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down either.
Ready Sleek founder. Obsessed with casual style and the minimalist approach to building a highly functional wardrobe. Also a fan of classic, vintage hairstyles.