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How to Trim a Balbo Beard
What is a Balbo Beard?
If you’re looking for a modern and stylish beard, the Balbo beard style is a great choice. While many beard options blend the beard and mustache, this sophisticated look lets both stand out. A thin, faded beard and soul patch disconnected from the mustache gives the Balbo Beard its signature appearance. Try it on and make it your own.
How to Trim a Balbo Beard Step-by-Step
1. Clean Up to Start
Ensure you have 3-4 weeks of beard and mustache growth. Wash your face in warm water to open your pores. Towel dry. Then use a styling comb to brush your facial hair in the same direction.
2. Outline the Beard
Using your Wahl trimmer without a guide comb, create the shape of your beard by trimming down the cheeks and up the neck to the jawline. To capture this look, the beard should be thicker at the chin and thinner at the base of the ear, where the beard ends.
3. Create the Soul Patch
Hold your Wahl trimmer sideways, so the blade is vertical, and trim two vertical lines about an inch apart below the middle of your mouth. Make sure this patch connects to the beard below. Then use the edge of your trimmer to trim the hair around the patch.
4. Craft the Mustache
The mustache style is up to you. We recommend the pyramid mustache, which is trimmed on a slight downward angle, arched below the middle of nose. Extend the mustache to the corners of the mouth and make sure the lower edge does not touch the lips.
5. Trim to Desired Length
Attach the #2 guide comb on your Wahl trimmer and trim the hair on the chin, soul patch and mustache. Switch to a #1-1/2 guide comb and trim the cheeks. Finish with the #1 guide comb for the sideburns.
6. Finish with Beard Balm
Place a dab of Wahl Beard Balm in your hands. Rub the beard balm into your beard, moving from the top of your beard down to the chin.
What You'll Need
Questions You Are Asking:
What is the History of the Balbo Beard?
Its name originates from Italo Balbo, an Italian aviator and politician who popularized the look in the 1930s and ‘40s. The original style included a floating mustache and goatee. The modern version swaps the goatee for a beard.
What’s the Difference Between the Balbo Beard and the Anchor Beard?
While both the Balbo Beard and Anchor Beard share a disconnected mustache and soul patch, the Anchor Beard stops at the goatee whereas the Balbo Beard features a beard that extends from the chin up the jawline.
Is it Better to Have a Faded Balbo Beard?
The Balbo Beard can be achieved without fading the beard. However, if you want a more updated look, we do recommend fading the Balbo Beard toward the top of the jawline. This not only gives it a clean and contemporary appearance but helps shape the beard to create a slimmer profile.
Can you do a different mustache for the Balbo Beard?
Yes, like many hair and facial hair styles, you can make the Balbo Beard your own with any number of variations—the mustache being one of them. Explore these mustache styles to pair with the disconnected Balbo Beard.
