How to Grow an Office Beard

Beard basics
1 / Pick a shape that works for you
Your beard should complement your face. “If your head is round, select a style with a slimming effect,” says Allan Peterkin, co-author of The Bearded Gentleman: The Style Guide to Shaving Face. “If your face is oval, opt for wider growth that adds weight to your cheeks.” Tidiness is paramount. “For an executive, an inch of well-groomed growth is the longest we see guys going,” says Michael Gilman, the founder of Grooming Lounge, a men’s skin-care line and grooming advice website.

2 / Maintain your neckline
Unsightly neck hair will ruin an otherwise office-appropriate beard. Peterkin suggests a tapered look, using an electric razor between the Adam’s apple and chin. Another tactic: the “index finger rule,” says Bret Reichley of New York’s F.S.C. Barber. “Place your finger directly under your chin and shave everything beneath it. When you stare eye-level into the mirror, you should see zero neck hair.”