The Hollywoodian Beard: A Complete Guide

The Hollywoodian Beard, also known as the ‘extended goatee,’ is a style of beard that looks a lot like a combination between a goatee and a mustache… though it almost always has the sideburns removed.

Beards have always been a big thing among men. But throughout history, there have definitely been times when they have tended to be ‘bigger’ than they were at other times!

Did you know that, back in the Middle Ages, if a man touched another man’s beard without permission, it was considered offensive… and was grounds for a duel?

Thankfully, nobody is dying over beards nowadays. But the style and look of a man’s beard can absolutely make or break his entire look!

As powerful alpha men, we can’t afford to look anything less than pristine… which is why choosing the proper beard style is super, super important.

So today, we are going to go in-depth on the Hollywoodian. What it is, how to grow it, how to maintain it, and more.

Let’s get started.

The History of the Hollywoodian Beard

Let’s be extra-thorough, and start at the very beginning… with the history of this insanely handsome, yet surprisingly challenging, beard style.

When we trace beards back to their beginnings, we cannot help but to observe their importance for survival among primitive humans.

Beards helped men to stay warm, intimidate enemies, protect their faces from insects and sandstorms, and even provided some shelter from the sun.

The ancient Greeks saw beards as a sign of masculinity, knowledge, and wisdom. In fact, in this culture, the beard was only shaved as a sign of mourning… or even as a punishment!

That is, until Alexander the great ordered all of his soldiers to shave their faces clean before facing the Persian Emperor in war in 331 BC!

Religion has played a pretty significant role in beard style as well. For example, the Christian clergy in 7^th Century Europe shaved off their beards for religious reasons.

It was William the First, however, who made a decree in the 11^th century that ‘all men must be cleanly shaven,’ to fit in with ‘normal fashion,’ marking one of the most prolific examples of a ruler placing restrictions or regulations on personal style and body hair.

By the mid-18^th century, however, beards were in ‘full vogue.’ In fact, Abraham Lincoln played a significant role in this. His full, rustic beard is now known as a ‘thin chin curtain,’ which is a shorter version of the ‘Shenandoah,’ a beard known for being full grown and long over the jaw and chin, but without a moustache.

In the 20^th century in the United States, beards came in and went out of style a few different times. They became less common earlier on, but ended up coming back into style amid the anti-establishment movements of the 60s and 70s.

Mustaches stayed popular after the 70s, while beard popularity waned yet again… giving way to goatees in the 90s.

Interestingly, a version of the Hollywoodian can be seen by many actors of the ‘Golden Era’ of television. But now, in modern days, it is certainly making a comeback… and not just on the silver screen.

Highly influenced by the goatee, but longer and bigger, the Hollywoodian is a modern take on the full, but carefully-cropped boxed beard, as made popular by movie stars throughout the history of film and television.

What Does the Hollywoodian Say About Your Personality?

For the most part, the spirit of this beard has always been one that says:

“I am rich, powerful, and popular.”

But there is also a ‘vintage feel’ to the style.

If you are wearing the Hollywoodian, you will likely be seen as someone who is willing to take chances… someone who isn’t afraid to live life on their own terms. You may even come off as a bit of a rebel!

What FaceShape Favors the Hollywoodian the Most?

The most important feature of the face to take note of with this beard style is the cheekbones.

Are your cheekbones high and prominent? If so, then this may be an excellent choice for you.

Since the focus of this beard is on the chin, it also helps if you have a squarer jaw. If your jaw is less square, or if your cheekbones are not quite as ‘prominent,’ then the effect of the beard can fall a bit flat.

In such cases, a full beard or a more standard ‘goatee’ may be more desirable.

Who Should Avoid Growing This Type of Beard?

The Hollywoodian can range in length from short, to a bit longer… depending on exactly what type of look you’re going for.

With that being said, this may not be a beard that you would want to grow if you have ‘empty patches’ on your chin or jaw.

Now, there are barbers and beard lovers out there who actually disagree with me on this one… but hear me out!

For the most part, it is recommended that you grow your beard out and then ‘trim it down’ to perfect the Hollywoodian. So there is always a chance that empty patches will fill in better when you leave them growing for longer.

But for some men, genetics wins out… and they just have far more trouble growing a full chin of facial hair than other men.

Most barbers agree that the antidote to this is simply time, and that if you leave your beard growing for long enough, these empty patches will fill themselves in.

But then, we come to another question.

How long is long enough?

All of this just goes to say that you need to be able to keep, and grow, a full beard before you can pull off the Hollywoodian. If you grow it out and trim it down, only to realize that you have empty patches in it, you may not end up super thrilled with it.

In many respects, a longer, wilder full beard is a lot more forgiving than a trimmed up beard like the Hollywoodian.

What Do You Need to Know Before Trying to Grow a Hollywoodian Beard?

The most important thing to understand about this beard style is that, while it is not necessarily rocket science to achieve it, it is still a challenging beard to shape.

As a general rule, it is recommended that you visit a barber if you want it shaped properly… though it is also perfectly plausible to give yourself a Hollywoodian if you really want to try.

Due to the importance of some of the trim lines, however, don’t be surprised if you find yourself critical of your first attempt. It can be admittedly difficult to achieve a perfect version of this beard on your own in one try.

But the good news is this. Most Hollywoodian beards require only about 3 to 4 weeks of growth to shape. So if something does go wrong while you’re shaping it, you are looking at a 3 to 4 week fix, maximum.

If that doesn’t bring you a certain amount of peace, it probably should! Most beard styles are not quite this forgiving!

Another thing to understand about this beard style is that it requires constant grooming. You can’t let this one grow out forever once you shape it, otherwise it will start to fill in unevenly, and will quickly turn into a wilder full beard, albeit with some different lengths that will make it look ‘janky.’

For the most part, this one needs to be kept shorter and well-trimmed to look good.

What You Need to Grow and Maintain a Hollywoodian Beard

The first thing you need, obviously, is facial hair.

(Yes, this should be obvious! :D)

Aside from this, there are really only a few things you need in order to give yourself a proper Hollywoodian.

You will need trimmers to shape the beard and maintain it. The Hollywoodian is a beard style with many crisp lines, and a trimmer helps to make this trimming process quick and easy.

If you are feeling especially thorough, it is also a good idea to follow up the trim with a razor, especially underneath your chin on your neck, and above the beard-line on your cheekbones.

This will help to give you those clear, well-defined edges that the Hollywoodian is known for.

The scissors will help you to keep stray, straggly hairs under control. And beard oil is perhaps one of the best beard maintenance products you can buy if you want to keep your beard looking healthy, handsome, and stylish!

Beard oil helps to moisturize the skin, makes brushing/combing your beard easier, helps to keep stray hairs under control, and gives it a sleek ‘shine’ that will really grab attention and make it look sharp!

And of course, you will need a mirror and adequate lighting to see what you are doing!

How to Grow the Hollywoodian Beard

Alright, you’ve got everything you need to give yourself a proper trim, and you are ready to style your beard.

But how do you start growing it?

This part is actually pretty easy. For the Hollywoodian, you are supposed to start clean-shaven.

Then, you let your facial hair grow out for 3 to 4 weeks. If your facial hair is a bit slower to come in, you may need to go ahead and give it an extra week, just to make sure that it is filled-in correctly.

But that’s it! Starting this beard is actually pretty simple.

The main downside to this is that, for a couple of weeks, it may start to look a bit unruly.

But if you plan to pull off a classic Hollywoodian, resist the urge to trim it! Give it plenty of time to grow in, and then style it.

How to Trim the Hollywoodian Beard

Alright. So you’ve grown out your beard and are ready to trim it down into a beautifully rugged Hollywoodian beard that would make even Leonardo DiCaprio proud!

But how do you do it?

Here are the steps.

Step 1:

Start by using your electric trimmer to shave a defined line from your ear to the side of your chin on both sides of the face. You will want to shave everything above this line, including your sideburns, while being careful to leave two vertical strips of hair connecting the chin with the mustache area.

The Hollywoodian is essentially a beard/goatee combo, and does not include sideburns… but these two vertical strips connecting the moustache to the beard are essential to the look, so don’t accidentally trim them off!

Step 2:

Next, trim your neckline to create definition. You don’t want to trim too high, or else you will risk ruining the rugged, full look of the beard.

Instead, follow the line from ear to ear, underneath the chin, where your neck turns into your throat/jawline. You will want to trim a clearly defined line here, and shave everything below it.

Step 3:

If your trimmer has different blade options, you may want to select a thinner, smaller option for this part.

Next, you need to trim around the ‘soul patch,’ to create a rectangular shape beneath the center of the lower lip.

This is probably the part that is easiest to get wrong, so make sure to look at some photos of proper Hollywoodian beards before attempting this yourself, just to make sure that you are getting the look down correctly!

Step 4:

Trim scraggly hairs with your scissors to get them under control. Some people may also trim down their moustache a little bit, but this really depends on the type of Hollywoodian that you’re going for.

Some people prefer a longer moustache with this style, while others prefer a shorter, trimmed look.

How to Maintain a Healthy Hollywoodian Beard

Maintaining a healthy Hollywoodian is a combination of trimming and basic beard health.

Here are some tips to keep your beard looking healthy and stylish for as long as you decide to rock it.

All things considered, a Hollywoodian requires a bit more maintenance than usual. If you don’t keep your cheeks and neck well-trimmed, it can certainly begin to look unruly and messy!

So make sure to put some time every week into freshening up the trim, shaving the areas that are supposed to be clean, and spending some time keeping the soul-patch defined and groomed.

The Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Growing the Hollywoodian

The number one biggest mistake that people make with this beard type is that they try to shape it too early.

You need 3, 4, or even 5 weeks of growth before you should even consider touching your beard with a trimmer. And yet, far too many men attempt to shape it far too soon, end up cutting too much off, and then are forced to start all over.

Ironically, the fastest way to an awesome beard is to leave the trimmer alone and let it grow! Then, shape it when the time is right, after it has filled in.

The second biggest mistake that people make with this beard type is not shaping it enough.

The Hollywoodian is a beard that relies on crisp, defined lines. You want to set those defined lines, trim them, and then use a razor to really clean them up.

But some men make the mistake of not making their lines crisp enough, which can leave the beard looking messy, unruly, and untamed.

This is a great look if that is what you’re going for. But if you want a classic Hollywoodian, you most certainly want to make sure to shape it enough in all of the right places.

Famous Celebrities with Hollywood Beards

There are plenty of celebrities who rock the Hollywoodian. In fact, it just so happens to be one of the hottest beards around right now!

Here is a look at some of the biggest celebrities who are heating things up with awesome, rugged, well-defined Hollywoodian beards.

Christian Bale

The Batman star is looking great with his version of this vintage beard style. His moustache is thicker, his beard is bushier, and he still has some sideburns going on with it. But he is certainly turning heads!

Leonardo DiCaprio

Enter the modern king of the Hollywoodian himself!

DiCaprio has sported many subtly different versions of this beard throughout the years, making it basically a hallmark signature look all his own! Lately he has been pairing it with an awesome man-bun, which has the ladies practically swooning!

Ryan Reynolds

Reynolds is sporting a version of the Hollywoodian that is certainly more rugged than the usual. His moustache is also a bit more clearly defined. He’s definitely pulling it off. As it turns out, clean shaven man-snack is not the only look Ryan can ace!

Charlie Hunnam

The Sons of Anarchy star is sporting a version of the Hollywoodian that favors the goatee look over the full beard look. But he absolutely pulls it off, and manages to walk that delicate line between ‘rugged’ and ‘refined’ at the same time.

Ewan McGregor

McGregor literally snuck a scruffier version of the Hollywoodian right under our noses back in his Star Wars days. Of course, the actor has sported many types of beards over the years, ranging all across the spectrum from a light goatee to a fuller, larger beard.

But one thing can be sure. He always makes it look awesome, and we love him for it!

Other Beards You Can Move-on to From the Hollywoodian

One of the best upsides to this beard is that you can pretty quickly and easily grow it out to try out different styles.

Here are some of the predominant styles that you pull off with little to no hassle after letting the Hollywoodian go a little bit.

The Corporate Beard

The Corporate Beard is very similar to the Hollywoodian. The main difference is that the sideburns are left intact on a Corporate, and they are usually removed on a Hollywoodian.

This is one of the most common types of beards, and gets its name from the fact that it is usually corporate-friendly, and popular in business circles.

The Full Beard

The Full Beard is the logical next step up from the Hollywoodian. Once again, the sideburns are left intact on this one, and it is usually longer.

Depending on genetics, you can usually expect to have ‘full beard coverage’ in six weeks.

One other major difference between the Hollywoodian and the Full beard is that, with a full beard, you do not trim around the soul patch.

The Ducktail Beard

This beard style is known for being fuller than a regular beard, but not quite as full as a Full Beard.

To achieve this look, the upper part of the beard is kept shorter, while the lower part is left and allowed to grow longer.

Most people let the sideburns grow out as well, though they do still trim around the soul patch.

This beard is an obvious next step for those looking to get a little more ‘body’ after sporting the Hollywoodian.

The Yeard

The Yeard is literally a beard that has exceeded a year’s worth of growth.

If you want to grow a Yeard, just leave your Hollywoodian alone for about 365 days!

At the end of that time period, you should be sporting a fine Yeard, even if genetics aren’t super-kind to your rate of hair growth.

Many consider this the ultimate ‘man’s beard,’ but be warned… it is not always so well received in corporate settings, and some consider it too ‘unruly’ to be classy!

The Garibaldi

The Garibaldi is an interesting, less-often-seen beard type where a full beard is basically rounded at the bottom and integrated into the moustache.

This type of beard is most famous for being worn by Conor McGregor, the UFC champion… and it does a great job of blending rugged style with a classy trim.

If you let the Hollywoodian grow out, trim the bottom to a round shape, and keep your moustache well-integrated and neat, you will end up with a Garibaldi.

 Commonly Asked Questions and Answers 

Here are some of the most common FAQs we hear about the Hollywoodian beard. Hopefully, these will help to clear up any additional questions you may have on the topic.

Q: Is it really feasible to trim this beard yourself, or should you go to a barber?

A: The obvious first choice is usually to go to a barber, unless you have a lot of experience trimming beards. If you have a ‘trimming accident,’ you can easily set yourself back several weeks of growth.

But, with that being said, how will you ever gain the experience if you don’t practice?

For some men, trimming their own beard is more practical and convenient than going to the barber every week or two. But it also really all depends on what you are comfortable with!

Q: Can the Hollywoodian Beard be grown out long?

A: Yes, it absolutely can. It may not be quite as common, but you can still maintain the classic Hollywoodian shape while also growing it a bit longer on the bottom and keeping the sides trimmed up.

But be advised. The longer it gets, the more challenging it will be to keep well-trimmed and under control! Beard oil is a must as it grows longer, and overcoming a general look of ‘scruffiness’ also gets a bit more challenging!

Q: What do women think of the Hollywoodian?

A: This is an excellent question!

As a man, I can only weigh in on this so much… but this seems to be my experience with beards and women.

I find that beards tend to be a ‘niche product’ when it comes to women. Some women are simply not into beards, while others are super-into them!

But, with that being said, the beard is only one aspect of how a man looks.

I have known women who didn’t like beards, but still dated men who had them. I have also known women who didn’t like beards until they dated a man with a beard, and then they ended up being huge fans of the look!

The most important thing to remember is this.

Here on Male Ambition, we strive to help men become better men.

And part of living the alpha-male journey is to be yourself, without regrets or concern for how other people will judge you.

So we want to walk a fine balance here. We want to look our best. We want to appeal to the ladies and make ourselves presentable. This helps us to compete for the most successful, attractive, and desirable women in our circles.

But at the same time, we must balance this with a self-worth and confidence that stems from inside of us… not from the attention we get from women.

So the answer here is yes… women may love, or dislike, the Hollywoodian. But that doesn’t matter as much as YOU loving your beard, and PUTTING IN THE EFFORT to take care of it and make it look presentable.

Be your own authentic self, but do it well!

Q: What face shape is best suited to sporting a quality Hollywoodian Beard?

A: As a general rule, the Hollywoodian is best worn on men who have a squarer face. Since the focus of the majority of growth is on the chin, it can really serve to help make the face look a bit longer and leaner, which is a very sexy look for men!

Q: Are beard products really worth the money, or are they mostly a commercial gimmick?

A: This is a fantastic question!

So, there ARE situations in which some beard products are just gimmicks. But with that being said, every man should also own at least a few implements and tools to help him groom, care-for, and maintain his beard.  

Every man with a beard really needs…

1. A quality razor
2. A quality trimmer
3. A good beard brush and comb
4. Quality beard and face wash
5. Beard softener, also known as ‘conditioner’ for a beard
6. Cream, balm, or oil… or in some cases, a combination of one or more of these products

It is also well worth your money to find quality versions of these products instead of cheap knock-offs.

Yes, you can use regular hair care products in some cases… but there are many of these that are specifically designed for beards, and we would absolutely recommend looking into them.

Taking care of a beard is a bit different from taking care of the hair on your head.

In Conclusion

Here at Male Ambition, we want every man to live his best life. And a big part of every man’s life is taking care of (or shaving off) his beard.

But, with that being said, never forget to live your best life and to find value in yourself, regardless of what type of beard or facial hair you sport.

The Hollywoodian Beard is an awesome option for some people. But don’t grow it to find validation in others. Grow it to be an alpha male, and to be the best, highest quality, most successful man that you can possibly be.