Balbo Beard: What It Looks Like and How to Trim It

A Balbo combines a separate mustache with a shaped chin beard, leaving the cheeks and sideburns clear. A soul patch may connect to the chin beard; it does not have to be a third separate piece.

The main detail is the gap beside the mouth: the mustache stays separate from the beard. Use the examples below to choose how wide and long you want the chin section.

Balbo, anchor and Van Dyke: what is the difference?

Style	Where the hair stays	Detail to show your barber
Balbo	A separate mustache with a broader chin beard extending onto the lower jaw; cheeks and sideburns are clear.	The width of the lower beard and the gap beside the mouth.
Anchor	A mustache with a narrower pointed chin section and slim extensions along the lower jaw.	The pointed center and the narrow jaw outline.
Van Dyke	A separate mustache and a chin-focused goatee, usually with more bare space beside the chin.	The shape of the chin beard and the clear separation from the mustache.

These names overlap in everyday use. Bring a photo and describe the width, chin shape, and gap you want rather than relying on the name alone. Gillette’s Van Dyke guide also defines that style by the detached mustache and chin beard.

What Is Balbo Beard?

The Balbo combines a floating mustache with a shaped chin beard. A soul patch may sit between the lower lip and chin beard. Keep the cheeks and sideburns clear, and leave a visible gap between the mustache and beard.

This beard style allows you to outline the chin, making it the best choice for men with square or round face types. It can also be called a variation of the goatee + mustache style, with the difference being the absence of a connection between these two parts.

The chin section of this beard style is usually broader than an anchor beard, with softer edges. The separate mustache is part of the classic Balbo shape.

If you’re bold enough to try it, here are the steps to creating one of the most stylish beards out there:

1. You can switch to the Balbo from either a full or Hollywoodian beard.
2. First, you need to shave the hair off your cheeks and leave it around your mouth and on the chin.
3. Use a trimmer to outline the chin beard, keeping enough width at the sides to create a balanced shape.
4. Continue making the outline of the beard by moving closer to the center and removing the hair between the ends of your mouth and the chin. You will be getting an elongated beard form that will remind you of a chinstrap. Don’t forget to leave a rectangular zone beneath your lip, which should slightly widen toward the bottom.
5. Use the trimmer to style the mustache. Tidy the lip edge and keep the ends separate from the beard; curled tips are optional.
6. Use a razor to remove all the stray hair, being careful not to touch the beard.

Maintain the clear cheek and sideburn areas, tidy stray hairs and keep the mustache separate from the chin beard.

History of the Balbo Beard

This beard style is named after Italo Balbo (1896–1940), the Italian interwar aviator and politician who famously wore it.

Suitable For

This style is suitable for individuals with a round face, as it helps balance the face of the guy embracing it.

How to Grow Balbo Beard

Let the chin and upper-lip hair reach a length you can shape. The time needed varies with your starting beard and natural growth.

Moreover, you need to leave your beard to grow long enough to be able to shape it well. Here is how to grow a Balbo beard.

1. Allow enough length to see the chin and mustache outlines before shaping.
2. Always clean your beard on a daily basis.
3. Comb the beard gently into place before checking the outline.
4. Define the necessary contours that will enable you to trim your beard to the Balbo beard shape. You can use several tools to trim your beards, such as an electric trimmer or a razor.

How to Trim

1. When trimming your beard, you need to start from the ears and shear your beard inwards so that you can achieve balance on either side of your face. You need to carry out the process step by step.
2. Leave a visible gap between the mustache and chin beard. There is no fixed quarter-inch measurement; adjust it to your features.
3. Tidy up the leftover facial hair with an adjustable trimmer. Make sure that you clip the entire hair until it is even and very short.
4. It’s also important to trim your soul patch downwards and make sure that it meets with the hair on your chin or goatee. Additionally, trim your goatee well.

Best Balbo Beard Styles

1. Balbo Beard for Curly Hair

A Balbo beard works especially well with curly facial hair because the natural texture adds fullness and character. Keep the edges neat and trimmed so the curls look intentional instead of messy.

2. Classic Balbo Beard

The classic Balbo beard stays true to the original shape with a clean mustache, soul patch, and trimmed chin beard. It is ideal for men who want a stylish beard that is easy to maintain and suitable for daily wear.

3. Short White Balbo Beard

This short white version pairs a separate mustache with a softly rounded chin beard. The cheeks remain clear.

4. Goatee Balbo Beard

This variation leans more toward the goatee side of the Balbo beard. It is a good option for men who want a slimmer and more focused beard style that still keeps the signature separation between the mustache and chin hair.

The Balbo beard is a smart choice for men who want a beard that looks stylish without being hard to maintain. Its disconnected shape adds definition to the face and works well with different hair textures and lengths. With the right trimming and regular care, the Balbo can give you a clean, modern, and confident look.

Balbo Questions, Answered

What is a Balbo beard?

A Balbo pairs a disconnected mustache with a shaped chin beard and clear cheeks and sideburns. The soul patch may join the chin beard.

How long should I grow before shaping a Balbo?

Wait until you have enough chin and upper-lip length to shape. A fixed four-week deadline does not suit everyone.

What is the one detail that makes it a Balbo?

The mustache stays separate from the chin beard, and the sideburns are removed. Choose a gap that looks balanced on your face.

The Beard Style Verdict

Keep the mustache separate, the cheeks clear and the chin outline tidy. Trim a little at a time so you can check the balance.

Keep the gap clear without making it wider

As the beard grows, tidy the hairs that appear in the shaved gap beside the mouth. Work from the clear skin toward the existing edge and stop before cutting into the beard. Repeatedly widening that gap can leave the chin section narrower than you intended.

Check the mustache and lower beard separately. One can need a small cleanup while the other still has the right length. If you want a broader Balbo, preserve the hair at the lower sides of the chin rather than turning every touch-up into another full reshape.