Van Dyke vs Goatee – Knowing the Difference
The joy of every young man going through puberty is realizing the ability to grow facial hair. And then you start shaving and realize it’s a never-ending chore to maintain the tiny hairs growing from your face.
You could have a total disregard for societal rules and not groom your facial hair, which sometimes happens. Or you can style your beard, mustache, and goatee with various lengths and cuts.
One style decision is Van Dyke vs. Goatee. This article will explore each style, their fundamental differences, and which one you should pick.
What Does A Van Dyke Beard Look Like?
Look at any picture of Johnny Depp in the past decade and you’ll have a solid idea of what a Van Dyke beard looks like.
The general description of a Van Dyke is any style of mustache that does not connect to a goatee. The size and style of your mustache and goatee are entirely up to you.
You can have a full mustache or a short one, and the goatee can cover your entire chin or be shaved down so you’re left with a soul patch (a small patch of hair under the bottom lip) and a strip of hair on the chin.
The defining feature of a Van Dyke is that clear mustache disconnect from the goatee, regardless of the shape or style of either. It’s a look that gained fame when 17th-century Flemish painter Anthony Van Dyck and his models sported it.
Back then, the classic approach was to shape the mustache by twisting the ends upward into a handlebar and taper the goatee to a sharp point. It’s also sometimes called a “Charlie” after King Charles I of England, who once sat for a portrait by Van Dyck.
If you want a Van Dyke beard, there are several styles to consider. Men usually keep clean-shaven cheeks and sideburns with a Van Dyke, though current trends are putting fresh spins on this classic look. Either way, the Van Dyke is a genuinely distinguished choice for anyone willing to commit to keeping that mustache and goatee well-sculpted and separate.
What Does A Goatee Look Like?
During the 1940s, 60s, and 90s, the goatee was a seriously trendy style. Since the pandemic, all forms of beard growth have been making a comeback, so the goatee’s renewed popularity makes perfect sense.
Technically, a goatee is facial hair on the chin only. This classic form does not include the mustache, but you can connect the mustache and chin hair for a full goatee. In either variation, you can include the soul patch or leave it out.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a goatee is a small pointed beard that grows only on the chin, resembling the tuft found on a goat, hence the name. That said, you can absolutely connect your mustache for a full goatee.
The length of the mustache and chin hair is yours to decide, depending on how much grooming you’re willing to put in.
Throughout the years, the goatee has been the style choice of rockstars and rebels. At least that’s who made it famous in previous decades, from the beatniks (40s) and hippies (60s) to grunge and alt-rock groups (90s). Today you’ll find clean, polished goatees on everyone from professors to athletes.
The best goatee beard style is absolutely attainable; you just need to settle on your preferred shape and commit to it.
Van Dyke vs. Goatee: The Key Differences
It’s understandable to mistake a goatee for a Van Dyke. At first glance, the two styles look very similar. They’re genuinely easy to mix up, especially when you see a Van Dyke beard right next to a full goatee.
Some may even consider a Van Dyke a type of goatee because it combines a mustache with chin hair. Some people debate that distinction, but we’ll skip that argument. Here are the core differences between Van Dyke beards and goatees so you can decide for yourself.
- To distinguish between a Van Dyke vs. goatee, the most significant factor is whether or not there’s a clear mustache disconnect from the chin hair.
- If you’ve shaped the mustache, possibly even curled it into a handlebar, with a separate and styled goatee below, then you’re looking at a Van Dyke.
- If the mustache connects directly to the chin hair, then you have a full goatee.
- In both styles, the cheeks and sideburns are clean-shaved. That’s the one thing they share in common, so we can appreciate their similarities alongside their differences.
Van Dyke or Goatee: Which One Should You Pick?
To figure out which style works best for you, it comes down to what you can grow, how much maintenance you’re willing to do, and personal preference.
Some men simply can’t grow a full beard or have patchy spots. But that disconnected growth is actually the perfect setup for a Van Dyke. Shave the patchy areas off and use those natural gaps as the starting point for your Van Dyke’s mustache disconnect.
If you enjoy taking care of your facial hair and always have the latest beard oils and brushes on hand, both the goatee and the Van Dyke are great choices. Keep in mind that a long goatee in either style will need consistent beard maintenance for hygiene and health.
A Van Dyke is a bit more complex than a full goatee because you need to keep the mustache cleanly separated from the chin hair, but both require a solid grooming routine.
If you want to make a statement and carry a genuinely distinguished look, the Van Dyke is your move. Goatees are considered lower maintenance and suit most face shapes well.
If you have a long face, a longer goatee adds great chin projection. Rounder faces benefit from a rounded goatee to soften the angles, and a full goatee on a square face is a near-perfect pairing.
Conclusion
Ultimately, your choice between a Van Dyke and a goatee comes down to what you want to do with your facial hair. Our recommendation is to try both if you can.
That’s one of the great benefits of this chore that never really goes away: you can occasionally try something new, experiment with a fresh style, and land on the look that fits you best.
Related Topics:
