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In the 300 movie, Leonidas sports a beard that is not only long and glorious but also an integral part of his character. The film’s director Zack Snyder said he wanted to show the Spartans as “more than just these guys who were great in battle.” He needed them to have a sense of culture and sophistication, so this is why he chose such an iconic beard for Leonidas.
In Greek culture, a beard was not only seen as a sign of masculinity but also virility and wisdom, and being able to grow one showed that you were a real man. Therefore it is no wonder Leonidas wanted to uphold his honor and be as masculine as possible.
So if you want your beard to be as legendary as Leonidas’, then read on and learn how to grow one like him!
King Leonidas’ role was played by the actor Gerard Butler so when we refer to King Leonidas, this is the man we are talking about.
If you don’t know him, Gerard James Butler is an actor from Scotland, born on November 13th, 1969. He has had many roles in films such as “The 300“, “Law Abiding Citizen,” “Olympus Has Fallen,” and “Phantom of the Opera.”
He also likes to have a beard in his everyday life but usually goes for shorter styles like medium or heavy stubble.
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Who was King Leonidas?
If you haven’t seen the movie 300 yet, then you might not know that King Leonidas was a real historical figure. He was the leader of the 300 Spartans who fought against Xerxes and his Persians during the Persian War in 480 BC. This battle is one of the most famous battles in history, and many historians consider it to be a major factor in the decline of the Persian Empire.
Back then, they didn’t have all the fancy beard grooming products we have today, so his real beard would probably have been messier. However, in the movie, Gerard Butler has nice short boxed facial hair, and this is the style we’ll be instructing on how to grow.
What is the King Leonidas Beard Style?
As already mentioned, King Leonidas has a short boxed beard style in the movie. His beard is pretty basic and not too complex, so it’s perfect for men who don’t have much beard-growing experience.
The short boxed beard is a facial hair style that is short enough to be neat but still long enough to look like a beard. It is 1/2 to 1 inch in length and has sharp lines. It is styled in a trapezoid shape, and the outline looks like it’s been drawn with a ruler; this is why it is called a boxed beard.
How to get King Leonidas beard style?
Step 1: Grow a Medium-full beard
The first step to growing a spartan beard like King Leonidas is to grow one in the first place! Every man’s beard growth rate is different, but most men will be able to grow a decent beard within 2 to 4 months. If you have never grown one before, check out the how-to grow a beard for the first time article for more information.
While growing your beard, especially between weeks 2 and 4 (the awkward beard phase), you will be tempted to trim it.
Your beard will look weird and not like a beard at all. However, you must resist the urge to trim it because when your beard starts growing fuller, that is when it will start looking better.
It will also be very itchy and uncomfortable during this time, so just be patient and resist the urge. To feel better, apply beard oil to hydrate it and soothe the skin underneath to reduce itching.
Related Article: Best Beard Oil Review
Step 2: Shape your beard
When your beard has filled in and is in the desired length, it’s time to start shaping it.
The first step is trimming it with a guard on your trimmer to ensure the hair is even.
Then it is time to take care of the neckline and cheek line. Remember, the boxed beard has sharp lines, so you must be very careful when doing this. In order to give it a sharp look, make sure you make your cheek line an exact 90-degree angle from the corner of your mouth to the bottom of your earlobe.
To define the lines, you can use a beard trimmer without a guard on it or a razor.
Once you have defined the lines, use a beard brush to brush your hair in the desired direction for a neater look. You can also use hair products like beard balm or mustache wax to hold the hairs in place and give it that polished look.
Step 3: Maintain the look
Last but not least is maintaining the look. You should do a maintenance session weekly just like you would with any other beard style. Use a beard comb or brush to brush your beard in the direction of growth and repeat the step 2 instructions by trimming your beard and defining the lines.
It’s important to maintain your beard regularly if you want to keep this look; otherwise, the hairs will start to grow outwards and make it lose its shape.
When you have grown your beard and are in maintenance mode, you should create a grooming routine to make sure your beard is healthy and well maintained.
This grooming routine should include daily beard oil to keep your hair hydrated and your skin moisturized. It should also include a by-daily washing session with a beard shampoo.
Wash your beard with warm water and scrub it with the palm of your hands to remove dirt, product buildup, dead skin cells, etc. Rinse thoroughly until you feel there is no soap left on your beard. Make sure you wash your whole beard, including under the chin, where most beards get very dirty.
Next, apply beard oil to hydrate your hair. Put a few drops in your palm and massage it all over your beard with the tips of your fingers to make sure every hair is covered. After the oil has been absorbed into your beard, give it a good brush with a boar bristle brush to stimulate blood flow which will help hair grow fuller.
In the end, apply a beard balm or mustache wax to shape your beard and tame those flyaway hairs that have been bothering you all day long.
Related Article: 74 Best Celebrity Beards To Get Some Inspiration!
Conclusion
If you want to get a nice spartan beard style now, you know how to do it. Just follow this guide and start growing your beard from now on.
You just need to be patient, wait for your beard to grow, and start shaping it with the proper tips and tricks you have read in this article.
Remember to also invest some time into your beard grooming routine if you want to maintain the look longer. If you follow these simple steps, you will be sporting that Leonidas 300 beard like a true Spartan king in no time at all.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.
Beard on!
Russell is the founder of themensattitude.com. He is a barber a beard enthusiast and he is obsessed with trying men’s lifestyle products and blog about them. If you have any questions you can hit him up via the contact page.
