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It’s the time of year when every man starts to look in the mirror and contemplate their beard situation. The question is: do I keep it or go clean-shaven? Stubble has been a trend for some time now, so we’ve compiled a few reasons you should grow your light stubble this winter – and maybe even stop shaving altogether!
The first reason is that stubbles just look cool. It’s rugged and masculine while still being stylish enough to wear into an office meeting without feeling too overbearing.
Second, if you can’t grow a full beard, light beard stubble is the perfect way to ease into it. The goal should always be full-bearded acceptance, so why not start small? If you’re still not ready to commit to the beard, this is a great step towards that goal.
Lastly, stubbles look awesome with beanies and winter caps! When it’s cold outside, and your hands are freezing, there’s nothing better than wrapping up in a big ol’ beanie and showing off your well-groomed stubble.
So if you’re on the fence about growing out your facial hair this winter, then think about giving light beard stubble a try. It’s a low commitment but a high reward! And who knows – you may just end up liking it so much that you decide to keep it for good.
Table of Contents
What is light stubble?
There is a lot of confusion surrounding the term “light stubble” because it can mean different things to different people. In general, the stubble beard is just a very thin layer of facial hair – usually about 0.5 millimeters (aka five o’clock shadow) in length.
The difference between the five o’clock shadow and the medium and heavy stubble is the length of the hairs. The light stubble length is about 0.5mm to 1mm. Medium stubble length is 1mm-2.5mm, and heavy stubble length is 4mm to 5mm.
When it comes to the time it takes to grow out the 0.5mm beard; it will usually take 2-3 days or so. But keep in mind that this can vary depending on the person’s hair growth.
Best face shapes for the light stubble beard
This beard style can be worn on any face shape, but there are definitely better and worse options. It will work well for you if you have a round, square, or oval face shape. However, if you have a very long and narrow face shape with high cheekbones, it might not be the best look.
Best Light stubble styles
You can wear it in several different ways, but it really comes down to your personality and what you feel comfortable with. If you want to keep it low-key, just let it grow and trim. Or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can try mixing in a mustache or a goatee. The options are endless! Let’s see some examples of styles you can try!
Classic Light stubble
This is the original version. Just let it grow out naturally and trim it. Keep it short and tidy, and you’re good to go!
Light Stubble with a mustache
If you want to add a little personality to your look, try mixing in a mustache with your 0.5mm beard. It’s a great way to show off your manly side and is also very stylish. Try different mustache styles to find the one that best suits you.
Light Stubble with a goatee
If you want to take things up a notch, then try styling your light stubble with a goatee. This is a more daring look, but it can really make you stand out from the crowd. Give it a try!
Light Stubble with sideburns
A really unique look is to style your five o’clock shadow with sideburns. It’s a bit vintage and can add some character to your look. So if you’re feeling adventurous, then give this style a try!
Light Stubble with a chinstrap beard
This is a more extreme style that might not be for everyone. But if you want to make a statement, try styling your stubble beard with a chinstrap beard. It’s a bold look, and it will definitely turn heads!
Light Stubble with a soul patch
You don’t have to be a jazz musician to rock the soul patch. It’s a fun and playful look and never goes out of style. Try growing out your 0.5mm beard and styling it with a soul patch for a cool and unique look.
Patchy light stubble
If you have a patchy beard, then you can still get away with growing out your stubble beard. Just focus on making the length about 0.5mm to 1mm, and you should be fine. Avoid trying any complicated styles, and just go for a simple look that will minimize the patchy areas.
How to grow and maintain the light stubble
The light stubble is one of the easiest beards to grow and maintain. All you need is a trimmer to keep it neat and tidy, and you will be fine Trim it every 2-3 days to keep it looking sharp.
So the growing part is pretty simple. All you need to do is grow your hair out until it reaches that perfect stubble length of 0.5-1mm, then maintain the beard by trimming it with stubble trimmers every 2-3 days.
We recommend using a stubble beard trimmer instead of a regular beard trimmer because it will help you maintain the perfect length.
After the growing comes the maintenance, and this is where most guys get stuck. If you want a perfect stubble that looks sharp and polished, you will also have to shave the neckline and cheek lines so that they are shorter than the actual stubble growth.
To define the stubble beard neckline, the first step is to find Adam’s apple and count two fingers over from that point on the neck. This is where your neckline should start.
Then, use a trimmer to line it up and shave everything below that line. This will give you a clean and polished look.
The cheek lines are a bit more tricky but can be done with practice. The easiest way to find them is to draw an imaginary line from the point where your mustache meets your beard to the top of your sideburns. Then, just shave everything above that line.
It can be a bit tricky to get the lines right at first, but with a bit of practice, you will be able to do it like a pro.
Now that you have grown and styled your light beard stubble, it’s time to take care of it. You won’t need beard oil or fancy stuff like that. But you will need to moisturize it and avoid dry skin and itching. You will use the trimmer without a guard on it pretty often, which can lead to dry skin.
You should use an aftershave balm or moisturizer every day to keep your skin healthy (especially if you have sensitive skin). This will help reduce itching and keep your light beard stubble looking sharp.
Related Article: The Best Beard Styles in 2022
Light beard Stubble FAQ
Is light stubble attractive?
Just like every beard style, this one is attractive to some people and not so much for others. But there’s no reason why you can’t try it out. It is really easy and you might find that light stubble is the perfect look for you!
What products do I need for light stubble?
You don’t need any special products, you will need a good stubble trimmer and a moisturizer or aftershave balm.
What length is the light stubble?
The light stubble is about 0.5-1mm long. If it is less than 0.5mm then it is not visible and is not classified as a beard. If it is more than 1mm then it is considered a medium stubble.
Can I still have a mustache with light stubble?
You can have a mustache with light stubble, but it should be longer than the stubble itself. The mustache should be at least 1-2mm long because if it is shorter it won’t be very visible.
>What is the difference between the light stubble and the 5 o’clock shadow beard?
There is no difference between the light stubble and the 5 o’clock shadow beard. The term 5 o’clock shadow is used to describe any beard style that is about 0.5mm long. So the light stubble and the 5 o’clock shadow beard are the same beard style.
Conclusion
That’s all you need to know about growing and maintaining your stubble. If you follow this article’s advice, your stubble beard should look sharp in no time!
If you want more information about trimming your beard, check out our other articles on beard trimmers, beard styles, and how to trim a beard.
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.
