Who says only ladies can have fun styling their hair? Now more than ever, beards need and deserve to take the spotlight, and getting a braided goatee is just the best way to do just that.
For the longest time, men trim and shape their facial hair. But as times change, preferences are also starting to change. Braiding your goatee can change your look completely. If your goatee is already long enough to braid, a braided goatee might be the perfect choice for you.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits of getting a braided goatee, teach you how to get and maintain a braided goatee and finally we will check out the best braided goatee styles to get inspired!
Are you ready? Let’s get into it!
What Is Actually A Goatee Beard
First things first, let’s make sure we are all on the same page. For our new bearded friends, a goatee beard is a very popular beard style that millions of men wear. The main characteristic of this style is the facial hair on the chin and mainly on the mustache as well.
Goatee styles have no hair on the cheeks and sideburns.
Obviously, there are many variation of this style but the main idea is you should have facial hair on your chin and mustache but no hair on your cheeks.
Now, that we are all on the same page let’s move on to the most interesting stuff!
Reasons to Get a Braided Goatee
Men always discuss about their beards. Some of them are fans of the full beards while others prefer to differentiate and try new things.
Whatever the case may be a braided goatee is both unique and attractive.
But why did this trend become popular? Why should you even try it yourself?
Let’s see some reasons to convince you to braid that goatee sooner than later!
- A New Creative Goatee Trend
Try braiding your goatee if you want to change your look, boast your creative side, or just maintain your long beard the easy way. Although it probably seems unheard of before, braided goatees are becoming more popular so you can feel comfortable giving it a try without worrying about shocking other people.
- Change Things Up
Many men with long goatees often consider shaving everything off for the sake of a change. But if you have already put lots of effort and time to grow it out, the last thing you want is to get rid of it all just because you find your look boring.
A braided goatee is a perfect alternative to shaving because you can maintain the same shape and length and try a new but temporary look at the same time.
- Expression of Creativity
Obviously, rocking a braided goat is a unique creative expression in and of itself. You can unleash your creativity by trying different braiding patterns. It means you can look different every day with the least effort because the braiding practice is relatively simple.
- Patchiness
Not all of us can grow full and thick beards and that’s normal. However, if you have many patches on your cheeks and your beard is scraggly and thin what options do you have?
One option, my least favorite, is to shave your face and have no beard.
The second option, though, is to grow a goatee beard. Most men can grow hair on their chin even if they can’t grow hair on the sides. A very common example is Asian men. Don’t get me wrong, Asian men can grow beards but in some countries Asian men’s genes do not help them grow very thick beards.
If that’s the case for you as well, then the goatee is an amazing option to try!
Read Also: The Viking Goatee Style (Here Is How To Get It)
How To Get A Braided Goatee
To Get a braided goatee properly we have to do 2 steps. The first step is to actually have a goatee and the second step is to braid our beard.
So, let’s discuss these 2 steps seperately so that it is easier for you to understand.
Grow Your Goatee First
Before you even think about braiding your goatee, the first and most important thing you should do is let your goatee grow. Yes, you need enough length of approximately four inches so you can make braids. While it is not easy to maintain a braided goatee, you can be sure that it will give you great rewards in the end.
To Trim A Goatee you need to follow the steps below:
Step 1: First brush your beard, then comb before trimming it
Brushing your beard makes sure it has no tangles, it has a specific direction, distributes natural oils and makes it easier for you to handle and trim it.
Step 2: Take off the comb and create an outline with the trimmer
Check out some goatee photos. Go in front of your mirror and imagine these lines you need to do. Get the trimmer and do them. Remember practice makes perfect.
If you wanna know where to do your goatee neckline and the rest of your lines you can check out this article.
Step 3: Use the precision trimmer to create a shape for your goatee
Trim your cheeks and sideburns and check out if everything is fine. Keep in mind that the outline of the goatee is very important to the success of this style.
Don’t cut any length from the hair on your chin.
Step 4: Clean-shaving is just as important
Your cheeks should clean-shaven. You can also use a manual razor if need be.
Step 5: Moisturize and keep your goatee beard neat
Finally, apply some beard oil and let is sit for some minutes.
That’s it! By now, you should your goatee done!
The following are also necessary so you can braid your goatee:
- Sufficient length of your goatee
- Beard shampoo
- Beard brush and comb
- Four rubber bands for securing your goatee style in place
Steps for Braiding a Goatee
Although there are several braided goatee styles, the braiding technique used for goatees is quite easy and simple. You can even finish the entire process in just a few short steps.
The only thing you need to do here is to allow your goatee to grow long enough to allow you to form a simple braid. It is also important that you trim off the sides of your goatee and let the centerpiece stay that will serve as the braid in the goatee.
Here are the steps to braid a goatee:
Wash and dry your goatee properly
Wash your goatee and towel it dry. Braiding your goatee will be easier if you do it when it is still damp. Apply beard shampoo to remove sweat, dirt, oil, and grime from your goatee. Put some shampoo in your palms and then spread this evenly across your goatee.
Wash your goatee and use a towel to dry it. Once you have dried your goatee, comb or brush it to straighten and detangle your goatee before you begin the braiding process.
Separate your goatee into thirds
You can now proceed to separate your goatee into three equal strands at chin level. You have to make sure that the portions of hair are all straight. You can also use rubber at the hair base near your chin to keep everything in place.
But don’t forget to take off the rubber bands after you finish braiding your goatee. As you become more skilled and experienced with the process, you might no longer need the help of these rubber bands to hold the base of every tuft.
Braid the goatee
The process of braiding your goatee is very easy once you have secured the three goatee strands in place. You can start from the left and then pass the tuft on top of the middle one. This will put the left one at the center. Pull the right tuft of the new center tuft.
You just have to repeat the process again and again until you form a single long braid. At this point, you will notice that the top of the goatee is thick while it narrows little by little as you move down to the tip. The braid will have a pointed and sharp tip, with the style giving you a completely new appearance.
Tie the tip of your newly braided goatee
After your goatee is completely braided, get a rubber band to tie the tip and keep it in place. The rubber band can be placed around half an inch from the end for the goatee to stay in place. Just make sure that the band is not too tight to prevent any discomfort or pain.
Aside from these tips, you can also apply beard wax to keep your goatee in place. Beard wax is helpful thanks to its stronghold.
Keeping your braided goatee in place even you go to bed at night is also a great way to train it if you want. On the other hand, you can also remove the braid before sleeping to avoid getting a beard bedhead.
Awesome Braided Goatee Styles
Long Braided Goatee
Pretty long goatees are awesome. Me, personally, I do not like goatees in general. It is not my thing. However, if I had to choose a goatee style, I would definitely choose a very long one and do some fun stuff with it such as braiding and placing bands.
Short Braided Goatee
Short braided goatee is another style you can choose. Not my favorite and you will still need a little bit of length to do it but your beard will still be relatively short. Short braided goatees are awesome to test things and how you look and if it is worth it to grow a longer beard.
Not a style I would choose.
Viking Braided Goatee
Hell yeah, baby! This one is the best one! In simple terms, it is a long goatee but Vikings used to put jewlery and/or beard beads on their braided beards. Combining a long braided goatee with some Viking beads will simply make you stand out even more!
Black Guy With Great Braided Goatee
In all honesty, black men look way better than white guys wearing goatees. I do not know why and I am a white guy but this is the truth. I have to admit it.
If you are a black guy, grow a very long goatee and go braid it! I am sure you will look good man!
How To Maintain A Braided Goatee
1. Know how (and when) to trim
Once you have grown a long goatee (to be able to braid it easily), you only need to shave the cheek hair every 3-4 days and trim your goatee once in 2-3 weeks so that it doesn’t grow too much.
2. Wash your goatee regularly
Washing your goatee every day is very important and this tip belongs to the general grooming tips that every bearded man should follow.
3. Do not forget your oil
Another generic but very significant tip is to oil your goatee daily. Especially, men who grow long beards should never skip this step. Beard oil has a ton of benefits for your facial hair and your face.
4. Brush your goatee
Brushing your goatee has also a lot of benefits. It removes dirt, distributes the natural oils and beard oil, trains your beard to grow in a specific direction, removes dead hair and dead cells, lets your skin breathe and more.
5. Remember the mustache
Most goatee styles include the mustache. Please don’t forget about it. Your mustache needs your attention too. Wash it, brush it, oil it. Take care of it because a well-groomed mustache is always a turn-on.
6. Don’t have your beard braided 24/7/365 (all the time)
Last but not least, don’t have your beard braided constantly. You should break these braids at least once in every 2 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Should A Goatee Be To Be Braided?
The minimum goatee length to be braided is 4 inches or 10.1 cm. However, the recommended length is at least twice this number. It looks so much better. If you want to braid your beard, let it grow.
How To Braid A Short Goatee?
A short goatee can be braided the same way as a long goatee. But, obviously, the longer your goatee, the easier it is for you to grab the hair, divide it and braid it.
To Sum Things Up
The braided goatee is an outstanding unique variation of the traditional goatee beard that millions of men wear. It makes you stand out, boosts your confidence and it is way more masculine and badass.
Obviously, in order to wear a braided goatee often, you need to invest much more time. A regular goatee beard requires less maintenance, less styling, no braids and generally less effort.
However, in my opinion, it is worth it.
Today, we discussed the reason why you should get a braided goatee, how to get and maintain it properly, the best goatee styles and more. And that’s about it for today!
I really hope you liked this article and found it interesting and helpful.
Rock that braided goatee style today and see the difference for yourself!
Thanks for reading.
Until next time,
Stay safe,
Tasos
Tasos Moulios is the founder of Beardlong. He loves trying different beard and hair styles and blogs about them. The tips he shares come from his own experience and love for what he does.