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Shaving
How to Shave a Goatee Download Article Tips to shave and style your amazing goatee Co-authored by Woody Lovell
Last Updated: July 14, 2025 References
Download Article
Choosing a Goatee Shape
|
Shaving the Goatee
|
Maintaining the Goatee
|
Expert Q&A
|
Tips
|
Warnings
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Woody Lovell. Woody Lovell is the Founder of The Barbershop Club, a gentleman's barbershop-as-social club rooted in 1990's traditional barbering based in the Hotel Normandie in Los Angeles, California. He is also the Founder of his own line of quality grooming products. He has over 20 years of experience in the male grooming industry and has consulted clients including professional athletes, musicians, and A-list actors throughout the Los Angeles area. This article has been viewed 113,491 times.
Goatees are a stylish and versatile way to express yourself if they are correctly shaven and maintained. They incorporate a chin beard with clean shaven cheeks and an optional mustache. Shaving a goatee is a learning curve that takes some planning and preparation, but once you get the hang of it there are numerous ways to experiment with this popular style, and to make it your own.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 3:
Choosing a Goatee Shape
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1 Grow a well-groomed, minimalist goatee for a professional look. A thick or untidy goatee might not go down too well with your workplace, or if you want to maintain a professional look. Select a style that is not too dominant and that you can regularly maintain, to make sure that you goatee and professional life go together. Having a well-groomed goatee can give you a creative, innovative, and professional demeanor.
Try out a Van Dyke style goatee, which is a chin beard, mustache, and soul patch, with a cropped hair length and clean shaven face. The Van Dyke style works especially well for men with oblong face shapes.
2 Grow a pure goatee if you have a round face. A pure goatee is best described as a chin beard with the jawline completely shaved, and no mustache. This style is a good choice for round faces, as it can help to slim your face and accentuate your jaw. It is a classic goatee style, and is relatively easy to maintain. Advertisement
3 Grow a goatee with a mustache if you have a square face. A goatee and mustache combination works well for square faces, as it highlights your prominent jawline.This is a classic look, with a chin beard, mustache, and clean shaven cheeks and jawline.[1]XResearch source
4 Grow an anchor if you have a round or triangular face. An anchor style of goatee looks exactly like the name describes. It is a combination of a mustache, soul patch, and a chinstrap beard. The anchor style adds fullness to the jawline.[2]XResearch source
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 3:
Shaving the Goatee
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1 Grow out your facial hair. Before you can get into shaving a goatee, you need to grow out your beard first. Although it can be annoying to have to endure the patchiness and itchiness of a new beard, let the facial hair surrounding your chin, mouth, and nose grow out. This creates a solid foundation for shaving, and also for deciding on what shape you like. One to two weeks worth of growth is an ideal place to start.
Using beard oil during the growing stage can help make the process easier. Not only does beard oil speed up the progress of facial hair growth, but it can also reduce beard itch.
2 Use a washable marker. For first-time goatee growers, knowing exactly where to start shaving, and deciding the right outline for your goatee can be tricky. Use a washable marker to draw lines on your face, as you can shave directly along these for a precise shave. This will also help to get your goatee looking even and symmetrical. Just double check that the marker is washable first![3]XResearch source
It's really important to have a clear image of what you want your goatee to look like.[4]X Expert Source Woody LovellProfessional BarberExpert Interview
3 Outline your goatee. Comb through your beard to straighten out any unruly hair, and then begin with a new, sharp, and clean razor, or a trimmer without the guard, to define the edges of your goatee. Start on your neck with little cuts, about the size of the razor blade or trimmer. Slowly work around to your chin and then cheeks, until you are happy with the edges of your goatee.
Goatees typically aren’t any wider than your mouth. It can help to smile when shaving, and to make sure the edges of your goatee aren’t any wider than the corners of your smile or dimples.
Two to three fingers width above your Adam’s apple is a good place for the outline on your throat. You can always shorten it later if it feels like it goes too far down your neck.
Take your time and be careful, as there is no rush to get your goatee looking right. Remember that if you make a mistake, most people won’t notice something slight. If it’s extremely noticeable, you can always just shave your beard off evenly and start again in a week or two.
4 Trim your goatee. Use an electric beard trimmer and make small, downward strokes moving from the outside in on your goatee. Trim all your facial hair to an even length. If you’re going for a mustache in combination with your goatee, it should be the same length or shorter than the rest of your goatee.
Although using scissors may seem easier to handle than a trimmer when you first start out, they are not recommended as it is too easy to cut the hair unevenly.
5 Shave the parts of your face which will remain clean shaven. This includes your cheeks, and any parts of your chin or neck that are outside the edges of your goatee. When shaving close to the outline of your goatee, always start on the edge and shave outward to avoid accidentally shaving off part of it. For the part of your goatee on your neck, this means shaving vertically downwards, and for your chin, shaving towards your ears.
If using a razor, use clear shaving gel rather than shaving foam or cream so that you can see the outline of your goatee while shaving.[5]X Expert Source Woody LovellProfessional BarberExpert Interview
Advertisement Part 3 Part 3 of 3:
Maintaining the Goatee
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1 Trim your goatee daily. A goatee requires daily trimming to keep it looking defined and clear-cut. Shave the rest of your face regularly to remove any stubble, as this will help your goatee to look neat, tidy, and stand out.
Always wait until your beard is completely dry before trimming or styling. Working with wet hair can make it easy to accidentally trim off too much.
A small, sharp razor works best for trimming your goatee.[6]X Expert Source Woody LovellProfessional BarberExpert Interview
2 Shampoo your goatee regularly. Dust, debris, food, and dirt particles can all be caught by facial hair, which makes it prone to damage and looking untidy. Massage shampoo into your beard, and rinse thoroughly.
Avoid using strong soap on your beard. This will strip away natural oils, make your beard feel dry, and cause breakage and split ends.
3 Condition your goatee regularly. While shampoo will clean your beard, it also remove your skin's natural oil in the process. Massaging in a specialty beard conditioner will prevent your beard from getting either too dry or oily. This will keep the skin under your beard clear, and free of blemishes.
4 Use beard oil on your goatee. Beard oil will work to moisturize your skin, as well as softening your facial hair. A natural beard oil is the best choice, and works to hydrate, strengthen, and thicken facial hair.
Don't forget to wash out your beard oil—you don't want it sitting in your beard for days at a time.[7]X Expert Source Woody LovellProfessional BarberExpert Interview
5 Maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep your hair looking good. A healthy lifestyle and routine will help your goatee to look the best it can be. Eating a well balanced diet will ensure that the right nutrients are reaching your hair follicles. Getting around 8 hours of sleep per night, alongside keeping a regular exercise routine, will all help to promote hair growth.[8]XResearch source
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Join the Discussion...
What are the best ideas for goatee styles? Dev Murphy There are several different types of goatees for men. Some of the most popular goatee styles include:
The Classic Goatee: a simple beard on the chin, without a mustache
The Full Goatee: a classic goatee beard that connects to a mustache for a slightly more sophisticated look
The Anchor Goatee: an anchor-shaped mustache-beard combo that frames the jaw
The Van Dyke Goatee: a disconnected mustache and a pointed chin beard, inspired by the Flemish painter Anthony van Dyke
The Balbo Goatee: a mustache that's separated from the goatee and usually paired with a soul patch
The Extended Goatee: similar to the full goatee, but with a longer beard to create a stronger and more defined facial structure
For more goatee styles and grooming tips, check out the wikiHow article How to Grow a Goatee. Read More See all 2 Replies and Read Discussion
Expert Q&A
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Question How do you manage a goatee? Marlon Rivas Facial Hair Specialist Marlon Rivas is a Barber and Owner of MGX Professional Men's Grooming, a barbershop based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the founder of Busystyle.com, a service that provides online scheduling services to businesses in the barbering and beauty industry. Marlon has over 15 years of experience in managing and providing barber services. Marlon Rivas Facial Hair Specialist Expert Answer Purchase a specialty beard shampoo. These are less abrasive than normal shampoos, making your beard softer and less prone to damage. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 5
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Tips
Don't be afraid to experiment with different goatee styles until you find what works for you. Try adding in a mustache, changing length of your facial hair, or adjusting the width of your goatee. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Facial hair doesn’t grow well for all men. If your facial hair continues to look patchy after two to three months, it most likely won’t get any better. Shave it off and explore different avenues to express your style.[9]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Woody Lovell Professional Barber This article was co-authored by Woody Lovell. Woody Lovell is the Founder of The Barbershop Club, a gentleman's barbershop-as-social club rooted in 1990's traditional barbering based in the Hotel Normandie in Los Angeles, California. He is also the Founder of his own line of quality grooming products. He has over 20 years of experience in the male grooming industry and has consulted clients including professional athletes, musicians, and A-list actors throughout the Los Angeles area. This article has been viewed 113,491 times. 3 votes - 100% Co-authors: 7Updated: July 14, 2025 Views: 113,491 Categories: Facial Hair | ShavingArticle SummaryX
Before shaving a goatee, grow your facial hair for 1 to 2 weeks so you have enough hair to work with. Then, trim along the outline of your goatee, starting from your neck and working your way to your chin and cheeks. Next, use an electric beard trimmer to cut all your hair to an even length. Finally, shave the areas around your goatee, including your cheeks, neck, and chin. For tips on how to maintain your goatee, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Woody Lovell Professional Barber Co-authors: 7Updated: July 14, 2025 Views: 113,491100% of readers found this article helpful. 3 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
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Download Article Tips to shave and style your amazing goatee Co-authored by Woody Lovell 
Dev Murphy There are several different types of goatees for men. Some of the most popular goatee styles include:
How to Cut, Shape, and Style Your Mustache 
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Woody Lovell Professional Barber This article was co-authored by Woody Lovell. Woody Lovell is the Founder of The Barbershop Club, a gentleman's barbershop-as-social club rooted in 1990's traditional barbering based in the Hotel Normandie in Los Angeles, California. He is also the Founder of his own line of quality grooming products. He has over 20 years of experience in the male grooming industry and has consulted clients including professional athletes, musicians, and A-list actors throughout the Los Angeles area. This article has been viewed 113,491 times. 3 votes - 100% Co-authors: 7 Updated: July 14, 2025 Views: 113,491 Categories: Facial Hair | Shaving Article SummaryX
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1 Grow a well-groomed, minimalist goatee for a professional look. A thick or untidy goatee might not go down too well with your workplace, or if you want to maintain a professional look. Select a style that is not too dominant and that you can regularly maintain, to make sure that you goatee and professional life go together. Having a well-groomed goatee can give you a creative, innovative, and professional demeanor. 
2 Grow a pure goatee if you have a round face. A pure goatee is best described as a chin beard with the jawline completely shaved, and no mustache. This style is a good choice for round faces, as it can help to slim your face and accentuate your jaw. It is a classic goatee style, and is relatively easy to maintain. Advertisement 
3 Grow a goatee with a mustache if you have a square face. A goatee and mustache combination works well for square faces, as it highlights your prominent jawline.This is a classic look, with a chin beard, mustache, and clean shaven cheeks and jawline.[1] 
4 Grow an anchor if you have a round or triangular face. An anchor style of goatee looks exactly like the name describes. It is a combination of a mustache, soul patch, and a chinstrap beard. The anchor style adds fullness to the jawline.[2] Advertisement 
1 Grow out your facial hair. Before you can get into shaving a goatee, you need to grow out your beard first. Although it can be annoying to have to endure the patchiness and itchiness of a new beard, let the facial hair surrounding your chin, mouth, and nose grow out. This creates a solid foundation for shaving, and also for deciding on what shape you like. One to two weeks worth of growth is an ideal place to start. 
2 Use a washable marker. For first-time goatee growers, knowing exactly where to start shaving, and deciding the right outline for your goatee can be tricky. Use a washable marker to draw lines on your face, as you can shave directly along these for a precise shave. This will also help to get your goatee looking even and symmetrical. Just double check that the marker is washable first![3] 
3 Outline your goatee. Comb through your beard to straighten out any unruly hair, and then begin with a new, sharp, and clean razor, or a trimmer without the guard, to define the edges of your goatee. Start on your neck with little cuts, about the size of the razor blade or trimmer. Slowly work around to your chin and then cheeks, until you are happy with the edges of your goatee. 
4 Trim your goatee. Use an electric beard trimmer and make small, downward strokes moving from the outside in on your goatee. Trim all your facial hair to an even length. If you’re going for a mustache in combination with your goatee, it should be the same length or shorter than the rest of your goatee. 
5 Shave the parts of your face which will remain clean shaven. This includes your cheeks, and any parts of your chin or neck that are outside the edges of your goatee. When shaving close to the outline of your goatee, always start on the edge and shave outward to avoid accidentally shaving off part of it. For the part of your goatee on your neck, this means shaving vertically downwards, and for your chin, shaving towards your ears. 
1 Trim your goatee daily. A goatee requires daily trimming to keep it looking defined and clear-cut. Shave the rest of your face regularly to remove any stubble, as this will help your goatee to look neat, tidy, and stand out. 
2 Shampoo your goatee regularly. Dust, debris, food, and dirt particles can all be caught by facial hair, which makes it prone to damage and looking untidy. Massage shampoo into your beard, and rinse thoroughly. 
3 Condition your goatee regularly. While shampoo will clean your beard, it also remove your skin's natural oil in the process. Massaging in a specialty beard conditioner will prevent your beard from getting either too dry or oily. This will keep the skin under your beard clear, and free of blemishes. 
4 Use beard oil on your goatee. Beard oil will work to moisturize your skin, as well as softening your facial hair. A natural beard oil is the best choice, and works to hydrate, strengthen, and thicken facial hair. 
5 Maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep your hair looking good. A healthy lifestyle and routine will help your goatee to look the best it can be. Eating a well balanced diet will ensure that the right nutrients are reaching your hair follicles. Getting around 8 hours of sleep per night, alongside keeping a regular exercise routine, will all help to promote hair growth.[8] Advertisement 
Marlon Rivas Facial Hair Specialist Marlon Rivas is a Barber and Owner of MGX Professional Men's Grooming, a barbershop based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the founder of Busystyle.com, a service that provides online scheduling services to businesses in the barbering and beauty industry. Marlon has over 15 years of experience in managing and providing barber services. 