How to Grow a Van Dyke Beard

Even if you’ve never heard of a Van Dyke beard, you can picture one. Think of the Three Musketeers or an English cavalry officer on horseback. That’s the Van Dyke!

Named after the 17th-century Flemish painter Anthony Van Dyck, it’s become synonymous with distinguished men. Often confused with other beard types – namely the goatee and Balbo – it’s characterized by the mustache, soul patch, and medium-length pointed chin beard. 

The Van Dyke is making something of a comeback. Hollywood legends like Christian Bale, Johhny Depp, and Pierce Brosnan have all tried it out at one time or another. And then there’s the man, the myth, the legend, the king of KFC, Colonel Sanders. 

Ready to channel your inner swashbuckler? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is a Van Dyke Beard?

The Van Dyke beard is a very particular style. Technically, it belongs to the broader goatee family – the term for any beard comprised of a mustache, soul patch, and small chin beard. 

So, what makes a Van Dyke special? Well, it’s all down to the shape – it’s about emphasizing your beard’s elegance. The mustache can be either a pencil or something leaning into the handlebar – think twirling ends. The soul patch is cut short and disconnected from the rest of the beard.

Last is the key feature: the pointed chin beard. The point can either be extremely long and pronounced or a little shorter. It all depends on the man behind the beard. Usually, the beard is kept fairly short – around ½ to 2 inches in length. 

Van Dyke Beard Styles and Variations

Van Dykes aren’t all cookie-cutter copies of each other. Despite there being some firm rules, you can experiment quite a bit with different Van Dyke beard styles. Get your creative juices flowing with these ideas:

• Classic Van Dyke: A sharp, clean-shaven cheek paired with a neat mustache and a tapered goatee—a timeless gentleman’s choice.
• Bold Modern: Thicker, more pronounced mustache with a subtly filled-in cheek for a contemporary twist on the traditional Van Dyke.
• Twirl-Up Mustache: Classic Van Dyke spruced up with upward twirled mustache tips, adding a dash of flair and vintage charm.
• Anchor Point: A sharply defined, anchor-shaped beard that connects a slender mustache to a pointed chin beard—a nautical nod that’s sure to turn heads.
• The Disconnector: Emphasizes the break between a bushy mustache and a minimalist, finely-trimmed goatee for a modern, edgy look.

How to Grow a Van Dyke

Okay. You’ve settled on a particular style. Now, how do you go about turning the picture on your screen into reality? Here’s a step-by-step guide:

What You’ll Need:

• Electric Trimmer
• Beard Brush
• Beard Comb
• Trimming Scissors
• Beard Oil
• Mustache Wax (optional)

What To Do:

Let your hair grow for several months to get the necessary length before beginning to trim. You want it to be around 2 inches in length. 

1. Start by using the electric trimmer to remove all the hair and sideburns from your cheeks. You’ll want to leave your mustache, soul patch, and chin beard.
2. An attachment is used to trim the mustache and soul patch to the right length. If you’re going for a handlebar mustache, leave the mustache quite long and thick – especially at the ends.
3. Clean up the neckline under your chin, bringing it much closer to your jawline than you would with other beards. 
4. Trim the chin beard into a point. It can either be a sharp, defined point or something slightly more rugged. 
5. Take your beard comb and trimming scissors to remove the rogue hairs and tidy up the mustache. 
6. Apply 3-4 drops of beard oil and brush it through using your beard comb. You might want to do a little further tidying up if necessary. You can also apply the mustache wax to get that classic handlebar look.