Monkey tail beard
A single line from sideburn round the mouth to the chin.
At a glance
- Also known as
- Nothing else in common use
- What it is
- A single line from sideburn round the mouth to the chin.
- Length
- Short, under an inch
- Growing time
- 3 to 4 weeks
- Trim how often
- Every 1 to 2 days
- Best face shapes
- Ovaal
- Moustache
- Yes
Difficulty5 / 5
How easy it is to get wrong.
Upkeep5 / 5
How often you are back at the mirror.
Growing time2 / 5
How long before you can shape it.
£5 off your first delivery
One continuous line around the mouth, and everything else shaved. There is nowhere for a ragged edge to hide.
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The variations
The same shape, worn differently. What changes is length, density and how much you take off at the edges.
Classic monkey tail
Short
One continuous line from sideburn round the mouth to the chin.
Thin monkey tail
Short
A narrower line, harder to keep even.
Will it suit your face?
Where a style puts weight, and where it takes it away, is what decides whether it suits you. The table below is the short version.
| Ovaal | Works | Nothing to correct, so it comes down to preference. |
|---|---|---|
| Rond | Ideal | Length at the chin pulls the face longer and the bare cheeks stop it widening. |
| Vierkant | Works | Softens a heavy jaw by drawing the eye to a narrower point at the chin. |
| Langwerpig | Avoid | Adds length to a face that is already long. Go wider at the cheeks instead. |
| Heart | Ideal | Weight at the chin balances a broad forehead and a narrow jaw. |
| Diamant | Works | Fills out a pointed chin, though keep it short or it exaggerates the point. |
How to cut one, in four steps
- Grow it out3 to 4 weeks. You cannot see where your growth is dense until it is in, and shaping early is why most first attempts fail.
- Set the lengthTrim the chin and moustache with a guarded trimmer on dry hair, so it sits at its true length.
- Shave the cheeksDownward, with the grain, short passes and light pressure. Pressing harder gives razor burn, not a closer shave.
- Cut the outlineLast, with a precision trimmer. Work from the outside inward on each side, checking both sides between passes.
Full detail, tools and the common mistakes are in the guide below.
Other disconnected styles
Same shape, different length or moustache.
If this one is too much work
Same idea, less of your morning.
Browse by what matters to you
The same directory, cut a different way.