God Balbo is an old style made popular by the Italian dictator Mussolini. But in the last 50 years, the Balbo has certainly risen above its dubious beginnings, with many celebrities sporting beautiful variations.
The Balbo is easily recognized by its appearance, the mustache is separated from the beard. This is a versatile beard style with many variations. It can work on almost any face shape but is especially flattering on men with a weak chin by camouflaging that area and adding fullness.
Whether you like a long beard, a full beard, a sparse beard or a perfectly trimmed beard, there’s a Balbo for you.
What is Belvo Bird?
Balbo Bird
A beard in the heart is an inverted “T” beard closely related to a box or anchor beard. The Balbo beard does not connect to the mustache, and there are no wigs.
The beard became popular in the 1920s and 1930s after Italo Balbo wore the style. However, the Balbo still enjoys a widespread reputation today, and Robert Downer Jr. rocks the celebrity look.
Who should try Balbo Beard?
Balbo beards are most popular on round faces, but this is a versatile beard type that works great for most face shapes. Because a beard adds mass and draws attention to the chin, a beard can elongate and tighten a round face.
The lack of wigs associated with a heart beard makes the cut look good on those with square face shapes. The heart and oblong face get bone structure and defined jaw definition from the cut. Triangle faces can look good with a beard on the elbow, but it’s essential that the cut doesn’t go too far up the jawline and hide the already reduced bone structure.
How to design a bird heart
Balbo beards are very easy to make at home. The goal is to be as symmetrical as possible, but you don’t have to be perfect. Since none of the parts touch each other, there is little margin for error.
If you want a beard in your own heart, follow these steps:
- You will need at least four weeks of beard growth to have a beard on your elbow.
- You must shave it all down to about an inch and a half if you have long beard hair.
- Before you begin, make sure your beard is clean, dry and moisturized.
- Start with an unguarded razor and remove the hair on your cheeks, starting below the ears.
- Shaving from top to bottom and face.
- Keep your hair above your lip.
- Don’t shave half an inch of hair on either side above your lip (so you have plenty of room to style a mustache).
- Do not shave hair below the lips.
- You will now have a solid base from which to shape your Balboa beard.
- Carefully shape the mustache from the hair above the lip, making sure all the skin between the mustache and the lower lip line is gone. Remember, in the end, your mustache and beard should not touch.
- Shave the rest of your beard into the shape you want. One of the most common is to leave half to one inch of hair along the jawline and fully cover the chin, but your stylistic choices are up to you!
- Trim the look with a precision trimmer.
- Once your beard is in the shape you want, trim your beard every four weeks or as needed.
Try these 15 Balbo beards
Growing and styling a Balbo beard style is not terribly complicated. Let your facial hair grow, especially your mustache.
This beard style stands out in that the mustache has a certain demarcation from the rest of your facial hair, so depending on how short you want the rest of your beard to be, let it all grow long enough to have a full mustache and trim the rest to your desired length.
This can easily be done at home with an old beard trimmer, although it may be more convenient to let a professional trim and style for you the first time and maintain it yourself from there.
#1: The classic Balboa
Here we see a classic conception of the Balbo. Although Mussolini wore less hair in the cheek area, the classic Balboa is marked by hair on the chin, a “soul patch” area under the lower lip, and a mustache that is visually distinguishable from the rest of the facial hair.
This Balbo is relatively low maintenance and works for many face shapes and styles. It’s handsome, masculine and not too groomed.
#2: The Balbo with a designed mustache
You can take your Balbo beard to the next level by combining it with a more styled mustache and trimming the cheek area. This makes the baldo different from a full beard and mustache.
Also, feel free to let it grow long and full if that’s the look you want. Here we see a thick moustache, which adds a sense of whimsy to a classic style.
#3: The Balbo with a wax mustache
If you wear your Balboa beard with a mustache in shape, go ahead and break out the wax. You can style your mustache into a charming bayonet style, taking your look to a new level.
Although it’s not an overly professional look, just skip the wax for weekdays at the office and take it out for nights on the town. It’s a way to add versatility to your look without shaving or reshaping.
#4: The office-friendly Balbo Beard
If you need a more professional, office-friendly look, the Balbo can still work for you. Keep both beard and mustache neatly trimmed, but make sure the mustache is separated from the rest of the beard. It gives you a beard style that is Balbo but also works well at once.
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#10: The natural mid-length bangs
Maybe you’re more of a full, natural old guy. The Balbo can still be tuned to suit your style. Let your beard and mustache shine in all their natural glory, while maintaining a demarcation between the two.
#11: The natural, full bob with a medium-length beard
Some men look great with a medium to longer beard style. Don’t be afraid to let your beard, especially your chin area, grow into a full, medium-length style. Even longer can work. As long as you keep that mustache visually separate, you’ll still have a handsome Balbo style.
You might want to keep the facial hair on your cheeks trimmed a little longer than the hair on your chin to keep a style that’s a little more traditional, but you can really take this beard style in almost any direction that suits you.
#12: The Balbo with a fuller beard and shapely mustache
A styled mustache is a way to emphasize that your mustache is different from the rest of your facial hair, and that’s really what defines it at heart. A deliberately styled moustache, worn with or without wax, is especially stunning when paired with a full, medium-length beard. This look seems vaguely hipster without going too far.
#13: The neat and clean Balbo
Maybe you are not ready to be completely shaved, but need a look that looks neat and clean. Trim all your facial hair to a very short length, again keeping the mustache distinct rather than letting it blend in. You will have a Balbo that gives you a very clean look.
#14: The mustache matches the beard
Although to get a Balbo, your mustache needs to be different from the rest of your facial hair, you can certainly wear it all the same length. This creates an easy, effortless style that requires relatively little daily maintenance.
#15: The jaw in his heart
This handsome Balboa keeps very little facial hair on his cheeks, just enough to accentuate his jawline. This style creates the illusion of a defined jawline, even in men whose jawline is relatively weak.
Stylish ideas with a full beard worth trying
Balbo Bird vs. Bird Anchor
Balbo beards are very similar to anchor beards. While both have inverted “T” beards, both avoid sideburns, and both feature a mustache that doesn’t touch the beard, there are several key differences.
Balboa beard can be thinner or thicker and can extend over the entire jaw line.
The anchor is always pointed and slightly thinner away from the chin, reaching up to cover the entire chin. The anchor beard always looks like an anchor and does not extend over the entire jaw line.
The Balbo is a classic beard style that can be updated in many ways. No matter your sense of style or face shape, there’s sure to be a Balbo for you.
Common questions
Read these FAQs to learn more about Balbo beard styles.
The balbo beard was first popularized in Italy after the infamous Fascist, and pilot Italo Balbo sported the look.
Although Balbo may not be the best person to copy morally, he had excellent taste in beards, and the style flourishes today.
No, the beards in his heart have no wigs. The beards in his heart consist only of a mustache and a beard; Both are not attached to each other or to the scalp hair.
However, if you prefer wigs, you can always create your own hybrid style that resembles a beard at heart but with wigs.
Balbo beards vary in length from four weeks of growth to three inches in length. Although, in theory, it can be grown more, but it will be very difficult to style and maintain the look so that it still looks neat and clean.