Staff Writer

It wasn't long ago that girls were going crazy over those clean-shaven, sleek, 'metrosexual'-kinda guys, but it seems as though that time may have now passed.

A somewhat more macho look, personified by Thai movie star Ananda Everingham, who sports a full beard, has come back into vogue, and it's this look that's recently been turning ladies' heads.

But all is not lost for the clean-cut boys who may wish to climb on board the bandwagon in order to attract some admiring glances from the ladies.

The cat's whiskers

Facial hair usually grows at a rate of anywhere between 20 and 50 millimeters per day depending on a person's nationality and genetic make up. These factors determine how often someone needs to shave – so some men need to shave on a daily basis, while others only need to shave every now and then.

A beard can be worn for anywhere between three to six months depending on the subject's preferences, so growing a beard can actually save men an awful lot of time in the bathroom!

But to impress a woman, men sporting beards need to ensure that their whiskers are both neat and well-trimmed, while naturally complimenting their facial features. In order to achieve this look, you'll need a small pair of good quality scissors, as well as a decent razor. A dirty, scruffy beard will do nothing to attract the opposite sex.

Guys with an 'heart'-shaped face are in a good position when it comes to their suitability since it seems they can successfully sport just about any kind of beard.

Skin type can also play a part when it comes to suitability. Our expert suggests that guys with fairer skin should ensure that their growth is long enough to cover it up properly. In general, it's thought that people with darker-colored skins should avoid wearing long beards as they tend to be less than complimentary.

Our experts says that guys whose faces are longer than average ought to grow sideburns and ensure that their beard is reasonably long. If the same subject also has a prominent forehead, both sideburns and beards should be avoided since it accentuates this feature. Our expert suggests that a well-trimmed mustache might be the most appropriate option in this person's case.

Guys with a squarer face and a wide jawline ought to avoid sideburns since they also tend to exaggerate these features. A U-shaped beard is ideal for these kind of guys.

A guy with a wide forehead but a squat face can benefit from sporting a beard without a mustache since this can lengthen the appearance of the head, and draw people away from the forehead. Finally, guys with a longish face but a small forehead would benefit greatly from growing both a beard and a mustache since doing so can make a face appear far more interesting. - Translated into English and republished with the kind permission of Mars magazine.

Trimming tips and techniques

• Wash your face properly to start softening up your whiskers.

• Apply shaving foam or gel for one to three minutes to further soften the whiskers so they're easier to deal with.

• Use a clean and sharp traditional 'wet' razor or an electric razor to trim your beard into shape.

• Small scissors can be used to trim the longer hairs or stray hairs.

• Use aftershave in the form of a cologne, cream, or gel to get rid of any unwanted bacteria and feel extra fresh following your trim. Guys with sensitive skin or allergies should be extra careful when considering this step.