How to Glitter Your Beard - Do You Dare?

By: Miguel Matos

One of the alternative trends among bearded men is to cover the beard with glitter. Some call these image styles as experimental grooming. For me it's going to be a signature look and even in Lisbon, the city where I live, I've seen it more than once in several colours (well ok, mostly in gay bars). The trend was growing slowly until an instagram and youtube channel called The Gay Beards published a tutorial teaching how to do it. Now, these guys will adorn their huge beards with just about anything they can find, but glitter is my favourite look and I decided to try it on me.

After many attempts and after doing it successfully for the thirds time, I developed my own technique and favourite products for glittering my beard. It's not that hard and the glitter does go away from your face after a good bath, contrary to what you are now thinking. Your house, though, will remail sparkly for some weeks...

This is a fantastic look for you if you are going clubbing to some special party and want to impress everyone. You do not have to grow a full beard like mine, but I have to say it looks best with a big beard. Mine is dense and full, like a typical Portuguese guy.

The Gay Beards

First of all, you have to get two things: glitter and hairspray. Now, there is a glitter in bigger particles and another one which is almost like dust, they create different textures but the technique for applying is the same. He hairspray, the stronger the better. My favourite hairspray is Syoss Max Hold and I use this on my hair which is also very thick and rebel. Your beard will be like a rock and you might have some difficulty in moving your face at first, but trust me. I tried using beard oil and everything would fall off. Hair gel is not very good too for this. Other sites may advise moisturizer, gel, oil, but as fas as I'm concerned, only a mega strong hairspray does the trick.

Apply a coat of hairspray first. Do this by sections. While the hairspray is still wet, pour the glitter over it, covering the beard. Spray another coat of hairspray over the glitter. Work by sections and repeat the process. Be sure to make a nice contour. We don't want glitter on the skin, only over the beard. You can use a brush to apply the glitter or just pour it directly over the facial hair. I prefer to pour it over and later on use a brush for the areas under the chin or on the neck. Just spray and put the glitter using the brush as a spoon.

I didn't post more pics of myself doing it because now in the winter I look terrible like a vampire and even a sparkly bear will not make me look any better on pictures taken by a smartphone.

It's not difficult to glitter your beard. Just try this with only hairspray and glitter. You will be shedding sparkle all night long but don't worry. Your beard will look amazing until the end of the night. To remove, try to comb it. A lot of glitter will fall on your sink. After that just take a good shower and you are deglittered.

Products mentioned in article

Syoss Max Hold

Miguel Matos

Miguel is a Portuguese journalist obsessed with art and perfume. Miguel likes to see himself as a fragrance curator, investigating the possibilitie...(more)