You'd have to be a fashion recluse to be unaware of the hair-icane that has taken men's grooming by storm. Pick up any recent men's magazine and you will find superheroes Andrew 'Spider-man' Garfield, Christian 'Batman' Bale or Michael 'Prometheus' Fassbender gracing the covers with a bit of scruff and fuzz.
Whether it's a perfectly sculpted 'stache, well-groomed stubble, or a classic full-grown beard, the hirsute face seems to have taken over most of Hollywood's style mavens.
Hong Kong's gents also seem to be experimenting with their whiskers. 'Young gentlemen in Hong Kong will never be last when it comes to creating their own sense of style,' says Day Lagasca, manager of the Mandarin Barber at the Mandarin Oriental hotel.
Salon owner Philip George believes that, before joining the beard bandwagon, finding the right look is essential. 'The first step in growing facial hair is to identify the type that works best for your facial features. For a round face, keep the sideburns tighter and go longer at the chin to add length. For a long face, do the exact opposite. Proportions are also key: those with large faces should wear fuller beards, while guys with small faces should keep things trimmed tightly.'
'Your scruff should work with your total look - your hair and image', advises Peter Ho, creative men's stylist at The Strand in Central, which has an entire floor dedicated to male grooming. 'Don't think about just your beard; keep the whole picture in mind.' Here are some guidelines:
Goatee and moustache
This style suits those with a full or round face. Kem Mehmet, head barber at Gentlemen's Tonic at the Landmark, says it is popular among men with less facial hair, as the growth on these areas is often denser.