What is a Mutton Chops Beard? 10 Styles & How to Get Them

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Plus, how to embrace this unique style and make it your own

Co-authored by Marlon Rivas and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: March 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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What is the mutton chops beard?

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Growing a Mutton Chops Beard

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Beard Maintenance

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Styles

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History

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Embracing the Style

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There are plenty of different ways to cut your beard, but none are as unique or distinct as the mutton chops beard. The mutton chops beard is a one-of-a-kind style that features a cleanly shaven chin and thick hair on the sides that serve as the iconic mutton chops. In this article, we explain everything you need to know about the mutton chops beard, from what it is and how to grow one, to the different styles and where it comes from, with insights from wikiHow’s facial hair experts. Read on to learn all about it!

Mutton Chops Beard Explained

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An illustration of the different mutton chops beard styles.

A mutton chops beard is a unique beard style with long sideburns that cover the cheeks and jawline, stopping just short of the chin’s center in line with the edges of the mouth. Some styles feature a mustache on the top lip, while others are clean-shaven. All styles feature a chin that’s cleanly shaved in the center.

Section 1 of 6:

What is the mutton chops beard?

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The mutton chops beard has long sideburns on the cheeks and jaw. This bold style tends to feature thick, prominent sideburns that partially cover the cheeks and bridge down the jawline. Some styles feature connected mustaches, while others are bare on the upper lip. Besides the chops, each style also has a clean-shaven chin, helping define the chops.^{[1]
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- The mutton chops beard has been worn by popular celebrities like Hugh Jackman, John Lennon, and Elvis Presley.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Marlon Rivas is a facial hair specialist with over 15 years of experience in managing and providing barber services.

Juan Sabino is a professional barber with over 20 years of male grooming experience.

Timmy Yanchun is a professional barber and the co-founder of Svelte Barbershop + Essentials. He’s been featured in GQ, Men’s Fitness, and Hypebeast.

Mark LoBiondo is a licensed cosmetologist and the owner of Markdaniel Barbershop. He has over 9 years of experience in the industry.

Section 2 of 6:

How to Grow a Mutton Chops Beard

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Grow your facial hair for four weeks. Facial hair specialist Marlon Rivas says when you first start the growth process, “You should let the beard grow for a couple of weeks on its own. It’s really different for everybody. There’s a lot of genetic limiting factors in that. So if you’re really trying to grow a beard, just see what it does on its own for a few weeks.”^{[2]
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Marlon Rivas
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- This will show you what your facial hair looks like when it’s matured, notify you of any patches, and give you a better idea of what the mutton chops beard will look like on you.
- Rivas says not to get discouraged when you first start growing your beard, as hair grows in various stages. It’s a four-week cycle, so give it at least a month to grow and mature.^{[3]
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- Licensed cosmetologist Mark LoBiondo adds, “Don’t get [your beard] trimmed or shaped until it grows longer than you want it.”^{[4]
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- Make sure to let your sideburns grow, too. They’re crucial for pulling off this style.
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Trim the edges of your beard at the sideburns. Use a beard trimmer to clean up the edges of your sideburns down to your mustache, cutting away any stray hairs. Depending on the style you choose, you may want to keep the mustache or trim it away, so avoid touching it until you’ve decided on a style.^{[5]
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- Check for symmetry as you cut the sideburns. Avoid cutting too much off, as it could make the two sides of your beard look uneven.
- If you want a look that’s closer to the jaw, cut the edges down until you have about 1 inch (2.54 cm) of hair left on your jawline.
To create the mutton chops, cut the hair beneath your mouth and chin so your skin is visible. Make sure the hair on the edges of the mouth is connected to the rest of your beard if you decide to keep the mustache.
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Clean up your neck and cut away any residual hairs. Finish the style off by using your beard trimmer to cut the hair on your neck and below your chin. Not only will this clean up your beard and help those mutton chops shine, but it will also stave off the neckbeard look.
- Stop at the curve of your jaw to avoid digging into the mutton chops.^{[6]
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Section 3 of 6:

How to Maintain a Mutton Chops Beard

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Professional barber Juan Sabino says that “healthy hair comes from healthy skin follicles.” It’s important to focus on skin care, so regularly moisturize and clean your face.^{[7]
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Juan Sabino
Professional Barber

Expert Interview} Wash your face twice a day—once when you wake up and once before you go to bed, to help keep your skin and hair follicles clean.
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Shampoo and condition your beard regularly. Sabino says a part of keeping your beard clean and healthy is washing and conditioning your beard. When you wake up, Sabino suggests putting beard oil into your beard to keep it conditioned.^{[8]
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Expert Interview} It’s best to do this with a clean beard, so wash with shampoo if it’s been a while.
- Wash your beard 1 to 3 times a week using a specialized beard shampoo.
- Barber Igor Sadurskii says you can also use beard balm to keep your beard soft.^{[9]
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Trim your beard every 4-6 weeks. Use a beard trimmer to cut away extra stubble or bushy hairs that grow after 4 to 6 weeks. Mutton chops beards tend to be on the thicker side (depending on the style), so once the extra hairs come in, they can make it look very unruly. Unless that’s the look you’re going for, trim those hairs away to keep your beard clean.
- Professional barber Timmy Yanchun says to use a guard or comb when trimming your beard, because “if you sneeze or you have a shaky hand… then you can take a chunk right out of it.”^{[10]
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Section 4 of 6:

Mutton Chops Beard Styles

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This clean look is distinct without digging too deep into the weeds on the style. Rather than growing out to the cheeks for a thick look, the neat mutton chops beard takes up about 1 inch (2.54 cm) of space on the jawline, extends down to the chin before being cut off at the center, and connects to a mustache above the lip for a curvy, clean look.
This is a great style if you’re looking to sport a thick beard that catches eyes and has a vintage look. It’s a wild, thick look that features long sideburns that stretch from the jawline to the cheek and stop at the bottom of the chin in alignment with the mouth’s edges.^{[11]
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Burly Mutton Chops This style takes it a step above the bushy mutton chops, dressing the entire jawline and lower cheek in facial hair. The hair grows from the sideburns and stops at the sides of the mouth. The chin is bare, while the upper lip has a thick, burly mustache. Altogether, the facial hair connects everywhere but the chin, making for a unique, eye-catching look.^{[12]
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- Pair this look with a soul patch to even out the hair distribution a bit.
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Clean Mutton Chop Sideburns The clean mutton chop sideburns are a unique, dapper style that really accentuates the gentleman in you. It follows the same path as a standard mutton chop beard, growing from the sideburns to the jawline and mouth’s edges, but is neatly cut at the edges and combed down. It’s clean, sleek, and perfect if you’re looking for a sophisticated, iconic look.
- This style doesn’t feature a mustache, the facial hair is only present on the sides of the face.
Strap mutton chops are a simple, subtle mutton chops beard style that are as sleek as they are scrappy. Rather than letting the hair grow out to cover the cheek, this look keeps the sideburns sleek as they extend from the side of the head to the jawline. The sideburns seamlessly blend with the hair on the jawline for a shapely, distinct look.
The stubble mutton chops are a more casual look than the stand mutton chops beard, but they still stand out for their unique, defined look. Rather than letting the hair stay at long lengths after growing the mutton chops beard, this style calls for you to shave it down to a stubble and cut away the hair on your neck and chin.^{[13]
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Wolverine Mutton Chops Sported by Hugh Jackman during his role as the iconic Marvel Comics character Wolverine, the Wolverine mutton chops feature thick chops growing from the sideburns and connecting to a stubble mustache. The beard is thinly split down the middle of the chin, defining the mutton chops and finishing off this iconic look.
- These thick chops cover the area from the jawline to the bottom of the cheek.
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John Lennon Mutton Chops The iconic Beatles singer wasn’t just known for his ability to shred on a guitar; he was also known for his distinct, carefree mutton chops beard. The John Lennon mutton chops are thick and bold, growing out to cover the lower cheeks and jawline while stopping just before the edges of the mouth, similar to the bushy mutton chops beard.
- This style is a bit scruffier than other mutton chops beard styles. If you want it for yourself, avoid cutting the edges and stray hairs too cleanly. Instead, shape the mutton chops, shave the chin, and let the edges grow.
Elvis Presley played a major role in popularizing the mutton chops beard, and you can argue that it’s because his mutton chops aren’t as prominent as the standard variation. Presley’s mutton chops extend out to the cheek from the sideburns, but stop about 1 inch (2.5 cm) out, aligned with the top lip.
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Twirling Chops For this style, the mutton chops come down the jawline and end just at the edge of the mouth. The chin is bare, while the area above the top lip has a twirling handlebar mustache that stops just short of connecting to the chops. It’s a great look if you’re looking for something a bit more unique!^{[14]
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- If you’re having trouble deciding what style works best for you, Yanchun says to visit a barber and ask what style works best for your face shape.^{[15]
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Section 5 of 6:

History of the Mutton Chops Beard

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The mutton chops beard dates back to the Victorian era. The first wearer of the mutton chops beard is unknown, but the style was popularized in the 19th century thanks to Victorian, South American, and Civil War era figures like David Chubinashvili and José de San Martín. Their beards inspired young and old men of the era, who adopted the mutton chops beard and pushed its popularity all the way to the 20th century.
- The style was strong in the 20th century, with stars like Elvis Presley and John Lennon wearing it, but it became less popular in the 21st century.
- Although the mutton chops beard was popularized in the 19th century, its predecessor, the sideburn, has been seen all throughout history, even on Roman statues!
- While the mutton chops beard isn’t as popular as it was in the past, modern-day celebrities like Hugh Jackman still wear it with style.

Section 6 of 6:

How to Embrace Your Mutton Chops Beard

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Take pride in the style’s rich history. The mutton chops beard has been worn by plenty of famous figures in one style or another. So if you’re looking in the mirror and feeling like you might have made the wrong choice, remember, you have a whole history of people who prove otherwise.
- Rather than feeling like the style doesn’t suit you, take pride in the fact that it’s stood the test of time, and let that remind you of its strengths and stylish qualities.
Beard styles aren’t objectively good or bad, as people have different preferences. While it’s important to make sure your mutton chops beard is groomed and well-kept, remember, the style doesn’t make the man. Even if you feel like others won’t like the look, everyone is attracted to different things, and plenty of people love a mutton chops beard.
Words hurt sometimes, but you don’t have to let them get to you. If you like your mutton chops beard and want to keep it, don’t let a few critiques or jabs deter you. Accept that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but don’t let other people’s opinions keep you from rocking the mutton chops beard if you feel like it’s suited for you.^{[16]
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If you don’t want to fully commit to the mutton chops beard but still like how it looks on you, dedicate a few weeks out of the year to rocking the style, then trim it down to another one you like. That way, if the missus or your boss starts to complain, you can let them know it’s only around for a few weeks.