Have you ever watched the film 300? You know, the one about King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans that stayed to fight even though there were no odds of winning.
The movie stars Gerard Butler who plays King Leonidas and is directed by Zack Snyder.
Well, even if you haven’t watched it, you might recognize the iconic beard that Gerard Butler wears as King Leonidas, as it has become a symbol of masculine power and courage.
Ever since its release, many men have tried to recreate the beard by styling their own in the same way!
And honestly, when a beard becomes this iconic, it’s for a good reason, you know? So it’s no surprise that so many men want it.
But anyway, if you have heard of this beard, or have seen it around, and are thinking “hey I want to have a beard like that”, stick around.
We’re going to tell you everything you need to know about this particular style of beard, along with a full tutorial guide on how to grow one on yourself, and maintain it!
Does that sound good? Yeah, we thought so. Let’s get right into it!
What is the King Leonidas Beard?
Let’s start by clarifying exactly what the King Leonidas beard is so that you know what we’re talking about and so that you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Put simply, it is the beard worn by Gerard Butler when he played the role of King Leonidas in the movie 300.
It is essentially a short boxed beard style, grown in a thick manner, with a defined shape and outline.
It became an absolutely iconic part of the King Leonidas look. It is also a beard that the actor Gerard Butler sported for a while.
In fact, outside of his role, he settled for a more casual and relaxed version of the King Leonidas beard, which has turned him into one of the most recognizable actors in Hollywood (as well as him being incredibly popular amongst the ladies since he is considered to be incredibly attractive, with the beard being a big reason for this!)
The reason for the beard’s success is due to it accomplishing two things at once:
It gave King Leonidas a masculine appearance, thanks to the beard being thick and kingly
It really suited Gerard Butler because it added definition to his jawline and emphasized masculine traits within his facial features
Basically, it is a beard that has pretty much become the symbol for ultimate manpower and it has that combination of kingly elegance and rugged warrior, all in one.
We could go into a lot more detail about who exactly King Leonidas was in history and who Gerard Butler the actor is.
But, the truth is that this information is irrelevant. What matters is the beard and how it became a go-to style for a lot of men.
And most importantly, what matters is knowing how to get that beard style, which is what we are going to jump into next!
How to Grow a King Leonidas Beard
Okay, so we’ve talked a little about what exactly the King Leonidas beard is and why it is so incredibly popular.
Meaning it is now time to get to the heart of this article, and probably the main reason why you are here, reading all of this: the tutorial.
That’s right, we’re going to guide you through the process of how to grow out your beard so that it looks like the King Leonidas beard from the movie 300, with step-by-step instructions, and plenty of tips.
Are you ready? Are you sure you want to commit to this beard? Okay, then go ahead!
Here are the steps for growing the King Leonidas beard:
Grow Your Facial Hair
In order to get your beard to look like that of King Leonidas, you’re going to have to start by growing out your facial hair. After all, you can’t style a beard if there is no beard there to style!
This step is likely to take you between 6 to 8 weeks (this is an average time that can vary), during which you need to leave your beard alone.
No shaving or trimming! It can get a bit annoying, especially if your beard becomes itchy, but we recommend using some moisturizing lotion to help with that.
Prepare Your Beard For Styling
Once your beard is long enough to essentially be a full-length beard and the hair is nice and thick, it’s finally time to get styling and give it some shape. However, before you do that, it is vital that you prepare the beard properly.
By prepare, we mean wash, brush, and dry. After all, a clean and detangled beard will be a lot easier to style and manage, and it will also look and feel a lot better too!
Wash it thoroughly, using beard shampoo, and make sure to comb and brush all the way through so that there are no tangles left!
Shape The Beard
Once your beard is ready and prepped, grab a high-quality beard trimmer and get to work! The idea is that you have to shape the beard by creating a sort of box shape.
(The King Leonidas is a type of short box-shape beard, after all!)
So basically, trim the beard hair that is hanging from your chin and cheeks so that it creates a short box below the chin and face.
Make sure to also define the cheek lines for extra definition, as you want a strong masculine look.
Finishing Touches
Once you have finished styling the basic shape of the beard, you can go through it and adjust it as desired.
You can make it shorter if you prefer, and you can define the cheeks even further if you want less hair in that area. Work with the face shape you have so that the end result is something that suits you specifically.
Apply Beard Oil
The last step is optional, but one that we highly recommend: applying beard oil. Now the whole reason for this is that the King Leonidas is long and thick while remaining elegant and well-kept. A warrior beard that is kingly and appealing.
This means that you have to ensure that the hair looks healthy and strong and that it is neat and tidy. Beard oil can help you style it into a tidy shape and can also keep the hair become healthier and shine.
Not to mention that it will make the beard smell good, which is always a huge plus!
And that’s pretty much it! As you can see, the steps are fairly simple.
However, we recommend you take your time with the styling and shaping, and that you use the trimmer by cutting small areas, and then doing more as needed.
Don’t go all-in from the start, or you’ll have no room for corrections! Plus the beauty of this beard is that it’s big and thick, you don’t want to be taking away from that.
How to Style the King Leonidas Beard
If you’ve ever grown out a specific type of beard before, you will know that there are many ways to style it and many ways to wear it so that it looks good on you.
The King Leonidas beard is no different. In fact, Gerard Butler, the one who wore the beard and made it popular, has worn it in different styles over time, sometimes making it more of a casual look compared to the original movie.
And the thing is, since the King Leonidas beard is so big and full, it is important to style it correctly, so that it retains definition, and gives you that masculine elegant appearance.
But…how do you style the King Leonidas beard?
Here are our top styling tips!
Use A Beard Shaping Tool
The King Leonidas beard is well-defined in its shape, which is what helps highlight those masculine features and what gives it that air of both power and elegance.
In order to accomplish such a defined outline, and in order to ensure it is symmetrical, we recommend using a beard shaping tool.
It might seem unnecessary but it makes the shaping process all the easier and gives you a lot more control over the end result. Therefore, it can look as good as possible.
Trust us, it is well worth using the tool so that you go that extra step to get the perfect beard.
Use A High-Quality Beard Trimmer
In order to shape the beard and get that King Leonidas style in the first place, you’re going to need to use a beard trimmer so that you can trim down the edges of the beard and create the short box shape that defines this style.
And sure, any beard trimmer will do. But using a high-quality beard trimmer can make things a lot easier, a lot faster, and a lot better, overall.
Especially because high-quality beard trimmers will allow you to have more control over the process so that the result is far more refined, which is what you want for a successful-looking King Leonidas beard!
Below is the exact trimmer that I bought for my beard and I love it! I’m not blessed with the facial hair to pull off a King Leonidas beard, but the WAHL Stainless Steel Lithium Ion 2.0+ is a great trimmer for any style beard.
The King Leonidas beard is appealing because it provides that old-timey warrior-like appearance with the full-lenght thick beard, while looking refined and elegant, well-kept, and fit for a king.
The way it accomplishes this is by having a sharp and well-defined neckline. This will further highlight the masculine features of your face.
It is very important that you pay attention to the neckline and take your time creating it properly so that this beard actually looks good on you!
Use Beard Shampoo And Beard Oil
So many men think that beard shampoo and beard oils are unnecessary but they couldn’t be more wrong.
Washing your beard regularly will keep the hair healthy and thick, which is what you want for the King Leonidas beard to actually look good.
And applying beard oil will allow you to better style and shape the beard, so that it looks neat. It will also help it smell and feel amazing.
Plus there are many different beard shampoos and oils that you can choose from, suiting all manner of preferences and needs, so there really isn’t an excuse to not use them!
Other than that, our advice for styling your King Leonidas beard is to take your time and to ask for help when needed.
Also, maybe avoid styling the beard right before an important event or occasion, because if it does end up looking bad, you’re going to need some time to fix it!
Oh, and make sure to use picture references! Have a big photo of Gerard Butler as King Leonidas on hand, so that you can look at the beard and copy it. Having a visual can really help!
How to Maintain and Care for the King Leonidas Beard
Once you have successfully grown and styled your King Leonidas beard, and you’re happy with your Gerard Butler lookalike facial hair, it’s time to actually maintain it.
After all, beards keep on growing despite having been styled. This means that you have to regularly care and trim them so that they stay looking how you want them to.
So how do you maintain the King Leonidas beard? Is it hard? Or is it fairly low-maintenance?
The truth is, that it isn’t that hard to maintain at all. However, it does require consistency, as you will have to regularly trim and shape the beard and then apply the right care so that it continues to look full, thick, and healthy.
Here are our top tips for maintaining this particular type of beard:
Wash your beard with shampoo regularly. You want your beard to look clean and healthy and using the right products can help in doing so.
Apply beard oil daily. This will help you shape the beard, so that it always looks picture perfect, and some oils can also have health benefits to keep the hair well-nourished.
Trim the beard down every few days. It is important to keep that box-shape so you will have to trim any hairs that are growing out of that designated area. Plus you will want to trim your beard regularly in order to keep it at the desired length.
Have a beard shaping tool on hand. You know how beards can grow in inconvenient ways sometimes?
With hairs that appear out of place, or that grow in the wrong direction, having a beard shaping tool on hand will allow you to quickly touch up any bits that are out of place. In the morning before you start your day, gab that trimmer adm trim away. This will help your beard is stay well-defined and sharp for that perfect masculine look.
Will the King Leonidas Beard Suit You?
We’ve talked all about what the King Leonidas beard is, and why it is so popular, as well as how to grow it and how to maintain it so that it continues to look good.
But before you go ahead and style your beard in this way, stop and think about whether it is a good idea or not. We’re not trying to discourage you, or tell you not to do it.
But it is seriously worth thinking about whether you actually want to try this look out and whether it is going to suit you or not.
After all, not all beard styles suit everyone! You often have to take your face shape into account (amongst other things).
Luckily, the King Leonidas beard is known for suiting practically everybody. It is one of the safest styles of beard and one of the top go-to for many men.
This is because it can adapt to almost all face shapes and ends up always looking good!
The King Leonidas beard is designed to highlight the powerful and masculine features of a face so it makes most men look even better!
That being said, the beard will look slightly different on different face shapes and there are different things to consider for each.
So here are some of the main types of face shapes and what we recommend in regards to the King Leonidas beard:
Round Face Shape
If you have a round-shaped face, you will greatly benefit from the King Leonidas beard, as it will elongate your face and strengthen all of your soft features, adding a more masculine definition.
Square Face Shape
Square faces suit the medium and long style of the King Leonidas beard, as they will even out the proportions and complement the angular and well-defined features.
However, we would recommend that you avoid the shorter version of the King Leonidas beard.
Oblong Face Shape
An oblong face shape is perfect for the typical short King Leonidas beard. This is because oblong faces are long, and so you don’t need length added on, but rather, definition.
Heart Face Shape
If you have a heart-shaped face, the King Leonidas beard is actually not a great choice for you. That is unless you have a longer style of the beard.
A long or even medium-length King Leonidas, rather than the typical short box, will be a much better option, as it will help emphasize the cheek lines.
Triangle Face Shape
A short King Leonidas beard is the best option for those with a triangle-shaped face, as it will complement the angular features without elongating them further, as this isn’t needed.
Final Thoughts
The King Leonidas beard (aka, the beard worn by Gerard Butler in his leading role within the movie “300”), is an incredibly popular style, loved by many.
It is considered to be the pinnacle of masculine power and appearance and is highly desirable.
Luckily, it is a beard that looks great on most men, as it highlights strong features while adding definition!
In order to grow this beard, you need to get to the right length of facial hair and then you shape it by creating a short box-shape style.
You can go through our many tips, as well as our full step-by-step tutorial if you want some help on the matter!
Just remember that you will have to regularly maintain it if you want this beard to be a permanent addition to your look!
My name is Doug, and I've been growing a beard on and off for many years now.
I've not had a perfect journey on the road to growing a beard. I've spent more time than I want to admit learning about growing a beard. I'm not one of those blessed with perfect beard-growing genes. So, I've encountered many frustrating and challenging obstacles along the way.
I hope some of my mistakes and victories along the way will help you on your journey to your perfect beard. Of course, reach out if I can help and share this content with your friends that are beginning or struggling on their journey as well.
Beards are becoming increasingly popular and fashionable. This is because they help men feel more confident and look better than ever before. Contents show 1…
