Among the many ways to style your beard, mutton chops are one of the coolest. This facial hair style rose to prominence in the 19th century and still feels striking today.
Facial hair has always helped create a statement-making, bold look. Even though the name might sound a bit amusing, this is a badass beard style for anyone who prefers a bolder finish.
The Origin of Mutton Chops
The mutton chops look rose to prominence in the 19th century. The term burnsides, later reversed to sideburns, was linked to American Civil War general Ambrose Burnside, who wore the style with a mustache and a clean-shaven chin. The look has lasted for generations and still turns heads today.
How To Get a Mutton Chops Beard
Styling a mutton chops beard requires attention so you can get it just right. Start by combing your sideburns downward, using a comb that suits the density of your facial hair.
Then shave the hair on your cheeks at a slanted angle, keeping the thickness you prefer and tapering the burns slightly near the ears.
Pork chop sideburns can be adapted in many different ways depending on your face shape, so we have compiled 20 beard styles here to help you choose the best one for your face.
Watch the following video to make mutton chops by yourself
Different Beard Styles with Mutton Chop Sideburns
If you are looking for a style that feels different from the usual and still looks a little funky and cool, then mutton chops might be exactly what you want.
Explore these different mutton chop beard styles and choose the one that suits you best.
1. Classic Heritage Mutton Chops
This classic take on mutton chops gives off old-sheriff vibes, doesn’t it?
Ideal For: Square face shapes.
How To Style: Keep the sideburns thick all the way to the top and pair them with a well-trimmed mustache.
2. Twirled Mustache Mutton Chops
This take on mutton chops looks especially sharp and gets a different touch from the curled mustache.
Ideal For: Oblong face shapes.
How To Style: Grow your sideburns out until they go past your jawline and match them with a handlebar mustache twisted at the ends.
3. Refined Tapered Mutton Chops
Here is a mutton chop style that leans clean and sophisticated, making it a solid choice if you want something polished enough for a professional look.
Ideal For: Square face shapes.
How To Style: Keep the mustache and sideburns neat, with the chop beard slightly tapered and a little bit of stubble on the chin.
4. Bald and Bold Mutton Chops
This one is close to the look mentioned above, only the sideburns are a bit thicker, and the little bit of hair below the lower lip gives it a bolder look while keeping it simple.
Ideal For: Oval face shapes.
How To Style: Shape them like classic mutton chops, only bolder, with a clean chin and a little hair below the lower lip.
5. Sharp-Cut Modern Mutton Chops
These pork chop sideburns have a sharp finish along with a neat mustache, which makes them a strong pick if you want a punk-leaning look.
Ideal For: Oblong or Square face shapes.
How To Style: Keep your sideburns and mustache close-cut and properly brushed to give a sharper look, with little or no stubble on the chin.
6. Rugged, Undone Mutton Chops
If you like to keep your scruffy beard like you haven’t got a care in the world and you like to live freely, then this is the one for you.
Ideal For: Oval or Inverted Triangle face shapes.
How To Style: Long, messy sideburns and a thick mustache usually do the trick.
7. Clean-Cut Light Mutton Chops
When you’re looking for something eye-catching but still want to keep it light, this mutton chop style just might be the answer.
Ideal For: Oblong or Oval face shapes.
How To Style: Just pay attention to keeping the sideburns properly styled and neat. This look works well without a mustache or any hair on the chin.
8. Full-Volume Statement Chops
Rock a powerful, bold vibe with these thick sideburns and a full mustache, and make a statement with your facial hair alone.
Ideal For: Square face shapes.
How To Style: Grow the mutton chop sideburns to the point where your jawbone ends and keep them thick. Pair them with a dense mustache and a clean chin or very light stubble.
9. Wild Volume Mutton Chops
By keeping your ginger beard in this funky style, you can let your wild side show and stay lively.
Ideal For: Oblong face shapes.
How To Style: Let your sideburns grow out with a bold flare and keep the chin mostly clean.
10. Wide Mutton Chops Without a Mustache
These burns bring all the attention to the sides of the face. They are wide but still controlled, which gives them a bold mutton chops look.
Ideal For: Oval face shapes.
How To Style: Keep the burns wide but properly trimmed, and clean the mustache and chin area.
11. Sculpted Wide Burns
The angular shape of these wide sideburns draws attention to them and works nicely with the light hair below the lower lip.
Ideal For: Oval or Inverted Triangle face shapes.
How To Style: Shave the burns at a sharp, slanted angle and remove the mustache, leaving only a touch of hair under the lower lip. Keep the chin clean as well.
12. Regal Mutton Chops with a Full Mustache
These chops are slimmer through the sideburn area and put the focus on a fuller mustache, which gives the whole look a regal finish.
Ideal For: A defined Square face shape.
How To Style: Keep the burns slightly slimmer than classic chops, grow a fuller mustache, and leave short growth on the chin if you want a more dramatic finish.
13. Extended Mutton Chops
If you want all heads turning because of your eye-catching extended mutton chops and long lower beard, then try this one out.
Ideal For: Round face shapes.
How To Style: The key to this one is to grow the burns at least 2 to 3 inches past your jawbone, clean the mustache area, and let the lower beard grow long.
14. Separated Chops with a Fu Manchu
If you want to achieve that Texas cowboy look, then this is the style you have been looking for.
Ideal For: Square face shapes.
How To Style: Start with wide sideburns and a thick Fu Manchu mustache, then shave a gap where the sideburns and mustache would normally connect.
15. Fine-Line Mutton Chops
The sideburns in this style are kept to a very thin line, which brings all the attention to the mustache. So, you can have the mutton chop look without having to manage all that hair. This buzz cut with beard look is a cool one to have.
Ideal For: Round or Diamond face shapes.
How To Style: Shave most of your beard until there’s only a thin strip of hair left on your jawbone, along with a thin mustache with its tips joining the end of the sideburns.
16. Extra-Long Beard with Heavy Sideburns
Your beard is all yours, and you can experiment with it however you want. This look moves beyond classic mutton chops and into extra-long beard territory, but the heavy sideburns still give it a dramatic, old-world finish.
Ideal For: Those who like dramatic beard styles.
How To Style: Let the beard grow long and full, and keep the sideburns dense so the silhouette stays strong.
17. Polished Friendly Mutton Chops
The classic, proper walrus mustache and short mutton chops usually give off a friendly vibe because the look feels clean and hassle-free.
Ideal For: Face shapes with round and softer edges.
How To Style: Keep the chops’ length to the middle of your jawline, and keep that classic style of mustache. For the remaining jawline and chin, just a bit of stubble will do.
18. Retro Elvis-Inspired Burns
This one feels Elvis-inspired. Go for this mutton chop beard style if you want a retro look.
Ideal For: Anyone who loves a retro finish.
How To Style: Grow them out like a classic Elvis-era sideburn style and trim accordingly. Keep your chin area clean, with a slight break in the mustache.
19. Sculpted Chops with a Goatee
This is an interesting mix of a French beard with mutton chops, and you should go for this if something a little unusual is what you are looking for.
Ideal For: Round face shapes.
How To Style: Keep thick, sharp-bordered sideburns that end in the middle of your jawline, and keep your lower beard connected with the mustache in a classic goatee.
20. Minimalist Mutton Chops
This is nothing too bold or wide, but definitely something out of the ordinary. So if that’s what you are aiming for, then this is the pork chop sideburn style you should go for.
Ideal For: This style looks best on oval face shapes.
How To Style: Keep a regular light mustache, a little hair below the lower lip, and short, light beard on the sides of your face that ends almost as soon as it starts, and voila, you’re done.
FAQs on Mutton Chop Sideburns
Yes. Mutton chops are a facial hair style defined by full sideburns that extend down the cheeks, often paired with a mustache and a clean-shaven chin.
The nickname “mutton chops” comes from the shape of the whiskers, which resemble cuts of mutton.
Mutton chops are a cool beard style, especially if you want to bring back a classic look with more character.
A mutton chop beard style can be achieved with a little effort and care, and since there are so many variations of it, there are plenty of options to choose from based on what suits your face best.
With this list of mutton chop styles, the face shapes they suit, and how to style them, choosing the right version for you has become easier than ever.