Pairing a half-baked beard with a designer tux isn't a style move we'd usually advocate. On a Theroux type it looks cool and rebellious. On a non-Theroux type, it looks like you're coming off a three-day bender rather than walking into a big awards show. But at this year's Emmy Awards, a lot guys made it a grooming trend and proved that the high-low contrast actually makes for a style home run. And they weren't the exception to the rule. A slew of stylish know-what-they're-doing men—and winners!—turned up with scruff. It ranged from Riz Ahmed's dusting of facial hair to Reid Scott's near-beard but none of it looked messy. When paired with properly-tailored tuxedos—which, somehow, every guy managed to wear last night—the effect was modern and cool, the kind of unstuffy elegance that feels appropriate in 2017.

There is an art to growing out facial hair, and these red carpet regulars have it down pat. After all, growing a robust beard takes time. The in-between phase of baby's butt hairless to mountain man can be weeks, months even. That's why we salute the hirsute men of last night's Emmys for showing up with scruff, but making sure it was neat and trimmed (facial hair doesn't have to be doomed to look like shit just because it's a work-in-progress).

Living with a patchy beard or one that's growing out can be a bummer if you don't know how to handle it. But we're here to tell you that every man who's attempted a beard (yes, even Donald Glover) has been there. And the best way to get through your the difficult in-between time is with regular maintenance. Your growing beard is like a plant, and you its gardener. You can't expect it to take care of itself. With that in mind, don't forget to exfoliate to clear your face of dry or dead skin cells that will clog pores or block hair follicles. And also don't forget there's thirsty skin underneath your growing facial hair, so moisturize it accordingly. Then all you have to do is jump in a black tie fit like the guys you see here and presto, you're a grooming god.

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