[header] How to grow a van dyke beard [title] Start with a clean-shaven face. [step] Whether you're a beard-styling champion or first-timer, your face is your canvass-start fresh. Shave completely and then wait a week for your hair to even out. 
Your face is ready for the van dyke when your stubble has grown out to about ¼ inch. [substeps] For some people it may take more than a week for the hair to grow back in.