sideburn

Sideburns are facial hair on the sides of the face, extending from the hairline in front of the ears down the cheeks toward the jaw. They may be kept narrow or grown fuller, and can be worn without a mustache, connected to a mustache, or joined to a chin beard. The term covers a range of styles, and individual variations are common.

The term sideburns derives from the surname Burnside. It originated in the 19th century from General Ambrose Burnside, who was noted for his distinctive facial hair. The spelling historically appears as burnsides and later sideburns; the singular sideburn is sometimes used colloquially but the plural form is standard for the hairstyle.

The sideburns style became popular in the mid-1800s, with soldiers and civilians adopting the look, sometimes called burnsides. In the 19th and early 20th centuries it remained common; it coexisted with mustaches, mutton chops, and full beards. Fashion cycles and cultural associations have shaped the look, from military portraits to 1960s pop culture.

Variations include straight-cut, curved, or tapered ends; they may be kept thin or grown thick; some styles connect to a mustache or chin beard, while others are worn as a separate stripe along the jawline. Distinctions exist between sideburns and related beard styles such as the broader mutton chops.