Sideburns are strips of hair that grow down the sides of a man's face, in front of his ears. They connect the hairline to the facial hair, or they stand alone when someone is clean-shaven. Some sideburns are short and neat, barely extending below the ear, while others grow long and thick down toward the jaw.

Sideburns have gone in and out of fashion throughout history. In the 1800s, many men wore elaborate sideburns as a mark of dignity and style. Elvis Presley made them famous again in the 1950s and 60s. Today you'll see all varieties, from the barely-there sideburns of a businessperson to the thick, dramatic ones of someone going for a particular look. Like all facial hair, they're one way people express their personal style.