A man’s facial hair is an integral part of his style. Some say there are as many beard styles for men as stars in the sky, and we can’t argue with this opinion!
The best beard styles will help you look like a hero to your friends and family while giving you more confidence than ever before.
Beards come in various styles, and you can shape them with the help of a comb, beard oil, trimmer shaver and edger. In fact, you can look at a face shape chart to see what hairstyle suits your jawline and cheekbones.
This guide shows you different ways to groom, manage, and care for your beard so it grows thick and complements your face’s shape. Find the perfect shape below.
1. Full Beard
The full beard is at the top because it’s the epitome of beard growth to achieve. If you have a long, luscious beard that connects to a well-developed mustache, you often won’t spend a ton of time grooming. Rather, the length and rugged appeal of the beard makes it desirable.
2. Short Beard
The short beard is a simple and attractive style that’s easy to grow and maintain. It only takes a few weeks to grow and can be shaped with clean, defined lines for added visual appeal.
The short beard typically incorporates a connected mustache cut to the same overall depth.
3. Thin Beard
Thin beard styles are actually quite popular because you can trim and fade the beard, so even if you have light patches, they’re not as prominent. You can also comb and brush your beard with a balm to promote growth in patchy areas.
4. Designer Stubble
The designer stubble beard tends to have varying thicknesses, making it perfect for those who want to bring out their chin more. Inverted triangle, oval, and smaller chin shapes can use this neat, short stubble to define their jawline and cheekbones.
5. Lock Beard
If you want to grow your hair around your mouth to the bottom of your chin, then the lock beard (aka padlock beard) is a unique twist to the traditional. Similar to a goatee, the rest of your face is clean-shaven. You must maintain this clean look like Brad Pitt (below).
6. Chin Strap Beard
This is a good beard to try if you want to highlight your chin and balance out a larger forehead shape. This is also a superb look for triangle and heart shapes.
The chin strap beard can vary with or without a mustache. Personally, I wear it with a thicker mustache style that connects with each side strap and grow the chin beard out slightly longer up to the mid-jaw line. Then, it’s cleanly shaven up to the ears and your natural hairline.
7. Stubble Beard
The stubble beard is a great choice if you want that brooding look like Ricky Martin. You can allow your hair to grow naturally on your face, including into the hollows of your cheeks. You’ll use a beard trimmer to keep your beard hair short along the jawline and underneath.
8. Van Dyke Beard
The Van Dyke beard extends from the bottom of the lip outward to cover the point of your chin. It’s a smaller, trim beard that’s highly stylized. It may make your face look more angular, so oval and rectangle faces with higher cheekbones can pull this look off the best.
9. Five O’clock Shadow
If you want to grow your hair and keep it neat while growing it out, you can go with a styled 5 O’clock Shadow Beard. This beard is defined by clean, straight lines under the cheekbones and a mustache. It’s kept short along the jaw and with all stray hairs trimmed.
10. Neck Beard
If you want to grow long hair down to the bottom of your chin and below the neck, you can achieve a rugged, wilder look. However, grow too much hair below your neckline, and you’ll develop a nasty neck beard. Learn how to trim your neckline here.
11. Square Beard
The square beard is a full shape style that’s neatly trimmed. Typically, the style looks more chiseled than it does “square” from the jaw hinge to the length under the chin.
You’ll trim the stray hairs from the bottom and sides to make it angular. If you have a rounder face, this look can straighten out your natural curves and help you achieve a mature, defined look.
12. Short Box Beard
This is a fuller-looking beard shape that’s more neatly trimmed to reduce the weight and volume. The short boxed beard is perfect for those looking for a full beard look without the overall bulk.
13. Pointed Beard
Want to elongate your face shape? This is the beard for you. These beards are trimmed, so the hair is shaped to a point. This brings the focus down your jaw.
14. Ducktail Beard
The ducktail beard is basically a full beard that concentrates its shape on your chin’s facial hair. With being fuller on your chin, the shape resembles a duck’s tail, and that is essentially where it gets its name. See Leonardo DiCaprio’s stylish Ducktail Beard.
15. Scraggly Beard
For a hipster look, the scraggly beard is perfect. It’s a bit messy and long, and it connects to a bit of an unkempt mustache.
16. Garibaldi Beard
The Garibaldi Beard is a well-balanced look with a soft curve around the chin hair. The style typically has a flatter curve, but I personally like the tighter curve in the image below. It creates a distinct and sophisticated look – IMHO
17. Wolverine Beard
I totally dig superhero beards, especially the Wolverine. It’s a mutton chops style beard but with a stubble mustache. I’ve tried to rock this style, but my wife prefers a full stache. Check out all the Wolverine beard style variations from the X-Men movies.
18. Balbo Beard
If you’re trying to grow longer facial hair on your chin, then the Balbo Beard style with a curly mustache may be your new look. This style is easy to grow it out and maintain, and it just looks crazy cool.
19. Tapered Beard
This full beard tapers at the edges, but it’s fuller around the lower parts of the chin (like the ducktail). This leads up to your thinner areas in the hollows of your cheeks. Lines are cut and trimmed under the cheeks to the ear.
Many consider the taper similar to a beard fade. They are different.
20. Barely There Beard
Not ready to commit to a beard but like the lines it creates along your bottom jaw? This beard is mostly clean shaven, with a line of hair along the jaw and chin. You may have a slight mustache, but it does not connect to the beard like Van Dyke.
21. Heavy Stubble Beard
The heavy stubble beard is the most attractive facial hair. It’s easy to grow and maintain. I also like this look in the summer, and it helps make your face look a bit more square with emphasis on your cheeks.
22. Bushy Beard
If you want to get a bushy beard bushy, you must avoid trimming or cutting your length for several months. These beards typically evolve with the growth of your hair along the jaw, up the sides, and significant length.
It’s a low maintenance beard because you avoid heavy trim sessions. However, that doesn’t mean no maintenance. Getting the bushy look still requires adding a good balm and brushing the beard out for fullness. It’s also good to make the beard look a little unkept.
23. Yeard Beard
The Yeard Beard is the ultimate in full beard growth. Grow your beard out for 1 full year and be the envy of all other beards.
24. Tony Stark Beard
The Tony Stark Beard is the very definition of cool! This style looks great and is one of my personal favorites that Robert Downey Jr. wore in the Marvel classic Iron Man and Avengers. I find it easy to style once you master the side angles.
25. Johnny Depp Beard
Johnny Depp’s beard has taken many shapes over the years and in his movies. From traditional to classic, to hipster – Johnny always keeps his style fresh and edgy.
26. Beard Fade
The beard fade is a hot trend among modern barbers. It creates a smooth transition from longer to shorter facial hair, adding contrast and dimension to your face.
27. Patchy Beard
For those having trouble growing beard hair, don’t let that stop your dreams of a fuller beard. There are also several ways to fix a patchy beard and improve overall thickness.
Just look at Keanu below, patchy beard styles can be cool, too, and shows off your confidence.
28. Ginger Beard
The ginger beard is only for a select few beardsman that typically have red hair – though I’ve seen some blonde men with a red beard. The unique look should be revered and not avoided.
29. Long Beard
The long beard separates many beard wearers into an elite group. Not a Gandalf beard, but it’s much longer than a yeard (above) and requires real commitment. Truth be told, I’ve never had the drive to grow that long.
So, the ultra long look is just cool! It’s a serious look if you’re game to invest the time.
30. Viking Beard
The Viking beard is your answer for those who want to go full beast mode. It’s a style that’s seen in many short and long variations.
The beard may also be braided or in a dreadlock style, often with jewelry adornments like beard rings or beads.
31. Anchor Beard
Looking for a classic look? The anchor beard that resembles a nautical anchor is your ticket. It has several variations and is always in style.
32. Professional Beard
Simple and straight forward professional style beard.
33. Salt and Pepper Beard
Classy and distinguished salt and pepper beard style.
34. Beard without Mustache
The 16th US President, Abraham Lincoln, had a classic beard without a mustache look.
35. Monkey Tail Beard
Is that even real? Who would strap a monkey tail beard to their face?
36. Scruffy Beard
The scruffy beard is noted as the most masculine looking of all beards.
37. Teen Beard
The teen beard is grows in light at first and usually not much more than stubble.
38. Braided Beard
The Braided Beard is standard for all Norseman.
39. Blonde Beard
Charlie Hunnam is sporting a shaggy blonde beard, AKA the Jax Teller Beard.
40. Asian Beard
Cool Asian beard with light patches and connected sideburns.
41. Amish Beard
The Amish Beard is the hallmark of Mennonite men. Typically, a long style beard without a mustache.
42. Wavy Beard
The wavy beard sometimes referred to as the “curly beard,” boasts lots of character.
43. Lumberjack Beard
The Lumberjack Beard is long and cool. It’s reminiscent of Dan Haggerty as old Grizzly Adams.
44. Beardstache
The Beardstache is just cool (period). It sports a heavy stubble beard with a pronounced mustache.
45. Beard with Glasses
It’s not complicated. A beard pairs perfectly with a classy set of eyeglasses.
46. Beard Dreads
Beard Dreads are an acquired style for the rocker in all of us.
47. Circle Beard
The circle beard makes a perfect circle around the mouth. It takes a little practice to get the round shape right.
48. Beard Jewelry, Rings & Beads
Beard jewelry like rings and beads give your facial hair that extra touch of style.
49. Beards for Weak Chins
If you have a weak chin or maybe a double chin, you’ll need the right beard to strengthen your look.
50. Beards for Older Men
If you’re an older man looking to improve your style, then a beard is definitely in your future. The right beard enhances your look, masculinity, and sexual appeal.
51. Weird & Funny Beards
When you’re looking for something funny and weird, try a crazy beard if you’re man enough.
52. Beards Styles for Round Faces
If you have a round or fat face, you’ll need the right style to soften your face curves.
53. Mexican Beard Styles
Show off your best Latino style beard, from goatees to short beards.
54. Biker Beard Styles
Ride with your best Biker beard from long goatees to the Yeard.
55. Verdi Beard Styles
Named after the Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi, rock this distinctive beard style!
The Beard Shape Guide
First, figuring out your face shape is a good place to start if you’re heading in a technical direction. While you don’t have to measure your face with a tape measure to get the exact size, take a forward-facing photo to see your jaw, forehead, and cheekbone shape.
Then match with these shapes below. Each one has a preferred beard style, though you don’t have to use this guide. We review each facial hair style in greater detail below the face shape guide.
Determine your ideal face shape
- Rounded Rectangle or Round
You have a wider jawline and round cheeks. Your cheeks and face length are similar in width and height. Your jaw may not be as defined. Rounded face shapes go best with a triangular beard shape. - Rectangle
Your face length from forehead to chin is very long, and you have a squared jaw. You should go with a beard that’s fuller on the cheeks. Men with longer faces should avoid triangular, pointy beards. - Square
It’s all angles with a square face, and they can typically pull off various styles. However, experts say to ensure the chin hair is rounded or triangular. You can make your chin look longer with a goatee-style beard and soul patch. - Triangle
The forehead is generally smaller, and the chin is a bit larger with these face shapes. The beard and mustache combination is the best look for those who want to balance out their face length and disguise their jaw. If anything, barbers say to keep hair away from cheekbones. - Heart
In this case, the forehead is stronger than the chin. You don’t want to lose your chin in a beard, but you can add “designed stubble” fade into fuller beards that strengthen your bone structure. You can have a mustache and chin hair that gradually fades into stubble on the sides. - Diamond
These faces are widest in the middle or at the cheekbones. You have a narrow forehead and jawline that are nearly symmetrical. The goal should always be to keep some hair on the chin to offset your cheekbones. - Oval
Several beard shapes work for this face, but if you want to create chiseled cheekbones and square jawlines, you should opt for short on the sides and cut underneath.
Even with our guide and tips from barbers, choosing the right style to match your face shape requires a keen eye. So, suggest trying different beard styles to achieve a look that matches your aesthetic.
Every face has prominent features, and you can use your facial hair to accentuate what you love when you look in the mirror. These different beard styles show you different ways to achieve the look.
Beard Style Guide
- Have a good beard care routine.
- Determine the right length of your beard.
- Invest in good beard products.
- Perfect your face shaving skills.
FAQ
What are the best beard styles?
Beards are a highly personal choice, and the best beard style should enhance your overall look. A great beard will emphasize your best facial features while softening the ones you don’t like. So, grow a beard that reflects your personality and sense of style. Short beards a sexy and stylish, while long beards are big and bold, then goatees are trendy and badass.
How to choose the right beard style?
Choosing the right beard style depends largely on your face shape and ability to grow facial hair. First, determine your face shape using this face shape guide and lock on your first style.
Then, lock on your target length based on how your facial hair grows. If you have a thin or patchy beard, a shorter length, like a stubble beard or goatee, are good choices. A full beard style may be a solid ambition if you have thick hair.
Are beards attractive?
Research has shown women are more attracted to bearded men, especially those with a trendy stubble beard. A beard has an outwardly rugged appearance and is a positive sign of masculinity.
Do beards make you look older?
A beard uniquely makes a young man or man with a “baby face” look older. The manly appearance of beard hair directly affects a person’s perception of the beard wearer’s age. Conversely, shaving a beard can make an older man look younger.
