Ready to look sharp, stand out at work, and turn heads for all the right reasons?
A beard can get you there!
Yet, not all beards are created equal nor are they one-size-fits-all. Choose the wrong one for your face shape and the effect dims.
The good news? We’re here to help you out. Today, we’re sharing a few steps you can take to find the ideal beard style for you!
Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.
Oblong or Rectangular Faces
Congratulations. You’ve got the exquisite facial structure of movie star Idris Alba.
Your face is long and your jawbones are wide, sitting above your mouth. Your chin is deep and square.
While some men need a beard that narrows their face, you don’t have this issue. Instead, you need a beard that adds fullness and dimension to your face. Try mutton chops or a chinstrap beard to start.
If you’re up for a mustache instead, this style works particularly well on oblong faces. Stick with a classic chevron mustache that’s classic and timeless, or experiment with a more rebellious horseshoe mustache. Either way, pick up an electric razor to make sure you get the cut perfect!
Feeling snazzy? Why not combine a beard and mustache to give volume to the lower portion of your face? A circle beard and horseshoe mustache are a match made in heaven!
Oval Faces
Oval faces are the power players of the beard game.
If you’ve got this shape, rejoice! You can rock almost any beard with ease, as an oval face is a happy medium among all the myriad types of facial structures.
Not sure if this is your look? Dissect your jawline in the mirror. If it’s rounded, with your jawbones a little more narrow than your cheekbones, it’s oval.
In this case, you’ll look great with any beard style, which is good news because science says they’re all good for you.
To make your even proportions stand out even more, opt for a close-cut style that accentuates your lines.
Square Faces
If Brad Pitt can pull this look off, so can you.
A strong, square jawline defines this face shape, lending you a rugged appearance that’s the trademark of so many movie stars and celebrities.
That said, don’t keep that covetable jaw in the dark! Let it shine.
A good manly look for this face would be a short stubble that shows off that handsome chin and jaw line.
If you really want to go for a longer beard, however, eschew any beard with sharp right angles, opting instead for rounder styles that are both narrow and soft.
A classic circle beard is a great choice, as it will draw eyes to your jaw while also giving a little length to your chin. You can also shave a classic goatee or even a narrow goatee for added flair.
Another perk to having a square face?
You can make the creative and offbeat Balbo beard look ultra-cool. This beard, which eliminates sideburns and includes a short floating mustache, can be too harsh on some rounder face types, but not yours.
Also, give the royale beard a try. This is a mustache anchored to a chin strap.
Round Faces
Though your chin may not be as angular as others, that doesn’t mean you can’t fake the illusion. That’s what a great beard is for!
Round faces are those with wide cheekbones, a wide jawline and a short chin. Think Leonardo DiCaprio or Jeremy Renner.
You’ll want to give length and dimension to your chin, so choose any style of beard that’s longer on the bottom than on top and go for an angled shave along your cheekbones.
While the rest of the world may be obsessing over mile-long hipster beards, you’ll need to keep yours cut closer. A simple goatee or boxed beard is often the answer, or you can even consider a Van Dyke beard!
Named after the 17th-century Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck, this beard features a mustache and a goatee with all of the hair on your cheeks shaven.
It can accentuate a strong chin too much but it works on you! A Balbo beard or anchor beard will also look great on your face.
Triangle Faces
Ah, the Ryan Gosling.
If your jawline is greater than your cheekbones and your chin is your most prominent feature, you’ve got a face shape like the star from “The Notebook.”
In this case, you don’t want to draw any extra attention to your chin, so go upward instead, placing the hair higher up.
Shave the hair off of your cheeks (to avoid emphasizing your wide jawline), and trim any hair you keep on your chin. Some men with triangle faces feel most comfortable with a beardstache. This is a full mustache that feeds into a short beard that’s more heavy stubble than anything else.
This look performs an eye trick, as others see the dimension on both areas of your face but tend to focus on the heavier mustache portion.
Diamond Faces
Are your cheekbones the widest portion of your face? Like comedian Dane Cook, you have a diamond face shape!
Shine bright by keeping at least a little hair on your chin. This helps to draw eyes downward and away from your cheeks. Keeping hair longer on your cheeks and the sides of your face helps with this effect, as well.
You’ll look great with a full beard or goatee. If you want to mix up your look and make it a little more playful, why not try a Balbo beard or a chin strap paired with a neat mustache?
Heart-Shaped Faces
Think of this look as an inverted triangle.
Rather than being narrow on top and wider on the bottom, you’re the opposite. Your forehead is the most prominent part of your face and your chin is narrow and pointed.
To add a little depth and width to your chin, keep the hair long there.
You’re one of the few who can look great with a chin curtain (cut along the lower portion of your chin only), and you’ll also look fashion-forward with mutton chops or an extended goatee.
Choosing Your Desired Length
Now that you know which beard styles fit certain face shapes, you need to ask yourself this important question: How long do I want to let my beard grow?
From stubble to Santa Claus and everywhere in between, there’s no right or wrong answer. The key to deciding lies in determining how much time you want to spend on maintenance and upkeep.
Not many people can rock a wild and unruly caveman beard. You’ll need to commit to basic grooming no matter which beard style you choose. However, some require more attention than others.
In general, short styles are easiest to maintain and control, especially if you’re working with a beard trimmer.
You’ll choose the right guard for your desired length and go over it about once a week. While you may notice some random hairs near your jawline or neck, they’re easy to remove.
On the other hand, it takes time and commitment to shapen a long beard, along with some great grooming products.
Instead of a trimmer, you’ll use a pair of hand shears and you’ll make beard oil your friend.
Keeping in mind that some parts of your beard will outgrow others, understand that your style may morph if you cut all sections back at the same time.
For this reason alone, it’s often worth it to visit a barber and let him take the reins.
Understanding Your Beard’s Thickness
Some men can grow a beard as thick as a redwood tree trunk in one night. Others struggle to achieve a five-o’clock shadow over the course of a few months.
Don’t get too hung up on how thick your natural beard is, as it’s all genetics.
You’ll need to plan your beard style around how your hair grows. That means if yours comes in thin and only in small patches, a full beard isn’t for you.
You can, however, impress others with a killer goatee or chin strap beard!
Finding Your Best Beard Style
When it comes down to it, your personal hygiene will determine how perfect your beard looks.
If you can resist the urge to stroke it every five minutes, keep it conditioned and commit to regular trims, you’ll always look sharp.
While understanding which beard style looks best on which face shape is a helpful place to start, let personal preference guide you. If you’re a heart-shaped fella who prefers chin straps, by all means, go for it!
The best part about the growing popularity of beards is that there’s now a wide array of haircare advice on the market.
That’s where we come in.
We’re experts in the beard industry, and we’re here to provide you with the latest product reviews and grooming tips you need.
Take a look at our guides to get started and get ready for the best beard of your life!
