While there are various beard styles for men to consider, this doesn’t always mean that your features will be well suited to the style you have in mind. As a matter of fact, keep in mind that what looks good on others may not exactly look the same on you. Distinct face shapes call for individual beard styles.
We have created a list of the best beard styles for 2022 that will surely add oomph to your look. You can experiment as much as you want in order to find what really looks good on you. It’s important to have patience though, especially if you want to try a long beard style. You will look unkempt while waiting for it to grow.
Best Beard Styles to Try at Home
Below we have created the most extensive overview of different types of beard styles a man can wear. So first things first, let you beard grow, and then trim it to the style of beard you like the best!
1. Balbo Beard Styles
The Balbo is among the most popular beard styles these days. Robert Downey, Jr., a renowned American actor who starred in top-grossing films such as The Avengers and Iron Man, has been maintaining the Balbo look for years as it matches his features pretty well.
Face Shape
Men with a narrow chin
How to Achieve It
You need to grow a full beard in order for you to have ample hair for shaping. Do not shave for 4 weeks or until the beard has fully grown. You will also need to grow a mustache. This style requires careful sculpting so you need good razors to achieve the look. You can use a disposable or an electric razor to take off the hair on the sides, and a straight razor to create the Balbo style.
2. Bandholz
The Bandholz beard style was popularized by Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand. He was working in the corporate world before he fell in love with beards. He got so many negative comments about his facial hair that he decided to quit his job and start Beardbrand.
Beardbrand was just a community before. Eric posted blogs, YouTube videos, and Tumbler entries to provide information to enthusiasts who would like to keep their beards in perfect condition. Later on, he decided to turn it into a business and now offers high-quality products that really work wonders. From beard oils, washes, and softeners, to scissors and combs, the Beardbrand is a one-stop-shop.
Face Shape
Triangle, Inverted Triangle, Oblong, Oval or Diamond face shapes
How to Achieve It
Growing a Bandholz requires patience. At first, you will look patchy and unkempt, especially during the first 4 months. You need to have the patience to keep it untouched. Throw away your razor and scissors; you won’t need them for months. Just let it grow until it reaches the maximum length you can genetically grow. You can start shaping and cutting it 7 months after you first start growing it, or you can keep it as is, depending on your preferences. What’s nice about the Bandholz is that you can grow it freely.
3. Clean Shaven – Beardless
Well, most people would rather not grow their facial hair because it looks cleaner and tidier. This style will never go out of fashion, especially if you are part of the corporate world, which will require you to look your best. In fact, according to some surveys, women prefer men who shave.
Face Shape
All face shapes
How to Achieve It
Go grab your trimmers and razors – a disposable, an electric or a cartridge, just take off that growing facial hair!
4. Circle Beard Styles
Also known as the “standard” beard, the circle beard is a combination of mustache and rounded goatee beard styles. It looks tidy, thus, making it a good option for men who would like to look presentable without letting go of their beards.
Face Shape
Oval and Round face shapes
How to Achieve It
Make sure that you have grown a reasonable amount of hair to avoid over trimming or shaving. It would be best to visit a salon to achieve the perfect circle shape as it can be a bit tricky. As soon as you have acquired the right look, you can do the usual trimming and shaving on your own.
5. Extended Goatee Beard Styles
Also known as the tailback or the Hollywoodian, the extended goatee is a combination of a goatee and a mustache beard styles. The style is different from the full beard as you are taking off the hair around the sideburns.
Face Shape
Square and oval face shapes
How to Achieve It
Make sure that you have some medium stubble before shaping your beard. Take off the hair around the sideburns and adjust the width according to your preferences. Do not take off your mustache.
6. Friendly Mutton Chops
Friendly mutton chops are also referred to as the sideburns or side whiskers. The term “sideburns” was derived from Ambrose Burnside, a renowned American Civil War general.
Friendly mutton chops refer to a style of beard in which the sideburns are allowed to grow long and connect to a mustache, while the rest of the face is shaved clean. The resulting shape resembles the cut of a mutton chop, hence the name. These beard styles were popular in the 19th century and has recently seen a resurgence in popularity among those who enjoy vintage or retro styles. It is a versatile style that can be worn by men of all ages and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
Face Shape
Circular or square face shape
How to Achieve It
To achieve this look, you will need to allow your sideburns and mustache to grow out and then shape them into a desirable shape using a beard trimmer or razor. You will also need to shave the rest of your face regularly to maintain a clean-shaven appearance.
7. Full Beard Styles
A full beard is a type of beard that covers the entire face, including the chin, cheeks, and mustache. There are many different styles of full beards, ranging from short and neatly trimmed to long and wild. Some popular full beard styles include:
- The classic full beard styles: This is a traditional, timeless style that consists of a full beard with a neatly trimmed mustache and a well-defined neckline. It is a versatile style that can be worn by men of all ages and is suitable for both formal and casual occasions.
- The wild beard: This style is for men who prefer a more rugged, unkempt look. The wild beard is characterized by a full beard that is allowed to grow long and wild, without any shaping or trimming.
- The corporate beard: This style is suitable for men who want a full beard but need to maintain a professional appearance. The corporate beard is a full beard that is neatly trimmed and well-groomed, with a defined neckline and a trimmed mustache.
- The anchor beard: This style is characterized by a full beard that is trimmed into a triangular shape, with a defined neckline and a trimmed mustache. It gets its name from the shape, which resembles the anchor of a ship.
Face Shape
Diamond, Triangle or Inverted Triangle face shapes
How to Achieve It
The ability to grow a full beard depends on your genetics. If you grow hair all over your face, then achieving it is easy. You just have to let the hair grow until medium stubble starts to form and then shape it evenly using a razor. Stop shaving for 6 weeks to achieve this look. Trim right after to maintain the length.
8. Garibaldi Beard Styles
A Garibaldi beard is a type of beard that is characterized by a round, full shape and a defined, curved neckline. It gets its name from the Italian patriot and military officer Giuseppe Garibaldi, who popularized this style in the 19th century.
There are several variations of the Garibaldi beard, including:
- The classic Garibaldi beard: This style is characterized by a full, round beard with a defined, curved neckline and a trimmed mustache.
- The extended Garibaldi beard: This style is similar to the classic Garibaldi beard, but the beard is allowed to grow longer and is often paired with a long mustache.
- The trimmed Garibaldi beard: This style is characterized by a shorter, more neatly trimmed version of the classic Garibaldi beard. It is a more low-maintenance option for those who prefer a cleaner, well-groomed appearance.
Overall, the Garibaldi beard styles are a classic, timeless style that is suitable for men of all ages and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
Face Shape
Oval or Rectangular face shape
How to Achieve It
To achieve a Garibaldi beard, you will need to allow your beard to grow out for several weeks or months until it is long enough to shape into the desired shape. You will then need to use a beard trimmer or razor to define the neckline and create the rounded shape of the beard. It is important to regularly trim and maintain your Garibaldi beard to keep it looking neat and well-groomed.
9. Imperial Beard Styles
The Imperial became popular during the Second Empire. It is not actually a beard style but a mustache. However, you can combine it with your sideburns or chin beard, like what Mel Gibson has done with his beard. Just make sure that you keep the beard simple so that the imperial mustache is the highlight of your face.
Face Shape
Rectangular or Oblong face shapes
How to Achieve It
Do not shave for weeks, or even months, until you have acquired whiskers that are long enough to be shaped. Some enthusiasts say that they had to wait as much as 3 months until they could successfully achieve this look.
Shave your sideburns or the hair near your mustache. Never trim! Make sure your mustache looks natural, so even if it disrupts your eating or falls from time to time, resist the temptation to trim if you want to achieve this look. Now, start curling the ends. You can use beard oil or mustache wax to achieve this.
10. Short Stubble Beard Styles
Short stubble beard styles refers to a style of facial hair in which the beard is allowed to grow out for a short period of time, typically a few days, resulting in a short, neatly trimmed appearance. This style is often referred to as “designer stubble” or “5 o’clock shadow” and is characterized by a lightly bearded appearance that is both rugged and well-groomed.
Face Shape
All face shapes
How to Achieve It
There are several ways to achieve short stubble, depending on your preference and the length of time you want to allow your beard to grow. Some options include:
- The light stubble: This style is characterized by a short, evenly trimmed beard that is grown out for a few days. It is a subtle, low-maintenance option that is suitable for both casual and formal occasions.
- The medium stubble: This style is characterized by a slightly longer, more defined beard that is grown out for a week or more. It is a more rugged, masculine look that is suitable for casual occasions.
- The heavy stubble: This style is characterized by a longer, thicker beard that is grown out for several weeks or more. It is a bold, masculine look that is suitable for casual occasions.
To achieve any of these short stubble beard styles, you will need to allow your beard to grow out for the desired length of time and then use a beard trimmer or razor to trim and shape the beard to the desired length and style. It is important to regularly maintain your short stubble by trimming and shaping it to keep it looking neat and well-groomed.
11. Medium Stubble
On the other hand, if you are part of the group of men who forego trimming their short stubble, then you can go for the medium stubble. If it fits your personal style then, by all means, stick to it, just don’t forget to trim approximately 3 to 5mm long. This style will probably make you look a little scruffy, but if properly maintained, it will surely bring out your machismo image.
Face Shape
All face shapes
How to Achieve It
Make sure that your beard doesn’t go beyond your cheek and neck area – trim or shave all that excess growth. You will need to keep the length no more than 5mm, so you should have a good trimmer that you can use at least once a week.
12. Long Stubble
Measuring about 6mm, the long stubble beard styles is kinda tricky to maintain compared to the short and medium counterparts as it has to be trimmed well to get rid of stray hairs, especially those that grow on the cheek and above Adam’s apple.
Face Shape
All face shapes
How to Achieve It
Do not shave your beard for a week or two, until it reaches 6mm. Keep it well-trimmed so that it will look like a “shadow” on the lower third area of your face. Make sure that you get rid of any stray hairs using a trimmer or shaver.
13. Van Dyke Beard Styles
This beard style was derived from a popular Flemish painter from the 17th century, Anthony Van Dyke – it was his signature look. The Van Dyke is a mixture of a goatee and a mustache, only more delicate.
Face Shape
Men with a narrow chin
How to Achieve It
Wait until your beard becomes long stubbles. Slowly shape your beard using a good shaver. Shave off all the hair on your neck, cheeks, and sideburns. Leave your mustache untouched. Shape your beard on the chin area by forming an inverted T. Let the hair on your chin grow until it reaches about 2 inches. Trim once in a while to achieve the V shape.
Maintaining your Types of Beard Style
Beard maintenance is just as important as growing it long enough to style it. Longer beards require thorough care to keep them attractive. Keep in mind that you have to keep your beard clean at all times as it can turn into a haven for bacteria, making you susceptible to infection.
Washing it regularly using a mild shampoo and conditioner will keep it soft and clean. After washing, gently dry it using a soft cotton towel. If there are tangles, use a wide-toothed comb to brush them out. You can also use beard oils and waxes to groom your beard and keep it soft. Here are our top beard oil recommendations.
For some additional beard styles maintenance tips, watch this video:
We hope this guide on beard styles has been helpful and that you have a better idea of what’s possible. Why of these beard styles did you end up choosing for your face shape? We would love to hear from you so please leave a comment below!
Badly needing a shave, believe it or not but Christian is a magician with scissors and razors. As sharp as he sharpens his blades and shaves his jawlines is unprecedented. He had his own barbershop for 12 years after deciding to take a break, travel and after meeting Nick, joining this team as the last missing link to help guys with their total make-over. Grooms up!
I would like to grow a beard,my wife likes beards…I’m 73,not that it matters
Pointers on beard styles
All the styles mentioned are so cool.