Beard styles for men: 14 styles and who each suits
Fourteen beard styles, from stubble and the short boxed beard to the Van Dyke and the full beard: what each looks like, who it suits, and the upkeep.
By the LEVEL team · Updated
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Which beard style should I choose?
Choose by three things in this order: how your beard grows, the shape of your face, and how much time you will spend on it. A style your growth cannot support looks patchy whatever its name, so start from where your hair is densest. Then use length and lines to balance your face: length at the chin makes a face look longer, fullness at the sides makes it look wider. Finally, be honest about upkeep: stubble needs trimming every two or three days, a short boxed beard once a week, a long beard a weekly shape and daily care. The most reliable style for most men is a short boxed beard, 6 to 12 mm, with a clean cheek line and neckline.
Short beard styles
Low upkeep, easy for work, and the best place to start.
| Style | What it is, and who it suits |
|---|---|
| Light stubble (1–2 mm) | Two to three days of growth kept even. Adds shadow at the jaw. Suits almost everyone, including patchy growth. |
| Heavy stubble (3–5 mm) | Fuller shadow with defined edges. Gives a soft jaw more definition; trim every few days to keep it from looking accidental. |
| Short boxed beard (6–12 mm) | Even length, a clean cheek line and a set neckline. The most versatile beard: suits most face shapes and most offices. |
| Corporate beard | A short, very tidy full beard with sharp lines, slightly longer at the chin. Made for formal workplaces. |
| Chin strap | A thin line of beard along the jaw from ear to ear. Defines the jaw, but needs edging every few days. |
See it on your own face before you change anything. A LEVEL Preview picks the haircut, beard and glasses that suit you from seven private photos, shows them on your own photo, and gives you the exact words for your barber and optician. $19, once.
Goatee and partial beard styles
Partial styles put the hair where it grows best, which makes them a good answer to thin cheeks.
| Style | What it is, and who it suits |
|---|---|
| Goatee | Hair on the chin only, cheeks shaved. Lengthens a round face. |
| Circle beard | A goatee joined to a moustache in a rounded shape. Suits square faces and anyone whose cheeks grow thinly. |
| Van Dyke | A pointed chin beard with a separate moustache, cheeks clean. A strong, classic look for oval and round faces. |
| Anchor | A chin beard that runs along the jawline, shaped like an anchor, with a separate moustache. Defines a soft jaw. |
| Balbo | A floating moustache with a chin beard and no sideburns. Suits a strong chin and diamond faces. |
Medium and long beard styles
More impact, more care: these need dense growth and weekly shaping.
| Style | What it is, and who it suits |
|---|---|
| Full beard (medium) | 15 to 30 mm everywhere, shaped at the edges. Adds width and strength; suits oblong and triangle faces less, oval and round faces well when kept shorter at the sides. |
| Ducktail | A full beard tapered to a point at the chin. Lengthens a round or square face. |
| Garibaldi | A wide, round-bottomed full beard of about 20 cm, kept natural. Needs very dense growth. |
| Mutton chops | Long sideburns that run down the cheeks and stop short of the chin, which is shaved. A bold vintage look that widens a long face. |
Which beard style suits my face shape?
Balance the outline. A round face suits styles that add length at the chin and stay short at the sides: a goatee, a Van Dyke, a ducktail or a short boxed beard kept tight at the cheeks. A square face suits rounded styles that soften the corners: a circle beard or a full beard rounded at the chin. A long or oblong face suits fullness at the sides and less length at the chin: mutton chops or a full beard kept short underneath. A heart or diamond face suits fuller chin and jaw styles that add width where the face narrows. An oval face suits almost anything. The beard styles by face shape guide goes through each shape, and the free face shape detector finds yours from a photo.
What should I tell my barber?
Name the style, then give the numbers: the guard for the length (a #2 is about 6 mm, a #4 about 13 mm), where the cheek line should sit, and where the neckline should be, usually about two fingers above the Adam's apple. For example: "a short boxed beard at a #3, cheek line natural but cleaned up, neckline two fingers above the Adam's apple, moustache trimmed off the lip". If your beard is thin in places, ask for the cheek line to be set lower, below where the growth turns sparse; the patchy beard guide explains why.
How do I keep a beard looking good?
Trim it to the same length every week or two, re-shave the lines every three or four days, and wash it two or three times a week with a gentle cleanser. A little beard oil or balm softens the hair and stops the skin underneath from itching, especially in the first month. Brush it in the direction of growth so it sits neatly. If you get a lasting rash, bumps that do not settle, or patches of hair loss, show it to a doctor or dermatologist.
Quick answers
- Which beard style suits most men?
- The short boxed beard: one even length of 6 to 12 mm with a clean cheek line and neckline. It adds structure to most faces without much length or upkeep.
- What beard style is best for a round face?
- Styles that add length at the chin and stay tight at the sides: a goatee, a Van Dyke, a ducktail, or a short boxed beard kept short on the cheeks.
- What is the most low-maintenance beard?
- Even stubble kept at 3 to 5 mm with a clean neckline. It needs a two-minute trim every few days and no styling.
- How long does it take to grow a full beard?
- Usually two to four months to reach a full, shapeable length, and many beards keep filling in through the twenties and early thirties.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology — A dermatologist's top tips for a healthy beardWash the beard with a gentle cleanser; an oil or balm reduces dryness and itch.
- American Academy of Dermatology — DIY treatment for 5 common beard problemsIngrown hairs and itch are common beard problems with simple fixes; a persistent rash needs a dermatologist.