6 Types of beards: Which style is best for you?
Beards have always held a certain magnetic power for their wearers and their admirers. There's just something about a well-groomed beard that sets them apart. Just like the hair on the top of your head, different types of beards say a lot about the person they’re on; their taste, their values and even what kind of person they are. So, it's not surprising that we're curious about the different styles of beards that exist, and probably always will be as they are ever-growing.
If you’re growing a beard, but not sure where to start when it comes to how to shape a beard, you’ve come to the right place! The best beard styles are the ones that work for you and make you feel confident. To help you find the best beard style for you, we’ve put together a list of some popular and trendy styles you can try. We’ll even give you the rundown on how to achieve them yourself.
The full beard
The father of all types of beards, the full beard brings full sideburns, a moustache, and a beard together. If you know how to shape a beard to its fullest, you can take this style from wild and untamed to a proud, well-kept facial fuzz. We recommend shaving your upper cheeks and neck and trimming the rest, so you can define the shape and keep the whole thing tidy. With the right amount of care and maintenance, this is a beard you can wear every day and is one of the most iconic beard styles. Suits: A full beard will probably suit you irrespective of the shape of your face. If you need some cultivating advice, learn how to grow a full beard in 5 steps here.
The scruffy beard
The scruffy beard sits somewhere between the full beard and light stubble, giving you the air of a man with something far better to do than spending time grooming! If you’re wondering how to style beards like the scruffy beard, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes to maintain, making it one of the most low-maintenance beard styles. Just remember to trim it occasionally. Otherwise, the scruffy beard will start to evolve into a full beard. Suits: The scruffy beard is reasonably kind to anyone who can get consistent all-over beard growth. However, its mid-length makes it hard to conceal patchiness. If you need some stubble-beard styling tips to take it from a lazy scruffy beard to sophisticated stubble, check out our guide to stubble.
The Balbo beard
Refined and elegant, this cultivated beard requires commitment. The Balbo beard brings together a handlebar moustache, a soul patch, and a chin strap. The important thing to remember about the Balbo beard is that the moustache should never touch the beard. Otherwise, you have a circle beard on your hands. Suits: The Balbo beard can be used to strengthen a weak jaw and tends to suit those with narrow faces.
See more below ↓
Recommended products
- £120.00*
- SteelPrecision Technology
- PowerAdapt Sensor
- 3 level battery indicator
-
OneBlade Pro
Face and Body
QP6650/30
- Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
- 14-length precision comb
- Wet and Dry use
- LED digital display
- £79.99*
- 14 tools
- DualCut technology
- Up to 120-min run time
- Showerproof
-
- 12 tools
- Self-sharpening metal blades
- Up to 120-min run time
- Showerproof
The stiletto beard
Rounded at the sides and perfectly pointed at the end, the stiletto beard looks great when combined with short hair. It isn't the most common of beards, but then, with an estimated two months of growth required to achieve it, that might not be too big a surprise. The stiletto beard can be recognized by the central point at which the wearer's chin hair ends, but it's easy to underestimate the work that goes into creating this style – such as the two deep 'U' shapes that you will also need to trim under your mouth. Suits: The stiletto beard is a good counterbalance to rounder face shapes and goes excellently with a pronounced chin. If you have an oval or long face, this style can make your face look longer – you might want to go for a different beard style that adds more width to your jaw.
The chin strap or Brett beard
These two types of beard styles are closely related. The chin strap provides a strip of beard along the jawline, while the Brett beard adds a soul patch to connect that beard to the lower lip. Both demand precision and a certain level of dedication. While these are not low-maintenance beards, a good quality shaver like the OneBlade can make achieving these kinds of styles easier. The chin strap saw its greatest peak in the 90s, but it’s still worn by those who want to focus on their jawline! Suits: Square and diamond faces, with clear jaw definition: the chin strap and the Brett beard rely on you following the natural jawline.
The Van Dyke beard
Named after the 17th-century Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck, this beard has flourished on the chins of kings and emperors for decades. Since then, it has not lost any of its period-costume elegance. The Balbo’s more refined older brother, it combines a pointed goatee with a natural moustache that droops only slightly below the lips. If you're considering the Van Dyke beard to add definition to your face, watch this video for a step-by-step guide to perfecting this classic look. Suits: Kind to those with patchy beard growth, the Van Dyke also adds definition to a round face. If this appeals to you, we can help you master similar styles to the Van Dyke Beard here. So, you now have been introduced to a couple of popular types of beard styles for you to give a try. Knowing the different styles of beards and how to style beards yourself will take it from being an afterthought to pride and centre on your face, and we hope our beard trimming guide will help you achieve that!
Face first
Explore our full range of tools to shave, groom and style
