Beards
Four of the most iconic beards of TV and film
3 min read
Whether you want to bring out your inner wizard, give off the air of a crime fighting detective or a cunning spy, or even mimic the style of your favorite superhero, nailing your next facial hair style could be the perfect way to express yourself to the world. To spark your styling creativity, here we’ve listed just a couple of the most iconic facial hair styles of tv and film.
Grey or white: Gandalf’s magnificent full beard
Like countless wizards before him, Tolkien’s Gandalf sports a truly magnificent full beard. Depicted brilliantly by Sir Ian McKellan in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie franchises, Gandalf has the kind of beard that takes years if not decades to grow, but you can make a solid start on your own version right here on the GroomTribe app. While the triangular shape of the bottom of Gandalf’s beard isn’t recommended for those with longer face shapes, the wizard himself demonstrates that it can look great with a variety of different hair colors. It’s good to know that beard dyes are now readily available, so you won’t have to fight the Balrog to get your chosen shade.
Luther’s short, simple but immaculate beard
Idris Elba’s depiction of John Luther goes to show that a beard can be rugged and look great, without spending half a lifetime growing it. The short beard style is quicker to grow than its full cousin, and significantly easier to maintain too. Luther’s character perfectly demonstrates the gravitas and maturity that facial hair can give your face. What’s more, the short beard can be all business or give you a soft, casual appearance, depending on how sharp you make your style. While we can’t pretend that having a great looking short beard will increase your chances of landing the Golden Globe for best actor, it’ll certainly make you look great if and when you’re collecting it.
The chevron mustache of a modern Romeo
Even by the high standards of Bollywood, John Abraham’s facial hair is undeniably impressive. In the 2019 thriller Romeo Akbar Walter, Abraham is a spy with many names and many styles, but his mustachioed persona stands out for sheer style. A departure from the casual stubble the actor is usually seen growing, his character’s bold, dense chevron is every bit as impressive as Tom Selleck and Freddie Mercury’s takes on the style. It takes time, patience and plenty of trimming and grooming to craft the kind chevron mustache that (ironically, for a spy movie) solicits admiring second glances, but the effort pays off handsomely.
The Van Dyke beard that makes Iron Man
Mention Robert Downey Jr’s depiction of Tony Stark, and sooner or later somebody is bound to mention the beard. Neat, distinctive and groomed to perfection, it’s certainly the kind of style that gets you noticed, although that’s likely not the reason Iron Man wears a mask. Stark’s style (a variation of the Van Dyke style you can find here in GroomTribe) consists of a mustache, soul patch and goatee, combining to create a sophisticated and classical style, with a modern twist. The Van Dyke is an adaptable and forgiving style, so if you have strong hair growth on your chin, jawline and upper lip, it could be the perfect style for you.
A list that could go on and on…
Here we’ve provided just four of the almost countless number of great looking beards and mustaches that grace the screens of our homes and cinemas, and it’d be easy to write an entire book on this topic alone. Whether you chose to limit one of these iconic looks, or create your own unique style, facial hair can say a lot about a person’s character, so choose a style that speaks to you, and wear it proud.
