How to Choose the Best Beard for Your Face Shape

Growing a beard can significantly transform your appearance, but not every beard style will suit every face shape. Just like selecting the right haircut, choosing the best beard for your face shape is essential to achieving a balanced, flattering look. The right beard can highlight your best features, add symmetry, and even create a more masculine or refined appearance. On the other hand, a poorly chosen beard style can exaggerate features you’d rather downplay.

Understanding your face shape is the key to unlocking the best beard style for you. Each shape—whether oval, square, round, rectangular, diamond, or heart—requires a unique approach to facial hair. This guide will help you identify your face shape and suggest the most suitable beard styles to enhance your natural look. By tailoring your beard to your face shape, you’ll not only boost your overall appearance but also ensure your grooming efforts pay off in the best possible way.

Why Face Shape Matters

Your face shape plays a critical role in determining which beard style will suit you best. Beards can either accentuate or balance out the natural features of your face. For example, a square face might benefit from a softer beard style to downplay angular features, while a round face might look more balanced with a more structured and defined beard.

The wrong beard can make your face appear disproportionate or awkward, but the right one can create harmony and improve the overall aesthetics of your face. Understanding your face shape is the first and most important step in the beard-growing journey.

Determining Your Face Shape

Before diving into which beard styles work for each face shape, it’s important to determine your own facial structure. The most common face shapes are:

• Oval
• Square
• Round
• Rectangle/Oblong
• Diamond
• Heart

To figure out your face shape, follow these steps:

• Measure your forehead: From the peak of one eyebrow to the peak of the other.
• Measure your cheekbones: From one end to the other, crossing the highest part of your cheeks.
• Measure your jawline: From the tip of your chin to just below your ear, then double that number.
• Measure the length of your face: From your hairline down to the tip of your chin.

Once you’ve gathered these measurements, compare them to see which face shape category you fall into.

Face Shape Breakdown

• Oval Face: Forehead is slightly wider than the chin, and the length of the face is about 1.5 times the width.
• Square Face: The forehead, cheekbones, and jawline are approximately the same width, with a strong, angular jaw.
• Round Face: The cheekbones and face length are similar, and the jawline is soft with no prominent angles.
• Rectangular/Oblong Face: The face is longer than it is wide, with a square jaw.
• Diamond Face: The cheekbones are the widest part of the face, with a narrow forehead and jawline.
• Heart Face: The forehead is wider than the jawline, and the chin is pointed.

The Best Beard Styles for Each Face Shape

Now that you’ve determined your face shape, let’s explore the beard styles that work best for each type of face.

1. Best Beards for Oval Face Shape

If you have an oval face, congratulations—you’re in luck. The oval face shape is the most versatile, meaning almost any beard style will look good on you. The oval face has balanced proportions, so your beard’s primary job is to enhance rather than compensate for any asymmetry.

Recommended Beard Styles:

• Full Beard: A well-groomed full beard can add a bit of ruggedness while still keeping things balanced.
• Short Boxed Beard: This close-cropped beard works well for men who want a neat, professional appearance.
• Van Dyke Beard: A stylish combination of a mustache and a pointed goatee.
• Stubble: A classic short stubble adds a touch of masculinity without overwhelming your features.

The key for an oval face is to keep the beard natural but groomed, letting your facial hair enhance the natural symmetry of your face.

2. Best Beards for Square Face Shape

A square face is characterized by a strong, angular jawline, and while this is often considered a very masculine feature, the right beard can either soften or enhance this characteristic. The goal is to add some length to the face while reducing the squareness of the jaw.

Recommended Beard Styles:

• Goatee with Detached Mustache: This style draws attention to the center of the face, softening the angles of the jawline.
• Circle Beard: A neat, rounded beard that includes both a mustache and goatee, helping to round out a square face.
• Full Beard with Shorter Sides: Growing a full beard with slightly shorter sides adds some length to the face while avoiding extra width.
• Short Beard with Defined Edges: This style keeps the beard clean and neat while adding subtle definition to the jawline without overwhelming it.

Be mindful of not letting the sides of your beard grow too thick, as this can make your face appear wider and more boxy than you might want.

3. Best Beards for Round Face Shape

For men with round faces, the primary goal is to add some length and definition to the face, making it appear less round and more angular. A beard style that elongates the face while avoiding bulk on the sides will create a more balanced look.

Recommended Beard Styles:

• Goatee: This classic style helps lengthen the face by drawing attention to the chin area.
• Anchor Beard: A combination of a chin strap and a mustache that adds length and sharpness to a round face.
• Extended Goatee: A fuller goatee with an elongated chin strap that gives the appearance of a longer, slimmer face.
• Beard with Longer Chin Hair: Focus on growing the hair on your chin longer than the sides to create the illusion of a longer face.

Avoid overly bushy sideburns or a full, thick beard, as these styles can make your face appear even rounder.

4. Best Beards for Rectangular or Oblong Face Shape

If you have a rectangular or oblong face shape, the aim is to add width to the face and avoid elongating it further. You’ll want to keep the beard fuller on the sides and shorter at the bottom to balance the natural length of your face.

Recommended Beard Styles:

• Full Beard with Tapered Chin: Keep the sides fuller while tapering the chin hair to avoid making your face look longer.
• Mutton Chops: A bold, retro style that adds significant width to the sides of the face.
• Beardstache: A full mustache with a shorter beard works well to add balance to a longer face.
• Chin Strap: A well-groomed chin strap beard can add width and definition without adding length.

Steer clear of long, pointy beards as they will exaggerate the length of your face.

5. Best Beards for Diamond Face Shape

Men with diamond-shaped faces have prominent cheekbones and a narrow forehead and chin. The goal here is to soften the angles and add some width to the chin and jaw area to balance out the cheekbones.

Recommended Beard Styles:

• Full Beard: A full beard with more volume on the chin can add width and reduce the sharpness of your cheekbones.
• Chin Strap Beard: This style focuses on defining the jawline while balancing the cheekbones.
• Goatee with Sideburns: By adding a goatee and keeping sideburns short, you can create a balanced, harmonious look.
• Balbo Beard: A stylish beard with a mustache, a soul patch, and a chin strap that works well with the diamond face shape.

Avoid styles that focus on the cheekbones, as they can make your face look unbalanced.

6. Best Beards for Heart Face Shape

Heart-shaped faces feature a wide forehead and a narrow chin. The goal for heart-shaped faces is to add some fullness to the lower half of the face, making the chin appear wider and the forehead less prominent.

Recommended Beard Styles:

• Beardstache: This combination of a mustache with a short, well-groomed beard adds bulk to the lower half of the face.
• Goatee with Beard: A fuller goatee can add definition and width to the chin area, balancing the overall look.
• Short Boxed Beard: A neat, close-cropped beard adds structure to the lower half of the face without overwhelming it.
• Extended Goatee: This elongates the chin while adding width to the jawline, balancing the forehead.

Avoid styles that are too full on the cheeks, as they can accentuate the wide forehead.

Final Tips for Choosing the Best Beard for Your Face Shape

• Grooming Matters: No matter what beard style you choose, regular grooming is essential. A well-maintained beard always looks better than an untamed one.
• Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try different styles. What works for someone else with the same face shape might not be ideal for you, so find what feels best.
• Consider Hair Growth: Your beard style may also depend on how your facial hair grows. Patchy beards might look better with a more minimal style, while fuller beards can pull off more extravagant shapes.

Conclusion

Choosing the best beard for your face shape is crucial for creating a balanced, flattering look. By understanding the relationship between your facial structure and different beard styles, you can find a look that enhances your features rather than detracts from them. Whether you’re aiming to add sharpness to a round face or soften a square jawline, the right beard style can make a significant difference.

While your face shape is an important factor, don’t forget that proper grooming and maintenance are essential to keeping your beard looking its best. Whether you’re sporting a full beard, goatee, or stubble, regular trimming and upkeep are key. Ultimately, the perfect beard is the one that suits your face shape and reflects your personal style, giving you the confidence to wear it proudly.