How to find the best beard style for your face.

Every man is going to have a different shape to his face. So, when I’m talking about face shapes, think about the shape you’re closest to. We’re going to be talking about how to find the best beard style for your face, just like we talked about finding the best haircuts for your face shapes.

Here’s how it’s going to go for each face shape.

• Define the general face type.
• Talk about the features.
• Give some recommendations.

Let’s get right into it.

Find the best beard style for your face type and get recommendations from experienced barbers.

Best beards for round faces

A round-shaped face is often as wide as it is tall. Some guys are born with round faces; others may have round faces from carrying some extra weight. No worries, either way. The point is to find the best beard style for your face—the beard that looks fresh on you, and usually, that means a beard that’s going to make your face look less round. Hey, it’s a Westernized world. I have a rounder face myself. It is what it is.

Beard rules for round faces

Avoid any kind of beard that draws attention to that weight in your face. Don’t shave up your neck too high or sharpen your beard at the bottom because that kind of landscaping just draws attention to what you’re looking to hide.

• Keep your beard as narrow as possible around the jaw.
• Add a bit of length to your beard so that your face appears longer and narrower.

Beards I recommend for round faces

Here’s what I recommend in terms of shape and design. Thickness will be an individual issue, but we can deal with it.

1. Short Boxed Beard (a full beard but trimmed.)
2. Balbo Beard (no sideburns, floating mustache, trimmed low on the cheek.)
3. Ducktail Beard (think Viking—it’s a full beard that’s trimmed to a V at the chin.)

Best beards for oblong faces

Oblong is a big word I don’t like to say a lot. It means longer than narrower. So, when you look in the mirror, ask yourself, “Why the long face?” If that joke lands for you, then you have an oblong face, generally.

Beard rules for oblong faces

Lines are important here. We want people’s eyes to go up toward your eyes instead of the middle of your face.

• Beards with higher cheek lines.
• Medium-to-short length on the sides (no wider than the widest part of your face and the chin).
• Cut closer to the jaw with a bit of length at the bottom.

Beards I recommend for oblong faces

There are a lot of options here. I’ve had plenty of experience because oblong is the typical face you see on younger Latino dudes.

1. Chin Beard (clean, sculpted, low-profile beard with no separation—sideburn to sideburn, sculpted over the chin, finished with a soul patch. The Latino go-to.)
2. Inverted T Beard (clean stache separated left and right with a beard that covers cheek to cheek just below your lower lip and down to your chin; for the man who wants to look just slightly dangerous.)
3. Boxed Beard (like a boxed beard, but trimmed medium or close; for the serious man.)

Best beards for diamond-shaped faces

Check yourself out in the mirror. Do you have wide cheekbones and a pointed chin? If so, you’re a diamond guy. I’m tossing in triangle-shaped faces here, too. So, it doesn’t matter whether you have a diamond shape or a triangle shape; you’ll follow the same rules and come away knowing how to find the best beard styles for your face.

Beard rules for diamond faces

There’s no need to complicate things. Diamond faces are royal and regal; compliment that quality with these guidelines.

• Add mass to the bottom of your beard.
• Don’t be afraid to let your beard get a little wider.
• Stay away from beards that are too close to the sides.

Beards I recommend for diamond-shaped faces

1. Square or Boxed Beard (this style is not popular in the shop because it’s super Norse-looking, but I like it. It looks like a box around your jaw, with close-cropped and clean edges.)
2. Classic Full Beard (just a beard trimmed to the length that looks best with your cut.)
3. Chin Strap Beard (no mustache and a clean edge around the jawline; adds a lot of intensity to a diamond face.)

Best beards for square faces

So, a square face is going to have the same height as its width. Seems simple, right? Well, you can screw up a square face pretty easily. I’ve fixed plenty of beards over my career.

Beard rules for square faces

First, don’t overthink it. If you have a square face, there’s a good chance you’ve got a strong chin and prominent jawline. For a fresh look, keep it simple.

• Shorter beards that compliment your features (strong chin and jaw.)
• Uncomplicated, minimal beard styling.

Beards I recommend for square faces

1. Goatee (a solid choice for men who’d like to add a touch of maturity to their look.)
2. Stubble (a full beard trimmed short with clean edges.)
3. Stiletto Beard (an aggressive look that comes to V, similar to the ducktail. Lots of variations available.)

Best beards for oval faces

Congratulations, sir. You have balanced facial proportions, from the midface width to the overall length and height. I’d bet you have a strong jaw. If people give you free stuff for no reason or laugh at everything you say, then you’re an oval guy.

Beard rules for oval faces

• There are no rules.
• You can wear anything.
• Avoid covering your face. It’s a good face, probably.

Beards I recommend for oval faces

1. Stubble & Stache (a thick stache with a short beard underneath.)
2. Classic Beard, Chin Strap, or Boxed (see above.)
3. Avoid Stiletto Beards.

Get the right beard, cut, and beverage.

Book an appointment online, and we’ll get you squared away with a beard and a cut that fits you and your style, plus some refreshments and a good time. Ask us anything. We’re friendly folks.

– George