Beard Care Guide · Style & Shape

Finding the Perfect Beard Style for Your Face Shape

A beard can genuinely change the shape of your face, which is often the whole reason for growing one. Not everyone is born with the jawline they'd like, but a bit of facial hair lets you alter the proportions of your face and play to your strengths. This guide runs through the main face shapes and the beard styles that tend to suit each one.

A quick note before we start: a lot of this is personal opinion, and style is subjective. Treat it as a starting point, not a rulebook.

First, work out your face shape

There are five main face shapes:

• Oval: longer face, soft features, no strong jawline definition.
• Square: defined by a strong jaw.
• Round: few angular lines, with nearly equal length and width.
• Diamond: strong jaw and prominent cheekbones.
• Inverted triangle: a broad forehead and a narrow or pointed chin.

Sometimes a look in the mirror is enough to tell. If not, take a measuring tape to the length of your face (hairline to chin) and the width of your forehead and cheekbones, and compare them. For what it's worth, I have a round face, so my own beard goal is to elongate it slightly. What are you working with?

Oval

An oval face has soft, rounded features top and bottom and a slightly elongated look, without a pronounced jawline. It's a versatile canvas that adapts to most styles, so it's a good shape for experimenting.

If you want to add jaw definition, consider a spade-style or Dwarven beard to square off the jaw. It's one of the trickier styles to grow and takes patience, focusing length on the sides and the front.

Square

For square faces, styles with more hair on the chin and less on the sides and neck are usually the most flattering. Keep a watchful eye on the neckline for a neat finish, and avoid too much growth on the cheeks and sideburns, which can look harsh and angular. The aim is striking a balance, rather than an overly blocky, squared-off look.

Round

With a round face the jawline is often less defined and the hairline more rounded. Beard styles that are shorter on the sides and longer at the bottom help here, creating length and a more defined jaw. Keep the sideburns and cheeks well-groomed to avoid softening the face further. It's similar to the oval approach, but you'll likely want more length at the front than the sides.

Diamond

Cheekbones are the defining feature of a diamond face. Keep some hair on the chin to balance their prominence, but avoid letting the chin hair get too pointed, which over-emphasises the angles. Strike a careful balance and you can highlight the cheekbones while keeping the whole thing well-proportioned.

Inverted triangle

The inverted triangle, sometimes called the love-heart shape, has a broader forehead and a narrower chin. A musketeer-style beard suits it well, adding fullness to the lower face. Alternatively, a goatee following the natural jawline can be flattering when it's trimmed and well-maintained. Emphasising the chin area helps create a more balanced, proportionate look.

If your face shape isn't listed above, or you've got a different opinion on what works, leave a comment below. I'm always happy to help you find a style that suits you, and I'd genuinely like to hear it.

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