A Complete Guide to Men’s Beard Styles

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Barber and barbershop owner Jacob Joseph shares some of the most popular goatee and beard styles right now

Co-authored by Jacob Joseph and Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD

Last Updated: January 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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• For Square Faces
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• For Round Faces
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• For Rectangular Faces
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• For Oval Faces
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• Determining Your Face Shape
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• Video

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Facial hair can make a huge difference when it comes to a gentleman’s looks. Whether it be some stubble, a goatee, or a full beard, facial hair can come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re considering growing out some fuzz, keep reading for a comprehensive breakdown of all the different beard styles you can choose from, with insights from barbers Jacob Joseph and Barry Hairston. Plus, learn which beard is best suited for your face shape and how to determine your face shape.

Different Types of Beards

Barber and barbershop owner Jacob Joseph says triangle-shaped beards and stubble are popular styles. For square faces, try goatees, royale beards, or circle beards. For rectangular faces, go for mutton chops or chin straps. For round faces, consider a Balbo beard or anchor beard. Most beard types suit oval faces.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

Beards For a Square Face Shape

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   Goatee Named after the tuft of hair often found on the chins of goats, this style features hair on the chin. Hairston says it works best on square-shaped faces because it adds length to the face. Achieve this look by growing out your facial hair and then trimming everything but the hair on your chin, allowing it to shine.

   • Also works well for: Round and diamond face shapes.
   • Joseph says he’s noticed a shift toward goatees recently, especially the mustache and goatee look.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Jacob Joseph is a professional barber and the owner of The Barber Lounge barbershop in Turlock, CA. He’s also a men’s grooming content creator.

   Barry Hairston is an award-winning master barber and men’s grooming specialist with more than a decade of experience.
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   Petit goatee “Petit” means “small” in French, which is a perfect way of describing this display of facial hair. It takes up less real estate on the chin, typically beginning thicker near the mouth and slimming down toward the bottom of the chin. It still helps lengthen the face a bit, which works well for square-shaped faces.

   • Also works well for: Round and diamond faces.
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   Royale beard This look is often referred to as a “floating” mustache above a goatee. Popular among celebrities like Michael B. Jordan, Ben Affleck, and Jeremy Renner, this look offers the best of both worlds: the cool ease of a mustache with the added coverage of a goatee. If you have a square face, this will elongate it while adding a bit of flair.

   • Also works well for: Oval or heart-shaped faces.
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   Circle beard This geometric-inspired style joins a mustache with a rounded goatee. These two form a circular shape, connecting around the mouth and chin. Many men favor this style as it looks neat and is relatively low-maintenance. It can also add a bit of softness to a square face shape, which helps create a more balanced look.

   • Also works well for: Round and oval faces.
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Section 2 of 5:

Beards For a Round Face Shape

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1. 
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   Balbo beard Named after Italian politician Italo Balbo, this facial ‘do includes a mustache, a chin beard, and often, a soul patch in the center of the beard, just below the mouth. This tidy look usually comes with no sideburns and an otherwise neatly groomed face. If you have a round face, this will make it appear thinner and longer.

   • Also works well for: Square, oval, and heart-shaped faces.
   • Joseph says triangle-shaped beards that angle to a point toward the chin, like the Italian fade and Viking beard, are extremely popular right now. The Balbo beard is also a triangle shape.
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   Van Dyke beard This facial fuzz dates back to the 17th century, when Flemish artist Anthony van Dyck first sported the look. Today, you, too, can look like a Baroque painter by growing both a mustache and a goatee, and then curling the mustache upwards at the ends with pomade or gel. This style can add a bit of structure to your face if it’s on the round side.

   • Also works well for: Square faces.
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   Short box beard This style involves a mustache leading to a goatee and an all-over beard. It’s usually kept neatly trimmed and creates a well-groomed look. This face-framing shape adds angles to a round face and reduces the appearance of full cheeks. The trick is to keep the hair on the chin long for a slimmer, elongated look.

   • Also works well for: Oval, heart, and diamond face shapes.
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   Anchor beard Bridging together a soul patch and a petit goatee, an anchor beard centers the focus on the bottom half of the chin. A thin line of hair traces the jawline, creating a sharp, square look that flatters a rounder face shape. This is a great option for men who just want a little bit of fuzz, a certain je ne sais quoi that accentuates the chin.

   • Also works well for: Oval and square shapes.
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Section 3 of 5:

Beards For a Rectangular Face Shape

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1. 
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   Mutton chops This iconic style has been in vogue since the 19th century, sported by the likes of Elvis Presley and Hugh Jackman in the Wolverine films. Achieve this look by growing out a beard and then trimming down the sides into thick sideburns, leaving the chin and upper lip bare. Shifting the focus to the center of the face in this manner can help a longer, rectangular face appear more balanced.

   • Also works well for: Oval and square face shapes.
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   Gunslinger beard and mustache This bold Western look features a stylish, curled mustache that follows one’s laugh lines down to the jaw and ends in thick sideburns up the face. Whether you’re on your way to close down a saloon or simply out on a date, this style emphasizes prominent facial features by leading the eye to the center of the face.

   • Also works well for: Oval and square face shapes.
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   Chin strip Also referred to as a soul patch, a chin strip is a tiny patch of hair just below the bottom lip. This is a stylish minimalist’s dream, as it provides a well-groomed aesthetic with a touch of personality. This look became very popular among jazz musicians in the mid-20th century, earning it its soulful nickname. Some people even call it a “flavor saver,” as it sits just under the mouth and may act as an accidental net that catches crumbs!

   • Also works well for: Oval and square face shapes.
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   Chin strap beard A longer, fuller version of the chin strip, a chin strap lines the length of the entire jaw with no sideburns or mustache. For longer, rectangular-shaped heads, this trim provides structure for the face. Hairston says you can achieve this popular look by growing out a beard and then trimming it all down except for a thin line at the jaw.

   • Also works well for: Oval and diamond face shapes.
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Section 4 of 5:

Beards For an Oval Face Shape

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1. 
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   Chevron mustache Nearly every form of facial hair looks good on oval-shaped faces, and a chevron mustache is no different! This style features a striking chevron-shaped mustache across the upper lip— and that’s it! If you want a fuller bearded look, connect the mustache to a neatly trimmed beard for a bold yet well-manicured look.

   • Also works well for: Square and rectangular face shapes.
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   Stubble This may be the easiest to achieve out of all the styles— all you have to do is wait! Stubble growth and beard growth in general depend on a range of factors like lifestyle and genetics, but the average monthly growth for an adult male is about 0.5 inches (5 mm). Grow it out for about a month and tweak the length of your stubble accordingly.

   • Also works well for: Square, round, and heart-shaped faces.
   • Joseph says heavy stubble beards, “where it looks like probably about a week worth of growth,” are popular right now, especially when they’re kept sharp and clean.
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   Original mustache A bold classic, the original mustache walked so that every gunslinger, handlebar, and horseshoe mustache could run. This mustache is a thin banner that sits on the top lip, perfectly suited for oval face shapes. Celebrities like Tom Selleck and Burt Reynolds were notoriously known to rock a ‘stache like this one.

   • Also works well for: Square and rectangular faces.
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   Horseshoe mustache According to Hairston, the horseshoe mustache is thick with handlebar lines wrapping around the mouth and chin. To achieve this look, allow your beard to grow for about a month and then shape it into a horseshoe by trimming the hair on your cheeks and chin while leaving the mustache alone. Hulk Hogan and Sam Elliot are two such iconic mustached men. This daring look is perfect for an oval-shaped face!

   • Also works well for: Square and rectangular face shapes.
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Section 5 of 5:

Determining Your Face Shape

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1. Identify the widest part of your face, along with the angle and shape of your jaw. To determine your face shape, pull your hair back and away from your face in a well-lit room. Then, use a tape measurer to measure the width of your forehead and cheekbones. Next, measure your jawline from the bottom of your chin to below your ears, and again, from the middle of your hairline to the bottom of your chin. See how your measurements align with the following face shapes:

   • Oval: Oval faces are longer than they are wide, with a forehead that’s slightly wider than the jawline, with a rounded chin.
   • Round: Round faces are pretty proportionate in length and width, with the widest point at the cheekbones and a rounded jaw.
   • Square: Square faces are of similar length and width, with a sharp jaw.
   • Heart: Heart faces feature a wide forehead, a pointed chin, and high-set cheekbones.
   • Diamond: Diamond faces are widest at the cheekbones, with a narrower forehead, jawline, and chin.
   • Rectangle: Rectangular faces are longer than they are wide, with a narrower forehead, cheekbones, and jawline.

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