Whether you want to look like a stoic Viking, a back-alley poet, or someone who can change their own oil without calling their dad, your beard or mustache is going to do a lot of talking for you. And let’s be honest: not all facial hair is created equal. The wrong cut can make you look like you glued on a squirrel. But the right one? You can command a room without saying a word.
So let’s find what actually works for your face, not just what some random influencer said is “in.”
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Soul Patch
What it looks like: Tiny patch of hair hanging out just below your lower lip
Celebrities: Apolo Ohno and Howie Mandel
Best for: Oval or square faces.
How to grow a soui patch: Let the area just under your bottom lip grow to about 5–7 mm. Shave everything else clean using a trimmer with a #1 or #2 guard (3–6 mm) to keep the rest of your face neat. Use a precision trimmer set at 0–1 to define the shape of the soul patch.
Handlebar
What it looks like: Mustache with the ends curled up like they’re waving hello
Celebrities: Rollie Fingers
Best for: Oval or rectangular faces
How to grow a handlebar mustache: Let your mustache grow out for several weeks, at least 6 cm (about 2.5 inches) in length. Avoid trimming the sides and use a #2 or #3 guard for general shaping, then begin applying mustache wax daily to train the ends to curl upward. A small comb and a little patience will help keep those ends in shape. Trim stray hairs weekly to prevent a scruffy look.
Circle Beard
What it looks like: A neat little beard-and-mustache combo that loops around your mouth like a circle emoji.
Celebrities: Will Smith and Dwayne Johnson
Best for: Round or oval faces
How to grow a circle beard: Let both your goatee and mustache grow out to about 10–15 mm, depending on how thick you want the look. Use a #2 guard to maintain an even length. Carefully shape the beard by shaving your cheeks and jawline with a razor or bare-blade trimmer. Make sure the connection between the mustache and chin hair is symmetrical.
Royale Beard
What it looks like: A classy mustache plus a small chin strip.
Celebrities: Christian Bale (in American Hustle), George Clooney, and Pierce Brosnan
Best for: Heart or square faces
How to grow a royale beard: To grow this style, let your mustache come in around 10 mm and allow a small chin strip to grow to about 8 mm. Use a #2 guard to maintain a clean, even length. Keep the cheeks and jawline completely bare using a razor or close trimmer, and define the shape of the chin strip to keep it centered and narrow. Weekly detailing will keep it looking sharp.
Short Boxed Beard
What it looks like: Full beard but in a neat, well-trimmed box.
Celebrities: Michael B. Jordan and Idris Elba
Best for: Oval and square faces
How to grow a short boxed beard: Let your beard grow out evenly to about 12–15 mm. Then, use a #3 or #4 guard to shape the beard, keeping the sides slightly shorter than the chin for added length. Define your cheeklines and neckline using a trimmer or razor. Keep edges sharp with regular cleanup once or twice a week.
Anchor Beard
What it looks like: Pointed-chin beard with a mustache that doesn’t quite touch, looks like a little anchor below your mouth.
Celebrities: Robert Downey Jr.
Best for: Square or round faces
How to grow an anchor beard: Grow out your facial hair for about 3–4 weeks. Use a #1 or #2 guard for trimming, keeping the mustache and chin at similar lengths (6–9 mm). Carefully define the shape by shaving the cheeks and neck, and sculpt the chin beard into a point. The beard lines along the jaw should taper off neatly. Use a precision trimmer every few days to maintain the crispness and symmetry of the anchor shape.
English Mustache
What it looks like: Long, straight, and narrow mustache
Best for: Long or narrow faces
How to grow an English mustache: Grow your mustache out for at least 6–8 weeks. Focus on keeping the center shorter and letting the tips grow longer. Use a fine-toothed mustache comb daily and apply a strong-hold wax to sweep the ends outward horizontally. Trim the area around the lip line. Reapply wax daily and re-style as needed to maintain that refined symmetry.
Imperial
What it looks like: The mustache that curls upward and may creep onto your cheeks.
Best for: Square or heart-shaped faces.
How to grow an imperial mustache: Let your mustache grow thick and wide for 8+ weeks, allowing it to spread past the corners of your mouth. At the same time, grow the hair out on your cheeks if you’re going for full flair. Use a generous amount of high-hold wax to curl the tips upward and outward. Blow-dry on a cool setting while styling for hold. Keep the rest of the face clean-shaven to let the mustache stand out. Trim the ends for balance, but avoid cutting too short, or you’ll lose the dramatic flair.
3-Day Stubble Beard
What it looks like: Intentionally missed shaving for three days
Celebrities: Jason Statham and David Beckham
Best for: Seriously, everyone
How to grow a 3-day stubble beard: Skip shaving for 2–4 days to let your facial hair come in naturally. Then, use a beard trimmer with a 1–3 mm guard to even out the length all over. Use a razor to clean up the edges around your neck and cheekbones. Repeat every 2–3 days to maintain a polished appearance rather than a scruffy one.
Mutton Chops
What it looks like: Big, bold sideburns that drop down your jawline.
Celebrities: Hugh Jackman (as Wolverine)
Best for: Oval or rectangular faces
How to grow mutton chops: Grow your sideburns down to the corners of your jaw over 4–6 weeks, trimming the rest of your face to a clean finish. Use a trimmer to shape the chops and define a straight or slightly curved edge along the jawline. Fade the top of the burns near the temples into your hairline for a cleaner transition. Comb downward and use beard balm to keep the texture neat and soft.
Chinstrap
What it looks like: Thin, sharp line of hair hugging your jawline, subtle but sharp.
Celebrities: Lewis Hamilton and Tyrese Gibson
Best for: Round faces
How to grow a chinstrap: Grow a thin band of facial hair along the jawline for 2–3 weeks. Shave the cheeks and neck completely clean, then use a precision trimmer to shape the strap into a crisp, narrow line (3–5 mm). The width should be consistent from ear to chin. Regular maintenance is crucial.
Neckbeard
What it looks like: Hair that mainly grows on your neck.
Best for: All faces
How to grow a neckbeard: Let the hair under your jaw and neck grow for 3–4 weeks, trimming only around the cheeks and jawline. Use a trimmer with a #2–#4 guard to maintain an even length. To keep it intentional, fade the neckline into the lower jaw and blend the edges.
Ducktail
What it looks like: Full beard that tapers into a sharp point at the chin, sleek and stylish.
Celebrities: Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio
Best for: Round or oval faces
How to rock it: Grow your beard out to around 30–40 mm (usually 2–3 months of growth). Use longer guards on the chin area and shorter ones on the cheeks to create that signature taper. The bottom should come to a gentle point, not a harsh one. Comb your beard downward daily and apply a beard balm or styling product to maintain its shape. Clean the neckline and cheeklines regularly with a razor or close trimmer for a tidy look.
Zappa
What it looks like: Thick mustache similar to a horseshoe, paired with a tiny soul patch
Celebrities: Frank Zappa
Best for: Square or oblong faces
How to grow a Zappa: Grow a thick mustache and a solid soul patch over 4–5 weeks. Keep cheeks, chin, and jaw completely clean-shaven. Trim the mustache just above the lip line and let the soul patch sit just below the lower lip, about 1–2 cm wide. Use a detail trimmer to keep lines sharp and symmetrical.
Sideburns
What it looks like: Hair that grows down the side of your face in front of your ears.
Celebrities: Elvis Presley
Best for: Works on almost any face shape.
How to grow sideburns: Let your sideburns grow for 3–4 weeks. Use clippers to shape them to your desired length (mid-ear, jawline, or longer). For modern sideburns, keep them narrow and well-blended into your haircut. Trim the bottom edge with a sharp line or a soft fade.
Shenandoah
What it looks like: A full beard but without a mustache
Best for: Oval or square faces
How to grow Shenandoah: Grow a full beard for 6–8 weeks, shaving the upper lip clean. Keep the mustache area smooth with a razor and let the rest of the beard flow from sideburns down along the jaw and chin. Use a trimmer with a #3–#5 guard for even length, and shape the neckline just above the Adam’s apple. Comb daily and apply beard oil to keep it soft and healthy.
Walrus
What it looks like: Big, thick, bushy mustache that hangs over your lips like a furry curtain.
Celebrities: Sam Elliott and Friedrich Nietzsche
Best for: Oblong or oval faces
How to grow a walrus: Let your mustache grow for 8–10 weeks without trimming. Comb downward daily to train the hairs over the lip. Use scissors to trim just enough so you can eat and speak comfortably. Keep the area around the mustache (cheeks and chin) clean-shaven or lightly stubbled.
Gunslinger
What it looks like: Long sideburns paired with a mustache and a clean-shaven chin
Celebrities: Kurt Russell
Best for: Square or rectangular faces
How to grow a gunslinger: Grow out long sideburns and a thick mustache over 6–8 weeks. Keep the chin clean-shaven. Shape the sideburns to extend to the corners of your mouth and blend into the stache. Use a #3–#5 guard for even length and a precision trimmer to create bold lines along the cheeks.
Pencil
What it looks like: Super thin mustache, drawn like a fine line just above the lip
Celebs: Clark Gable
Best for: Narrow or oval faces
How to grow a pencil mustache: Grow a mustache for about 2–3 weeks. Then, shave it down with a precision trimmer or razor into a narrow line just above the upper lip (around 1–2 mm wide). Define the edges sharply. Shave the rest of the face clean, and use a clear shaving gel or stencil for accuracy.
Chevron
What it looks like: A thick, wide mustache that covers the upper lip completely
Celebrities: Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck
Best for: Square faces or strong jawlines
How to grow a chevron: Stop shaving your upper lip for 4–6 weeks and let the hair reach 10–15 mm in length. Use a #3 or #4 guard to trim bulk if needed, but avoid overdoing it; this style is intended to look bold and full. Comb it regularly and trim any hairs that extend too far over your lip. Use scissors or a detailing trimmer for subtle shaping.
Horseshoe
What it looks like: Full mustache that extends straight down the sides of the mouth, looks like an upside-down horseshoe
Celebrities: Hulk Hogan
Best for: Long or oval faces
How to grow a horseshoe mustache: Let your mustache grow full and wide, then extend the ends downward in straight lines to the jawline over 4–6 weeks. Keep the chin and cheeks completely shaved. Use a trimmer without a guard to define the outer lines and shape the “legs” of the horseshoe. Shave every 1–2 days to maintain contrast.
Painter’s Brush
What it looks like: Thick, full mustache trimmed flat across the top lip ( like you just painted a brushstroke)
Celebrities: Brad Pitt (in Inglourious Basterds) and Ron Burgundy
Best for: Oval, square, and round faces
How to grow a painter’s brush mustache: Grow a thick mustache over 4–5 weeks, then trim it flat and wide across the lip line using a precision trimmer or scissors. Keep the rest of the face smooth. The goal is to achieve density and shape, so use a brush to keep hairs in place and apply wax if needed to prevent flyaways.
Verdi
What it looks like: Full beard paired with a stylish, distinct mustache. Similar to Garibaldi but a bit more polished
Best for: Oval or heart-shaped faces
How to grow a verdi beard: Grow a full beard and thick mustache for 6–8 weeks. Keep the beard short (around 10–15 mm) and shape it into a rounded style under the jaw. Let the mustache grow longer and separate it slightly from the beard. Use wax to curl the ends of the mustache and keep the rest neatly trimmed. Shave the cheeks and neckline regularly.
Garibaldi
What it looks like: Wide, full beard with a rounded bottom. Mustache is usually in tow.
Celebrities: Zach Galifianakis
Best for: Round or oval faces
How to grow a garibaldi: Let your beard grow for 3–4 months (up to 50 mm) and avoid over-trimming. Once you’ve achieved a solid bulk, shape the bottom into a rounded edge using scissors, avoiding sharp lines. Keep the mustache trimmed to about 10mm and apply beard oil to maintain the look and manage frizz.
Van Dyke
What it looks like: Goatee and mustache that don’t connect.
Celebrities: Johnny Depp
Best for: Pointed chins and oblong faces
How to grow a van dyke beard: Let your mustache and chin hair grow to around 10–15 mm. Keep your cheeks and jawline shaved clean with a razor or a close trimmer. Shape the goatee into a neat point under your chin and allow your mustache to arch naturally. Use a detail trimmer to maintain separation between the mustache and chin. Trim every 3–5 days to preserve the distinctive shape.
Balbo
What it looks like: Features a trimmed mustache, a separated soul patch, and a sculpted beard along the jawline without sideburns.
Celebrities: Robert Downey Jr.
Best for: Narrow chins
How to grow a balbo: Let your facial hair grow out fully for a few weeks, then use a #2 guard (around 6 mm) to create a clean separation between your mustache, soul patch, and the beard on your chin and jaw. Shave the cheeks and sideburns clean. The key is balance, so use a precision trimmer to keep the lines sharp and the shapes distinct.
Dali
What it looks like: Narrow mustache with the ends twisted upwards
Celebrities: Salvador Dali
Best for: Slim or narrow faces
How to grow a dali mustache: Grow a thin mustache for about 3–4 weeks. Shave everything else clean. Use fine scissors and a precision trimmer to shape the mustache into a thin line, then apply a strong-hold wax to curl the ends upward. A small comb and hairdryer (on low heat) help lock in the curl.
Five O’clock Shadow
What it looks like: Light, subtle stubble
Celebrities: George Clooney and Ryan Gosling
Best for: Everyone
How to grow a five o’clock shadow: Let your facial hair grow naturally. Then, use a 0.5 mm trimmer to even it out while cleaning the neck and cheeks with a razor. The goal is a “barely-there” stubble that looks intentional.
Beardstache
What it looks like: Full mustache paired with short, trimmed stubble on the rest of the face.
Celebrities: Henry Cavill
Best for: Square or oval faces
How to grow a beardstache: Grow your mustache thick and full for 4–6 weeks while trimming the rest of your facial hair down to 3–5 mm. Use a trimmer to keep the beard short and neat, allowing the mustache to stand out. Clean up the neckline and cheeklines every few days.
Lumberjack Beard
What it looks like: Big, thick, long beard and mustache
Celebrities: Ricki Hall
Best for: Wide or oval faces
How to grow a lumberjack beard: Let your beard grow out for 2–3 months with minimal trimming. Use beard oil daily to moisturize and prevent itching. Comb it every day to train the hair downward and to avoid tangling. Use a trimmer with a high guard (#5–#8) to shape the sides and bottom without losing fullness. Trim the neckline once a week.
