A beard can sometimes be like a phone conversation. Keeping it short and sweet can make it more enjoyable. Short beard styles will always have a certain appeal. Short facial hair doesn’t take an eternity to grow, and styling it doesn’t take up half of your morning. And when you get bored of it, you can change the whole look with some quick trimming.
Whether it’s a beardstache, goatee, stylized stubble, or a hipster beard style a short beard is like a breath of fresh air. It’s modern, office-friendly, and the perfect length for those torrid summer temperatures. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the hottest beard styles and new looks out there, and how you can choose a beard to complement your facial features. Read on to find out more.
Things to Consider Before Choosing a Short Beard Style
The Shape of Your Face
Your face shape should be your primary decision-making factor when choosing a beard style. Compatibility is key here. Sometimes even the most popular, amazing, on-trend beard style out there can look like a natural disaster on certain faces.
Facial Features
You can enhance or mask certain facial features with a cleverly groomed beard. Facial hair can lengthen your face, make your jaw more square and masculine, and even hide the under-chin area. It’s like real-life photoshopping, and you only need a beard trimmer and a shaving kit to do it.
Skin Type
Although it’s not a really manly topic, we should acknowledge the fact that skin care is important. Some of us have sensitive skin, and there’s no shame in that. Constant shaving and trimming can cause irritation, redness, or discomfort, and it’s something we have to take into consideration when choosing a beard style.
Understanding Which Beard Style Will Suit Your Face
Square Face
A square face is defined by sharp lines and severe features. You can accentuate the jawline, or go in the other direction and pick a style that elongates your features, softens the jawline, and creates a sense of balance.
Round Face
This type of face has softer features, with rounded edges, and a less obvious jawline and chin. You can pick a beard that creates some length to the face. Basically, anything that emphasizes the chin area can do the trick.
Rectangular Face
A rectangular face has the sharpness of the square face but is more obviously long than wide. You’ll want to avoid beard styles that accentuate the length and pick a style that emphasizes the jawline or creates a point of interest.
Oval Face
The oval face is the most beard-friendly shape out there. As a combination of round and rectangular, your face will be compatible with most beard styles. This also gives you the freedom to be creative and bold with your beard choices. Go forth and explore, oval-faced man!
Diamond Face
The diamond face is a good match for short beards. The forehead is the widest part of the face, and the chin is usually pointy. This means you should avoid growing your hair too long, especially in the chin area. You’ll most likely want to add some sharpness to the jawline, to create a more masculine vibe.
How to Trim and Style a Short Beard
Start small - always trim a little first
Grooming shouldn’t be a case of ‘trim first, ask questions later.’ Take your time, and trim in increments. If you’re not satisfied with the length, you can always cut some more. But if you go all-in from the start, you’ll just have to wait for your hair to grow back before you can style your new beard.
Teach yourself to use the right tools
Having the right tools is just as important as learning how to use them. If you’ve got your heart set on a short beard, you’ll need to get comfortable with your beard trimmer.
The first thing you’ll want to figure out is which guard attachment suits your needs. Guard attachments usually go from 1 to 8 with differences of approximately 3mm between them. But you should always check the specifications of your trimmer because guard size varies greatly between brands and models.
Some men's beard styles require regular shaving to maintain, so get acquainted with a quality razor or shaving blade. You can also use the old-school pairing of comb and scissors for the more difficult areas, like the corners of the mouth, around the ears, and the edges of the moustache.
Apply the finishing touches for detail
The Devil’s in the details and finishing touches can make or break a look. You can complete your look by creating crisp lines or by fading the outline of your beard and neckline. Use a precision trimmer for your sharper lines and guard attachments for fading.
The one obstacle at this point is the neck area, and a beginner’s mistake is trimming the neckline too high. One easy trick is to picture a semicircle connecting your earlobes with a point above your Adam’s apple. You can also locate the perfect shaving line by placing two fingers above your Adam’s apple.
Comb your short beard after trimming
Even if you have a short beard, you should still use a comb or beard brush as a part of your daily maintenance routine. Combing your beard can help activate local blood circulation in the skin, and help distribute natural oils on your facial hair.
Your beard hair texture will determine the kind of beard comb you need to use. For dense, thick hair, you should use a comb with wider teeth. This will also help you untangle and straighten your facial hair. But if your hair is thin and soft, you would benefit more from a beard comb with finer teeth.
Maintain your beard
Short beards need some extra love and attention in the maintenance department. Your routine should include washing, moisturizing, and probably styling.
Regular washing is essential, and you should use products like beard shampoos, which are specifically designed for beard use. You can use your beard wash up to three times a week.
You should also use beard oils to keep your hair hydrated. Moisturizing is an essential step in beard care that will help your hair grow healthier. This will also help prevent symptoms like itchiness and beard dandruff.
15 Best Short Beard Styles for Men
Short Boxed Beard
If you want a beard style that goes with any type of haircut, including a bald head, then look no further. The short boxed beard is a variation of the full beard, with the ideal length around three-quarters of an inch.
It has the same manly vibe as the full beard, but it’s easier to maintain and can be a bit more workplace-friendly. It creates some width in the jawbone area and if you trim it a bit lower on the cheek line it can also accentuate your cheekbones.
Beardstache
If you’re a moustache fan, then the beardstache is something to look forward to. It’s similar to the short beard box, but the hair on your cheeks, jaw, and chin are trimmed shorter than the hair above your lip.
The moustache is the main actor in this particular style, and you can trim and shape it to your heart’s desire. Make it a handlebar, chevron, walrus, or whatever else you can think of. You can get creative with the beardstache.
Van Dyke Beard
Named after Anthony van Dyke, a 17th-century Flemish painter, this beard style will definitely help you stand out in a crowd. It gives off a roguish vibe while also appearing classical and distinguished. It’s also a great beard for anyone with patchier hair growth.
This style is a variation of the classic goatee, with a moustache, chin beard, and soul patch. The moustache is not connected to the actual beard.
The Van Dyke Beard needs a bit of upkeep, and you’ll need to maintain the cheek and jawline hairless while occasionally trimming the length.
Royal Beard
This distinguished beard style is a combination between a moustache and a chin strip. The moustache is usually a classic style, and it complements the chin hair, creating an elongating effect in the shape of a ‘T’.
You can get a chin strip by trimming your hair in a vertical line that runs down the chin. This line can be as wide or as thin as you want, just make sure that the size of your moustache keeps everything in balance.
This interesting beard style is similar to the Van Dyke beard and it’s attainable even if you’re struggling with uneven facial hair growth.
The Balbo
This beard style is one of the classics and its popularity is on the rise. You’ll be pairing a goatee with a floating moustache to create this timeless look that’s easy to maintain and even easier to grow.
The Balbo is an accessible beard style if you have patchy areas along the sides of your mouth where the moustache and beard would naturally join.
Chin Strap Beard
A beard with sharp lines and manly vibes. Need we say more? The chin strap beard can help you define or accentuate your jawline, and it’s one of those beards that projects masculinity.
The beard will be connected to your sideburns and should be trimmed as a strip that runs along the jaw and under your chin. The thickness of the strip can vary according to preferences, but you should keep it trimmed close to the chin and jawline.
Goatee
This beard style has many variations, but the full goatee is the look you might actually associate the name with. This classic style requires growing a moustache and beard that are joined at the edges of the mouth.
The width of your chin beard should be adapted to fit your face. Trim the edges of your beard in increments to find a width that’s flattering for your face shape and features. This is the secret ingredient that can help you rock the goatee look.
Short Shaggy Beard
The beard equivalent of ‘bed-head’ is something you can rock and make part of your personal devil-may-care style. This is a perfect style to hide those patchy beard areas on your face and it’s easy to maintain with a quick trim every one or two weeks. You will want to keep the length of your hair around three-quarters of an inch.
Keep in mind that having a shaggy beard doesn’t mean you can skip the beard care routine. You’ll still need to use products like beard oil and beard balm to keep your hair healthy and hydrated. The shaggy style should look effortless, not messy.
3-Day Stubble Beard
If you don’t have the patience to grow a full beard, but you want a rugged manly look, then the 3-day stubble beard is an excellent choice. It’s an iconic style that’s easy to maintain.
The important thing is to make sure your stubble looks intentional and well-groomed. An unkempt stubble beard can easily look like you’ve just been too busy to shave.
You’ll need to keep your hair at an even length and define the edges around the cheekbones and neck areas with crisp lines or by creating a fade.
The 3-day stubble is also a great style for beginner beard enthusiasts. You can explore the idea of facial hair and let it grow out into a longer beard as you get used to your new look and grooming routine.
Mutton Chops
This memorable style is a 19th-century throwback. It’s a beard that extends from the sideburns, down the jaw. It can connect to your moustache, but it should always leave the chin bare.
You can make mutton chops look fresh and modern by keeping your facial hair tidy and trimmed to perfection. You can also go the opposite and keep your beard shaggy and wild.
The mutton chops beard is bold and gutsy and requires some serious confidence to wear. If you’re adventurous enough, then this look is a guaranteed head-turner.
Mustache and Chin Strap
This beard is a variation of the chin strap, with the added bonus of a moustache. It’s a great style to explore, especially if you have patchy hair growth.
For this look, you’ll need to trim your beard in the form of a strip that runs the length of your jaw and chin, and connects to your sideburns. You can trim your moustache in a style that complements your features and face shape.
Full Boxed Beard
The full boxed beard is a shorter version of the full beard. It’s super-popular, and the actual length of the hair varies greatly depending on personal preferences.
This style is perfect if you have thick hair and a dense beard. You should trim it shorter around the sideburns and even out the length under the chin and cheek line. This will help achieve a balanced look, with your facial hair perfectly framing your features.
The Anchor
The anchor beard style is a type of goatee that you can trim and style to resemble a boat anchor. You’ll need to keep your chin beard a bit wider on the sides and let it merge with your soul patch. You should also style your moustache in a way that complements the look and fits your features.
The anchor beard is growing in popularity and it’s becoming a go-to look for a lot of movie stars and athletes.
Medium-length Goatee
This look is a fantastic combination between the classic goatee and long-haired beards. It’s got the best of both worlds, and it’s a great way to accentuate your facial features and elongate the face.
Once you’ve got your hair trimmed and styled, all you have to do is wait for your chin beard to grow out. This will add length to your beard, and make your goatee look classy and timeless.
The Longer Chin Curtain
This daring beard style is not for the faint-hearted. It’s similar in a way to the chin strap beard because it creates a line along the jaw and chin. The chin curtain is trimmed lower on the face and is meant to frame your jawline and chin, rather than cover them.
The longer chin curtain beard can also extend towards the soul patch and is generally paired with a long moustache for added personality and flair.
Key Beard Products To Help You Out
Beard Wash
Give your short beard the care it needs and always wash it with a beard shampoo. This will help protect your beard hair and help get rid of the dust and grime it gathers throughout the day. A proper beard wash will also help remove dead skin cells and keep your face clean and healthy.
Beard Conditioner
A beard conditioner can be a great addition to your beard care routine. It helps keep your beard hydrated, soft, and easier to tame. It can also provide some extra moisture in the colder months of the year when your facial hair is more at risk of damage and drying out.
Beard Oil
This is the go-to care product for beards of all shapes and sizes. Beard oil will hydrate and protect your hair from the wear and tear of daily life activities. You can also pick a beard oil with a scent that energizes you and gives you that extra boost of confidence.
Beard Trimmer
A beard trimmer can be your best friend. You should look for a good quality product, with a good variety of guard sizes. If you opt for a cordless trimmer, make sure to check for recharging time and autonomy.
Find Out Which Short Beard Style Speaks To Your Viking Warrior Soul
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