11 Inventive Ways to Style Your Beard

Your beard style tells a lot about your personality. It's often the defining feature of your face. Whether it be a fabulously coiffured handlebar mustache or an impeccable Verdi, trying out some of the more inventive facial hair styles can radically transform your image; it's one hell of a first impression! 

But you needn't be in ZZ Top to sport a statement beard. In fact, inventive beard styles for men come in all shapes and sizes. So, no matter whether you've got patchy sides or a rectangle face, it's simply a matter of choosing the best beard style for you. 

Below we're going through the eleven of the best beard styles for men – from short to long.  

Short beard styles 

Balbo 

The Balbo is a beard in three parts: mustache, chin beard, and soul patch. However, where each one of these elements has its detractors, together, they form one of the most stylish and inventive facial styles around. Indeed, the Balbo is as suitable for a night on the town as it is for the next day's 9 AM meeting. 

Trim your beard short, removing the section of the beard between your sideburns and the jawline. Try to keep clearly defined lines throughout. You can also pair this beard type with a handlebar mustache. 

Handlebar mustache 

No mustache is more iconic than the Handlebar mustache. It features two parts: the main mustache and the side twirl. To master this look, you'll need to grow the sides of the mustache longer until they're suitable to twirl. Plenty of wax is needed to achieve the right finish. 

Variations on the Handlebar mustache include the Imperial, English, Hungarian, and Walrus.  

Goatee and mustache 

The goatee and mustache are often confused with the Balbo beard. Where it differs is in the width of the chin beard. Additionally, in a proper goatee and mustache, the soul patch and goatee should be disconnected.  

You can choose to go for a more rugged goatee and mustache, or a finely tapered style, like Robert Downey Jr.  

Short boxed beard 

Perhaps not the best inventive style on the list, it's one of the most popular choices for a medium-length beard. Here, all the beard and mustache hair is kept the same length. The benefit of this approach is that you can use a trimmer to quickly tidy up the look; rather than relying on scissors.  

Circle beard 

Sported by none other than Brad Pitt, the circle beard is a variation on the goatee and mustache. As a type of short beard style, it involves allowing the mustache and goatee to meet at the sides, forming a circle of hair around the mouth. The soul patch can be left, trimmed short. 

Full goatee 

For our money, this is the best goatee around. Like the circle beard, the goatee and mustache join. Whether this differs is in length; the goatee has been left to grow to a medium length, and more width is allowed, filling up the entire chin region. Keep this short beard style rounded or trim to more of a point for a refined look. 

Long beard styles 

Wild and Free 

Another Brad Pitt classic: take a Full Goatee and leave it for more than two months; that's the Wild and Free. The goatee becomes somewhat wild and unruly, growing to a point. Keep the mustache and soul patch trimmed neatly 

Ducktail beard 

The Ducktail beard is all about the shape. It requires you to trim the beard to a full, hefty point – like a duck's tail. Popular with Jake Gyllenhaal and Mel Gibson, this beard style is a variation on the full beard.  

To achieve this look, keep the sides of the beard trimmed short, and allow the chin region to grow substantially.

Verdi beard 

Named for the Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi, this beard combines the best aspects of other beards. Featuring a Handlebar mustache and full beard, the Verdi is one of a kind. 

When trimming a Verdi, it's important to prioritize the mustache, as this is what sets this exquisite long beard style apart. Next, the beard can be cropped short, to overemphasize the mustache, or grown longer (even into a Ducktail) to create the proper Verdi look.  

Lumberjack beard 

The Lumberjack beard is all about volume and density. Extending from the cheekbone, this thick beard descends down below the jawline. The mustache, though long, blends into the overall beard. Wearers need dense or curly hair to pull off this look – but, when done correctly, it's one of the most impressive beard styles you'll find. 

Viking Beard 

Few but the best beard connoisseurs can tell apart a Viking beard from the Lumberjack. Where it differs is in overall length. Here, the sideburns are thicker and bushier; the mustache isn't trimmed into the beard but left to grow long; the overall length is also greater. In short, the Viking beard is less a beard than a force of nature.  

It'll take several months, or even a year, to achieve this look. Remember to keep it oiled, shampooed, and brushed throughout this time.  

What do you think is the best beard style?