Style is not just about what you wear: it pertains to and penetrates into every part of your body. Distinct face shapes call for different beard styles. First, examine your facial structure to identify the category you fall into, and then follow these rules to achieve the optimal beard.

When it comes to facial hair styles, the objective should always be to ensure that your beard and jaw should work together to achieve a nicely graduated oval shape. By altering your facial hair, you can compliment your face shape by enhancing your best features and add dimension and contrast to it like nothing else can.

1.   Square

Face Features: Angular with a prominent square chin, broad forehead and jawline.

Objective: People with square faces should go for facial hairstyles that make their face look less box-like.

How: Have the beard neatly and closely trimmed to your face and keep it fuller on the chin.

Recommended Styles:

a.    Trimmed Scruffy Beard

b.    Beard without Hard Lines

c.    Goatees

d.    Moustaches

 Celebrity Example: David Beckham

 2.   Round

Face Features: Face has few angles with almost equal length and width, and has full cheeks.

Objective: People who have round faces should go for beards that make their face look slightly long or oval.

How: Grow your facial hair longer on the bottom and avoid strong sideburns that enhance your features.

Recommended Styles:

a.    French Cut with sharp cuts

b.    A highly-stylized Circle Beard

c.    Close Trimmed Beard with hard lines

d.    Moustache

 Celebrity Example: Kanye West

3.   Triangular

Face Features: The jawline is the widest point of the face and angles to a narrower forehead.

Objective: Those who have triangular faces tend to have pointed chins and should thus style their beard to make it look less pointed.

How: Growing a full beard is probably the best idea, as it adds more weight to your jawline and takes the emphasis away from your chin.

Recommended Style:

a.    Full Beard

 Celebrity Example: Ryan Gosling

4.   Oval

Face Features: The length is approximately one and half times the width with the forehead is slightly wider than the chin            .

Oval faces are a middle ground between all the other face shapes, so most styles work well.

Recommended Styles:

a.    Trimmed Scruffy Beard

b.    Untrimmed Scruffy Beard

c.    Full Beard

d.    Goatee

e.    Moustache

 Celebrity Example: George Clooney

 5.   Rectangular or Oblong

Face Features: Much like the oval shape, it’s longer and narrower, with the chin being somewhat pointy

Objective: Balance out the shape of your face by visually shortening the length with the illusion that it’s more oval.

How: Keep the sides fuller and the bottom shorter.

Recommended Styles:

a.    Close Trimmed Beard

b.    Moustache

 Celebrity Example: Ben Affleck

These are just a few recommendations and in no way the only acceptable styles, as your facial features are also part of the equation for finding the best look for you. A great thing about facial hair is it can be shaved and regrown in a matter of days. So, don’t be afraid to experiment with various lengths and styles!