If you want to give yourself a manlier, more rugged appearance, having a beard is a great way to go. Growing a great beard, however, is sometimes easier said than done. Some people can’t grow one at all, while others have a hard time managing their chaotic mess of dense hairs. The key to maintaining your facial hair is knowing the right length and shape for your face. Here’s how to figure it out.

Getting Through the Initial Stages

To figure out what sort of beard you should have, you need to grow a full beard first. This means waiting two months at a minimum before shaving or trimming whatsoever.

If you’ve lived your whole life clean-shaven, it can be surprisingly difficult to get through the initial stages of beard growth. You may wonder whether your colleagues might suddenly decide that you look like a ragamuffin unworthy of their respect. You may wonder whether women will still talk to you.

If you choose to grow a long Viking beard, you are making a polarizing decision. Other people, regardless of their status in your life, will either love it or hate it. As someone with a two-week-old beard, however, you probably haven't had time to polarize anyone yet.

The key to powering past initial hesitation is to bring discipline to your daily routine. Your beard might not be very impressive for weeks still, so you should avoid looking in the mirror and critiquing yourself. Some men don’t have enough facial hair to fill in rough patches, but there’s no way to know whether this is the case for you without first making a serious attempt.

Deciding What To Do Once You Have Your Beard

Once you know what you’re working with, you can start to figure out what to do next. Your trimming regimen will most likely follow your head shape. Make an honest assessment of your new look — does it work with or against your face shape?

Oval-Shaped Face

Oval faces are the most common face shapes, and they afford you the most flexibility for beard styles. Provided you have enough thickness and density, oval faces work well with scruff, short, medium, and long beards. They also work well with mustaches.

Round Face

If you have a round face, your beard choices may be somewhat limited. A medium to long beard may look odd and protruding. Short beards and scruff, therefore, are best. The exception to this rule is if you have long hair and an exceptionally thick beard that can break your silhouette and alter your face shape entirely.

Angular Face

Angular, square faces are generally considered desirable, so you might be hesitant to cover yours with a beard. Angular faces therefore work best with scruff, mustaches, short beards, and medium beards. Of course, you can always try a longer look, but if you do, you should trim evenly when it's time.

Triangular Face

People with triangular faces have pointed chins that don’t protrude far beyond the mouth. These look best with medium and long beards, as long as your facial hair is thick enough to layer over itself. A long style can give the impression of a more prominent chin, and this can provide you with all kinds of social benefits. Studies have long suggested that beards can effectively augment your facial structure, especially the chin area.

As with anything else worth doing in life, finding the right beard for you takes a little practice. You may have to go through several months of wonky, uneven hair before you figure out trimming. You might trim too much or too little in places before you figure out how to do it all evenly. If you make such a mistake, don’t panic and shave it all off. Trust in regrowth.

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How To Match Your Beard to Your Face