The Best Beard Styles for Bald Guys—and How to Achieve Them

Growing a beard can complement a bald look. Experts share the best styles according to your face and head shape, and how to pull them off.Getty Images; Collage: Eva BaronWhether by choice or chance, plenty of guys are bald. Having a lack of locks is not only a signature look anymore; it’s super common, and it can look great as long as you learn to embrace it. Just look at Jason Statham, The Rock, or Samuel L. Jackson. Being bald isn’t an outlier; it carries a sense of groomed ruggedness. But, if you can do it, growing a beard is a great way to balance a smooth dome with some personality and complement your look. “Facial hair with a bald head adds style and texture,” says David Connor, master barber and owner of Anti-Gravity Salon in New Orleans.Of course, not every guy can grow every type of beard, and not all beards are the same—the best beard styles for bald guys depends on your head shape. “Just like guys with a full head of hair, it’s important to choose your beard shape wisely, especially when you don't have hair on top,” Connor says. “Ask yourself: What shape is my head? Where am I trying to lead people's eyes?”At the end of the day, your hair or beard speaks to your uniqueness and vibe, and a beard can be a fantastic natural accessory for bald men. We consulted with Connor and Simone Foirini, master barber at Barerino’s in New York City, to break down the nine best beard styles for bald men—what they are, why they work, and how to achieve them.StubbleAnchored StacheThe Circle BeardShort Boxed BeardShort Beard FadeThe Full-Grown BeardThe Minimal GoateeThe Sculpted Full BeardThe Executive StubbleThe Best Beard Styles for Bald MenStubbleMike MarslandStubble, or the classic 5 o’clock shadow, is that short, slightly grown-in layer of hair that emerges after a fresh shave. "The name comes from the idea that if you shave in the morning, by the afternoon, you’ll have a light shadow," Connor says. "But really, this look can develop over two to three days of growth and still achieve the same effect."Why it works: For bald men, this style is a game-changer. "It adds texture to the head and prevents that ‘cue ball’ effect," Connor says. "Since it's long enough to be outlined, it contours the face and creates a well-balanced, groomed but effortless look, especially when paired with a clean-shaved head."How to achieve it: When visiting the barber, simply ask for the 5 o’clock shadow. "Your barber will use clippers on your face, anywhere from an open taper arm to a 0.5 guard, to create the shadowed look," Connor says. "Technically, this isn’t a beard but a subtle shading of texture. Use a trimmer or razor for clean contouring."Steve GranitzThe anchored ‘stache is a goatee-style beard that is disconnected from the mustache, with clean-shaven cheeks. “This look extends outwards along the jawline, which can accentuate, shape, or strengthen the jaw,” Connor explains.Why It Works: It’s a natural match for bald men. “[It] works well with a shaved head because it draws attention to the lips and jawline,” Connor says. “It’s also a great tool for enhancing facial structure.”How to Achieve It: Connor advises showing your barber reference pictures. But if at home, “start with #1.5 or 2 guard, though the length can be adjusted.” Use the trimmer to clear the area above and below the cheekbone. “You'll also want to outline slightly below and above the jaw.” A trimmer works well for a defined outline when shaping the mustache, but scissors are best for longer mustaches.Gilbert Flores/Getty ImagesA circle beard is a combination of a mustache and goatee that connects around the mouth, though not all versions are perfectly circular. “Some have sharp edges and actually form a square shape,” Connor says.Why It Works: This style works especially well with a shaved head as it “it draws attention straight to the chin and lips,” Connor says. “Even though it doesn’t touch the cheeks or jawline, it adds strength and structure to the face from the front. Depending on placement, it can also enhance the neck and jawline.”How to Achieve It: “Ask your barber for a circle beard and decide on the shape, whether rounded or squared. A 1.5 guard is great for density while keeping things clean, but if you prefer a fuller look, go with a 2 or 3 guard. Use a trimmer to outline and shave down the cheeks and neck area for definition.”Steve GranitzA short boxed beard is a full-beard style that extends from the sideburns, covering the jawline and top of the cheeks. “It’s excellent for adding masculinity and contouring the face,” Connor says. “Defined edges make it sharp, but for a more organic look, soften them.”Why It Works: For bald men, this beard creates an effective contrast. “It pairs really well with a shaved head, but the key is tapering into the sideburns instead of leaving a harsh line,” Connor advises. “That transition adds aesthetic value and cohesion.”How to Achieve It: If you’re shaping it at home, Connor recommends “outlining the beard with a trimmer along the roundest parts of your cheek and neck to add structure. Start with a 1.5 guard and work your way up to your ideal length, but don’t go beyond a #4 guard, or you risk creating an upside-down lightbulb shape, which throws off the symmetry. For a polished finish, taper down the guards as you move toward the shaved head.”Taylor HillA short faded beard is fuller in the jaw area and gradually blends into shorter lengths toward the cheeks and sideburns. “It’s a versatile option that enhances facial definition without looking too heavy or unkempt.”Why It Works: “This is probably my favorite beard for bald men,” Connor says. “It blends seamlessly into a shaved head while defining the face, jawline, and cheekbones.”How to Achieve It: For the best results, “ask your barber for a faded beard. Start with your desired length—anywhere up to a #3 or #4 guard—then gradually transition shorter as you move up the cheek and sideburn area, working down in guard sizes until you reach trimmer length. This ensures a seamless connection between the beard and the shaved head.”Mike Marsland/Getty ImagesIf you’re follicly blessed on your face, grow that bad boy out as much as you can. “It works especially well on a bald man because it creates balance and gives more structure to the lower half of the face,” Forini says.Why It Works: When there’s no hair on the top of the head, a bountiful amount of hair on the bottom of the face creates contrast so the head doesn’t look like a bowling ball. Bonus points if you’re a silver fox, because it “adds character and makes the look feel more distinctive.”How to Achieve It: Let your beard grow as long as thick as it can while making sure to keep the neckline and upper cheek area clean, otherwise you just look like you’ve neglected all forms of personal grooming. You’ll want to give your beard a reverse taper so that it’s a little shorter on the sides but gradually gets longer towards the end. For a style this long, a beard balm will keep everything in place so that a gust of wind won’t make it look lopsided.Maya Dehlin/Getty ImagesLike the circle beard, the minimal goatee surrounds the mouth but is cleaned up on the inside so only the perimeter remains. This is a great option if you can’t grow a full beard but still want to have something on your face.Why It Works: “This is a more minimal and precise look,” Forini says. It adds “personality to the face” without drawing as much attention as thicker or longer styles.How to Achieve It: This is a short facial hair style, so maintaining its length is important to keeping it tidy. Forini recommends using a beard trimmer to define the goatee and ensure the cheeks and neck are clean shaven. “Because it’s so minimal, every detail has to look intentional,” he adds.Bruce Glikas/Getty ImagesA full beard like this requires precision trimming so that it looks sculpted rather than overgrown. The hairs on the side of the face should gradually come together towards the chin in a natural, rounded way so that the beard doesn’t end up looking too pointy.Why It Works: There’s a polish and sophistication that comes with a beard style like this because it requires a good amount of care and attention so that it looks well-groomed and deliberate, like creating a sculpture from marble.How to Achieve It: First, make sure the sideburns “transition smoothly” from where the shaved head begins and the beard begins. You don’t want a hard distinction between skin and beard otherwise the facial hair looks out of place. The edges can be cleaned up with a trimmer and razor, but I’d avoid making the lines look too artificial,” Forini says. “The goal is a very groomed beard that still feels natural.”Savion Washington/Getty ImagesImagine a five o’clock shadow, except it’s five o’clock a few days after your initial shave. “This is a very short beard that sits somewhere between heavy stubble and a short beard,” Forini says.Why It Works: “It’s one of the easiest styles for a bald man to wear because it immediately adds structure to the face without becoming the dominant feature,” Forini says. “It feels masculine, polished, and relatively low maintenance.”How to Achieve It: The executive stubble sits anywhere around three and five millimeters, but the length will depend on the natural density of your facial hair. You’ll want to keep the hair all over around the same length “because even a few extra millimeters of growth can completely change the look," Forini notes.Two Head Shavers to ShopRemingtonBalder Pro Head Shaver XR7000The five rotary heads of the Remington Balder Pro XR7000 give any stubbly dome a honeycomb hug for bump-free polishing, no matter how thick or curly your hair. And clean-up is as simple as a rinse under the faucet.Philips NorelcoS9000 Prestige Electric Rotary RazorThis model has the most muscle of any rotary device, mowing through even the curliest and thickest stubble. Even still, it manages to be gentle on sensitive skin despite its six rotary blades. It’s definitely a superior crossover device compared to any electric foil shaver.Two Beard Trimmers to ShopPhilips NorelcoMultigroom All-in-One 9000 SeriesPhilips Norelco’s Multigroom 9000 Series is, hands down, the best beard trimmer you can buy. And that’s before factoring in how much more it can do than just keep your facial hair in check than other electric razors that are found in your everyday grooming kit.HattekerBeard Trimmer KitThis all-in-one kit covers every kind of hair-trimming task, from lineups to sideburns to beards, eyebrows, and body hair. What's more, its a hair cutting machine for full beards and stubble alike with multiple plastic guards.Michael Stefanov is a Brooklyn-based writer and musician specializing in grooming, fragrance, and skincare. He was previously the market editor at Esquire, and his work has appeared in Robb Report, Men's Journal, Travel + Leisure, and other leading lifestyle publications. When he's not writing, you'll likely find him flipping through ... Read MoreTyler Chin is GQ's associate wellness & grooming editor. He'll occasionally dabble in the menswear space, but otherwise you'll usually catch him trying out new headphones, lifting in fresh workout gear, or testing out the latest and greatest in skin care. Before he ended up at GQ, he worked at ... Read More