How a Beard Style Can Make Your Face Look Thinner

I'm just going to come right out and say it...Having the right beard style can make you look better, a whole lot better. But a beard gone wrong can leave you looking like you've been lost in the woods for a while and trust me, it's not always a good look! That's why you need to properly groom your beard and find a beard style that fits your face and the overall look you're going for.

If you don't already know enough reasons why you should grow a maintain a glorious beard, I'm going to give you one more by explaining how a beard can actually make your face look thinner (I'm talking from personal experience).

Underneath my beard, I have a round face and even though I stay in pretty decent shape, my cheeks are more on the round/chunky side. What's great about having a beard, is you can choose the right style to give you the proportions you want and elongate your face to be better balanced. And when I say balanced, I'm referring to your the overall shape your beard, face and hair make collectively.

So because I have a round face and chubby cheeks, my beard allows me to mask that a bit and elongate the overall shape of my face. You can do the same.

There are 2 ways to make your face look thinner from your beard style

Trimming Your Beard

When it comes to trimming a beard style to make your face look thinner, you really want to focus on the sides to eliminate any bulk making your face look wider. You can use a good pair of beard scissors or beard trimmers to get the job done, it really comes down to whichever you're more comfortable with. I personally have found better results from a good beard trimmer and taking my time.

I would first start by keeping your sideburns really clean, and either fade your sideburns into your beard or at the very least keep your sideburns at a shorter length using your beard trimmer and a guard. If you aren't familiar with how to fade your beard and sideburns, you can learn how to by clicking HERE, or you can watch this video where I'll show you exactly how!

Once you have the sideburns trimmed down a bit, it's time to trim the rest of the beard down a bit. The idea is to treat your beard like a hedge and work from the outside to bring the "bulk" down. You want to trim any beard hairs that stick out past the width of about your sideburns.

By trimming your beard down it will instantly make your beard appear longer because you haven't taken any length off the chin. This will immediately give your face a thinner proportion overall.

Now to be clear here, I'm not saying trim your cheek hair so short that you only have hair on your chin! That would be a goatee, and although we support any version of a beard you feel best with, I don't recommend you take it that far. Use your best judgment when you trim it down to find a balanced look that gives you a thinner beard style.

If you're hesitant to do this yourself, seek a professional and REALLY explain what you're looking to do. Show pictures and make sure you're specific! If you'd prefer to attempt it yourself and have additional questions, contact us anytime with a photo and we can give you detailed advice to help.

What Specific Beard Styles Are Known To Make The Face Look Thinner?

(If possible, please recommend these by face shape - oval, square, round, rectangular, diamond, heart, and triangle etc)

The Beard styles known to make a face look thinner are those that strategically add length to the chin and create more defined, angular lines along the jaw. By keeping the hair on the cheeks shorter and allowing for more length and volume at the bottom of the face, you can effectively elongate your facial structure and create a slimmer, more chiseled appearance.

Here are specific beard style recommendations categorized by face shape:

Round Face

A round face is characterized by similar width and length with soft, curved features and full cheeks. The goal is to add length and definition to the bottom of the face to break up the roundness.

• Recommended Styles: Goatee, Van Dyke, Anchor Beard, or a Full Beard that is kept short on the sides and long on the chin.

• Why it works: These styles draw the eye downward, creating the illusion of a longer, more oval-shaped face. The sharp angles of a Van Dyke or an Anchor Beard can also introduce definition that a round face shape naturally lacks.

Square Face

A square face features a broad forehead, wide cheekbones, and a strong, angular jawline of similar width. The goal is to soften the harsh angles and add some length to the chin.

• Recommended Styles: Circle Beard (a goatee connected to a mustache), Royal Beard, or a Full Beard that is trimmed to be more rounded at the bottom.

• Why it works: The rounded shapes of these beards soften the strong jawline. Keeping the beard fuller on the chin and shorter on the sides helps to elongate the face, making it appear less wide and more oval.

Rectangular / Oblong Face

This face shape is longer than it is wide. The primary goal is to avoid adding more length to the chin, instead focusing on creating the illusion of more width.

• Recommended Styles: Mutton Chops, a Gunslinger Beard, or a Full Beard that is kept fuller on the cheeks and shorter on the chin.

• Why it works: These styles add width and volume to the sides of your face, which helps to balance out the vertical length. A long beard on the chin should be avoided as it will only exaggerate the oblong shape.

Oval Face

Considered the most versatile face shape, the oval face is well-balanced, with the length being slightly greater than the width. Almost any beard style works, but specific choices can enhance definition.

• Recommended Styles: Short Boxed Beard, Corporate Beard, or a classic Full Beard.

• Why it works: Since the face is already balanced, the goal is simply to maintain symmetry. A Short Boxed Beard with clean, sharp lines along the cheeks can add definition and a slimming effect without altering the natural proportions.

Diamond Face

Diamond faces are widest at the cheekbones with a narrower forehead and chin. The goal is to add width to the jaw and chin area to balance the prominent cheekbones.

• Recommended Styles: Balbo Beard, Anchor Beard, or a Full Beard.

• Why it works: These styles fill out the lower portion of the face, creating a stronger jawline that balances the width of the cheekbones. Keeping hair off the cheeks prevents adding more width where it's already prominent.

Heart Face

A heart-shaped face is characterized by a wider forehead that tapers down to a narrower, sometimes pointed, chin. The objective is to add bulk and volume to the lower part of the face.

• Recommended Styles: Extended Goatee, Full Beard, or a Garibaldi.

• Why it works: A fuller, wider beard adds much-needed width and mass to the narrow jaw and chin area. This creates a better balance with the wider forehead, resulting in a more proportional and squared-off appearance.

Triangle Face

The opposite of a heart shape, the triangle face features a prominent jawline that is wider than the forehead. The goal here is to draw attention away from the wide jaw.

• Recommended Styles: Beardstache (a mustache with a stubble beard), a Verdi, or a shorter beard with more volume on the upper cheeks.

• Why it works: The Beardstache puts the focus on the mustache, drawing the eye upward and away from the wider jaw. Keeping the beard on the jawline short and well-trimmed prevents adding any extra bulk to the widest part of the face.

What Are The Best Beard Trimming Techniques For a Slimmer Look?

The best beard trimming techniques for a slimmer look are centered on creating strong, clean lines and playing with proportions to draw the eye vertically down the face. The core principle is to keep the sides lean and the chin full.

Here are five techniques to achieve a slimming effect:

1. Establish a Crisp Neckline

A well-defined neckline is the foundation of a slimming beard. It separates your jaw from your neck, creating a sharper and more defined profile.

• How to do it: Imagine a line that curves from the back of your earlobe, down under your jaw, and back up to the other earlobe. The lowest point of this curve should sit just above your Adam's apple (typically one to two fingers' width above it). Shave everything below this line clean.

• Why it works: A messy or non-existent neckline can merge your face and neck, making your jaw appear rounder and creating the illusion of a double chin. A clean, defined U-shape elongates the neck and frames the jaw perfectly.

2. Taper the Sides and Cheeks

This is the most critical technique for making your face look thinner. You want to remove bulk from the widest parts of your face.

• How to do it: Use your clippers with a shorter guard setting for the hair on your cheeks and sideburns compared to what you use on your chin. For example, if you use a #4 guard on your chin, try a #2 or #3 guard on your cheeks. Blend the transition point where the shorter sides meet the longer chin area to create a smooth, natural fade.

• Why it works: Reducing the volume on the sides makes your face appear narrower. This tapering effect, similar to a fade in a haircut, draws attention away from the cheeks and towards the length at the bottom of the beard.

3. Let the Chin Grow Longer

Adding length to the bottom of your beard is the primary way to elongate your facial structure.

• How to do it: Use a longer clipper guard for the chin area or trim it freehand with scissors. The goal is to create a shape that adds vertical length. You can trim the bottom into a soft point, a square shape, or a rounded shape, depending on what best counteracts your natural face shape (e.g., a squarer bottom adds definition to a round face).

• Why it works: It physically makes your face look longer and more oval-shaped, which is universally perceived as a slimmer silhouette.

4. Define a Sharp Cheek Line

The line where your beard ends on your cheek can significantly impact your face shape.

• How to do it: Visualize a straight line from the top of your ear to the corner of your mouth. Use a trimmer or razor to clean up any stray hairs above this natural line. Avoid letting the line curve down too much, as a straighter, more angular line creates a more chiseled look.

• Why it works: A high, sharp cheek line exposes more of the cheekbone and creates strong angles that slim down roundness in the mid-face.

5. Keep Your Mustache Neat

An overgrown mustache can create a horizontal line across your face, which can counteract your efforts to create vertical length.

• How to do it: Trim your mustache so it doesn't hang over your top lip. You can use scissors or a trimmer to create a clean line. Combing it to the sides also helps maintain a tidy appearance.

• Why it works: A neat mustache keeps the focus on the overall shape of the beard, particularly the slimming length at the chin, without adding unnecessary width or distraction in the middle of your face.

How Does My Neckline And Cheek Line Affect Whether My Beard Makes My Face Look Thinner Face?

Your neckline and cheek line determine if your beard makes your face look thinner by providing the framework and definition that shapes your facial features. They are the architectural lines; getting them right is key to the slimming effect. Here’s a breakdown of how each one works:

The Neckline: Creating Jaw Definition

The neckline’s job is to create a clean separation between your jaw and your neck.

• How it slims your face: A well defined neckline, which creates a clean curve just above the Adam’s apple, works in two ways:

  1. It Creates a Shadow: By shaving the neck below this line, you create a natural shadow directly under your jawbone. This shadow is a powerful contouring tool, making your jaw look way sharper and more angular.

  2. It Adds Structure and Length: It establishes a clear foundation for your face, separating your head from your neck. This makes your jawline look more prominent and your neck look longer, making you look leaner.

• How a bad neckline makes your face look wider:

  • Too High: A neckline trimmed too high up on the chin makes the soft area underneath your jaw more noticeable, creating a double chin.

  • Too Low (Unkempt): A neckbeard that creeps down your neck blurs the line between jaw and neck, making the whole area look wider, softer and less defined.

The Cheek Line: Creating Angles

The cheek line defines the top of your beard and is your best tool for breaking up facial roundness.

• How it slims your face: A sharp, intentional cheek line from your sideburns to your mouth does the following:

  1. It Introduces Angles: A straight or slightly curved cheek line carves an angle into the side of your face. This visually “cuts” into the roundness of your cheeks, making you look more chiseled and have more prominent cheekbones.

  2. It Frames the Face: A clean line provides a neat upper frame for your beard, preventing it from looking like a messy fuzz that softens your features. This defined border makes your whole face look more intentional and structured.

• **How a bad cheek line makes your face look wider: * Too Natural or Messy: Letting your cheek line grow wild without a defined edge means you can’t create slimming angles. The hair will soften your cheekbones and make your face look rounder and fuller.

  • Too Low: A cheek line trimmed too far down the face makes your cheeks look bigger and your beard look sparse or patchy.

In short, while the length of your beard at the chin adds height, it’s the sharp, well-placed neckline and cheek line that provides the definition to shape your face to appear slimmer rather than just adding bulk.

Beard Products

The second way to give your face a thinner proportion is to use the right beard products to tame your beard. The idea here is pretty simple and doesn't take any trimming at all.

Without proper beard grooming by using beard products, your beard hairs are coarse and unruly. This is why beard products exist! They will dramatically improve the way your beard looks, feels, smells and grows.

So if you aren't already, make sure to keep your beard clean with a natural beard wash, apply your beard oil to moisturize the skin and relax the hairs, and most importantly you need some beard butter to control and tame the hairs to lay down much closer to your face.

After you apply your products, you can then work your beard into place with your beard comb. If your hairs are really wild and stick out a lot, there are a couple of options.

First, use a boar hair brush to really move the hairs and get them to settle down a bit. The boar hair brush has thousands of bristles that serve as a workhorse to really shape and style your beard.

IF you still are having some hairs puff out a bit you can take it one step further and go for the blow dryer. Now there is a bit of a discussion on whether or not a blow dryer is harmful on your beard, and although I don't have a lot of experience personally, I've talked to tons of guys and I truly don't think it causes damage...as long as you are using your beard oil and beard butter to get the moisturization back into your beard as the heat will cause your beard to dry out which can lead to damage.

Final Thoughts

I truly hope you found these tips helpful to style your beard in a way that compliments your face and the overall look you are going for. Here at Live Bearded, we believe you should rock whatever look you feel best with.

If you have any questions about this article, these tips, beard products or really anything at all, contact us anytime. Our mission is to help Beardsmen look, feel and be their best, so let us know how we can support you.

Live Bearded, Brother!