15 Best Long Beard Styles: How to Grow, Shape & Maintain

If `bigger is better` are words you live by, then a long beard style might just be your dream look. Growing a full, long beard can be an epic adventure, and having the patience to achieve some length in your beard hair is a challenge in itself. 

But boy oh boy is it worth the wait and effort for all-time favorite looks?

Read on to explore a list of top long beard styles, how to find the right one, and how to grow and trim long beard styles.

15 Best Long Styles For Men 

The numbers are in, and we’ve compiled a list of the best long beard styles out there. These will be a great choice for beard lovers and will definitely turn heads and inspire admiration.

1. The Bandholz Beard

This is a perfect beard style if you want a long beard but you don’t exactly enjoy having a long, bushy moustache. The Bandholz is a good fit for rounder features, and it requires trimming the moustache so it doesn’t pass over your lip line.

Your moustache should also be seamlessly blended with your beard. The result will be a spectacular, polished look that allows you to grow your beard to any desired length.

2. Bold Shaped Beard

This is a style that diverts your eye towards the length of the beard. It requires keeping your moustache short and trimmed and letting your beard grow naturally, starting from your sideburns.

The actual length of your hair should be trimmed to perfection. The Bold Shaped style will emphasize some facial features, adding some width to your face while still keeping the overall look polished and sleek.

3. The Harden

Named after the famous basketball player James Harden, this iconic style is a great fit if you’re not really into grooming and trimming. Your beard can be wild and bushy, just make sure to keep it clean, hydrated, and properly combed.

The characteristic rounded edges can soften your features and elongate your face. If you want to achieve the original Harden look, you’ll need about 5 inches of hair growth, but feel free to change the length according to your personal preference.

4. The Garibaldi

If you’re looking for a shorter long beard style, then this is definitely one you should consider. The Garibaldi is a classic look that creates a contrast between a well-groomed moustache and a clearly defined cheek area, with a bushy, natural beard.

You’ll need to trim the edges to create a neatly rounded finish. You should also let the sides of your beard grow out to create some width in the jawline area.

5. The Hipster

The Hipster beard style is named after the subculture that brought it back in style. It’s a really fancy beard that you can confidently rock with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. You’ll need a long bushy beard that’s trimmed and well-groomed.

But the star of this look is definitely the moustache. It needs to stand out, and you can add some flair by twisting up the ends.

6. The Razor-Sharp

This is a beard style that will appeal to your inner perfectionist. The Razor-Sharp stands out as one of the cleanest long beard styles out there. Sure, it takes some effort to master, and you’ll be spending a bit more time on trimming, but the end result is well worth it.

You’ll need to trim your facial hair to a uniform length and keep the outline of your beard clean, with well-defined lines. You can also spice things up with a curled handlebar moustache.

7. The Verdi

Named after the famous Italian composer, this iconic beard style creates a point of interest in the middle of your face by emphasizing the moustache. The Verdi creates an overall elegant, gentlemanly look. To achieve this look, you’ll need a curled-up English moustache, or a really bushy moustache that’s styled towards the sides of your face.

You can grow your beard to your preferred length, but you’ll need to keep the edges short and the chin area rounded. The best part is that you can rock this look even if your beard is somewhat on the patchy side.

8. The Clear Outline

This is a low-maintenance beard style that’s wide and long, while still appearing polished and professional. It will require a minimal amount of trimming, so all you have to do is keep those edges clean.

As the name suggests, this beard should always have a clear outline, with neatly trimmed edges. You can grow this style of beard in any length you like, and you can pair it with a cool moustache like the classic handlebar.

9. The Boss

This bold style is one of the most popular looks out there. You can keep it long and pair it with a bushy moustache. The overall appearance is of a straight and long beard, with perfectly trimmed edges.

You’ll need to trim the sides of your face and keep the width of your beard even throughout its whole length. It will require some grooming, and you’ll have to avoid any curling and unruly stray hairs.

10. The Polished Look

This beard style is all about blending the wild, bushy beard with sharp, sophisticated lines. You can maintain a long, full beard and create clean lines to define your cheek and neckline areas. You can trim your chin hair to be rounded or straight, and you’ll have to keep your edges trimmed short.

This look is all about the glorious beard, so you don’t want the attention to be directed towards your moustache. Keep the hair above your lip trimmed, neat, and short to create a sense of balance.

11. The Lumberjack

If you’re looking for a style that screams strong and burly, then the Lumberjack is a go-to look. Although usually associated with hipster culture, this type of long beard style is a great way to achieve a totally manly look that pairs well with most types of faces.

You will need to keep your edges clean by trimming your sideburns, cheeks, neckline, and moustache areas. You can keep your beard straight on the sides, and trim your chin hair in a rounded or pointed style. 

12. The Classic Full Beard

This OG beard style can be a great fit if you can actually grow a full beard. This means that your facial hair should have full coverage. You can define your cheek area and let the rest of your hair grow naturally.

A full beard is considered long when it’s over 3 to 4 inches in length. Anything shorter and it’s generally included in the boxed beard style category.

The downside of full beard styles is that they require some serious beard growth. This means that if your beard is naturally patchy, then maybe you should be looking towards a more versatile look.

13. The Warrior

If you’re looking for an iconic look that reflects your inner warrior, then this beard style was created for you. You’ll need a long and thick beard, though, so commitment and patience are key if you're going for any of the braided beard styles. You can braid your beard hair and even add some beard beads if you’re feeling especially bold.

This look is fierce, and it allows you some creative license when it comes to styling and grooming. Just remember that braiding your hair and tying it up can accelerate hair fibre damage, so your beard will need some extra love.

14. The Wave

This Wave is more about styling than the actual shaping and trimming. You can achieve this look with most types of beards, but the general rule is that longer is better. One advantage is that you can do most of the styling overnight.

You should braid your beard and leave it to set while you sleep. That way, all you have to do in the morning is unbraid your braids, fluff out your beard, and set it with your preferred styling products.

15. Wild And Carefree

Last but not least, you can also opt for a beard style that feels all-natural. As the name suggests, this look doesn’t require any major trimming or shaping. You can let your facial hair grow free and wild and enjoy a low-stress beard care routine.

Although you won’t need to expend energy on styling, you shouldn’t skip important steps like keeping your beard clean and applying beard oil.

How to Pick the Perfect Long Beard Style

Even if you chose the most epically awesome beard style out there, it might offset your features if it's not a good match for your face shape and may end up looking a bit wrong. You should always choose a beard style that complements your natural assets.

Face Shape

How to Identify

Best Approach

Recommended Styles

Oval

Rounded jawline, face longer than wide

Lucky you! Almost any beard style works

Most long beard styles

Rectangular

Similar length jawline, cheekbones, and forehead; face longer than wide

Create sharper lines or highlight your mustache

The Boss, Verdi

Triangular

Widest at jawline, narrow forehead

Choose rounded, softer lines for balance

The Garibaldi, Hipster, The Boss

Round

Cheekbone and face length similar, soft rounded jawline

Create defined edges and add length to jawline

Razor-sharp, Bandholtz, Polished Look

Square

Similar facial dimensions with sharp jawline

Emphasize angular features with sharp lines

Clear Outline, Lumberjack, Razor-sharp

Diamond

Widest at cheekbones, slightly pointed chin

Add jawline definition while downplaying pointed chin

The Garibaldi, Classic Full Beard, Clear Outline

Essential Products for Long Beard Maintenance:

  • Beard Kit - All the essential tools for trimming, shaping, and styling

  • Beard Oil - Softens hair, prevents dryness and itchiness, makes long beards manageable

  • Beard Balm - Provides hold and moisture for healthier, more controlled beard styling

  • Beard Wax - Strong hold for styling and keeping unruly hairs in place

  • Beard Wash - Specially formulated for facial hair to keep your beard clean and healthy

  • Beard Straightener - Tames flyaways for a sleek, refined finish

How to Grow a Long Beard

If you have your heart set on growing a long beard shape, then you need to arm yourself with lots of patience and fully embrace the commitment to your beard care routine. There are a lot of ways in which you can help grow and maintain a healthy beard, and some of them involve keeping your mind and body happy.

Well-Balanced Diet

Eating the right food should be on the first line of your checklist. If you’re not providing your body with the right nutrients, then your hair follicles won’t have the building blocks to create and grow hair fibers.

We’re not saying that you should go on a strict diet, but you should definitely eat food that promotes healthy hair growth. You can include things like proteins and good fats from eggs, meat, fortified cereals, and vegetables. Some of the things you should probably avoid are sugar and highly processed foods.

Exercising Regularly

Working out on the regular is one of those activities that has a positive impact on your whole body. Exercising can give you feel-good vibes by improving your brain chemistry, it can improve your general health, and it can promote testosterone levels and help blood circulation. All of these benefits can help improve hair growth.

Getting Some Sleep

Being well-rested is a general health booster, but it may also help your body grow hair. Getting enough sleep can help manage your stress levels and encourage your body to regenerate and build tissue, including beard hair.

There is some debate between sleep specialists, but the general consensus is that you would benefit from 7 to 9 hours of good-quality rest.

Not Trimming the Beard for a While

Step away from the trimmer! While it might be tempting to make adjustments during the growing process, the best solution is to grow your beard without trimming for a minimum of 4 weeks. This will allow your facial hair to fill in and grow out. 

You’ll be able to shape it in your desired style in one go and let it grow from there while doing general maintenance.

Applying Beard Oil

Beard oil should become your best friend. You should apply oil from the earliest stages of facial hair growth. This will keep your hair and skin hydrated and protected from the elements. Using beard oil can also help prevent itchiness in the first stages, and will help prevent unpleasant things like beard dandruff or beard curling.

Combing and Brushing on a Regular Basis

Don’t forget to give your facial hair the love and attention it needs. Detangling and brushing your beard can help stimulate local blood flow in the skin and help to evenly distribute products. Regularly using a beard comb will also help train your facial hair to grow in a certain direction while helping prevent those pesky curls.

Training the Moustache

A majestic moustache is a must-have for long beard styles, and you’ll have to refrain from trimming in the early stages of beard growth. One way to manage your moustache situation is by training your hair to grow in a specific direction.

How to Shape a Long Beard

Shaping and trimming your long beard will be less demanding than a short beard style. Here's your step-by-step guide:

Tools You'll Need:

Shaping Process:

  1. Start clean and dry - Always trim when your beard is completely dry. Wet hair appears longer and can lead to over-trimming.

  2. Comb it out - Brush your facial hair in its natural growth direction to spot uneven hairs.

  3. Trim sides first - Work from the sides toward the middle. Use your trimmer for sideburns and scissors for detail work.

  4. Save the chin for last - Shape your chin area based on your chosen style. Trim or shave cheekbones and neck as needed.

  5. Check for symmetry - A lopsided beard is a sad beard. Comb and touch up any unruly hairs you missed.

  6. Finish with products - Apply beard oil and seal your look with beard wax to keep everything polished and protected..

Command Respect With Your Long Beard

Growing and maintaining a long beard is a journey that requires patience, commitment, and the right care routine. 

With the right products and techniques, you'll achieve a long beard that commands respect and turns heads wherever you go.

👉 Check out The Beard Struggle’s collection to grow and style your beard like a true Viking warrior.