20 Trendy and Popular Beard Styles for Black Men

As you know, being a black man and wanting to grow a great beard comes with a unique set of problems and challenges.

Patchy, dry, wiry, curly, ingrown hairs, slow growth and time-consuming maintenance being just a few of them.

This might come as disappointment if all you ever wanted was to have a full, long beard.

Although growing a beard seems hopeless, with the right tips, all the challenges can be overcomed.

And we cover all of them in this article.

But we don’t want you to just grow a beard. We want you to look sexy, trendy, hot and stylish – all wrapped in one.

That’s why we gathered the most irresistible black men beard styles in one place. And you’ll see you have a vast pool of options.

Short or long, with or without mustache, eccentric or classic, among these 20 hot and popular facial hair styles for black men, you’ll surely find the one made just for you.

20 Popular Beard Styles for Black Men

1. The Full Beard

The Full Beard

Photo @chef_barber_jay

The full beard used to be one of the most popular black men beard styles, and for good reason.
The good news is that what was old is new again, and this classic, full beard style has been making a resurgence in recent years.

Regardless of the haircut or hair growth pattern, the full beard style can be shaped and sculpted to go with just about any black men face. Black men with high-coiffed hair will be able to pull off the full beard look easily.

The full beard style is also popular with lovers of vintage beard styles who can appreciate this aged look.

2. The Garibaldi Beard

The Garibaldi Beard

Photo @odellexec

This might appear on the surface to be nothing more than a completely out of control chin strap combined with a neckbeard.
To pull this black men beard style off it does take a layer of commitment that mortal men can not handle.

This beard style requires black men to grow out the facial hair long below the chin in the shape of the letter “U”.
The closer you can get to the “U” shape, the better the overall look.

3. The Five O’clock Beard

The Five O’clock Beard

Make no mistake about it, a five o’clock shadow will make any black men look irresistible.

Today, black men of all ages are in search of the perfect three-day-old beard style because it gives the appearance of the five o’clock shadow. Don’t get fooled by this laid back and lazy look because it does require some serious maintenance to pull it off successfully.

The cheek and neck area must be shaved on a daily basis in order to master the look, while a quality beard oil will help to give the rest of the facial hair that relaxed cool appearance. Trim the beard every three days to maintain this incredibly sexy look for black men.

4. The Goatee Beard Style for Black Men

 The Goatee style of beard perfect for older black men

One of the most popular black men beard styles today is the manly goatee beard, known as one of the best choices when it comes to a short beard. The biggest appeal for black men with the goatee beard style is that you can sculpt it in different ways but still get the desired look.

Black men who have rounded faces can really make the most of this short beard style by incorporating and connecting it to the mustache.

Regardless if you trim the edges thin or let them go thicker, the black men goatee beard style commands attention especially when you grow them to become a full beard.

5. The Short Beard Style For Afro Men

 The Short Black Beard Style

One of the more appealing beard trends in the black men communities is the short beard style.

It might appear on the surface that black men would not be able to pull off the short beard because it blends with their skin color, but a short actually helps to give them a look many women and men actually prefer.

The trick is to let the beard grow out longer than three days to get past the sloppy stage.

Once it has grown out for a week or more, the full beard will line up and become more symmetrical, making this look one of the best beard styles you can choose.

6. The Carved Beard

 The Carved Beard

Photo @odellexec

Young black men are sporting the carved beard style because it better allows them to express their own unique personalities.
This sculpted short beard style features perfectly shaped contours that require dedication and skill to master.

A precision trimmer or razor are used to sculpt the cheekbones, goatee, neck and mustache.
It is best suited for black men with dense beard hair.

Be prepared however to be working on your short beard style daily to maintain this look.
The extra work will definitely pay off in a huge influx of attention.

7. Soul Patch

 Soul Patch for black guys

Probably the simplest of all beard types for the black men. It gives them that certain short beard style that has an imperial feel to it.

Another variation of the goatee, the soul patch is simply a strip of facial hair that extends down from the lower lip to the chin and can be trimmed just about any width.

In addition to the soul patch, the mustache is a unique way to compliment this short beard style and can extend all the way to the center of the chin to create the chin strap. This is a look that will certainly command all black men who wear it a fair share of attention.

8. Nicolas II Style

Nicolas II Style

If you have thought that you saw the last of this beard style back in the early twentieth century, know that it has seen a resurgence this year and it appears to be growing in popularity with black men especially.

Popular with hipsters, the beard style is nothing more than the full beard peaking at the chin, complemented with a very long mustache.
Don’t let this unique, full beard style scare you, it might appear different at first, but will certainly grow on every black men.

9. The Van Dyke Beard

The Van Dyke Beard

The Van Dyke beard is clean, crisp, sharp and really a unique twist on the traditional goatee.

Made popular by the Flemish artist Anthony Van Dyke, the short beard style is nothing more than a short beard on the chin connected to the goatee but with little or no mustache at all. The imperial Van Dyke look must be trimmed daily to maintain its appearance.

This is certainly an acquired taste and one that leaves plenty of room for creativity for every black men when it comes to widening the soul patch or shaping the chin beard.

10. The Mutton Chops

The Mutton Chops

One of the most daring black men beard styles are the mutton chops. This is a look that requires a certain sense of bravery and commitment that will result in a beard style unlike any other.

To pull off this manly look successfully, the key is to shave the chin area, the mustache and the soul patch.
The remaining hair on the sideburns needs to grow out longer, denser and larger along the cheek and jawline.

Once they have grown thick they need to be trimmed along the edges to give them a bold powerful look.

11. The Chin Curtain Black Beard Style

The Chin Curtain Black Beard Style

Photo @chef_barber_jay

The chin curtain beard style is exactly what you would envision it to be if it was not described to you.

The short beard style is carefully trimmed starting at the sideburns in a perfect line down the jawline, along the chin, and back up to the other side. The line of hair does not come in contact with the mustache.

This linear design does require some skill and precision to get it right and may need to be trimmed daily to help it stand out.
To maximize the look of the chin curtain, black men should shave off the mustache.

12. The Anchor Beard Style For Black Men

The Anchor Beard Style for Black guys

Photo @chef_barber_jay

The anchor beard style also goes by the name Balbo, and it’s a fun combination of the goatee and mustache.
Look at this short beard style from a distance and it appears to look exactly like an anchor or possibly an inverted tree.

Black men and actors in Hollywood have made this beard style extremely popular now.
The beard style is nothing more than a full beard, thick goatee with a section shaved that connects the mustache and chin beard.

These two missing sections need to be trimmed daily to maintain the appearance of the anchor or Balbo beard style.

13. Friendlier Mutton Chops

Friendlier Mutton Chops

Photo @negoreyart

Now while the original mutton chops might scare some people, this watered-down version is a friendlier alternative for black men who want to be able to wear their mutton chops proudly. The friendly mutton chops are the same length and shape as the original.

The one big difference is that you want to grow out the mustache for a more inviting look.
To further complement this black men beard style, allow the hair on the cheeks and jaw to grow to about medium length.

14. The Barely Shaved Beard Style For Black Men

The Barely Shaved Beard

Do not get the shaved beard confused with no facial hair at all. Although from a distance it can appear you are clean-shaven, the trick here is to let the stubble grow each day to the same length before trimming.

By keeping the trimmer set on the lowest possible setting and shaving at the same time each day, by late afternoon this short beard style will look like little sprouts making their way to the surface of your face.

This sexy five o’clock shadow look can be trimmed and sculpted differently to allow facial hair to grow in precise areas.

15. The Bald Black Guy Beard

The Bald Black Guy Beard

When it comes to black men beard styles, the bald man beard is a classic that just never seems to go out of style.

Popularized by men who were balding and still could grow a full beard, the full beard was thick and luxurious and climbed the jawline right to the edge of the ear before a clean line was made and no hair is allowed to proceed higher.

Not only does this look command attention, even black men with a full head of hair would shave it bald just to get the benefits and attention the full beard look commands.

16. The Circle Beard Style For Black Men

 The Circle Beard

Photo @negoreyart

Here is a fun beard style that looks great with any face shape and on all black men.
The idea here is creating a small linear strip of a beard that follows the jawline from the ears to the goatee.

The goatee will be growing slightly longer to become the focal point. The trick here is not to go for squared off cuts with the goatee.
Everything needs to be rounded from the mustache to the chin beard, then up and towards the ears.

This tame look is for black men who want to keep things sophisticated and yet mysterious at the same time.

17. The Split Beard

The Split Beard

Allow your beard to grow in thick and become a full beard, then when it starts to extend past the chin, you can split it in two.

This is a killer black men beard style that has become all the rage with Jack Sparrow and each release of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

This beard style appeals to many black men who want to give the appearance of being wild and spontaneous, yet cool and collected at the same time.

18. Mid-Range Stubble

Mid-Range Stubble

Photo @negoreyart

Just before the facial hair reaches a certain growth point, most likely in 4 – 7 days, you trim it and it looks like stubble.

The key here is that you are not going for the five o’clock shadow look that only takes a day to achieve, you want the facial hair to grow to the point it almost begins to resemble a full beard but not quite.

A stubble beard style does take some skill and dedication to master, but the benefits far outweigh all the efforts.
This classic look is irresistible to all black men within arm’s length, and even a 1/2 inch of growth will suffice.

Be careful because if you miss the mark, you go from elegant celebrity to drunken hobo in a flash.

19. Ducktail Beard Style For Afro Men

Ducktail Beard

Photo @chef_barber_jay

This is not your typical neckbeard here, it is one of those black men beard styles that has exploded in popularity in recent years.
Look at James Harden on the basketball court, how his ducktail beard style commands attention in an arena of 50,000 screaming fans.

The key to the ducktail beard style is allowing the chin hair to grow out as far as you can so that it resembles the tail of a duck and a full beard, then shape it any way you like. Looks great on black men who like a tee-shirt and jeans or a business suit and sunglasses.

20. The Mini Goatee

The Mini Goatee

Photo @lululucas

If you are serious about growing facial hair but the work environment puts a serious hurt on your ability to express yourself, then you might want to go with the mini goatee beard style to start. This is about as small as you could go with the facial hair.

This beard style is nothing more than a little strip of hair under the nose and some near the chin.
Some black men just go with the tiny patch under the chin and leave it at that.

Go small, and see how far you can push the limits without being asked to grab that razor.
So there you have it, 20 trendy and popular black men beard styles that work with just about every shape face.

Pick your beard style carefully and you become an instant star. Perhaps take a chance and alter the beard style to your liking and elevate yourself to elite status overnight with a full beard.

Having all these 20 most popular black men beard styles in mind, remember that some of them may not be suitable for you, while others would look amazing. The factor that will decide that is your face shape.

Here are the best black men beard styles that go with every face shape:

Long Face Shape

For a face that is already long, you will want to choose black men beard style that won’t make it even longer.
The most suitable black men beard styles for this facial shape are mutton chops and 5 o’clock shadow beard style.

You should avoid long goatees and full beard and opt for a short beard instead.

Square Face Shape

Black men with square face features need a beard style that will hide the angles of their face and make it rounder.
Any short beard among black men beard style under half an inch will look better on you than a longer beard.

The best choice is a goatee, just a mustache without a beard or any other short beard style.

Round Face Shape

If you are one of the black men with a round face, you should go for best beard styles that will make it longer.
Again, goatee will look good on you, but a better choice would be a long, neat, full beard.

Avoid growing mutton chops, a big mustache or a short beard as these best beard styles will only make your face wider than it already is.

Oval Face Shape

This is the most desirable face shape of all for every, not only black men. Black men that have it are in luck because they can grow any beard style, including a full beard.

Oval faces are not too long nor wide, and that makes them perfect for experimenting with almost all beard types and styles.

Black Men Beard Problems

As you can see, black men beard styles are great, but they come with the set of problems and challenges that other bearded men never have to deal with. This happens because black men have facial hair that has a unique structure and character.

There are a lot of beard problems black men face. Their facial hair tends to grow patchier, it is very curly, but also dry and wiry.
In addition, black men’s facial hair grows more slowly and is harder to groom and manage than the other beards.

Let’s explain the reasons behind all these problems with black men’s beards and how you can fix them.

Why Black Men Beards are Patchy and How to Fix This

Bald spot beard is not only the problem of black men. While men of all ethnicities can develop a patchy beard, this happens more often to black men. The reason behind this is, as usually, genetics. However, not all black men grow patchy beards.

Some of them can have a really epic, luxurious, full beard styles, and it seems that they are lucky enough to have such facial hair almost effortlessly. Many other black men, on the other hand, struggle to attain a healthy, thick and full beard style.

The ways of dealing with a patchy beard are the same for every man, and it doesn’t make any difference whether you are a black man or not.

If you are a black man dealing with a bald spot beard, and you want to be able to grow a full beard style, start by arming yourself with patience. Growing a full beard takes a lot of time, dedication, and consistency in taking care of your facial hair.

Why Black Men Beards are Patchy and How to Fix This

Beard care routine should be followed regularly, and your beard care kit must contain the best beard care products.
With time, your beard will start to fill in, and even if it doesn’t, the longer hairs will cover the shorter ones or any bald spot that may be left.

Have in mind that beard becomes denser as you get older. This simply means that, if you are a teenager, you can’t expect to have same full beard as someone who is 25 years old.

To have a healthy and non-patchy beard style means that you must pay attention to what you eat.

Incorporating healthier foods with the necessary nutrients and proteins and drinking enough water can also significantly improve your facial hair growth.

Dormant facial hair follicles can be forced to grow if you use one of the minoxidil substances called Lipogaine.
It works by giving your follicles the nutrients they need to start growing while increasing blood flow to the follicles.

Although this method works for some black men, if you want the results to less, you will have to use it forever.
This should be your last resort for growing a full beard and you shouldn’t try it before consulting with the doctor previously.

Why Black Men Beards Grow Slower

You may have heard that all facial hairs grow at about half an inch a month. This is true, but it is also true that they grow to different lengths.

Now this is not the case with black men’s beard style. While other men’s facial hair grows about one inch every two months, black men have to wait 3 months and a few days to get to this length. Another beard problem for black men is the terminal length of their facial hair.

Be careful with this, however. Terminal length of the beard is predefined by genetics. For some black men, it takes 6 years to hit the terminal length of the facial hair, while others reach the maximum after only 2 to 3 months.

Black men’s facial hair is no different when it comes to the terminal length. Then again, there is another problem for black men’s beard style – the texture.

Due to the different facial hair texture, black men will often notice that their beard is shorter than it really is, even if they have a full beard. Although genetics is not fair at all, there isn’t much you can do about that.

The only thing that can be done is taking good care of your beard, skin, and body with a proper diet, improved lifestyle and the use of quality products, beard oil in the first place.

Beard oil offers a lot of benefits to your beard and skin, but you will have to back it up with your diet and daily exercise to achieve the desired results.

Black Men Beard Texture

Potentially the biggest problem for black men is the texture of their facial hair. Black men’s beard grows in one of three ways:

  • Small, tight spirals.
  • Tightly packed, wavy zig-zags.
  • Scruffy ball.

These three problems reduce the overall length of the black men’s beards. Coils or spirals make their facial hair grow together, thus looking like long springs that hang down your face.

Black men’s type of beard style is the easiest to shape up and comb because it’s the softest and the strongest of all black men facial hair types. The other black men beard type is when facial hair starts to grow long and wavy looking like a woven necklace hanging from your chin.

Black men’s beard styles are usually very dry and if your beard is long, it will appear to be shorter because of the zig-zag waves.
The most challenging beard type that black men can have is facial hair that grows in every way and direction.

A beard like this is very hard to comb, and it requires a lot of beard oil and balm if you want to condition it properly.

Jay - Barber

About the author: Jay – Barber

Jay is one of the members of the Beardoholic writers team and NFL, celebrity barber. As a master barber with years of experience, Jay can make your beard look any way you envision. Jay’s specialty is black men’s hair and beard styles, but he also has deep knowledge on how to create a perfect neck and cheek line, short or long beard and virtually any beard and hair shape and style.

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