Thinking that a good Irish beard has to be ginger or red?
Wrong!
It helps if your facial hair really is ginger, but it’s not the only thing that matters.
There are other surprisingly good Irish styles to try.
However, not all of them are easy to create.
You can wear some of them long and others short, but at the end of the day, you need an expert to tell you what to do to look your best.
We like to think of ourselves as experts after all that thorough research, so we do know a thing or two about Irish beard styles.
We poured everything that we know about this style into this article, and we promise you that by the time you are done reading it, you will know exactly how to trim, grow and style a perfect Irish beard.
Grab a pint of Guinness and a beard trimmer, not necessarily in that order, and let’s do this.
Table Of Contents
Irish Beard styles
Aggressive Look
This specific Irish beard style can display an Irish man’s aggressive facial features. Sport this bold style just by growing a thick beard.
This variation also lets you wear this beard style, either messy or slick back.
Thick and Even
You may also use a thick and even style for your Irish beard, which is guaranteed to make you look as attractive to many women as possible. Just make sure to apply beard oil that absorbs very quickly, so you can always sport this style nicely regardless of how thick it is.
Classic Style
It is also possible for you to sport a classic style using the Irish beard. This specific look often gets praises because of its uniquely graceful features. It consists of friendly, well-tamed and evenly grown facial hair.
Light Stubble
This Irish beard style is ideal for you if you are not fond of wearing a full, bushy and thick beard. Since it is just light stubble you can easily groom and maintain it. You can also make this beard style look even better by pairing it up with a brushed-up hairstyle.
Polished and Textured
This specific type of Irish beard is round-shaped and thick. To make it look more polished, trimming the neckline and cheek lines is highly encouraged. To shape your mustache make sure that it is connected to the hair on your chin.
This would be enough to form a more prominent round-shaped beard.
Chest Length
You can also sport this version of the Irish beard, which resembles the style of the Vikings. It is easy to distinguish with its dense, huge and bushy nature. This style is challenging to maintain, though.
You may need to use a durable beard comb all the time. It is also advisable to put on something to moisturize it to make it look polished and refined.
Long Goatee
This one resembles a full and extended goatee. However, it also has a distinguishable feature, which is the connecting mustache.
To carry this look well, your sideburns should be extended while the hair on your cheeks should be completely shaven.
Baffled
Its patchy look characterizes this style. It reveals a man’s attractiveness and strength. It combines a chin strap goatee and circle beard style as well as unkempt hair on the neck.
Two-Toned
It carries the name two-toned as it consists of a red and white beard, an unusual color combination for facial hair but makes someone who sports it look incredible. It appears unkempt but in a good way.
The reason is that it requires you to make the hair in the neck and cheek look untrimmed.
Beard With a Handlebar Mustache
If you want your Irish beard to look as elegant as possible then this one should be your best choice. It looks impressive as it seems to be super-groomed. If you want this look to be stronger and edgier make your mustache hold the curvy handlebar style.
Beard With a Long Hairstyle
You can leave a good impression of how powerful and strong this last Irish beard style can be. It is characterized by a thick and full ginger beard paired with a long and sleek hairstyle.
Benefits Growing One
Sporting an Irish beard is like growing an Asian beard in the sense that it carries its benefits.
Among these benefits are:
Unique and Recognizable
With the distinctive color of the Irish beard, it is indeed easy to recognize it. It can give your look a more unique and distinct vibe, which is excellent if you want your masculinity and Irish descent to be quickly recognized or easily remembered.
Can Be Styled in Different Ways
The Irish beard is a beard style that has different types/variations. This means it lets you style it in different ways.
Just choose a beard shaping tool that works best for you or a pair of premium beard scissors and you will get to style your Irish beard just the way you want to.
Can Be Worn in Any Length and Size
You can make your Irish beard grow in any size and length you want. This means you can choose which one you think you can comfortably and confidently carry. Just don’t forget the importance of utilizing the right beard shampoo, so the beard will turn out great.
How Does This Beard Style Work
The Irish beard works by giving men wearing this facial hair style a more fascinating and masculine look.
It is a trendy beard style, which helps make any Irish man look as attractive as possible. It also gives them a clean and well-groomed look.
Short History
As the name suggests, the Irish beard started from Irish men. The noticeably red color of this specific beard style could be because of gene mutation. This beard is red as it has high amounts of pheomelanin, a coloring pigment.
Also, almost all Irish ancestors who possessed red hair could be the dominant reason this specific gene still runs up to the present.
It is brought even into the recent beard styles of a lot of Irish men.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unique and distinctive excellently and recognizably.
- Easy to wear in various ways, shapes, lengths and sizes.
- Trendy and attractive.
- Can give you a clean and well-groomed look.
- Compliments the facial features of many men, giving them a more masculine vibe.
Cons
- Some may not feel too comfortable wearing a beard style with a reddish shade.
How to Grow It
Step 1 – Pick a style that fits your preference
Ensure that the chosen length, thickness and shape of your beard perfectly matches and accentuates your best facial features.
Step 2 – Dye your beard
This step may be necessary if you are not naturally of Irish descent, but you want to have a bearded look that these men have.
Just dye it to have the distinctive ginger or reddish-orange color to point to the Irish immediately.
Step 3 – Trim and shape now and then
This is crucial in maintaining your desired Irish beard shape and style.
How to Trim and Shape Your Irish Beard
Step 1 – Use a dedicated beard wash
The alternative is a long-lasting beard soap to wash your Irish beard. Dab it dry.
Step 2 – Use a beard comb or brush
Work thoroughly through your beard. The goal here is to remove knots. Ensure that you comb or brush against the grain before trimming it.
Step 3 – Set your clippers at a specific length
Ensure that you do not set it too short as it may only lead to a bad cut and the loss of more beard than intended.
Work up against the grain while ensuring that you cover all spots.
Step 4 – Define your cheek and neckline
This should also depend on the beard style you have chosen to sport.
Step 5 – Remove all stray hairs
Cut more if you intend to have a more faded or defined look. You can end the process by putting on a beard balm or oil for long hair if you don’t. You should also use an aftershave that can help bring the best out of your chosen Irish beard style.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Pick an Irish beard style that perfectly matches you. Ensure that the style complements the shape of your face and emphasizes and accentuates your best features.
- Brush facial hair the right way. It should be in the specific direction you intend it to grow. This is crucial in training the hair follicles as to where they should grow.
- Exfoliate beard regularly. Use cleansers containing fruit acids or salicylic acid to ensure that the pores will not clog and cause ingrown hairs.
Don’ts
- Do not ignore the skin beneath your Irish beard. Give it the same care as the actual facial hair by moisturizing it often.
- Do not overuse beard oil. Just use enough amounts of beard oil to support its healthy growth regardless of the style and length.
FAQ
Why do the Irish have red beards?
Most Irish have red facial hair or beards mainly because of their hair color genetics. It could also be because their beautiful country, Ireland, does not receive that much sunlight.
Are beards common in Ireland?
Yes, the flaming red beard and hair of the Irish often give away their heritage. Even Irish guys with blond or dark hair also tend to sport a beard, which is slightly red.
Where does the red beard gene come from?
Red beard is a result of a mutation referred to by researchers as the MC1R gene. If you have two mutated genes, then expect such to give you red hair.
However, if you have one of them, you can have that reddish color in places you least expected. One example is in your beard or facial hair.
Who are some celebrities with an Irish beard?
There are a few celebrities who are fond of wearing an Irish beard. Among them are Graham Norton, Shane Lynch, Jamie Dornan, Conor McGregor and Ned Kelly.
Conclusion
You do not have to come from Ireland for you to sport their one-of-a-kind Irish beard. You can also wear one on your own.
What’s excellent about deciding to sport an Irish beard is that this style is attractive, plus it can make you stand out and showcase your masculinity.
Vinnie is one of the members of the Beardoholic writers team. He’s also a barber and hairstylist for 15 years now and he has a kick-ass beard of his own, so he surely knows what makes a magnificent beard and hair and how to achieve them. He’s our go-to guy for all the latest beard and hairstyle trends and he always has a tip or two on how to grow and style a thick beard fast.