Matthew McConaughey is the sweetheart of Hollywood.
Everybody loves him and thinks he is a great guy.
He was beloved in his earlier roles and has shown off his acting chops with some of his most recent ones.
With age comes a burning desire to grow a beard and Matthew McConaughey is not impervious to one.
So, he decided to grow his mane.
Does it really suit him, and should you try growing the same beard yourself?
There are a lot of people that think Matthew’s beard looks terrible.
We can’t argue with that as in some cases it really does.
If you want to grow the same type of beard, there are some clear mistakes you have to avoid.
So if you are down, simply keep on reading.
Table Of Contents
Matthew McConaughey’s Career
Matthew McConaughey started his career in show business by dabbling in commercials. His first speaking gig in a commercial was for the Austin America-Statesman, which exposed to talent agents, one of which would help him get cast in his first movie, Dazed and Confused.
Photo from: Austinchronicle.com
In 1992, he was also cast as the lead in Trisha Yearwood’s music video, Walkaway Joe. This was followed by small roles in relatively successful films such as Angels in the Outfield, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and John Grisham’s A Time to Kill (1996).
From then on, the role offers for bigger productions poured in, which would cement him as one of the most promising actors in his generation. These films include Contact with Jodie Foster and Amistad with Morgan Freeman in the latter part of the 90s.
The early 2000s saw McConaughey appearing as the lead for a number of rom-coms, from The Wedding Planner to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, both of which successfully fared in the box office.
In 2005, the actor was named Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. By 2012, McConaughey began seeking out more serious movie roles in an attempt to shake off his easy-going, surfer-dude persona. He played Danny Buck Davidson in Bernie (2012).
The next year, he played Ron Woodroof in the Academy award winning film Dallas Buyers Club, for which the actor lost 50 lbs. The role won him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 2014, McConaughey was included in Time Magazine’s Most Influential People in the World. In the same year, he starred in HBO’s True Crime playing Rust Cohle, for which he won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.
This was followed by other notable roles in movies such as Interstellar, The Dark Tower and voice over roles in such films as Kubo and the Two Strings and Sing.
Matthew McConaughey’s Style
Matthew McConaughey has been known for his laid-back, surfer dude style, a style that he successfully parlayed into his earlier roles where he played the chill, easy-going guy who eventually gets the girl.
This was evident in how he dressed back when he was starting out. Faded T-shirts, denim shirts and distressed jeans were basics that were an understated homage to his Texan roots. Surfer shorts where staples for the actor, who also loved surfing and lived by the beach.
He had been seen donning a leather jacket while on his motorbike but the late 90’s was when he had a full-blown leather stage, wearing a vintage, brown number with a worn-in vibe to a couple of red carpets.
This was followed by more fashion faux pas in the coming years, either due to his preference for oversized dress shirts and coats, frat T-shirts and leather jackets and all-denim ensembles.
He started sharpening up in the late 2000s, wearing the appropriate suits to premiers and made the leap to stylish menswear in 2011, when he was spotted wearing a charcoal pinstripe suit accented by a dapper pocket square and a navy tie with polka dots.
Other appearances saw him wearing modern suits that fit well, with slim lapels and ties that gave him a polished, sleek look.
He relapses to wearing oversized jackets, olive-colored trousers and cowboy hats from time to time, but judging from his fashion evolution through the years, the actor can definitely clean up good when he needs to.
Matthew McConaughey’s Beard
Matthew McConaughey has sported various types of beards through the years but for this segment, we will focus on his full but medium facial hair style that he has donned on a couple of red carpets and awards ceremonies in the recent months.
Full and kept about 2 inches long, the medium brown beard complements the actors brown, wavy locks.
Preparation: Growing a Thicker Beard
McConaughey as a patchy beard so he may had to fill in these areas while growing his scruff. If you want to grow a thicker beard, you need to promote hair and skin nutrition.
Regular exercise to promote testosterone production, the right diet with food that promotes beard growth, regular washing and moisturization are crucial. Using natural beard oil for healthy hair is also useful.
What does beard oil do for your beard? It helps moisturize the hair and keep it soft. It also helps keep the skin under the beard from drying, which promotes normal and healthy growth.
McConaughey’s beard color, which is a medium brown, also doesn’t help make it look thicker. The general rule is that a darker beard color can give the impression of a fuller or thicker beard.
You may be asking how long does it take to grow a beard. It may take you two to four months to grow a beard that is an inch to two inches long, shorter if you are genetically predisposed to healthy beard growing.
Trimming and Shaping
Judging by the look of his full but medium beard, it doesn’t look like there’s a lot of regular trimming going on there. If you want to adopt this look for its low maintenance style, go for it, but it may do you a bit of good to do a little trim around the edges to keep the surrounding areas clean.
Comb prior to clipping so you can easily spot strands that are too long. Use a trimmer without a guard to shave and define the neckline as well to avoid that scruffy, grungy look. A good pair of beard scissors can help shape the hair so it follows the jawline.
Maintenance
This is definitely a low-maintenance facial hair style but it’s a good idea to trim every few weeks to keep the length in check and avoid scruff. Use a good comb to remove tangles.
Regular combings can also help grow your beard faster. If you don’t like using beard oil, a good beard balm infused with relaxing essential oils can help soften your beard and stop a beard itch.
There is really no competition between beard oil vs beard balm, as long as you use products that use natural oils and contain no harsh chemicals like artificial fragrances that can cause irritation and dry out the hair.
Regular washings with the best beard shampoos, ideally twice a week, is also advised by beard experts. Check out the rest of the site for a great guide for beard care products to keep your full but medium beard in good shape.
Michele Meesh Antunes is the lady of the Beardoholic writers team and a genius when it comes to hair and beard styles that suit any face shape. She’s been a barber for years now and, no matter your personal style, she knows exactly what beard, hairstyle and length suit you. She brings the women’s perspective on beards, beard care, haircuts and hairstyles and male grooming.