Nothing is more controversial than a scruffy beard.

While some love it for the raw manliness it gives to the man wearing it, others discredit it as an unkempt look.

Either way, everyone has an opinion about it.

If you ask us, unkept facial hair is awesome.

It offers so many styling options, it’s simple to grow and groom and shows how brave and confident you are.

And if you pick one of the top 10 scruffy beard styles we present you in this article, you’ll surely make a statement and show the world what a trendsetter you are.

Read on to find out how to grow, groom and shape this style in just a few simple steps.

What Is a Scruffy Beard

A scruffy facial hair is a manly looking beard around your face that gives off an unkempt, rugged look that looks great on any man in search of a beard style that will make him look rough, tough, and attractive.

There are so many ways to make this beard style work, which makes it a choice that can suit nearly any man looking to accomplish this look.

Scruffy beards are a popular beard option and you can see them everywhere in daily life as you go around and find others sporting this striking facial accessory.

If you’re looking for a way to take your wild and unshaven look to the next level, then scruffy facial hair is the ideal option for you.

In addition to being a notable fashion statement, this beard is also ideal for those who want a stylish beard but who have trouble growing full and luxurious facial hair or who have their beards growing patchy.

If this describes you, then scruffy facial hair might be exactly what you need to top off your perfect look.

Most Popular Scruffy Beard Styles

The scruffy beard is a bold look, but at the same time very stylish.

Here are several styles that you can try out:

Salt N Pepper Scruffy Look

This is an elegant look that entails growing a short beard that is scruffy that makes a man look not only manly but mature.

It’s a superb look when it is accompanied by a side parting as well as a swept-back hairstyle. 

Long and Thick

This scruffy beard style is best suited for men who can grow full, thick beards. The only thing you need is to ensure that you comb your beard for a well-maintained look.

Messy Beard With Mustache

Some men go for scruffy facial hair because they don’t want to go through the stress of the daily maintenance of other styles.
If you are in this category then this beard style is perfect for you.

While the look may put off some people at first, with good care you can go from an exhausted appearance to a cool looking guy.

Polished

This style may look rough at first, but with proper grooming, you may never want to go for another style again.

It consists of a medium-long scruff that is well maintained through the use of beard grooming products and a comb.

Ginger Beard

This kind of beard doesn’t require any kind of special grooming. All you need to do is to allow the beard to grow freely without trimming it.

You can trim the mustache, but for a more aggressive look grow the mustache to cover your lips. Reddish-brown hair makes up the whole style.

Scruffy Stubble

The main benefit of growing a scruffy beard is that even if you have thin facial hair the patches don’t show and this is why this style would be perfect for you. Just trim the cheek and necklines for a neat look.

Long Hair With a Short Beard

This is among the classy beard styles that you can rock. To complete the look, long untidy hair carries the day and it’s a plus if you can grow a thick beard.

Blonde Beard

This style is ideal for those who have blonde hair. The mustache in this beard style connects with the chin beard, which creates a prominent goatee shape. Depending on the style you are going for, you can either have the cheek area shorter than the chin area or longer.

If you trim the mustache such that it looks pointed and the chin area is shorter than the neck area you can achieve a Van Dyke beard.

Virile Lumberjack Beard

It’s a macho and stylish beard style for a scruffy beard. Rather than paying attention to your beard, with this style concentrate on the mustache instead.

Grow the mustache such that it is longer and gives both ends a pointed and edgy look. You can wear a side fringe hairstyle for a more stylish and influential look.

5 O’Clock Shadow

If you don’t like long beards then a light short scruffy beard will work for you and this is what this style is all about.

Benefits of Growing This Beard

A beard defines a man no matter how unkempt it may seem. A scruffy beard is one of those bold styles that only a few dare to pull off, but it’s very stylish.

Here are the benefits of keeping a scruffy beard that you need to be aware of if you are reluctant about growing one:

Gives You a Tough, Manly Look

Being able to grow a beard in the first place is considered a sign of masculinity and men who can grow a full beard have more confidence.

A scruffy beard, on the other hand, is one of those looks that make you appear tough and manly if that is the look you are going for.

The fact that the beard looks unkempt is what makes the man appear tough and aggressive, something that a lot of ladies are into.

Little Maintenance

Unlike other beard styles that require regular visits to the barbershop to maintain the shape the scruffy beard requires the least maintenance mainly because it’s supposed to look rough, something that you can’t achieve if you keep on trimming it every other week.

Except for the use of beard grooming products a scruffy beard is very easy and cheap to maintain.

Stylish

A scruffy beard is a stylish look that any man would be willing to pull off. Unfortunately, it’s a bold move that only a few can manage mainly because it involves you being able to grow a full thick beard.

However, once you go scruffy, you may never feel the need to go back to the neater beard styles.

Versatile and Handsome

For a versatile beard style that looks stunning on nearly anyone, the scruffy facial hair accomplishes an effortlessly gorgeous look for nearly anyone looking to find the right beard style to complement their face with minimal effort.

How to Grow It

Step 1 – Allow it to grow

The first thing you need to do is to allow the stubble to grow for about two weeks or even longer, depending on how fast your facial hair grows.

Step 2 – Get to the desired length

If you shave your beard every couple of days you can expect the stubble to take several weeks to grow. On average the desired length for a good scruffy beard is a fourth to half an inch in length.

Step 3 – Trim it

Once you have achieved the desired length depending on how fast your beard grows, it’s time to trim the scruff now.

How to Trim One for the Best Results

Step 1 – Set the trimer to the highest setting

To trim your scruffy beard use a trimmer set to the highest setting, usually 5 to 12 mm works just fine.

Step 2 – Start with the neckline

Begin trimming at the neck moving upwards, ensuring that you follow the shape of the beard so that you don’t trim too much.

Step 3 – Overlap the trimmed areas

Overlap the last area that you trimmed so that the length is consistent. You can trim further up the face as you can get an even look.

You can then go back to the neck and trim any hair there. For a proper scruffy look the beard should start where the chin meets the neck rather than down to the front.

You also need to be very careful when trimming around the mustache area because the last thing you want with a scruffy beard is a mustache that hangs down too far.

While the cheek and the necklines don’t need to be perfect, for the ultimate look follow the shape of the beard.

How to Style The Unkept Beard

Step 1 – Prepare the right tools

First, before you attempt to style your new beard to perfection you are going to want to ensure that you have the proper tools on hand.

All you need is a simple pair of clippers and a beard comb and any beard care products you’d like to use in the styling process, such as beard oil or balm.

Step 2 – Adjust the clippers

Adjust your clippers to the highest setting, so you don’t accidentally trim off too much and end up with your beard shorter than you were hoping for it to be.

Step 3 – Start from the neck upwards

Start at the base of your neck and trim upwards toward your chin. Remember to always overlap the last area trimmed to guarantee that the beard length stays consistent.

If you are trying to sport a scruffy beard as your facial hair style of choice make sure to do your best to keep your neck cleaned up to make it look as manly and rugged as possible, for a look that everyone you encounter will absolutely love.

How to Maintain Scruffy Beard Longterm

Step 1 – Know your scruff

The good thing about a scruffy beard is that it requires very little maintenance. However, this depends on the type of scruffy beard you have. 

If you have a light scruffy stubble, for instance, you may need daily maintenance to achieve an even look. 

Step 2 – Combing the beard

If the beard is longer, you need to at least comb it every day to not only give you that polished look but to stimulate the follicles to release natural oils that make the beard soft.

Step 3 – Washing the beard

Buy the right beard shampoo that will not dry out the natural oils and shampoo your beard at least twice a week to ensure that it doesn’t dry out.

Step 4 – Apply beard oil

To nourish the beard and to achieve a glossy appearance you need to use beard oil or gel regularly, especially if you are going for a formal meeting.

Famous People Wearing It

Many celebrities have even made it big while sporting the trademark scruffy facial hair. The look has been featured on the red carpet countless times and has garnered attention as the mark of a true manly man in many cases.

Ryan Gosling

You can see Ryan Gosling featuring his sexy, scruffy facial hair that makes the ladies go crazy over him. He keeps his beard short and unkempt, with his neck hair unshaven for a manly touch.

This look gives Ryan Gosling an effortlessly rugged style that makes him extremely beloved by all.

Chris Hemsworth

Best known for his role as Thor, Chris Hemsworth is a recognizable face for most people – and almost as equally recognizable is the scruffy beard he shows off. His smoldering look paired with his rough beard is undoubtedly part of what helped him during his rise to fame.

Chris Hemsworth keeps his scruffy facial hair on the shorter side and he also keeps his neck clean-shaven for a more clean-cut look that offers all the manly, effortless attractiveness without the same unkempt appearance.

Usher

Usher has one of the most recognizable unkept beards of the famous names out there. He can be seen here, giving the popular style his one unique twist by using it to frame and accentuate his face.

Do’s and Don’ts

• Do clean the beard after a trim to remove any loose hairs for a more polished look.
• Do consider the style that you are going for before you begin growing a scruffy beard.
• Do ensure that you comb your beard, especially with longer styles for a polished look.
• Don’t trim your beard as you would with other styles, especially if you are going for the longer scruffy beard styles.

FAQ

Are scruffy beards attractive?

Yes, a scruffy beard is an attractive look, especially when it is well maintained because it makes a man appear mature, manly and aggressive.

Why is my beard scruffy?

A beard will look scruffy when you start growing one, so ensure that you don’t shape it prematurely if you want to maintain a scruffy look.

What does it mean to have one?

A scruffy beard is a rough-looking beard around the face that gives off a rugged look that looks great on men who are going for a tough and rough appearance.

How long does it take to have a scruffy beard?

While you might be trying to create an effortlessly manly and attractive look that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to put any effort into the venture at all.

While they do not require as much grooming and effort as other popular beard styles, they do still take a bit of effort to grow and maintain, as any beard would.

If you’re wondering how long it will take for you to grow your beard and show it off in its full glory, then that would depend on how long you are hoping to have it.

Scruffy facial hair tends to be on the shorter side of the beard spectrum and beard hairs tend to grow at an average rate of about a half-inch per month – this, of course, varies between individuals depending on your personal genetics.

Scruffy beards tend to be about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch on average, but this can vary widely depending on your personal preference.

You can have yours shorter or longer if you like and still sport the great look of a scruffy beard without conforming to this length range.
If you do want to stay within this range, though, you can typically expect to have your facial hair long enough after about two months.