16mm Beard: Pros, Cons & How to Grow It

We are back with another article in our beard length series. This time we will look at the 16mm beard length. For those of you who are not familiar with mm, it is short for millimeters and is a unit of measurement. As the name suggests, this beard style features a beard that is 16mm in length.

But why did we decide to talk about the 16mm beard?

Well, first of all, it is a really popular beard style and is perfect for those looking for something that is not too long or too short. It is also a very versatile style and can be worn in a number of different ways.

Another reason we decided to talk about this style is that it is the length your beard is going to have when you get out of the awkward beard phase. The awkward beard phase is that point in your beard-growing journey where your facial hair has reached a length when you can no longer ignore it. It also means that people are starting to pay attention to it, and you might feel some undesirable side effects like itching.

So keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the 16mm beard style.

Table of Contents

What is the 16mm beard?

We probably covered this in the intro, but just to make sure you understand, the 16mm beard is a beard style that features a 16mm (millimeters) long beard.

As mentioned, this length lies somewhere between a short beard and a medium beard. It also lies somewhere at the transition point between the awkward phase and the wild mountain man territory.

This style is perfect for those who are looking for something that is not too long or too short and want a beard that is versatile enough to be worn in a number of different ways.

How long do you need to grow a 16mm beard?

In order to get a 16mm beard, you will need to grow your facial hair for about 6 weeks. Of course, this will vary depending on your facial hair growth rate.

If you consider that the average growth rate is about 1/2 inch per month and do the math, you will see that 6 weeks is the 16mm beard mark.

What face shape is good for the 16mm beard?

Not everyone can pull off the 16mm beard style. This is because it works best with certain face shapes, for example, oval face shapes.

To explain this better, let’s see how this beard length affects your appearance.

You will first notice that it is an even beard style. This means that the hair on your cheeks, chin, and mustache are all the same length. This can be a good or bad thing, depending on your face shape, but the fact is that it won’t change your face shape.

Next, you will notice that it will give you more volume, meaning your face will appear fuller. This is great for any guy who wants to look more rugged or manly.

So based on this, we can say that the 16mm beard best suits men with oval, heart, oblong, and square face shapes.

This is because the 16mm beard won’t change their face shape, and it will give them more volume.

If you have a round or diamond-shaped face, then we suggest you go for something a little shorter like the 10mm beard style because the 16mm beard will only make your face appear wider and rounder.

Related Article: Find the Best Beard Style for Your Face Shape

Pros and Cons of 16mm beard

Pros

The beard hair will be soft. This is important because it means you won’t have to deal with any itchy beard.
It is a low-maintenance style. This means that you only need to trim it once a week or so. But you will still need to groom and style it, but it is not as high maintenance as some other beard styles.
It will make you look more rugged. Well, this is the reason why most guys like to grow their beards. The 16mm beard style will give you plenty of volume, meaning it makes you look more rugged and manly.
It will protect your skin from the sun’s rays. The beard hair will shield your skin from the UV rays from the sun, reducing cell damage and promoting healthier skin.
It can be worn in formal and casual settings. The great thing about the 16mm beard style is that it can be worn in a number of different formal and casual settings. This means you don’t have to shave if you want to go out for dinner or a business meeting.

Cons

If your beard is patchy, then this style will make it more noticeable. This happens because a medium-length beard will make the patches stand out more. Longer beards will hide the patches, and with shorter beards, the patches will be less noticeable, but because this beard length lies somewhere in the middle, it will make the patches more visible.
You need to establish a beard grooming routine. This is not a con, but it is important to mention because if you don’t have a beard grooming routine, you definitely need to establish one if you want to grow a 16mm beard. With the 16mm beard, you are officially a bearded man, so you need to start taking care of your beard.

If you think that the 16mm beard is not a good choice, read our best beard length article to find another one that suits you.

Related Article: 20mm Beard: How To Grow & Different Beard Styles

How to grow and trim a 16mm beard?

Growing and trimming a 16mm beard is not as hard as you might think. All you need to do is follow these simple steps:

Start by growing your beard out for about 7 weeks so that you have enough hair to style into a 16mm beard. As we mentioned, you will need about 6 weeks’ worth of growth to achieve this length, but if you want to be sure, you should grow it out for an extra week or two.
Trim the hair on your cheeks, chin, and mustache to the same length. To do this, you should use a beard trimmer with a 16mm guard.
Finally, after you even out your cheeks, mustache, and chin, you should shape your neckline and cheek lines.

What beard grooming products will you need for the 16mm beard?

We mentioned earlier that you should establish a beard grooming routine if you want to grow and maintain a 16mm beard. A big part of this beard grooming routine is being able to use the right products. When it comes to growing and grooming your new beard, the products that you will need are:

Beard shampoo and conditioner

With a medium beard length like the 16mm beard, you will want to invest in a good quality beard shampoo and conditioner. These products are specially formulated for beards so that they can keep your beard hair clean, soft, shiny, and healthy. You should avoid regular shampoo and conditioner as they will dry your beard hair and make it brittle.

Beard oil

Beard oil is another essential product for beards. It is used to keep the beard hair hydrated and moisturized, which is important because as your beard gets longer and thicker, it will start to dry out and get frizzy. If you want to learn how to choose a good beard oil, read out the best beard oil guide.

Beard brush

You should use a beard brush, not a comb, to groom your beard. This will help distribute the oils and stimulate the skin under the beard for a healthier, itch-free beard. A brush is also great at removing dirt and dead skin cells from your beard, leaving it clean and shiny. We advise against using a comb as it won’t be that efficient because it is designed for longer facial hair.

A beard trimmer

Last but not least, you will need a high-quality beard trimmer to trim and maintain your beard. For the best results, we recommend investing in a good quality beard trimmer with adjustable settings that can help you achieve your desired look. You can check our article on the best beard trimmers for long beards to pick a good one.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a 16mm beard is a great option for anyone looking to grow their facial hair out. It’s not too long or short, and it looks good on almost every guy! Let us know in the comments if you’re going to give this beard length a try!

Russell Stanley

Russell is the founder of themensattitude.com. He is a barber a beard enthusiast and he is obsessed with trying men’s lifestyle products and blog about them. If you have any questions you can hit him up via the contact page.