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It’s always a tricky decision when you’re trying to decide what the best beard length is. Do you want a full beard, a medium beard, or something shorter? Well, this blog post will help you with that decision. You’ll find some helpful tips as well as a chart of the top beard lengths and their pros and cons. It doesn’t matter if your face shape is round, square, triangular, or oval, there’s a perfect beard length for you, and in this article, we are going to help you find it!
Table of Contents
Beard Length Chart
Beard Length | Beard Name | Time |
---|---|---|
0.5 to 1 mm | Light Stubble Beard | 1 day |
1 mm to 3 mm | Medium Stubble Beard | 3-5 days |
3 mm to 5 mm | Heavy Stubble Beard | about 10 days |
7 mm | 7 mm Beard | 2 Weeks |
10 mm | Corporate Beard | About a month |
12 mm | 12 mm Beard | 4 weeks |
15 mm to 25 mm | Medium Beard | 2 Months |
16 mm | 16mm Beard | 6 weeks |
20mm | 20mm Beard | 7 weeks |
2 inches | 2-Inch Beard | 4 Months |
3 inches | Long Beard | 6 Months |
Stubble
The stubble beard is a very popular look; it is short and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. The only downside of this beard style is that it can make you look scruffy if you don’t keep it trimmed properly. There are 3 stubble lengths, and we are going to analyze them.
light Stubble aka 5 o’clock shadow
The light stubble is the shortest of the stubble beard styles. It is basically a beard trimmed down to 0.5 mm-1 m in length, and you will need a day or two of growth to achieve this look.
Medium Stubble
The medium stubble beard is 1-3 mm in length, and it will make your face look manly and slightly scruffy. It is a great length, and it retains a clean look. You will need about 3 to 5 days of growth to get this style.
Heavy Stubble
The heavy stubble beard is the longest stubble style, it is 3-5 mm in length, and it will give you a slightly unkempt look. You will need about 10 days of growth to achieve this look.
How Long Does It Take To Grow A Stubble Beard?
As you already know, there are three different lengths of stubble beards, and the time it takes to grow each one is different.
- Short Stubble aka 5 o’clock shadow: A day or two.
- Medium Stubble: 3 to 5 days.
- Heavy Stubble: about 10 days.
How to grow a stubble beard?
Growing a stubble beard is easy; all you need to do is stop shaving for a few days to get to the desired length. While some people recommend using beard oil when going for a longer stubble style, we think it is unnecessary in most cases. Only If you feel itchy and uncomfortable, use it to soothe your skin.
How to trim and maintain a stubble beard?
Trimming a stubble beard is also a very easy task. Take your beard trimmer, set the setting to the desired length in mm, and start trimming. The only tricky part is shaping the neckline and the cheek lines, but we are going to give you some tips to get you started:
- For the neckline: First, you should spot the Adam’s Apple and count 2 fingers from its top. This is the spot where your neckline is located. Of course, you can adjust it according to your own preference, but this is the safest bet.
- For the cheek lines: Find the spot where your mustache naturally connects with your beard and draw an imaginary line towards the top of your sideburns. This is your cheek line. Trim or shave all the hairs above this line.
Best Face Shape for the Stubble Beard
The stubble beard is a beard style that will look good on most men. That being said, there are some face shapes that will look better with it than others.
The two face shapes that will look best with stubble beards are the oval and square face shapes. These are two face shapes that have symmetrical features, and the stubble beard styles will highlight them.
If you have another face shape, as already mentioned, the stubble beard is still a great beard style for you, so don’t be afraid to try it.
Related Article: 10 Best Beard Styles For Oval Faces
Short Beard aka Corporate Beard
The short beard is longer than the stubble at about 10mm. This beard style is also easy to maintain and looks great on most men. To grow a short beard, you will need about 1 month, depending on the growth speed of your facial hair.
How Long Does It Take To Grow A Short Beard?
Typically, you will need about 1 month to grow 1/2 inch (which is 12.5 mm) of hair, so an average short beard that is 10mm would take a bit less than a month.
How to grow a short beard?
Like the stubble beard growing a short beard is also easy, all you need to do is stop shaving for a month, and you will get to the desired length. The difference between growing a stubble beard and a corporate beard is that you will need more time to grow a short beard, and you will need to start applying beard oil at some point.
You will need to do it after two weeks of facial hair growth because then you will enter the awkward beard phase.
The awkward beard phase is the phase where your beard is not long enough to style and longer than a stubble beard. During this phase, most guys experience itchiness and discomfort, so applying beard oil can help to soothe your skin and soften your beard hair.
How to trim, maintain and groom a short beard?
Trimming a short beard is also an easy task; you should use a beard trimmer with a 10mm guard on and start trimming.
When it comes to maintenance, the only thing that you need to do is trim it every week to keep it looking neat. You should also apply beard oil daily after you shower to keep your facial hair looking and feeling great.
Best Face Shape for the Short Beard
As with most shorter beard styles, the short beard looks good on almost every face shape.
Like the stubble beard, the oval and square face shapes will look great with a short beard because they have nice features. Also, the oblong face shape will look good with a short beard because it will give your face more width and make it look shorter.
The round face is the only face shape that will not look good with a short beard. This is because the round face shape is already quite full, and the short beard will just make it look more round. If you have a round face shape, you can read our guide with the 11 best beard styles for the round face shape.
Medium Length Beard
A medium-length beard is something between a short beard and a long beard. This facial hair style is perfect for men who want a beard but don’t want to commit to a long beard but don’t want a short one either.
The mid-length beard is usually about 15mm-25mm in length, and you will need about 2 months of beard growth.
How long does it take to grow a medium-length beard?
It takes about 2 to 3 months to grow a medium-length beard, but the time can vary because not all men have the same facial hair growth rate.
How to grow a medium beard?
Growing a medium beard is not as easy as growing a short beard because you will have to wait at least 2 months before you get to the desired length.
So, if you are planning to grow a medium beard, prepare yourself and be patient for the next few months. You should use beard oil during the growth stage to end itchiness and discomfort and make your beard softer.
How to trim, maintain and groom a medium-length beard?
When it comes to trimming and maintaining a medium-length beard, you should use a long beard trimmer with adjustable lengths. You should also apply beard oil daily and brush it at least twice daily to keep it looking neat.
For medium-length beards, we also recommend starting using a beard brush. You will need a tool to shape your beard when you reach this length. You should not use a beard comb because your beard is not long enough, and the bristles of the brush will help to straighten your beard and distribute the beard oil evenly.
Finally, you should start using a beard shampoo and conditioner because a regular shampoo can dry out your beard. Wash your beard two to three times a week and not more often because it will dry out your beard.
Best Face Shape for the Medium Length Beard
A medium-length beard could look good on almost every face shape, but you should trim it in a way that will flatter your face shape.
For example, if you have a round face, you should trim the beard shorter on the sides and keep it longer on the chin. This will give your face more angular features.
If you have a diamond or heart-shaped face, you should make the bottom of your beard rounded to give more volume to your chin.
Finally, if you have a long face, you should keep the beard longer on the sides and shorter on the chin. This will make your face look shorter.
Long Beard
The long beard is our favorite beard length and is one of the most popular beard styles. When done right, this beard length will make you look like one of the Vikings or like a wizard from Harry Potter. It is also a beard style that has been seen on many celebrities lately, like George Clooney and Ben Affleck.
How long does it take to grow a long beard?
It takes at least 4 months to grow a long beard, but if you want a majestic long beard, you need to wait for at least 6 months.
It is not easy to grow a long beard, and you need to be very patient. You should also have good genes and take care of your beard properly.
How to grow a long beard?
Growing a long beard is very difficult because you will have to wait for at least 4 months before you get to the desired length. During these months, you will get through several phases, and it is important to know what to expect.
As already mentioned, after the stubble phase, you will enter the itchy (awkward) phase, and this is when you should start using some beard oil.
The next phase is the growth phase, and this is when your beard will start to grow in length. During this phase, you should also apply beard oil and use a brush to train the beard hairs to grow in the right direction.
The last phase is the maintenance phase, when you will have to trim and groom your beard to keep it looking neat. During this phase, you will have to use a beard balm and other products to style your beard in the way you want.
There will be times when you will feel the urge to shave your beard, but you should resist this temptation and keep on growing it.
You should also be prepared to listen to people’s comments and maybe have your significant other asking you to get rid of that thing on your face. It takes time for people to get used to your new beard, but it will end up looking really great when done right. So, don’t listen to the naysayers and focus on yourself.
Finally, we wanted to let you know that growing a longer beard is not for everyone because you will need to be able to grow a thick beard to look good.
If you have a patchy beard or not-so-good genes, then growing a long beard will be even more difficult. You can use certain products to grow a thicker and longer beard, such as Minoxidil, but you will need to put more effort into it.
How to trim, maintain and groom a medium-length beard?
When it comes to trimming and maintaining a long beard, you should use a long beard trimmer and scissors. Use the trimmer to trim the details, and then use scissors to shape your beard and cut the stray hairs.
You should also use a beard comb; at this length, a beard comb is essential to help detangle and tame the beard.
Washing your beard with a beard wash every other day is essential because it will remove the dirt and will keep the skin underneath healthy.
Finally, if you have a curly or wavy beard and you want to tame it, you should consider buying a beard straightener. This is a special device that will help to straighten your beard and make it look neater.
Best Face Shape for the Long Length Beard
The long beard is a great beard style for all face shapes, and the only thing you should consider is how to style your beard so that it compliments your face shape.
If you follow the tips we have given in the medium beard section, you will be able to style your long beard in a way that looks great on you and makes you look like a real man.
Related Article: Find the Best Beard Style for Your Face Shape
Beard Length FAQ
There is not a certain length that is considered the best. You can choose a beard style that you like and simply grow a beard that matches this style.
Thus, the only length that you should focus on is your comfort zone. If you feel comfortable with a long beard, just start growing it without thinking too much about the length.
No, there is nothing wrong with having beards of different lengths.
For example, you can have a full beard that is long at the chin and shorter on the cheeks or vice versa. Follow our advice on choosing a beard style and choose a beard length that will go well with your face shape.
No, there is no rule that says you have to have a short mustache.
Again, the only thing you should focus on is: fit for your own face shape and if you feel comfortable with it.
There is no exact length that is too long for a beard. As we have mentioned before, just grow a beard that you feel comfortable with, even if it’s longer than what society expects. Just make sure to take care of it so that you don’t look unkempt.
Conclusion
To sum up, there are many beard lengths, from stubble to long.
You should try different lengths to find the one that suits you best and then just rock it.
However, if you want a longer beard, make sure to follow our advice, and you will have a fashionable beard in no time.
Make sure to use the right tools depending on the length of your beard and to use good grooming practices like regular beard washing and conditioning.
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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.