17 Beard and Mustache Styles for Bald Men

Beard shapes that give a shaved head structure, presence, and balance.

By Joseph Reed·Updated June 2026

Going bald doesn’t shrink your style options — it moves them south. A strong beard against a clean-shaven head is one of the most deliberate, masculine combinations in grooming, and it needs zero hair up top to work.

Balance the beard’s length and outline with the look you want. Here are 17 beard and mustache styles for bald men, from close stubble to fuller shapes.

01 of 17

The Classic Full Beard

bald man with a full gray beard

There’s really no other name for this bad boy, but it’s always a classic that has never stopped being used by men everywhere. There’s no way to go wrong with this beard.

Maintain the outline with regular trims and adjust the schedule to how quickly your beard grows.

02 of 17

The Refined Stubble

bald man with neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper stubble in a suit

Stubble keeps the hair short, usually just a few millimeters. Unlike keeping a beard that is long, it depends on frequent light trims to hold an even length.

Depending on how you keep up with this style, you can either look elegant with an edge or completely unkempt. Trim carefully. This style is also great for men whose facial hair grows unevenly in certain areas.

03 of 17

The Sharp Van Dyke

bald man with a sharp Van Dyke beard and mustache

A type of goatee pairing with a separate mustache and a pointed chin beard. Here the mustache is full, with curled tips. A little wax can help hold those ends in place.

04 of 17

The Statement Beard

bald man with a long full beard wearing a dark suit

For some odd reason, people now call this the “Hipster beard”. In reality, that label has more to do with styling than the beard itself. In general, most men sporting this look are simply wearing a full-grown beard with confidence.

05 of 17

The Minimal Soul Patch

bald man with a narrow soul patch

A very small patch of hair generally positioned right underneath your lower lip. It is a minimal style, but it still makes a statement. If you like subtle facial hair, just the soul patch is an easy place to start.

06 of 17

The Tailored Balbo

bald man with a trimmed Balbo beard and sunglasses

We’ve got another version of a goatee here, wider and a little broader, with a disconnected mustache and no sideburns, or very short ones.

07 of 17

The Ginger Tapered Beard

bald man with a full ginger beard
bob_bosewell / iStock.com

It might not look like a textbook ducktail, but it comes quite close. When you have a red beard, find every reason to show it off, and a slightly tapered full beard is the perfect way to do it. It’s okay if it’s a bit bushy or wavy. The full-face coverage of this beard rarely goes wrong with a bald head.

08 of 17

The Curly Silver Beard

bald Black man with a curly gray full beard and glasses
PeopleImages / iStock.com

Trim the edges of a curly beard and nothing could look neater than this. Just like a dark beard, a completely gray beard also has something special about it. Keep the cheek lines neatly shaved, trim the outer edges of the beard, and shave any hair that curves under your ears for the perfect look.

09 of 17

The Handlebar Mustache with a Pointed Beard

Curled handlebar mustache with a pointed full beard and close-shaved head
Khosrork / iStock.com

A pointed beard is paired with a curled handlebar mustache. Keep the beard’s lower outline tapered and use a little wax if needed to shape the upward-curled tips.

10 of 17

The Full Mustache with a Long Goatee

Full mustache and long gray goatee with a bald head

A short full mustache sits above a long gray goatee. The mustache has downturned ends, but they do not hang freely past the chin as a Fu Manchu would.

11 of 17

The Soft Ginger Chin Curtain

bald man with a soft ginger chin curtain beard
Eugene Symonenko / iStock.com

A ginger chin curtain looks great on people with bald heads because it provides a clear outline to the face. It acts as an anchor for the eye, which can be missing when you have a bald head and a clean shave. It’s okay not to have a very sharp neckline when you go for this style.

12 of 17

The Refined Mutton Chops

bald man with slim mutton chops

This is a cleaner, narrower take on mutton chops. The shape still frames the face, but the slimmer width makes the overall look feel sharper and easier to wear.

13 of 17

The Wild West Mustache

bald man with a bushy Wild West mustache

A bushy, combed, and styled mustache which can also be referred to as the Hungarian. Let it grow until it fully covers the upper lip, then comb it out to the sides and set it with a light wax so it holds its sweep. Worn without a beard, it carries the whole look, so keep the cheeks and chin clean-shaven.

14 of 17

The Sharp Chin Strap Beard

man with a sharp chin strap beard

This is a sharply outlined beard that follows the jaw and chin while keeping the upper lip mostly clean. The crisp lines are what make the style work, so regular trimming is essential.

15 of 17

The Garibaldi Beard

bald man with a full Garibaldi beard

A full-grown beard with a connected mustache that is trimmed in a rounded shape at the bottom. Keep the mustache neat and let the rest grow naturally, since a slightly unkempt look is part of the charm. That makes it one of the lowest-maintenance long beard styles on this list.

16 of 17

The Handlebar and Goatee

older man with a curled handlebar mustache and long goatee

Two classics combined into one elegant style. Neither is subtle, and that is exactly the point.

17 of 17

The Short Horseshoe Mustache

Short horseshoe mustache with a shaved chin and balding head

A thick mustache extends down both sides of the mouth while the center of the chin stays shaved. Keep the two vertical strips balanced to maintain the horseshoe outline.

How to Pick A Beard Style If You’re Bald

A shaved or balding head leaves room to emphasize facial hair. Choose the amount of beard coverage and length you enjoy maintaining, rather than assuming one shape is required.

If you are an African American bald man, we suggest you check out our article on ‘Beard Styles for Bald Black Men‘ for more specific beard style ideas.

bald man with long full beard and sunglasses smiling for a selfie

Stubble is one of the best beard styles for bald men because the upkeep is easy. Even bald celebrities often prefer stubble because it lends a kind of bad-boy mystique to your overall appearance. A scruffy, well-trimmed beard has the same effect. This is basically a full beard that you take the scissors or trimmer to fairly often.

Any variation of a full beard is a fantastic pick, too. Wear it long or cropped at the chin. The only thing you might want to do is avoid thick, heavy sideburns, but that really depends on the shape of your face and your personal aesthetic. With the right face, a fierce set of mutton chops actually flatters a smooth, balding pate.

bald man with a full gray beard in a studio portrait

Goatees are great go-to’s for bald men who wear glasses. Whether you rock a full goatee or a classic goatee, a Van Dyke, or a soul patch, partial facial hair is always in style. You can even grow a disconnected goatee to create the illusion of more hair.

In other words, pick whatever beard style you want if you’re bald. As long as you take care of it, maintain it, and style it, you can’t go wrong. Even grey beard styles look cool with a bald head.

You can try any of these bald beard styles to enhance your look, and we believe it will look even better when you pick the right one according to your face shape and size.

Why Grow A Beard With A Shaved Head

A beard can add balance and structure to a shaved head. It gives the face more definition, draws attention to the jaw, and adds character to the overall look.

collage of bald and bearded men with different full beard styles

Suitable for

The bald-with-beard look works well for men with thinning hair or a shaved head. It can also look especially strong on men with gray beards. The right beard will not only make the style look more intentional, but it can also add shape to the face.

If you have a round face, consider adding length on your chin. So, bald men with round faces should opt for beard styles like a goatee or Van Dyke.

collage of bald men with short and full beard styles

Let us know which of the beards and mustaches featured on this list is your favorite. If you want to try any of these bald men beard styles, feel free to experiment according to your face.

JR
Joseph Reed

Joseph Reed is a senior writer at Beard Style and our most prolific contributor, with more than 60 published guides since 2016. He specializes in beard styles, mustache trends, and short-beard grooming, turning the latest looks into practical, step-by-step advice any man can follow. His most-read work includes our flagship guides to mustache styles and beard styles without a mustache.

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