45 Spectacular Soul Patch Styles That Actually Look Good

The soul patch, formerly known as the “jazz dab“, became increasingly popular in the 1950s and 1960s among hipsters and artists alike. The person responsible for its popularization was the one and only Dizzy Gillespie, famous jazz musician and trumpeter. More recently, a new wave of soul patch beard styles has entered the scene, incorporating a more modern and edgy look.

What Does a Soul Patch Look Like?

For the past few decades, the soul patch has been dealing with a rather undeserved reputation. It’s such an inoffensive little thatch of hair, after all. It can range from a small area with just a few hairs, so few you can count them, to a larger thicket as big as the pad of a thumb.

Originally, it was nothing more than a neat nest of facial hair nestled right below the lower lip. Simple, right?

These days, soul patches are often paired with mustaches, goatees, chin straps, and sideburns. Back during the early days of jazz and blues, when cool cats like Dizzy Gillespie were the trendsetters, it stood on its own as a signature statement.

From that point on, the beatniks and hipsters of the 1950s stole the look and it morphed into something altogether different. The facial hairstyle, also known as the mouche or jazz dot, began to fall out of favor. It’s due for a comeback.

How to Grow and Shape a Soul Patch

Growing a soul patch isn’t difficult, but you need patience to spare. As the hair fills in beneath your bottom lip, you’ll hate it in the beginning. Your friends might tease you about the splotch of dirt below your lip, because that’s exactly what a stubbly patch resembles at first.

That’s where patience is essential. Let everyone make their jokes. Just focus on shaping your soulful new thatch.

That means carefully shaving around it, particularly along the chin. Be oh so careful not to clip a chunk of your patch during grooming.

Who Should Wear a Soul Patch?

There are only two rules about who can wear a soul patch. First, you have to be a confident, self-assured guy who doesn’t care about anyone else’s opinion. The soul patch’s reputation isn’t exactly sky-high right now.

You can bring it back to Cool Town, but only if you’re not bothered by what others think. A guy who relies on outside approval won’t have a patch for long.

Other than that, any man can bare his soul (see what I did there?). Soul patches work with virtually any face shape. The patch is one of the few facial hairstyles with that kind of versatility.

Is Soul Patch Considered a Beard?

The answer is simple: yes… and no. That debate rages among facial hair connoisseurs the world over, and there’s no consensus. Those who define the soul patch as a beard have varied and valid points, but so do the folks in the “against” camp.

Technically speaking, the patch is a beard. It’s a thatch of facial hair sitting right on your chin. It’s a beard in the same way a goatee is still a beard, that is, kind of.

How to Pick the Right Soul Patch Style: 5 Tips

1. Consider Your Color

Hair color matters. You can get away with a smaller jazz dot if you have dark hair. Fair-haired fellas need a fuller, more substantial patch for visibility.

2. Think Texture

The texture of your facial hair plays a real part. Fine, soft hair may need more growing time and surface area. Thick, dense, or coarse facial hair will form a solid mouche much faster.

3. Look at Your Lips

Your bottom lip changes the whole appearance of your patch. Thin lips aren’t flattered by a tiny soul patch, but don’t let it run wild either. The jazz dot suits a full, shapely mouth best.

4. Add-Ins

Want to pair a mustache with your mouche? What about a goatee or a full beard? Thinking about sideburns too? The patch is great on its own, but there’s nothing stopping you from giving it a signature twist.

5. The Skin Question

Your skin tone makes a difference, especially against the color of your facial hair. Some skin tones simply look better with a clean shave surrounding the patch.

Stylish and Trendy Soul Patch Beards

Whether you have a full beard, goatee, or are partial to an amazing mustache, here are some of the coolest soul patch beard styles we love. Hope you find your next look in here!

1. Minimal Soul Patch with Long Straight Hair

When you’re not carrying any other facial hair, even the smallest soul patch becomes noticeable. That’s exactly the case here. This chin puff is tiny, precise, and almost looks as though someone sketched it on with a fine pencil. Less is genuinely more.

2. Extended Soul Patch with Sculpted Chin Beard

Does your soul patch grow thick in the middle with two thin arms extending on both sides? You could combine it with a symmetrical chin beard. Shave the hair off the chin itself and let just a little hang below the chin point for a clean, sculpted finish.

3. Dense Black Soul Patch with Bold Glasses

Some guys grow dense, jet-black hair not only on their scalp but across their face too. When there’s not a single gray hair in the mix, even a petite soul patch on an otherwise clean-shaven face is crystal clear. Pair it with bold frames and you’ve got a sharp, put-together look.

4. Golden Soul Patch with Walrus Mustache

A golden soul patch can get lost against fair skin, so pairing it with a full walrus mustache is a smart move. The slightly darker hairs in the patch give it definition, while the thick, heavy mustache above anchors the whole composition and draws the eye downward.

5. Heavy Stubble Beardstache with Prominent Soul Patch

This look has a raw, easy charm. The thick beardstache brings weight, while the heavy stubble keeps it rugged and relaxed. Then the soul patch steps in and gives the whole style a bold finish.

6. Light Triangle Soul Patch with Designer Stubble

A triangular soul patch on an oval face can make the face seem a tad longer, but there is a simple fix. Grow some designer stubble on the face, especially on your chin, to cancel that effect. The resulting look is genuinely unique.

7. Thick Bushy Soul Patch with Long Curly Hair

Want to wear your thick soul patch with pride? Go ahead and flaunt it by shaving the rest of the beard and letting the patch grow out enough that its bushiness becomes clearly visible.

Complement it with long sideburns that taper near the upper end. This style pairs especially well with curly hair.

8. Blonde Barely-There Soul Patch

If you have a fair complexion and grow blonde facial hair, your soul patch won’t be that prominent. Ironically, that freedom lets you grow it big and thick, because it’s just as much there as it isn’t.

9. Small Soul Patch with a Thin Chin Strap

Outline your face with a thin chin strap beard that keeps a consistent hair length from one side to the other. Then make it your own by adding a small soul patch.

The patch doesn’t need a rigid shape, but keeping it roughly as wide as it is long gives it a clean, balanced proportion.

10. Thick Untamed Soul Patch with Sideburn Beard

This is quite a distinctive look that suits a round face well. Grow a coily beard only on the sides of your face, and reserve the area around your lips for a thick, untamed soul patch that is big enough to command attention from across the room.

11. Exclamation Mark Soul Patch

Make your point with a soul patch shaped just like an exclamation mark. It takes a steady hand and precise detailing to nail the right width as it narrows toward the bottom, with a clean dot sitting just below.

No other facial hair needed with this one.

12. Overgrown Soul Patch with an Extended Goatee

You’ll need a pair of scissors for this one. Let your soul patch grow for several days, then trim its ends just before it connects with your chin beard. A traditional or extended goatee pairs perfectly with this style.

13. Waxed Handlebar Mustache with Soul Patch

This beard style puts the mustache and soul patch front and center while the beard sits quietly in the background. Use a touch of mustache wax to curl up the ends of your mustache, then trim your beard down to a very low cut and shape the soul patch so it complements your chin projection.

14. Bold Chevron Mustache with Clean Soul Patch

For men who prefer a little less hair but still want to sport the combo, this style features a thick, full chevron mustache, a clean-shaven face, and a neatly shaped soul patch. Keep the mustache full and trim, combing the hair downward for a polished, put-together finish.

15. Soul Patch with a Short Full Beard

Even though it’s not the original conception of the patch, you have to admit it looks sharp with a beard. This style is thicker and a bit fuller than a chin strap, but even that style works.

16. Trimmed Chevron Mustache with Minimal Soul Patch

Here, both the mustache and soul patch are trimmed down significantly. The result is a classic, clean look without too much hair or stubble, while still pulling off the mustache-soul patch combo with ease.

Read: Best Asian beard styles for men

17. Curled Handlebar Mustache with Soul Patch

A sharp mustache can elevate pretty much any style, and when combined with the soul patch it brings a classic kind of sophistication. Forming a mustache-soul patch combo takes a bit of practice, especially when you’re dialing in the right shape for your face. Here are a few combination ideas to get you started:

Take It to the Chin

Many men who wear soul patches prefer extending them toward the chin rather than keeping the hair right below the lip. That extra length gives the soul patch a bit more presence and is a great entry point if you’re trying the style for the first time. Here are a few chin-length soul patch styles worth trying:

18. Chin Strip Soul Patch

This edgy style leaves a slim strip of hair beneath the chin, letting the soul patch extend all the way down. Just trim the beard low and shape it as a vertical strip that connects to a small patch of beard below the chin point.

19. Soul Patch Extended into a Long Beard

20. Thin-to-Thick Chin-Length Soul Patch

Here’s a solid everyday look featuring a chin-length soul patch that gradually widens as it extends downward. The surrounding beard hair is trimmed very short, keeping the soul patch modest but unmistakably sharp.

Mini Soul Patch Styles

If you don’t want a soul patch that commands too much attention, there are ways to keep the hair present without it being the loudest thing on your face. Letting the patch stay small, rather than making it the centerpiece of the style, can tie together any look you’re going for.

Here are some styles featuring a mini soul patch.

21. Barely-There Soul Patch

This look features a very thin, barely visible soul patch. Shave off most of your facial hair, leaving growth only in the soul patch zone. Trim it down so it sits right in the center below the lower lip.

22. Classic Clean-Shaven Soul Patch

Here’s another small soul patch with no beard, mustache, or sideburns. Shave your entire face, leaving only a small patch of hair beneath your lower lip.

Soul Patch and Goatee Combinations

Although a soul patch is technically considered a type of goatee, pairing the two together is a great way to work the soul patch into your overall look. Style your goatee as usual and add a soul patch for a modern, everyday finish.

Since goatees come in so many shapes and lengths, there are plenty of combos to explore. Here are some great goatees featuring soul patches:

23. The Grizzly Full Goatee with Soul Patch

This full goatee extends up the chin, giving the jawline a chiseled look. The hair is trimmed but left slightly longer for a more rugged feel. Pairing it with a carefully shaped soul patch takes the whole thing from plain to daring.

Classic Soul Patches

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Shave your face clean, leave a small patch of hair beneath your lip, and you’ve got the most simple and timeless way to showcase this style. Here are some of the best classic soul patches around.

24. Thick Clean Soul Patch on a Bald Head

Howie Mandel is well known for his signature soul patch. He keeps the hair thick but cleanly shaped beneath the center of his bottom lip, and it works every time.

25. Short Thick Soul Patch

This style features a smaller soul patch trimmed to about half an inch below the lip, giving a more understated take on the classic flavor saver.

26. Short Thin Soul Patch

Billy Ray Cyrus rocks a compact soul patch just below the center of his bottom lip. Worth trying if you have medium-length hair like this.

27. Gray-Flecked Classic Soul Patch

Billy Bob Thornton is well known for his classic soul patch. While he’s been spotted with a chin-length version, here he’s sporting one that reaches about an inch below the lip.

28. Sandy Blonde Wide Soul Patch

Notice what’s happening here: a blonde soul patch against mildly tanned skin. The lighter sprinkle of hair and the width of the patch make it stand out without being overbearing.

29. Perfect Dot Soul Patch

Look at how neatly formed that is. It’s a perfect dot. This is the shape to go for if your mouth runs on the thinner side.

30. Soul Patch with a Connected Goatee

Do you dare mimic that early-2000s pop star energy? A sprinkling of extra stubble almost turns this connected goatee into a short beard, but you get the picture.

31. Handlebar Mustache with Soul Patch Detail

The soul patch isn’t the star here, but it’s a major detail. There’s a lot going on with this look, yet the waxed handlebar mustache still manages to catch the eye first. The overall formation is hard to ignore.

32. Bold Black Elongated Soul Patch

This one is for the guy who doesn’t mind turning heads. Keep a soul patch with dense, dark hair and make sure the rest of the face is cleanly shaven so the patch gets the full spotlight.

33. Handlebar Mustache with Grown-Out Soul Patch

Mel Gibson has been getting a lot of attention for this look lately. He lets the soul patch grow downward while pairing it with a skin-tight handlebar mustache. It’s a strong combination.

34. Polished Soul Patch for Formal Looks

Want a soul patch that works even in a formal setting? This one is well-groomed and easy on the eye, with just enough presence to add a touch of personality without going overboard.

35. Disconnected Chevron Mustache with Soul Patch and Jaw Beard

A soul patch pairs well with facial hair covering other parts of the face. Try combining it with some jaw hair and a disconnected chevron mustache for a look that’s genuinely striking.

36. Long Sideburns with Extended Soul Patch

Sideburns are a versatile element that bridge both beard style and hairstyle. Long sideburns paired with an extended soul patch make a cohesive, well-proportioned combination.

37. Horseshoe Mustache with Soul Patch

If you’re wondering what facial hair pairs best with a horseshoe mustache, a soul patch is the answer. The two styles share a similar visual weight, so they complement each other naturally.

38. Tiny Triangle Soul Patch

Shape your soul patch into a clean triangle just below the lower lip. Shave off everything else and let that little triangle do all the talking.

39. Slicked Hair with Mustache and Disconnected Soul Patch

Slicked-back hair with a well-groomed mustache is a timeless combination, and a soul patch is the finishing touch that pulls it all together. Sharp, clean, and confident.

40. Short Soul Patch with Long Hair

Not sure what facial hair to pair with long hair? This is your answer. A short, compact soul patch enhances the visual appeal of longer locks, giving the whole look a focal point without competing with the hair.

More Soul Patch Styles for 2025

41. The Vertical Chin Strip Soul Patch

While the classic soul patch is a small, contained patch of hair, you can grow yours as a vertical chin strip for something with a bit more presence. It adds visual interest to the face and pairs well with a beard, giving the whole look a connected, cohesive feel.

42. Pointed Soul Patch Variations

Soul patches don’t have to be understated, and these pointed options prove it. A pointed soul patch can be kept compact or grown significantly larger for real visual impact.

It works just as well solo as it does alongside other facial hair, especially when everything is trimmed to a similar length for a unified, symmetrical finish.

43. Thick Full Soul Patch

Rather than going thin and sparse, a thick, full soul patch draws the eye and looks deliberate. Men who wear this style tend to project confidence in their grooming choices, which a lot of people find genuinely attractive.

44. Longer Grown-Out Soul Patch

Nobody ever said soul patches have to stay short, and a longer version can seriously refresh your style. Growing it out takes some patience, and you’ll need to trim it regularly to keep it from going rogue. The upkeep is worth it, though.

45. Under-the-Lip Vertical Soul Patch

Rather than letting the soul patch extend all the way to the chin, some men keep a vertical patch that runs directly under the bottom lip. It’s a subtle variation on the norm, and a solid option for anyone who wants to stand out without going too far.

Hope you’ve enjoyed our list of soul patch beard styles. A soul patch looks amazing when it’s proportioned well to your face shape and size. You can even sketch the style on with a pen first to see how it suits you before committing.