The Beardstache Guide – How to Rock Heavy Stubble
The beardstache has been making the rounds lately on the internet, and it’s probably because a lot of celebrities have been wearing them around. From Henry Cavill to Zac Efron, guys have been pulling it off really well, and ever since then, it just blew up.
What is the Beardstache?
The beardstache is a beard style that combines a stubble beard and mustache with more focus on the stache.
Beyond the celebrity factor, it got so popular because it blends two distinct beard styles into one. When matched well, the result is absolutely striking.
The beardstache is one of the easiest styles to grow and maintain, though it does require some patience when it comes to growing and shaping the mustache.
It’s also one of those beard styles that plays well with a variety of different beard and mustache combinations. Whatever direction you take the beard, the beardstache looks best paired with just a handful of mustache styles: the walrus mustache, chevron mustache, handlebar mustache, or the horseshoe mustache.
What Does the Beardstache Look Like?
The beardstache is a combination of a mustache and a beard, but with more emphasis on the mustache, which is usually grown to a thicker and heavier style while the beard is kept at a light or heavy stubble and sometimes even a short beard.
So the mustache sits on the fuller, denser side while the beard is trimmed to a shorter length for contrast.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the best beardstache styles out there, as well as the types of mustaches that pair with them.
Different Types of Mustaches
The Walrus Mustache
The walrus mustache is one of the most timeless looks in the game. It’s thick and heavy, with the sides dropping all the way down toward the chin and the center of the stache reaching down to the soul patch zone. Classic, commanding, and always relevant.
The Chevron Mustache
The chevron mustache has been a crowd-pleaser for decades with a distinctly vintage feel. Since it’s not as thick or heavy as the walrus, it pairs best with light stubble rather than heavy stubble.
The Handlebar Mustache
The handlebar mustache doesn’t suit every face, and it’s especially demanding to grow. You’re looking at at least two months of daily mustache wax work to coax those ends into a proper upward curl or curve.
Handlebar mustaches come in all shapes and sizes. There’s no strict rule on how thick the stache needs to be or how dramatic the curled corners should go. More than anything, the handlebar is a statement of creativity.
Here’s a handy visual to help you navigate the many mustache styles you can mix with heavy or light stubble.
The Best Beardstache Styles
1. The Beardstache with Heavy Stubble and Walrus Mustache
This is one of the most popular beardstache combinations out there. Pairing heavy stubble with a walrus mustache style is just about the perfect balance you can strike.
Generally, heavy stubble is the longest you want to keep the beard in a beardstache. Go any longer and you’re edging into full beard territory, which honestly defeats the purpose of keeping a prominent, standout mustache.
2. The Beardstache with Short Beard and Handlebar Mustache
Not quite a full beard, but more than heavy stubble. This particular style puts extra emphasis on the chin area alongside the mustache, with the cheek hair trimmed shorter by comparison for a tapered, sculpted look.
A handlebar mustache paired with a short beard is a seriously solid combination here.
3. The Hipster Beardstache with Curled Handlebar Mustache
The hipster beardstache features a handlebar mustache with styled, upturned ends paired with a light or heavy stubble beard. In this photo, the light stubble draws all the attention straight to the lips and the stache, keeping the overall look sharp and clean.
As you can see, heavier stubble with a hipster-style handlebar has its own rugged charm as well.
4. The Beardstache with Light Stubble and Chevron Mustache
It’s the easiest combination to manage for both the beard and the stache. Light stubble keeps the maintenance low while still delivering one of the cleaner, more polished looks in the beardstache lineup.
5. The Beardstache with a Goatee and Handlebar Mustache
Honestly, this one catches people off guard. Who knew you could pair a handlebar mustache with a goatee and have it work this well? Yet here we are.
6. The Horseshoe Beardstache
As the name suggests, the horseshoe mustache, with its elongated corners dropping almost to the chin, is a natural fit with light stubble. The contrast between the bold mustache outline and the minimal beard keeps everything balanced.
Any of the above beardstache styles also look phenomenal on bald men. With so many variations to choose from, it can be tough to know which one suits you best, especially if you’re a first-timer.
While we’ll cover who this style flatters most a bit further down, the key is finding the right balance between your beard length and stache length. As you’ve seen, both the beard and the mustache can vary widely in length and density, but there’s always a clear contrast between the two that makes the beardstache stand apart from other styles.
Which variation is right for you can only be found through a bit of trial and error, and as with any beard style, a touch of creativity goes a long way.
The Pros & The Cons
Beyond being one of the most distinctive styles out there, one of the biggest advantages of the beardstache is how well it highlights your facial bone structure.
Since the beardstache pairs best with shorter beards, typically heavy or light stubble, you’re not hiding your bone structure the way you would with a fuller beard. Naturally, a lot of attention lands on the chin and jawline, which might feel like a lot for those who aren’t comfortable with that kind of focus.
It’s also a brilliant option for guys with a patchy beard. Where other styles struggle to disguise uneven growth, the beardstache keeps the beard at heavy stubble length and lets the mustache do the heavy lifting. Plenty of mustache styles work beautifully with that setup.
Face Shapes Best Suited for a Beardstache
Square, A-triangle, V-triangle, and oblong face shapes are the strongest matches for the beardstache. Oval, rectangle, and diamond face shapes work well too.
That said, if you have a round or heart-shaped face, this style may not be the most flattering fit. You’re welcome to experiment, but it tends not to be an ideal match and the proportions can feel off.
How to Grow a Beardstache
The best approach to growing a beardstache is to let everything grow out completely first. Give your beard around 3 to 4 weeks to reach a full, even length before you start shaping anything.
Trim the Beard
Once the beard has grown out to at least 6 mm, it’s time to trim. Set your clipper guard to the length you prefer.
For heavy stubble, set the trimmer guard to 3 to 4 mm. For light stubble, dial it down to 1 to 2 mm. While trimming, leave the mustache area completely untouched.
Choose the Mustache Style and Length
The whole point of the beardstache is to accentuate the mustache. This is also where you figure out the density and length of your stache. Keep a pair of mustache scissors handy to clean up any stray hairs around the corners and above the stache.
Take some time to research how to style mustache shapes like the walrus, chevron, handlebar, and horseshoe so you know what you’re working toward.
Patience is everything at this stage. You may not have the ideal mustache length or fullness when you first trim the beard. For now, just keep maintaining the beard for contrast while you let the mustache grow into its shape.
Outline the Beard
Defining the neckline and cheek line is just as important for the beardstache. Once you’ve settled on the right cheek line for your face shape, clean shave everything above it.
A well-placed neckline typically sits one to two fingers above the jawline. Position your fingers along the jawline at the corner of your face, just below the ears where the jaw meets the neck.
Use your trimmer to define that neckline, then clean shave every hair below it for a crisp, polished beard outline.
How to Maintain a Beardstache
Every 2 to 3 days, trim the beard back to your preferred length. Keep the cheek line and neckline clean with regular shaving, though some guys let those areas grow a little and keep them lightly trimmed for a more rugged, lived-in feel.
Both approaches have their appeal. Mustache wax is non-negotiable for handlebar wearers.
Certain mustache styles, like the handlebar, need daily attention. You’ll need to train the hair to grow in a specific direction using wax, since your natural mustache growth pattern may not cooperate with your chosen style. Keep the area surrounding the mustache clean of stray hairs at all times.
Conclusion
With all that covered, we wish you the best on your beardstache journey. It’s one of the most sought-after beard styles around, yet not everyone can pull it off.
Growing a proper beardstache takes real determination and consistency, especially since certain mustache styles are genuinely demanding to grow and maintain. Regardless, we can’t wait for you to join the ranks and totally rock the beardstache.
FAQs on the Beardstache
Q1. I’m bald, will a beardstache look good on me?
Absolutely. In fact, it’s one of the sharpest beard styles for bald men who love a bold stache, especially when you pair the mustache with heavy stubble or a short beard.
Q2. What famous people wear the beardstache?
Henry Cavill, Zac Efron, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm, Chris Millington, and Jeff Buoncristiano are among the celebrities who have sported this look.
Q3. How long does it take to grow a beardstache?
The beard portion takes about 10 days to reach heavy stubble length. For a slightly longer beard, two weeks should do it.
Light stubble grows in even faster. The mustache, depending on the style, thickness, and length you’re going for, will take roughly 1 to 2 months to fully develop.
