In recent years, the bald with beard look has taken over the world of men’s grooming. Up to 80% of men experience male pattern baldness by age 80 [1], meaning there’s a high demand for styles that look great when your hairline starts badly receding.
Combining a shaved or bald head with a well-groomed beard can achieve a stylish and masculine appearance that’s popular among famous bald celebrities, such as Dwayne Johnson and Terry Crews. A shaved head can be a great haircut for men who are balding on top.
Whether you’re considering embracing your baldness, upping your beard game, or simply curious about this new trend, here’s everything you need to know. In this article, we’ll explore:
There’s a reason so many men opt for the bald with beard look. For starters, a beard can help define your facial features when styled correctly and balance your appearance when you’re balding.
A beard is a powerful look. Research suggests women may judge men with beards to have a higher social status than clean-shaven men [2]. Men with beards appear more trustworthy to others than men without them [3], a light stubble beard may increase attractiveness [4], and men with full beards may be seen as more masculine and socially mature [4]. So it’s understandable that more men are opting to embrace their hair loss by cultivating their facial hair.
The bald with beard look is also the ultimate timesaver. Since there’s no need for regular haircuts, styling, or treatments, you can save time and money by shaving your head and growing out your beard.
Furthermore, excess dihydrotestosterone (DHT) contributes to hair loss in men with male pattern baldness but promotes beard growth. For these men, going bald and bearded is an easy and natural choice.
Want to experiment with your facial and scalp hair? Here are some of the best bald/beard combinations.
Stubble is a popular look among bald and non-bald men alike. Light stubble gives you a rugged style that works at any age. Make grooming easy with a decent electric beard trimmer, and don’t forget to keep those neck hairs at bay.
If you can grow a thick, full beard, there’s no question this is an excellent way to rebalance your look when you shave off your scalp hair. Fuller beards do need some maintenance, but unlike many other beard styles, you can get away with a few days of extra growth before it looks unkempt. That’s why low-maintenance full beard styles are so popular right now.
Short goatees are more stylish and less dated than longer goatees, so this is a good option for those seeking a more polished look. You’ll need to trim your goatee regularly to keep it looking neat.
If you’re a glasses wearer, don’t be put off trying this look. Many bald bespectacled men look smart and stylish with a beard. Invest in a pair of sturdy glasses that suit you and complement your facial hair.
Careful beard grooming and styling can help you look good bald with a beard. The first step is choosing the right beard style.
Select a style that complements the shape of your face. This may become easier in the future, as technology is currently being developed that helps you choose a facial hair style based on the shape of your face [5]. We’ll discuss in more detail how to select the best type of beard later on.
A defined jawline can create a more polished appearance in any beard style. Use a razor or trimmer to sculpt your beard, following the contours of your jaw.
Take time to regularly groom your beard, shape the edges, remove stray hairs, and maintain a clean line at the neck. It’s worth remembering that employers consider grooming one of the most important physical factors when selecting a new employee [6].
Keep your beard well-hydrated and conditioned to prevent dry, brittle hair. Use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner designed for facial hair, and ask your barber for shampoo advice if you’re unsure. Invest in high-quality grooming tools, including razors, trimmers and beard oils to keep your beard looking polished.
If your beard is going grey or has uneven colouring, consider dyeing it to even it out. This is down to personal preference, as a grey or salt-and-pepper beard can look sophisticated, and there’s no need to dye it unless it makes you feel more confident.
Everyone has individual preferences when it comes to looks, but many people find men who are bald with a beard attractive. Conventionally attractive personalities like Pep Guardiola and Stanley Tucci have popularised this look:
Lots of Redditors agree that going bald with beard looks good in many cases:
Not everyone appreciates the bald with beard look, but plenty of people out there do. As with any style, confidence can make or break it — so however you choose to wear your hair, make sure you feel great.
Changing your facial hair can be transformative — just ask Jason Momoa after he went beard-free. But going bald can make decisions about your appearance feel harder than they should be. If you’re unsure whether to grow a beard, shave it off, or keep everything as it is, here’s what to do.
Here are some famous faces who have been seen bald both with and without a beard.
To choose your perfect style, consider what your beard says about you. A small study investigated the effect of men’s beards on how they were perceived by women. Here are the results [4]:
This study used only 15 male faces and interviewed just 60 women, so these results can’t be assumed to reflect the views of all women. However, it points towards a clear pattern between beard style and first impressions. Here are some things to bear in mind when choosing your beard style.
Your beard should begin where it meets your natural hairline (usually somewhere between the tragus and the top of the ear). Genetic hair loss in men doesn’t tend to affect the area around the ears, so you should be able to see this line quite easily:
Many men prefer to fade their beard into their buzzed hair. The video below shows you how to taper a beard like a pro.
If you’re a fan of the bald with a beard look but you’re not able to grow the facial hair you want, help is available. A beard transplant can improve facial hair growth by moving hair follicles from the scalp to areas of the beard with patchy or absent hair.
This procedure may offer a solution if you have sparse or uneven beard growth, are keen to cover facial scarring [7], or hope to grow a fuller, healthier beard.
Here are some common causes of beard hair loss and reasons for beard restoration surgery:
Men in their teens or early twenties are often advised to wait before having a transplant if their beard is still growing. Most beards continue to develop in thickness and coarseness between ages 18-30 [9], so younger men seeking a beard transplant may benefit from waiting rather than rushing into surgery. However, the best age for a beard transplantdiffers widely from person to person.
A beard transplant involves harvesting hair follicles from a donor area on the scalp (often the back or sides of the head) and then transplanting them into the beard area. The transplanted hair follicles continue to grow naturally with long-lasting results. Your new beard shape can be customised based on your preferences, and your surgeon will work with you to design a shape that complements your face.
So, you’ve decided to embrace the bald with beard look, but your beard doesn’t grow how you want it to. A beard transplant can give you the facial hair you’ve been dreaming of, but it’s important to choose the right surgeon and clinic. Your chosen clinic should offer a comprehensive consultation process to make sure the procedure is right for you.
If you’re seeking a beard transplant due to beard hair loss, the first step is a consultation with a trichologist. These hair doctors will complete a set of diagnostic trichology tests, such as blood tests for hair loss, to get to the root cause of your facial hair shedding. They can determine whether you may be a candidate for a beard transplant and refer you to one of our expert surgeons.
With some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK, the Wimpole Clinic offers a high level of expertise and natural-looking beard transplants. We have a beard transplant success rate between 97-100% and have been in the hair restoration business for nearly 50 years. Book an appointment at one of our clinic locations to get started.
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