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Round face, beard guide

Beard shapes for a round face

A round face has soft curves at the jaw, so a beard can add a corner. The most useful move is a squared lower edge with a defined cheek line.

A full, rounded beard follows the jaw and makes the face look rounder. Length alone does not help unless the shape creates an angle.

Measure first

Not sure of your shape? The free detector measures a photo on your device and draws the lines it used.

Check my shapeThe round face guide

The shortlist

What works, and where it sits

A round face needs corners. A squared bottom, a sharp cheek line or a goatee all create one, while a rounded full beard adds to the curve that is already there.

  1. 1

    Boxed beard with a squared bottom

    Keep the sides short and the bottom edge squared off rather than curved. The straight lower line adds a corner the jaw does not have.

    Round face with boxed beard with a squared bottom
  2. 2

    Short stubble with a sharp cheek line

    A few days of growth with a clean cheek line adds definition without length. The line does most of the work.

    Round face with short stubble with a sharp cheek line
  3. 3

    Goatee with a connected mustache

    A goatee leaves the jaw corners bare and draws attention to the chin. That narrows the lower face visually.

    Round face with goatee with a connected mustache
  4. 4

    Extended goatee

    An extended goatee runs along the jaw but stays narrow at the sides. It adds length to the face without adding width.

    Round face with extended goatee
  5. 5

    Full beard with a high cheek line

    A high cheek line leaves more bare skin at the top of the beard and makes the face look longer. Keep the sides trimmed close.

    Round face with full beard with a high cheek line

Less useful

What works against it

None of these is a rule. They are the choices that tend to undo the balance the rest of the page builds.

  • A rounded full beard

    A beard that curves with the jaw repeats the round face. Square the bottom or keep the length shorter.

  • A neck beard

    Hair below the jawline adds weight under the chin and makes the face look rounder. Keep the neck line tidy.

Questions

Questions about beards

What beard shape suits a round face?

A boxed beard with a squared bottom, or a goatee that leaves the jaw corners bare. Both add definition.

Should a round face grow a long beard?

Length helps only if the beard is narrower than the jaw. A long, wide beard makes the face look rounder.

Where should the cheek line sit?

Higher on a round face. A high cheek line leaves more bare skin and makes the face look longer.

More for a a round face

Beards for other face shapes