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A long beard is a commitment. It takes months of patience, a few awkward weeks where you wonder why you started, and a grooming routine that goes well beyond a quick trim. But get it right and few looks carry as much presence.
The problem is that most long beard style lists show you the finished result and skip the part you actually need to plan: how long each style takes to grow. This guide covers 15 long beard styles with a realistic growth time for each, which shapes suit which faces, what to expect month by month, and how to keep a long beard looking healthy. You can also preview a style on your own face before you spend half a year growing it.
In this guide:
- What are the best long beard styles?
- How fast does a beard grow?
- What are the 15 best long beard styles?
- Which long beard suits your face shape?
- What happens month by month?
- How do you keep a long beard healthy?
- How do you trim a long beard without losing length?
- How can you preview a long beard first?
- How do grooming brands use beard try-on?
- FAQ
What Are the Best Long Beard Styles?
The most popular long beard styles are the Garibaldi, Bandholz, Verdi, ducktail, Viking beard, spade beard, and the full year of growth known as the yeard. Most need 4 to 12 months of growth. Shorter long styles like the ducktail and long boxed beard take about 3 to 4 months, while the Bandholz and yeard need a year or more.
Pick a style based on two things: your face shape and how long you are willing to wait. The table and styles below help you match both.
How Fast Does a Beard Grow?
Facial hair typically grows about 1 to 1.5 cm per month, which is roughly half an inch. Genetics, age, and hormones affect the rate, and different parts of the face grow at different speeds. Cheeks often lag behind the chin and mustache.
| Target length | Approximate growth time | Styles you can wear |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 cm | 3 to 4 months | Ducktail, long boxed beard, faded long beard |
| 5 to 10 cm | 4 to 6 months | Verdi, spade beard, long goatee, Viking beard |
| 10 to 15 cm | 6 to 9 months | Garibaldi, forked beard, braided beard |
| 15 cm and longer | 9 to 12 months or more | Bandholz, yeard, full lumberjack beard |
These are estimates. Trimming for shape along the way also costs you some length, so build in an extra month or two.
What Are the 15 Best Long Beard Styles?
1. Garibaldi
A wide, full beard with a rounded bottom and a mustache that blends naturally into the beard. It looks relaxed rather than sculpted, which makes it forgiving. Length: about 15 cm. Grow time: 6 to 9 months.
Try a Garibaldi on your own face before you commit to a year of growth
2. Bandholz
Named after the founder of a well known beard care brand, the Bandholz is a long, full, mostly untrimmed beard with a natural shape. It is the ultimate patience beard. Length: 20 cm or more. Grow time: 12 months or more.
3. Verdi
A medium long beard with a rounded bottom, paired with a distinct, styled mustache that stays separate from the beard. Polished and a little old world. Length: up to about 10 cm. Grow time: 4 to 6 months.
4. Ducktail
Short on the cheeks and tapering to a point at the chin. The ducktail adds length to round faces and looks neat enough for the office. Length: 4 to 6 cm at the chin. Grow time: 3 to 4 months.
5. Viking Beard
Long, full, and often with a more rugged texture. Many wearers add braids or beads. It suits oval and heart faces that can carry the volume. Length: 10 cm or more. Grow time: 6 months or more.
6. Yeard
Short for a year beard: twelve months of growth with no trimming except the neckline. It is less a style than a challenge, and the result is completely unique to you. Grow time: 12 months.
7. Spade Beard
A full beard trimmed into a flat bottom with slightly rounded corners, like the spade on a playing card. Structured and strong. Length: 7 to 10 cm. Grow time: 5 to 6 months.
8. Forked Beard
A long beard split into two points at the bottom. Dramatic and historical, it works best when the beard is dense enough to hold two distinct shapes. Length: 10 cm or more. Grow time: 6 to 8 months.
9. Long Goatee
Length on the chin only, with clean cheeks. A long goatee suits men with sparse cheek growth and adds length to round faces. Length: 5 to 10 cm. Grow time: 4 to 6 months.
10. Long Boxed Beard
A full beard with sharp cheek lines and a squared bottom. It reads as long but disciplined, which makes it one of the most work-friendly long styles. Length: 4 to 6 cm. Grow time: 3 to 4 months.
11. Faded Long Beard
Short at the sideburns, fading into a longer beard at the chin. The fade connects a short haircut to a long beard and keeps the sides from looking bulky. Grow time: 3 to 4 months, plus regular fades from a barber.
12. Braided Beard
A long beard with one or two braids at the chin. It keeps length tidy and adds a strong visual signature. You need at least 10 cm to braid comfortably. Grow time: 6 to 8 months.
See how AI beard try-on renders long styles and colors
13. Long Beard With Handlebar Mustache
A full long beard paired with a mustache waxed and curled up at the ends. Vintage, playful, and high maintenance. Grow time: 4 to 6 months for the beard, plus a few extra weeks for mustache length.
14. Lumberjack Beard
Full, thick, and slightly untamed, with natural volume on the cheeks. It pairs well with a short haircut or a bald head to keep proportions balanced. Length: 8 cm or more. Grow time: 5 to 7 months.
Browse all Perfect Corp virtual try-on demos
15. Long Chin Curtain
A long beard along the jaw and chin with no mustache. It frames the face strongly and suits men whose mustache growth is thin. Grow time: 4 to 6 months.
Want to see which of these suits your face? Try a few on your own photo in the beard style try-on demo.
Which Long Beard Suits Your Face Shape?
Long beards change your face proportions more than any other facial hair, so face shape matters. If you are unsure of yours, our men's face shapes guide can help.
| Face shape | Best long styles | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Round | Ducktail, long goatee, spade beard | Pointed or vertical shapes add length |
| Square | Garibaldi, Verdi, rounded full beard | Rounded bottoms soften a strong jaw |
| Oval | Viking beard, Bandholz, long boxed beard | Balanced proportions handle volume and length |
| Oblong | Lumberjack, long boxed beard kept wide | Width on the cheeks offsets a long face |
| Heart | Garibaldi, Viking beard | Volume at the chin balances a wider forehead |
| Diamond | Full long beard, spade beard | Fills out a narrow chin and jaw |
For more on how beard shape changes face proportions, read our guide to the best shape for your beard.
What Happens Month by Month?
| Stage | What you will see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4 | Itchy stubble, uneven growth | Moisturize the skin. Trim the neckline only. |
| Months 2 to 3 | The awkward phase: bulky sides, wiry hairs | Shape the cheek line lightly. Start beard oil and a brush. |
| Months 4 to 6 | Real length, your natural shape appears | Choose your target style and do a first shaping trim. |
| Months 6 to 12 | Long beard territory | Trim split ends every few weeks, add balm for control. |
Most men who give up do so in months 2 and 3. Push through, and the beard starts working with you instead of against you.
How Do You Keep a Long Beard Healthy?
- Wash two or three times a week with a beard wash, not regular shampoo, which can strip oil and leave hair brittle.
- Condition every wash. Long hair dries out at the ends just like the hair on your head.
- Oil daily to soften the hair and keep the skin underneath from flaking.
- Use balm or wax for hold and to tame flyaways.
- Brush and comb. A boar bristle brush distributes oil, and a wide tooth comb detangles without breakage.
- Blow dry on low heat while brushing downward to add volume and a smoother shape.
How Do You Trim a Long Beard Without Losing Length?
Explore Perfect Corp virtual try-on demos for men's grooming
- Trim dry, not wet. Wet hair looks longer than it is, which leads to cutting too much.
- Comb it out fully so you can see the true length and shape.
- Set the neckline and cheek line first. These two lines do more for neatness than anything else.
- Use scissors for length, taking off a few millimeters at a time from the bottom.
- Check symmetry in a mirror from the front and both sides before cutting more.
How Can You Preview a Long Beard First?
Six months is a long time to wait to find out a style does not suit you. Virtual try-on lets you preview long and full beard shapes on your own face in seconds.
Test the beard models in the YouCam API Playground
Perfect Corp's AI beard style and beard dye try-on simulates beard styles such as full beard, circle beard, goatee, and mustache directly on your photo. It also previews beard color, which is useful if your long beard is starting to show gray. Pick two or three shapes from the face shape table, compare them side by side, and commit to the one that makes your face look most balanced.
How Do Grooming Brands Use Beard Try-On?
Long beard customers are some of the most loyal buyers in men's grooming: they need oils, balms, washes, combs, and trimmers for months. Getting them to start is the hard part, and virtual try-on helps.
Talk to Perfect Corp about beard try-on for your brand
- Beard care brands can show a shopper their future beard and recommend the routine that gets them there.
- Trimmer brands can link styles to specific guards and attachments.
- Barbershops can preview fades and shapes with clients before cutting.
- Apps and e-commerce sites can integrate through a web module, mobile SDK, or API.
Developers can test the beard models in the YouCam API Playground, and brands can contact Perfect Corp for a demo.
FAQ
How long does it take to grow a long beard?
Most long beard styles need 4 to 12 months. Facial hair grows roughly 1 to 1.5 cm per month, so a 10 cm beard takes about 6 to 9 months once you allow for shaping trims.
What is the longest beard style called?
The Bandholz and the yeard (a full year of growth) are the longest common styles. Both often reach 20 cm or more.
Are long beards still in style?
Yes. Long beards are less of a trend and more of a lasting style choice. Well groomed long styles like the Garibaldi, Verdi, and long boxed beard look current in 2026.
What is a Garibaldi beard?
A wide, full beard with a rounded bottom and a mustache that blends into the beard. It is usually about 15 cm long and looks natural rather than sculpted.
Should I trim my beard while growing it long?
Trim only the neckline for the first month. After that, light shaping every few weeks helps the beard grow into a good shape. Avoid cutting length until you are close to your target.
How do I stop a long beard from looking messy?
Keep the neckline and cheek line sharp, brush daily, and use a balm for hold. Clean edges make even a very long beard look intentional.
What long beard is best for a round face?
The ducktail, long goatee, and spade beard. Their pointed or vertical shapes add length and make a round face look slimmer.
Grow It on Purpose
A great long beard starts with a plan: a style that suits your face, a realistic timeline, and a care routine that keeps the hair healthy. Choose your target, preview it on your own photo, and then give it the months it deserves.
