Shaved Head And Beard Look: 7 Styles [With Photos]

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – a shaved head speaks volumes about a man. Confidence, defiance, sophistication. The list goes on. But rocking a shaved head and a beard often takes a look to masculine new heights. Here’s everything you need to know about it. 

As you’d expect, there are a huge amount of possible options with this style combination. 

Sure, a shaved head may not be as versatile – you only have one look to choose from. But there are many, many beard options to choose from, particularly during this beard renaissance we’re fortunate enough to be going through now. 

This article will delve into shaved heads and long beards, short beards, stubble, and more. 

I’ll talk about some of the key benefits of this style combo after showing you what it actually looks like. Then, I’ll talk through some frequently asked questions about the topic. 

Let’s get to it. 

What Does The Shaved Head And Beard Look Like?

Ultimately, it’s a style that oozes masculinity. 

The act of shaving one’s head is defined and marked by a backbone of free will, focus, and defiance. 

As far as routine habits go, it doesn’t get more masculine than that. 

But growing a beard is a pretty surefire way to up the masculinity levels even further. The testosterone-fuelled process of growing facial fur works incredibly well with a shaved head. 

But it’s important to define what we mean by “shaved head”. Technically and traditionally the term should only be used to refer to a head that has actually been shaved. 

In other words, the hair has been cut down to the level of the skin using a razor or shaver. 

But in reality, the term is also used to refer to very short buzz cuts. More specifically, induction-style buzz cuts trimmed using a clipper with no guard. 

Although this is technically still trimming and not shaving, for the sake of this article I’ll be referring to both. It may not be entirely accurate but the two styles are similar and both popular. It’s worth discussing them together. 

It’s time to go through some of the variations of this style combination to really get a good grip on why it works. 

Great Shaved Head And Beard Styles

Here are some fantastic examples of this glorious style combination for you to peruse and draw upon for inspiration. 

Note that I’ll be updating this list and that it may contain smooth, shaved heads as well as induction-style buzz cuts for the sake of completeness. 

1. Shaved Head And Short Beard

This style is fantastic because of its ease of maintenance. As you’d expect, the shorter the beard, the easier it is to maintain. I’ll talk more about that later on. 

In general, a “short beard” is defined as being more than 5mm in length. Anything shorter than that and it really should be called stubble. 

The point at which a short beard becomes a “medium” beard is less concrete and more subjective. But that’s a different topic altogether. 

A short beard will still need brushing and potentially a couple of drops of beard oil daily to keep it in check. 

A well-groomed beard is so much more impressive when combined with a shaved head. An untidy or unkempt beard could literally ruin the look. 

2. Shaved Head And Long Beard

A long beard can look incredibly masculine when combined with a shaved head. The rugged woodsman look will always set you apart from the crowd. 

Do bear in mind that I’m generalizing, however. A “long beard” can take many forms, just as a short beard can. 

From a ducktail to a long goatee, and so much more. 

But the point is that the presence of a long chin beard and forebeard can frame the bottom of the face very effectively. 

It’s so versatile in terms of styling – the options really are endless. 

3. Shaved Head And Thick Stubble Beard 

Stubble is no longer considered a lazy man’s beard. Thanks to the renaissance of “designer stubble”, that stereotype is long gone. 

But the caveat is that the stubble needs to be trimmed, groomed, and shaped well for this to work. 

When you combine well-maintained stubble with a shaved head the result can be very effective. It’s slick, sophisticated, and sharp. 

Stubble can be short (1-2mm), medium (3mm), or long (4-5mm). Each length range has its own benefits. 

But ultimately, the versatility, ease-of-maintenance, and elegance of the shaved head and stubble look makes it a fantastic option for a lot of men. 

4. Shaved Head And Beard Fade

The shaved head and beard fade is a style where the head is either buzzed or shaved, while the beard gradually blends into the sides instead of transitioning sharply or abruptly.

Sideburns are crucial when it comes to the shaved head and beard style. When you’ve got a bald head, many prefer that the beard fades gradually up into the bald scalp as opposed to having sharp lines. 

This isn’t always the case, as there are men who prefer the alternative. But for the most part, fading the beard into the bald head is the most desirable option. 

Although it isn’t very technically difficult to achieve with a good pair of clippers, you may want to watch your barber doing it a couple of times before trying to do it yourself. 

Put simply, the length of the beard will gradually have to reduce in length as the beard approaches the shaved head. This results in a natural-looking appearance to the sideburns as it nicely blends into the shaved head. 

5. Shaved Head And Grey Beard

The silver fox aesthetic is pretty trendy at the moment. Although beard dyes seem to be taking off, there are plenty of men who opt for the au naturale look when it comes to their beard. 

Much like balding, a graying beard is a rite of passage for a maturing man. In much the same way shaving the head can be seen as a masculine act of defiance and acceptance, so too can wearing a graying beard with pride. 

If you’re looking to add a little flavor, dyeing the beard salt and pepper can result in a very impressive and eye-catching appearance. This is particularly the case when combined with a shaved head. 

6. Shaved Head And Beard And Glasses

A pair of glasses can be a fantastic addition to the shaved head and beard look. It adds a touch of sophistication and also adds some definition and structure to the middle part of the face.

I’ve got a whole article on shaved heads and glasses for you to check out, so I won’t delve too deep here. 

Just know that it works well. 

7. Shaved Head And Beard With Tattoos

With this one, please include head and arms so you can see the tattoo

Cool one to finish off with. Tattoos may not be for everyone, but they can be a fantastic medium of artistic expression for any bald or bearded man. 

It may not be a variation of the shaved head or the beard, but the combination of all three does turn heads. Enough said. 

Key Benefits Of The Shaved Head And Beard Look

If you were ever on the fence, here are some of the positive factors to consider when contemplating whether or not to rock this look. 

1. It Allows You To Adjust For Face Shape

A shaved head can often look very debonair indeed. Shaving the sides down can sometimes make the jawline and cheekbone look even more chiseled. 

But that isn’t always the case. 

In fact, it can be incredibly difficult to predict what your head shape or face shape would actually look like with your scalp hair shaved down.

There is always a chance that you shave your head and aren’t entirely pleased with the result. For instance, it may make the face look a little too round or square for your liking. 

It wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it may lead to a somewhat underwhelming finish to something you’ve been excited about and looking forward to. 

That’s not what we want. 

This is where growing a beard comes in very useful. Having facial hair allows you to grow it, trim it, and style it to your whim. If shaving your head has made your face look a bit rounder than you’d expected, grow a goatee or even a longer, fuller beard. 

It’s amazing what facial hair can do to adjust the shape of one’s face. It really is able to compensate for not being able to do the same thing on the scalp. 

Having facial hair also frames the bottom of the face. A head can look quite bare with no hair on the scalp. Having facial hair adds structure and definition to the bottom of the face.

2. It’s Relatively Easy To Maintain

Before I go further, it’s important to mention that certain beards are much easier to maintain than others. In general, the longer the beard, the higher the grooming requirements will be. 

Brushing, combing, and styling will become more important. 

The complexity of the style also plays a role in the maintenance requirements. For example, although Van Dykes are technically “short beards”, they do require some technical skill to maintain. Handlebar mustaches don’t just happen. 

But growing a beard is generally considered a fairly easy stylistic device to maintain. Once proper beard grooming becomes a habit, it really isn’t taxing and shouldn’t preoccupy much of your time. 

We’ve got plenty of beard grooming articles for you to look through.

Shaving the head may seem like a chore. But again, once you’ve got the technique down it becomes second nature. 

Induction-style buzz cuts are easier to maintain simply because you’re trimming and not shaving. So if this is important to you it’s something to consider. 

In summary, this style combination is a relatively low intensity and low maintenance one to adopt and maintain. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a couple of FAQs to round off this topic. 

Does A Shaved Head And Beard Look Professional?

The professionalism of the shaved head and beard look really depends on how well each component of the style combination is maintained. 

The most important component in this respect would be the beard. The reason for this is letting the maintenance of a shaved head slip now and again isn’t the end of the world. 

People aren’t really going to notice if you allow a few millimeters of stubble to grow on your head now and again. 

But they will notice if you’ve got a beard that’s untidy, overgrown, unbrushed, uncombed, unwashed, and so on. 

There isn’t much of an excuse for that and it’s usually a pretty good way to leave a bad impression on your colleagues. 

Of course, the “professionalism” of a particular look or style really does depend on the profession. 

For example, some corporate workplaces would frown upon any beard or even stubble. 

That’ll need to be taken into account. But generally, a shaved head with a well-groomed beard would be considered professional in most workplaces. 

Beards have grown in popularity so much over the last five years or so that they really can’t be considered “alternative” or bucking the trend. 

They’ve solidified their status as mainstream and they’ll be here to stay. If workplaces haven’t seen that yet you can bet that they most likely will soon. 

What Do You Do With The Sideburns With A Shaved Head And Beard?

With a shaved head and beard, the sideburns need to be properly shaped. The options are to either gradually blend or fade the sideburns into the shaved head, or to let them end abruptly. Both aesthetics can work well.

When transitioning a beard into a bald and shaved head, it isn’t always necessary to fade the beard into the shaved sides, although this is a popular choice. Letting the sideburns end sharply and abruptly as they approach the bald sides of the head can still look great.

The sharp lines can definitely work. 

It’s important to do something with them, however, to ensure it all looks intentional. Letting the sideburns drift upward in an untidy manner is never a good look.

Overall, it’s usually best to sharpen up the line at the very least.

However, fades are exceptionally popular. They’re on everyone’s mind and barbers are loving it. If you aren’t sure what you want to do, just try it out. 

The worst-case scenario is that you’re indifferent towards it. It’s very unlikely that you’ll hate the look of your beard fading into your shaved head. 

Shaved Heard With Beard Or No Beard?

When deciding whether to grow a beard or not with a shaved head, face shape should be the key factor to consider. Men with naturally round faces will often find that shaving their head makes it look even rounder. A beard is a great way to add some length.

It can be a tricky decision for some men, especially for those who have never really grown a beard before.

But the benefits are hard to deny, especially for those men who would truly benefit from the ability to add length to the bottom end of the face.

It’s also great because it takes some attention away from the shaved head and prevents it from becoming the sole focus above the neck.

Facial hair adds structure and definition to a face that’s at risk of looking rounder or shorter than you may have liked, simply due to the absence of hair up top.

Another factor to consider when deciding whether or not to grow a beard with your shaved head is whether or not you’re willing to put up with the maintenance.

Growing a beard is a commitment regardless of whether you’ve got a shaved head or not. The longer it grows, the more maintenance it’ll require. Trimming, oiling, balming, brushing, and so on.

If you aren’t willing to put up with this effort, a beard won’t be a good choice. As it’ll be the only real hair you’ll have above the neck, you don’t want an untidy beard – it’ll be even more obvious when you’ve got a shaved head.

But overall, the “shaved head and beard” is a good look and should be considered by men looking to add definition and structure to the lower portion of the face.

Where Should A Beard Start With A Shaved Head

A common place for a beard to start with a shaved head is the top of the sideburns. Any higher than this will often look awkward. The top of the sideburns can be gradually faded into the shaved sides or cut off abruptly with a sharp line.

It’s possible for the beard to start lower than this, but eventually, it’ll look more like an extended goatee and less like a full beard.

While this is a common problem that men with shaved heads have, it’s important to define the upper borders of the beard to ensure that it looks intentional and well maintained.

What Is The Ideal Beard Length For A Shaved Head?

The ideal beard length for a shaved head is generally considered to be within the short to medium range. While long beards (i.e more than six inches long) are still suitable, many find that the maintenance requirements often don’t compensate for the benefits they bring with a shaved head.

Ultimately, the perfect beard length for a man with a shaved head will depend on personal preferences as well as face shape.

Men with rounder or shorter face shapes would want to consider growing a longer or more pointed beard to add length at the bottom end.

But personal preference is probably the most important factor here. Some men simply don’t want to tolerate the high maintenance of a medium or long beard. They’d prefer to stick with stubble or short beard range (i.e less than 15mm or so) and that’s fine.

Take both factors into consideration when making your decision.

Conclusion

We’re in an era where manliness is once again being embraced. There are few style combinations as brilliantly masculine as this. Bald and bearded – it’s just great. 

You’ve gotten a good idea of what it looks like and what can be done with it. It’s time to take this inspiration forward and use it for yourself. 

If you weren’t into it before, hopefully, you are now.