A Guide to Beards for Asian Men & How to Grow Them

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Find out what beard styles are most flattering on Asian men

Co-authored by Craig Whitely and Jennifer Vasquez, BA, MA

Last Updated: August 4, 2026 Fact Checked

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Popular Beard Styles

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Choosing a Beard Style

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Growing a Beard

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Grooming Tips

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FAQs

Plenty of Asian men rock beards, and there are different styles to choose from. Different factors, like your genes and lifestyle, can affect facial hair growth, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the beard you want. In this guide, we’re breaking down what types of beards complement Asian men, sharing tips on choosing a beard style, explaining how to grow out your facial hair, and more.

Best Beard Styles for Asian Men

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An illustration of the different types of beard styles for Asian men.

The most flattering beards for an Asian man depend on the amount of facial hair you already have and what complements your features. Here are some styles you can consider:

Goatee: Hair on the chin that can be paired with a moustache.
Stubble: Facial hair is grown out slightly for a rugged appearance.
Chinstrap beard: Facial hair grows along the jawline and into your sideburns.
Short beard: Facial hair that’s grown to about an inch in length.
The Van Dyke: Includes a disconnected moustache and goatee and clean-shaven cheeks.

Section 1 of 5:

Popular Beard Styles for Asian Men

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Goatee At its core, a goatee includes hair just on the chin. It’s great for Asian men because your hair doesn’t have to grow thick or even. It’s also beneficial if your beard hair tends to grow patchy or scarce.^{[1]
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- You can also do a goatee with stubble. With this beard style, the chin hair is stubble, instead of grown out. It also typically includes stubble along the sides of your jawline.
- Master barber & men’s grooming consultant Craig Whitely says another variation on the goatee is the full circle goatee where the chin hair and mustache connect.^{[2]
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- Tip: Keep your goatee trimmed short.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Craig Whitely is a master barber & men’s grooming consultant with over 15 years of industry experience.

Jacob Joseph is a professional barber who educates men on how to grow and groom their beards.

Timmy Yanchun is a professional barber who specializes in all areas of men’s grooming.

Juan Sabino is a professional barber with over 20 years of male grooming experience.
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The Van Dyke The Van Dyke beard includes a mustache and goatee. It’s named after Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck who had a similar facial hair style. With the Van Dyke, Whitely explains, there’s a “disconnection between the mustache and the beard and nothing on the sides.”^{[3]
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Craig Whitely
Master Barber & Men’s Grooming Consultant

Expert Interview} Basically, the sides of your face are clean shaven and the moustache and goatee don’t connect.^{[4]
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- You can get a samurai warrior look by growing out your mustache and goatee for a unique vibe.
- Channel your inner hipster by curling the mustache.
- Tip: The Van Dyke looks most flattering with medium-length haircuts.
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Stubble Facial Hair Stubble is a good solution if your facial hair grows patchy. Instead of stressing about achieving a full beard, just let some of your facial hair grow out for a rugged, masculine vibe. You also don’t have to worry about appearing unkempt, and it’s a look that won’t overpower your face.^{[5]
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- Professional barber Jacob Joseph suggests, if you're going for heavy stubble, to grow the hair out for about a week.^{[6]
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- Tip: Keep the stubble short and neat by trimming it every 2 to 3 days.^{[7]
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Chinstrap Beard A chinstrap beard grows along your jawline and up into your sideburns. The cheeks are kept clean shaven. It doesn’t require a lot of hair and it can elongate your face.^{[8]
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- Tip: Wear it with a moustache or goatee for a more balanced look.^{[9]
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Short Beard A short beard is a great place to start if you haven’t tried growing a beard before. Aim to grow out your facial hair to about an inch in length. A short beard is low-maintenance and easier to wash and brush.^{[10]
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- Tip: Clean and trim your beard around the edges around once or twice weekly.
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Full Beard A full beard is classic and can look polished with proper grooming. Facial hair is grown full and thick along the jaw line and on the cheeks. The key is to get clean edges to give it a distinct beard shape. It looks great on any face shape and has masculine appeal.^{[11]
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- Tip: When you’re trying to grow out a full beard, your facial hair may go through an awkward phase and look patchy. Use longer hairs to cover areas that are more bare.
- According to professional barber Juan Sabino, one way to grow a fuller beard is to “take the clippers and take it down to a shadow, and then keep doing that until you see that your hair is growing fuller. He explains that this may not work for everyone, but he’s noticed his beard grows more evenly and less patchy when he’s tested it out.^{[12]
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Faded Beard The faded beard smoothly fades and blends your sideburns and cheek hair into a fuller beard at your chin. It can slim your face and give it more structure. It's perfect if you’re going for a more trendy and fashionable beard style.^{[13]
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- Tip: To maintain the fade, trim your beard every 7 to 10 days.
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Mustache Mustaches are timeless and can look cool. Plus, they’re some of the easiest types of facial hair to maintain. Styles range and include the handlebar mustache, the pencil mustache, the full mustache, and the stubble mustache, just to name a few. Which one you decide on depends on your facial hair growth pattern, but it’s definitely a versatile option. ^{[14]
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- Tip: If you’re new to the moustache look, try to avoid going too thin and wispy or too full. Something in the middle is balanced and ideal.
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Soul Patch Beard A soul patch beard is defined by a small tuft of hair that grows just below your bottom lip line.That’s it; no other facial hair required. You can, however, pair it with a goatee or moustache for versatility. If you prefer a minimal, low-maintenance look, the soul patch is for you.^{[15]
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- Tip: Style your soul patch as a small dot, a triangle, or a thin strip.
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Long Asian Beard A long asian beard is all about length. In ancient times in East Asia, long beards were associated with wisdom and maturity and worn by elders and scholars.^{[16]
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Research source} Growing a long beard requires patience as it can take a few months to do. While there’s no set measurement as to what classifies a long beard, it’s generally considered that facial hair is between 4 to 6 inches long.
- Tip: Get clean-ups and trims every 2 to 3 weeks.^{[17]
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Section 2 of 5:

Choosing a Beard Style

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Consider your face shape. Whitely says face shape is a key factor in determining a beard shape and style. He goes on to explain that your beard should bring balance to your face. You can do this, he continues, by looking at how far your beard goes into your neckline and how your facial hair grows along your cheek lines.^{[18]
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Craig Whitely
Master Barber & Men’s Grooming Consultant

Expert Interview}
- For example, if you have a round face and want to get a more square shape, Whitely suggests to not “shave or trim your beard any higher than about a half of an inch above your Adam's apple.” This keeps your neck from looking too long and makes your jaw more angular.^{[19]
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According to professional barber Timmy Yanchun, a barber can help you when you’re trying to decide on a new beard style. He suggests taking them a photo of what you have in mind. From there, he continues, your barber can make recommendations based on your facial features and what they think may flatter you the best.^{[20]
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Timmy Yanchun
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Section 3 of 5:

Growing a Beard

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Good nutrition can aid hair growth because it ensures you’re getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Consume more lean proteins, like chicken, fish, and beans.^{[21]
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Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} A wholesome diet also includes drinking enough water to stay hydrated and keep hair from becoming dry and brittle.^{[22]
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Biotin is a popular supplement that’s recommended to achieve healthier hair overall. It strengthens hair follicles and may help your hair grow faster. Vitamin D, zinc, and vitamin A can also assist with facial hair growth.^{[23]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
It may be tempting to try the latest hair regrowth products, but don’t totally rely on them. Minoxidil is a common treatment recommended for hair loss and regrowth, and some people have experienced positive results.^{[24]
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Research source} If done in combination with other healthy lifestyle changes, these treatments may help you grow out a beard. It’s suggested to talk to your doctor to see if a hair regrowth treatment is right for you.^{[25]
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Trustworthy Source

Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}

Section 4 of 5:

Grooming Your Beard

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Invest in good facial hair products. Quality styling products can keep your beard looking its best and prevent skin irritation. Use a beard shampoo to thoroughly clean your strands. Also invest in a beard oil to moisturize and smooth your facial hair and skin. A beard brush is also handy to get rid of knots and keep your beard tidy.^{[26]
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- If your hair is a bit unruly, use a heated beard brush to tame flyaways and get a sleeker look.
- Use an exfoliating face scrub to get rid of dead skin cells. Sabino says “healthy hair comes from healthy skin follicles.” He suggests keeping your skin clean and moisturized to promote healthy facial hair growth.^{[27]
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Besides washing, conditioning, and moisturizing, Yanchun says to see a barber for regular trimmings. A barber can get to know your beard style and maintain it in a way that looks best on you, he adds. Then, Yanchun continues, you can keep your beard neat at home by using scissors throughout the week and using a beard trimmer after you get the hang of trimming your own facial hair.^{[28]
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Timmy Yanchun
Professional Barber

Expert Interview}

Section 5 of 5:

FAQs

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What characterizes an Asian beard? Asian facial hair is typically straighter and coarser and grows patchier. However, this can vary among different Asian ethnicities.
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Can Asian men grow beards? Yes, Asian men can definitely grow facial hair! Texture and genetics may affect hair growth, but there are many Asian men sporting different beard styles.
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Why is it hard for Asian men to grow beards? Genetics play a big part. Some studies have shown that DHT and testosterone can affect facial hair growth, and these levels can be lower in some Asian men. It may also have to do with Asian men’s hair follicles not having enough androgen receptors to transmit the DHT for hair growth.^{[29]
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