Patchy Beard Or No Beard: Which One Is More Attractive?

It has been said that facial hair is to men, what makeup is to women.

The appeal of a beard is undeniable; from the scruffiness of a day-old stubble to the lusciousness of a full beard, it is without a doubt that facial hair exudes an irresistible charm in the masculine favor.

However, not all of us are able to grow thick beards. Believe it or not, most men do have patchy beards.

While having bald patches in your beard may be annoying, it doesn’t have to be the end of your beard gang membership.

But, what is best for you? A patchy beard or no beard at all?

Choosing between a patchy beard and a clean shave has to do with beard thickness, face shape, and more. If you have an angular face with many patches it is best for you to shave it all. On the opposite side, you can definitely rock a patchy beard if the patches are few and far between.

In today’s article, we will discuss everything you need to know to choose the best style for you and look awesome!

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Pros and Cons of Growing a Patchy Beard

patchy beard

If your beard only spots a few patches here and there, then you might just need to grow it out to make it appear fuller, but if you have sparse facial hair with a ton of patches littered across it, you can opt for facial hair growth products or switch up your beard style.

While a patchy beard may be discouraging, it isn’t enough reason to throw in the towel on your bearded-life goal.

Read Also: Why Is My Beard Thin?

Many men make the mistake of shaving too soon without giving their beards time to grow to their full potential. Your patchy fuzz may just need a little more time to catch up, so be patient with it. Below are some pros and cons of growing a patchy beard to help further you decide:

  PROS  CONS
1. Although sparse, a patchy beard gives you room to experiment with your look and beard styles.
2. Having a beard (no matter how little) could boost your confidence.
3. The new look could make you more attractive if well taken catered for.
4. Growing a patchy beard can accentuate your features such as a toned cheekbone and a cool smile.  
1. A fuller beard could be itchy and uncomfortable.
2. Growing a patchy beard could make you look unkempt.
3. The untidy appearance could make you look less attractive.
4. Constantly resisting the urge to shave could be challenging and annoying.
5. The process could affect your self-image. It could highlight your bald spots.

Pros and Cons of Being Clean-Shaven

clean-shaven man

While the beard gang may seem more popular, it isn’t to say that a clean shave doesn’t have its allure. Sometimes, a crisp shave that is smooth to the touch is all the magic a man might need to make a statement. If you don’t believe me, then consider pop culture’s sex icon Christian Grey.

The entire aura of the Fifty Shades of Grey character was designed to ooze a mysterious sex appeal, and actor Jamie Dornan didn’t need to grow a beard to execute that.

Read Also: Which Shaving Product Is The Best? Foam, Gel, Or Cream?

As mentioned above, if, in addition to your beard being too thin, you also have a ton of patches, then you should consider getting a clean shave. Below are some pros and cons of a clean shave to further help you decide:

  PROS  CONS
1. It could make you look younger.
2. It could make you feel lighter.
3. It could be more hygienic.
4. A clean-shave is generally easier to maintain.
5. It is also cheaper to maintain as you won’t have to worry about buying grooming products.
6. You wouldn’t have to worry about itching or looking untidy.
7. It is widely accepted as looking more professional.
1. People may not take you seriously due to the childish appearance it gives.
2. A clean shave could expose blemishes under your skin.
3. Constant shaving could irritate your skin, leaving bumps.
4. You could find the repetitiveness of shaving daily tiresome.
5. You would eventually spend the money you save from not buying grooming products on buying razors and shaving cream.
6. Bumps from shaving could itch and disfigure your face.
7. Shaving accidents leave cuts and possible scars on your face.

Best Beard Styles for Men with Patchy Beards

In an article, Allan Peterkin, author of One Thousand Beards: A Cultural History of Facial Hair and co-author of The Bearded Gentleman: The Style Guide to Shaving Face, suggests taking several photos of your beard from different angles to have more than one perspective of what you are working with.

He also recommends that you “play to your strengths,” i.e., keep the entire parts of your beard like your mustache, sideburns, or goatee and highlight them in ways that make them stand out.

In essence, if you have a full mustache but the hair on your cheeks is patchy, Peterkin advises that you get rid of the patchy bits on your cheek while you focus more on grooming your mustache.

Here are some patchy beard styles you can try to reduce the effect of hair sparsity:

  • Cheekbone Highlight: If you find that the hair on your cheeks is fuller than the rest of your beard, this could be the right style for you. To achieve this look, you need to shape your beard around the edges of your cheeks, following its natural growth. This style gives structure to your face by accentuating your cheekbones.
  • Goatee: Most times, hair grows well on the chin. If this is the case with you, try trimming the rest of your beard while letting your goatee grow out. If your mustache game is strong, you could pair them to achieve that classic Johnny Depp look.

Read Also: Are Goatees Attractive? 

  • Soul Patch: You could try the soul patch if you don’t mind going bold and experimental. This style, though daring, is easy to achieve. All you have to do is shave off everything else except the little patch of hair below your bottom lip.
  • Anchor Beard: This style is one of the most popular on this list. As the name implies, this style leaves you with a beard that looks like an anchor. It sports a thin line of hair on the jawline, a goatee, and a mustache. This style is also recommended if you have patchy hair on your cheeks. Robert Downey Jr has made this style his signature look.
  • Van Dyke: It is named after Flemish painter Anthony Van Dyke who rocked the style himself. This beard style features a prominent goatee and an even more prominent mustache, with all hair on the cheeks shaved. If you would like to make a bold statement, then this style would suit you perfectly.

Read Also: Goatee Or Full Beard; How You Should Between The Two

  • Chin Strap: Although this is a lesser-known style, it is still effective. To achieve a faded look, you simply trim your sideburns and beard until you get a thin chinstrap that loops from one ear to the other. You can pair your chin strap with a goatee or leave everything else bare.

How to Fix a Patchy Beard

how to fix a patchy beard

Research by Cleveland Clinic highlights several factors that may be responsible for patchy beards. These range from a medical condition causing hair loss to genetics and even age. Just as different factors lead to uneven hair growth, there are also various tips and tricks for fixing it. Take a look at some of them below:

  • Give it time: Some men’s beards take longer to grow than others. Try being patient with your beard by giving it time to develop.
  • Grow A Stubble: If your beard patches are few, the best thing to do might be to shave down to a stubble. This will help your beard achieve an appearance of uniformity.
  • Brush it out: This will help make your beard appear fuller. Additionally, it could help you cover up bald spots.
  • Dye it: This works well, especially if your hair is dark-colored. It will help your beard look thicker.
  • Use beard treatments: In addition to moisturizing and conditioning hair follicles, beard oils and balms can stimulate hair growth by keeping your beard and face healthy. You can check out some beard grooming products here.
  • Fill in the gap: You can borrow this popular tip from women who use brow pencils and pomades to fill in their eyebrows. If your patches are small, a beard filler could be helpful; all you need is a product that matches your hair color.

Other ways in which you could get your beard to grow fuller include regular exercise (which helps the body produce more testosterone), eating healthy (foods rich in protein and vitamins), using beard growth products like minoxidil, or getting a beard transplant as a last resort if any of these steps don’t work.

Read Also: Minoxidil On Facial Hair, Results, What Happens When You Stop Using It

You can find a comprehensive guide on how to grow a fuller beard here.

Conclusion-Patchy Beard Or No Beard?

Patchy beards are not as uncommon as you think; you would be surprised to learn that even some of the full-bearded men you envy may have struggled with hair sparseness at some point.

You can consider growing your beard if your patches are not that many. Otherwise, a clean-shave could just be the solution to your patchiness.

That’s really it.

Obviously, if you have a patchy beard you should try to find the best beard style that suits you the most. It is not like everyone is born to have a thick beard like Dan Bilzerian.

Some men do not have this option. And that’s ok. There are a ton of beard styles to try. We have tons of beard style ideas on our website and we are adding more every single week.

Be optimistic my friend. Become the best version of yourself! You will definitely look more attractive that way.

If you have any comments or questions let us know in the comment section below.

Until next time,

Stay safe,

Tasos

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