Style evolves, and the beard and hair looks that were everywhere three years ago aren't necessarily what's worth trying now. Whether you're considering a full beard style change, a new haircut, or simply looking to refine what you already have, this guide covers the most wearable and versatile looks for men — with practical advice on what each style requires to maintain properly.
Beard Styles Worth Trying
The Full Natural Beard
The full natural beard has gone from niche to mainstream and stayed there — not as a trend but as a genuine style category with staying power. Men who grow their beard out fully and maintain it well consistently project a sense of presence and masculinity that shorter styles can't replicate.
The key to making a full beard look intentional rather than neglected: defined lines at the cheek and neckline (maintained by a barber or quality clippers), daily beard oil to keep the hair conditioned and skin healthy beneath, and a beard balm for shape and frizz control. The beard itself doesn't have to be immaculate — but the edges should always be clean.
Our organic beard oils and beard balms are the core maintenance products for this style.
The Short Boxed Beard
The short boxed beard — typically 1–2cm in length with sharply defined edges at the cheeks and jawline — is one of the most versatile and universally flattering beard styles available. It works across face shapes, suits both casual and professional environments, and projects groomed masculinity without the commitment of a full beard.
Maintenance requirements: barber visit every 2–3 weeks for edge definition, daily beard oil for conditioning and itch prevention, and a comb or beard brush for daily shaping. The sharpness of the lines is what makes this style work — let them go soft and the effect collapses.
The Stubble Beard
Heavy stubble — 3–5 days of growth, kept consistent with a trimmer — remains one of the most attractive beard styles across multiple studies of facial attractiveness, consistently rated positively by both men and women. It requires minimal commitment but significant maintenance to keep at the right length and prevent it from becoming patchy or uneven.
Even at stubble length, beard oil makes a meaningful difference — the skin beneath short stubble is particularly prone to irritation from hair tips, and daily oiling prevents the itch and redness that makes stubble uncomfortable to wear and uncomfortable for anyone who gets close to it.
The Extended Goatee
The extended goatee — moustache connected to a chin beard extending slightly along the jaw — is a strong choice for men who can't grow full beard density across the cheeks but want more presence than stubble provides. It focuses growth where most men have their strongest density and creates a defined facial structure that works with most face shapes.
Maintenance involves regular trimming of both the moustache and chin portion, clean shaving of the cheeks, and daily beard oil applied to both the beard and the shaved skin areas to prevent irritation.
Hair Styles Worth Trying
The Textured Crop
The textured crop — short on the sides and back with a textured, slightly longer top — has become one of the most popular men's haircuts for good reason. It's adaptable across hair types (works with straight, wavy, and curly hair), suits almost all face shapes, requires minimal styling time, and grows out well between cuts. A good textured crop looks fresh for 4–5 weeks before needing a refresh.
Styling: a matte paste or clay product applied to slightly damp hair and worked through with fingers gives this style its characteristic texture without looking product-heavy.
The Modern Slick Back
The slick back — longer hair on top, combed backward with medium hold product — has evolved from its more rigid, heavily greased historical version into something more natural and wearable. The modern interpretation has movement and isn't perfectly smooth — it works with the hair's natural texture rather than against it.
This style suits men with strong jawlines and angular features best, and requires medium-length to longer top hair to execute properly. A medium-hold pomade or cream applied to damp hair gives the hold and shape without the heaviness of traditional pomades.
The Natural Curly Look
For men with naturally curly or wavy hair, embracing the natural texture rather than fighting it is one of the best style decisions available. A curly haircut specifically designed for curl pattern — with a barber who understands how to cut curly hair correctly — paired with a curl-specific conditioning routine produces results that men who've spent years trying to straighten or flatten their curls are often surprised by.
The maintenance shift: reduce shampoo frequency significantly (curly hair is inherently drier and needs its natural oils), increase conditioning, and apply a leave-in hair oil to damp curls before styling. Our organic hair oils for frizz control are well-suited to this styling approach.
The Side Part
The classic side part never actually goes away — it cycles through periods of higher and lower visibility but remains one of the most consistently flattering haircuts for men with straight to slightly wavy hair. The current iteration is slightly more relaxed than the sharp, heavily pomaded versions of previous decades — with more natural texture retained and lighter product used.
It suits oblong, oval, and square face shapes particularly well, and works in both professional and casual settings without adjustment — making it one of the most practical and versatile options available.
How to Approach a Style Change
Consult Your Barber Before Committing
Before deciding on a new beard style or haircut based on photos you've seen online, discuss it with your barber. A skilled barber will tell you honestly whether the style suits your face shape, whether your hair type will support it, and how much maintenance it actually requires. This consultation saves significant frustration compared to attempting to replicate a look that was never going to suit you regardless of how well it was executed.
Give New Styles Time to Develop
Both beard and hair styles take time to reach their full potential. A beard style that looks rough at week 3 often looks great by week 8. A haircut that seems slightly off immediately after the appointment often settles perfectly after a week of normal wear. Commit to any new style for at least 4–6 weeks before reassessing.
Match Style to Lifestyle
The best style is the one you'll actually maintain. A complex undercut that requires 20 minutes of styling every morning might look great in theory but won't survive the reality of a busy schedule. Choose a style that fits your actual life — including how much time you're realistically willing to spend on it each day and how frequently you'll visit the barber.
Maintaining Any Style With Quality Products
Regardless of which beard or hair style you choose, the maintenance requirements are consistent: quality products used correctly and consistently. Daily beard oil, regular beard balm for hold, quality shampoo and conditioner, and hair oil for scalp health and frizz control — these are the tools that make any style look its best.
Explore our full beard care collection and hair care range — made in Canada with certified organic ingredients, designed to maintain any style at its best.
Final Thoughts
The best beard or hair look for you is the one that suits your face shape, fits your lifestyle, and you can maintain consistently. Use this year as an opportunity to try something you've been considering — a fuller beard, a new cut, a style that's slightly outside your comfort zone. The worst outcome is that you try it, decide it's not for you, and go back. The best outcome is that you find a look that genuinely elevates your appearance and becomes part of how you present yourself to the world.
