Skip to main content

The 9 best beard styles for bald men: Follow these Hollywood leading men

These beards are the perfect complement to a bald head

Bald and bearded man
Braun

Every man has their own fears whether they be full-blown phobias or something small that makes them lose sleep at night. One of the biggest fears amongst all men, especially as they age later in life, is the fear of losing their hair. Some have been blessed with Brad Pitt hair genes, others, let’s just say, not so much. So what should you do if you’re the latter? We say, own it. Take that razor to your dome and rock your baldness. The best part is that you won’t be the only one to do so. Instead, you’ll be jumping on the bandwagon itself.

Luckily, so many of Hollywood’s leading men have been embracing this trend and making bald beautiful and donning the best beard styles for bald men. They have been setting the pace, showing the rest of us exactly how you can rock the bald look yourself, and with the proper products and gear, it’s easier than ever to be bald.

One just-so-popular trend that a lot of your favorite A-listers are choosing to combine their bald look with happens to be the hair on the opposite side of your face. That’s right, a bald and beard combo. So, if you can’t control the hair on your dome, why not rock it on the bottom half of your head, with your baldness? But don’t take our word for it if you think it’s not the look for you. Check out the Silver Screen’s top bald and beard combos and decide for yourself. Hint: They just work together. 

Without further ado, here are some different beard styles for bald heads that are the best to emulate.

Jason Statham
Image used with permission by copyright holder

5 o’clock shadow – Jason Statham

For almost his entire career, Mr. Statham has been rocking the bald look with a perfectly stubbled 5 o’clock shadow. This is one of the best beard styles for bald heads, and it works particularly well if you have a thick beard throughout the entire face, including the cheeks. It’s best to find a beard trimmer with multiple attachments for varying lengths to find the perfect spot for you. Let it grow a day or two, then trim it back down. Rinse and repeat. We’re not saying you’ll be an instant ass-kicking badass like Mr. Statham, but it can’t hurt to try.

Terry Crews
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Goatee – Terry Crews

The funny man with muscles that could make Hercules envious, Terry Crews has been rocking the bald look his entire film career. Right there the entire time has been his perfectly groomed goatee. The key to his look is keeping it well-lined and at a shorter length. It’s a perfect combo and will fit well regardless of your own personal style, whether or not you can bench press a school bus. Also see Dwayne Johnson.

Graham McTavish
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lumberjack beard – Graham McTavish

Recently Graham McTavish has been coming into the scene a bit more, especially with his current role in The Witcher and upcoming part in House of the Dragon. All along, he’s had his bald and lumberjack beard combination, staying true to his Scottish roots. This style is perfect for those with thick, dense beards that look like they could have spent an entire day in the woods. While it’s okay to let it grow and become a little bushy, don’t let it become unkempt. 

Rick Ross with a full beard
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Clean-lined beard – Rick Ross

Like a boss, Rick Ross has been rocking the bald-beard combination with the best of them. The key to his success is his super clean lines. This can be achieved by numerous barber visits, or by learning how to use a razor blade, well, on your own — the choice is yours. Typically, this style is going to be best for those who desire a medium-length beard and full-bodied growth.

Ving Rhames
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mustache – Ving Rhames

With as much charisma as Ving Rhames has, he could rock whatever beard he felt like but consistently chooses to go back to the mustache. And for good reason, it works. This is not going to be the case for everyone. If you can pull off the mustache, go for it. Just make sure you have the confidence to back it up because this is a bold move. If you look as good as Ving does with this combo, that won’t be hard to do.

Tyson Beckford
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Heavy scruff – Tyson Beckford

When you look as good as Mr. Beckford, no matter how you style yourself, you won’t have to worry about looking bad. It’s a fact that 99.9% of us will never be that fortunate, though. Regardless, Tyson has been rocking the bald and scuff look for quite some time now. This look works well for those who have full-bodied beards or even patchy ones, making it look fuller with extra days in between trims. 

Bruce Willis
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Silver fox – Bruce Willis

No bald list could ever be complete without mentioning Bruce Willis. Most consider him the epitome and golden standard when comparing if someone looks good bald or not. When he grows out his scruff for a couple of weeks, the silver fox look is completed. Remember, with all scruff, going days at a time is OK, so long as it’s a managed messy look and not disheveled. The occasional trim between cuts is key. Also see Idris Elba.

Tim Howard
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bushy beard – Tim Howard

When you have a thick and luscious beard like Mr. Howard, you wanna make sure you show it off. So, if you can grow a manly woodsman beard like Tim, we say rock that bad boy out for sure. The one drawback is this beard is going to take some time for proper growth, meaning regular trimming and upkeep to maintain a cleaner shape. Whether you keep the mustache a little on the shorter side or let it grow out a bit is going to be completely up to you.

Tom Hardy
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Wiry beard – Tom Hardy

Yes, we are fully aware that Tom has an amazing coif. That being said, he does occasionally shave it all off, with an amazingly wiry beard to boot. So if you have a beard that looks similar to Tom’s, let it grow out and then let it grow some more. Like the bushy beard, this too shall take time to grow, but it’s worth the wait. With this beard, we recommend a little less upkeep; that’s the beauty of letting it look a little messier — it’s less work.

A man cooking in the kitchen.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bald and bearded

So, while you may not have been blessed with God-like hair, the one thing you can do is to own it — choose bald — and instead do some growing on the bottom half of your head with a solid beard. There are numerous options to choose from, depending on how thick, patchy, or much work you want to attempt in growing out your whiskers. Regardless of what you choose, make sure you have proper trimmers and the best products to make the most out of them. 

Caring for the bald head and bearded face

An excellent cleanser is the key place to start when taking care of a bald head — either a facial cleanser or a shampoo engineered for hydration is best. Pick a scalp scrub to exfoliate, and just enough moisturizer to cover everything. Be careful, however, not to apply too much. An overapplication of moisturizer is a sure ticket to a greasy-looking scalp, and nobody wants that. Make sure to use sunscreen as well, as skin cancer is never something to be forgotten. Finally, find a perfect razor for your head, and enjoy having the most well-groomed dome around.

For beards, many of the keys to this skincare, such as the care you will be putting into your head, also apply to your beard. You need to wash it regularly with a cleanser, for best results. Keep it shaved the way you want it, and keep irritation and ingrown hairs to a minimum by taking a warm shower beforehand. After that, but before the shaving — moisturize.

Editors' Recommendations

Jeff Turbett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jeff Turbett is a health and wellness coach with over three years of experience transforming clients lives and physical…
Get your facial hair in order: The best beard combs
These beard combs can help with styling, detangling, and so much more
Man brushing his beard in the mirror

When you look in the mirror at your growing beard, do you like what you see? While we don’t doubt your beard-growing progress, every face needs some TLC. Luckily for you, these best beard products offer the boost your mane deserves.

When looking for ways to groom your beard, a beard comb is the one tool you shouldn't overlook. As we get ready for nicer weather and and spring cleaning season, investing in good self-care tools is always a good idea, so take a closer look at this guide to the best beard combs and see which one may be right for you.

Read more
Hair loss treatment: Best options for men with thinning hair
If you suffer from thinning hair, consider one of these treatment options
Man looking at hair loss

One of a man's main source of confidence is having luscious locks, but that confidence gradually decreases when their hair starts thinning or their hairline begins receding. According to the American Hair Loss Association, almost two-thirds of American men will see "appreciable" hair loss by the age of 35.

Some men simply accept their fates and start experimenting with gravity-defying styling techniques, or as is more common lately, shave their heads and embrace the bald look. Others take more aggressive measures, seeking out weaves, plugs, or (just say no) toupees. And some search for the best hair loss treatment for men and run into pseudoscience, potentially false hope, and diet advice (which can be good). It's frustrating. Unsurprisingly, numerous studies have linked hair loss to lowered self-esteem and lowered quality of life for men.

Read more
The 5 best body powders for men to help avoid embarrassing odors
These fantastic body powders will keep you cool and comfortable
Man clapping hands with chalk powder before workout

When the warm weather arrives, it can bring sweltering temperatures, and with it comes murky pits, odorous feet — or, worst of all, swamp crotch. Even if it's the middle of the winter, those can be issues for men who workout on a consistent basis or simply sweat more than the average guy. The bacteria and fungus that accumulate in your sweat-ridden crevices can yield an unpleasant odor that leaves you feeling unclean and even more so, uncomfortable. Of course, you can wick a bar of deodorant under your arms and be good to go, but what can you do about the other sweaty (and more delicate) parts of your body?

Enter body powder, also known as talcum powder (although several formulas on the market now are talc-free). Body powder absorbs moisture, reduces odor, and eliminates chafing so you never have to worry about the pains of upper leg chafing.

Read more