Quick Answer
The five most flattering beard styles for men with rectangle face shapes are the Rounded Full Beard, Full Beard with Angled Bottom, Circle Beard, Short Boxed Beard with Fade, and Designer Stubble. These styles are specifically designed for faces characterised by parallel sides and greater length than width, focusing on adding width while controlling length to create balanced proportions.
Each style is exemplified by celebrities like Ben Affleck’s rounded full beard (12-15mm length), Henry Cavill’s angled approach, Brad Pitt’s circle beard, Regé-Jean Page’s faded technique, and Alan Ritchson’s designer stubble, demonstrating how strategic styling can enhance rectangular features whilst creating visual interest.
Key Styling Tips
- Focus on adding width whilst controlling length
- Maintain lengths between 1-15mm depending on style choice
- Regular trimming every 1-14 days for optimal shape
- Create soft edges to offset natural angles
Want to learn more? Continue reading the full article below ↓
Men with rectangle face shapes have distinct proportions characterised by parallel sides and greater length than width.
Understanding these features is crucial for selecting beard styles that enhance rather than emphasise your natural face shape.
If you’re not sure about your face shape, confirm your facial structure with our face shape analysis quiz before choosing one of these 5 expertly curated beard styles designed to complement rectangle faces.
1. Rounded Full Beard
The rounded full beard stands out as a distinguished choice for rectangular face shapes.
At an optimal length of 12-15mm with softly rounded edges, this style broadens facial appearance while tempering angular features.
Ben Affleck’s execution of this style perfectly showcases its ability to create balanced proportions.
Why it works: The rectangle face’s parallel sides benefit from the added width of a full beard, while rounded edges help offset the face’s natural angles. The style adds volume at the sides without increasing facial length.
Maintenance: Maintain 12-15mm length throughout, focusing on creating rounded edges rather than sharp angles. Keep the bottom line curved rather than square, and trim every 3-4 days to maintain optimal shape.
2. Full Beard with Angled Bottom
The full beard with angled bottom, characterised by complete facial hair coverage that’s shaped to create a subtle point at the chin, combines substantial growth with strategic shaping.
By maintaining fuller sides while crafting a subtle point at the chin, this style brings balance to rectangular proportions.
Henry Cavill’s interpretation shows how proper shaping can create dynamic angles without sacrificing fullness.
Why it works: The combination of full sides and an angled bottom creates a subtle triangular effect that counters rectangular features.
This style adds width whilst drawing the eye downward to a shaped point, effectively breaking up parallel lines.
Maintenance: Keep an even 12-15mm length through the sides and cheeks, carefully trimming the bottom into a subtle point. Shape every 4-5 days to maintain the angular effect. Use scissors for precise detailing around the chin.
3. Circle Beard
The circle beard, where the moustache connects to the beard around the mouth while keeping cheeks clean-shaven, provides sophisticated structure through its focused growth pattern.
Brad Pitt’s interpretation in the image shows how this style can perfectly frame the face while creating definition.
Why it works: The circle beard creates a vertical break in the rectangular face shape by keeping cheeks clean-shaven, while its curved lines around the mouth soften angular features. The connection between moustache and chin beard draws attention to the centre of the face, helping to break up its parallel sides.
Maintenance: Keep a consistent 4-6mm length throughout the connected moustache and beard area. Clean-shave the cheeks daily to maintain definition. Trim every 2-3 days, focusing on maintaining the curved connection points between moustache and beard. Use a precision trimmer to ensure clean edges without creating sharp angles that could emphasise rectangular features.
4. Short Boxed Beard with Fade
The short boxed beard with fade offers a contemporary approach to balancing rectangular features.
Through careful graduation and strategic shaping, this style adds structure whilst creating subtle angles.
Regé-Jean Page’s execution shows how precise fading can enhance facial geometry.
Why it works: The fade element creates visual interest and width, whilst careful bottom shaping introduces angles. This combination helps break up rectangular lines without overwhelming natural features.
Maintenance: Keep length at 6-8mm through main areas, fading to 2-3mm near temples. Shape the bottom to create a subtle point. Maintain fade effect with professional trimming every 2-3 weeks.
5. Designer Stubble
Designer stubble is a short beard style that’s usually 1-3mm long, precisely maintained to create a deliberately groomed, shadow-like appearance.
This meticulously groomed style delivers a refined aesthetic that enhances rectangular features through subtle shaping.
Alan Ritchson’s approach demonstrates how precise stubble maintenance can reshape facial structure.
Why it works: The uniform short length creates texture and shadow that can be shaped to add width and subtle angles. This style allows for geometric refinement without substantial growth.
Maintenance: Keep at 1-3mm length, carefully shaping to create subtle angles at the chin. Trim every 1-2 days, paying attention to maintaining symmetry and defined lines. Use a quality beard trimmer with precise length settings to maintain the deliberate shadow effect.
Conclusion
Rectangle face shapes offer excellent opportunities for beard styling, but success lies in choosing styles that add width while controlling length.
Whether opting for fuller coverage or minimal growth, proper maintenance ensures your chosen style remains an asset to your appearance.
Use our face shape quiz to confirm your shape, and consult your barber to customise these styles to your unique features.
Take the First Step With The VOU’s Styling Quizzes
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