The definitive ranking of facial hair styles

This is a ranking of facial hairstyles for men aged under 50* from worst to best. Anything inside the top three is good and acceptable in modern society, the top eight at a push could work, but anything below that is objectively a terrible thing to have on your face. Sorry. *If you’re over 50 you have earned the right to do whatever you like with your facial hair, with the exception of growing either of numbers 15 and 14 – those are literally always awful.

15. Soul Patch

The soul patch is a small tuft of hair on the area between the lower lip and the chin. Genuinely the worst thing you can do to your face, including cutting it off. Sol Campbell would be more welcome as the half time guest at White Hart Lane than anyone sporting this hairy abomination is in civilised society. You're essentially saying "hit me right here, I deserve it". The only possible excuse is that your razor broke before you finished shaving, although in that case you should just stay at home and Amazon Prime a new one.  

14. Goat Patch

Similar to the Soul Patch, the Goat Patch extends down the chin. More like WOAT patch.  

13. Neckbeard

Hair growth on the neck and underneath the chin which stops at the face. This is just gross. Sort your life out.  

12. The Chin Strap

A narrow line of hair along the bottom of the chin connecting sideburns. Is your hair a protective helmet that is liable to fall off? No? Why the fuck do you need a chin strap attaching it to your head then?  

11. Moustache (thin)

Incorporating the pencil and toothbrush styles, the thin moustache is one where the hair does not extend over the top lip or beyond the corners of the mouth. Unless you're 12, a genocidal dictator, or a real life caricature of a 1970s pimp there is no need for this. If it's your Movember effort, consider donating money instead. There is however an important caveat that we will discuss when we reach "moustache (bushy)".  

10. Horseshoe Moustache/Fu Manchu

A moustache which extends down the sides of the mouth. Like other moustache styles, the 'stache that extends down the sides of the mouth has been tainted by association with both terrible racial stereotyping, and a wrestling hero from the '90s who took steroids and spied on his daughter on reality TV. If those things are your jam then this may be the style for you, but don't be surprised if your loved ones stop calling.  

9. Goatee

A moustache and chin hair either connected or separate, with or without sideburns. Characterised by a lack of hair on the cheeks. Essentially the facial hair equivalent of getting the Nike swoosh shaved into the back of your head: looks awesome and sophisticated to a nine year old, but everyone else thinks that you're so vain that you think this whole paragraph is about you specifically. Trust me George, it's not about you.  

8. Stubble

Short growth of hair measuring mere millimetres in length and resembling a shadow. There are two reasons for stubble: 1. You haven't shaved for a couple of days, in which case you need to either shave or commit to the beard. 2. You shaved this morning but your hair grows back super fast. In this case, accept that your face wants to be hairy and embrace the growth.  

7. Moustache (bushy)

A thick growth of hair between the nose and the top lip only. This beats the thin 'stache on versatility (you can curl up the ends*) and necessitates a moustache comb (which is awesome). However, like its cousin, it loses points for being associated with genocidal dictators. Those bastards. *If a thin 'stache is grown long enough for the ends to be twirled a la Salvador Dali then it shall be considered as equal to a bushy 'stache.  

6. Full beard (wizard)

A wizard beard is long enough at the chin to hang down to the torso. If your beard reaches your torso you have officially grown a wizard beard. Congratulations on that. Now you need to find out what products Christopher Lee used during the LOTR years to avoid looking like a castaway.  

5. Chin curtain

Essentially a full beard minus the moustache. If grown long enough that it can be stroked to a point while you contemplate the wonders of the universe this is a top choice, whatever those blokes in the pub said about it making you look like a pretentious wazzock.  

4. Muttonchops

Sideburns that extend out across the cheeks and stop at the chin. The ‘Friendly Muttonchops’ are joined together by a moustache. Awww, fwiend. If you're the station master of a remote rural railway station where children in Victorian dress are known to roam on the lines, or an eccentric engineer who navigates the waterways of Britain on a narrow boat you built by yourself out of empty cat food tins and string, this is an acceptable aesthetic. If you choose this aesthetic but work in sales, expect a lot of side eye and whispers when you walk past colleagues.  

3. Full beard (bushy)

A full beard is characterised by growth of hair all over the face. A bushy full beard is longer than 3cm all over. Originally the preserve of lumberjacks and trawlermen, the bushy beard has been brought into the mainstream by hipsters. Not necessarily terrible, but it needs a lot of maintenance to avoid becoming a scruffy snack holder where you store crumbs and other food morsels that it happens to catch. It also seems to be tempting to decorate these beards with seasonal adornments. Don't do this.  

2. Clean shaven

Please tell me that you don’t actually need a definition for this one. Assuming your facial hair doesn't grow too fast (see: stubble) and you moisturise, this is a solid choice of facial hair grooming. You never have to worry about getting your face dragged into machinery or having to wear a hairnet on your chin, it shows off your bone structure and looks tidy in every conceivable social situation.  

1. Full beard (trimmed)

A full beard where the hair is between 1-3cm long. Simple but effective, the neatly trimmed full beard tops the list of things you can grow on your face by virtue of the fact that it shows you have the patience to grow a beard and the wherewithal to keep it neat and tidy. There is a reason that Jeremy Corbyn has won parliamentary beard of the year three times, and it's because his trimmed beard makes him appear confident and approachable. Be like Corbyn. (All images via Creative Commons)