The Best Beards in Music and How to Achieve Them

The Best Beards in Music and How to Achieve Them

Beards in music are nothing new. Since classical composers Johann Strauss and Johannes Brahms sported facial hair in the 1800s, beards have appeared in several musical genres as musicians find ways to build their identities and stand apart from their peers. Which artists sport the best beards in music, and how do you grow a similar one?

ZZ Top

No facial hair in music is more iconic than those of ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and his late bandmate Dusty Hill. Gibbons says the two famous musicians with beards got lazy after taking a break following seven years of nonstop touring between 1969 and 1976. Even the cleanshaven ZZ Top drummer, ironically named Frank Beard, briefly joined in on the act.
 
How do you grow a masterpiece beard like ZZ Top? Start by letting your facial hair grow. Not everyone can grow a long beard, but if you can display a Norse-type face of fur, let it do its thing for three weeks, then make a decision.
 
After 21 days of growth, you’ll know how thick your beard can get. Consider how you'lwear it if you’re on the way to Billy Gibbons-type growth. You might want a biker-style with a mustache flowing into the beard alongside long hair and leathers. Maybe you’ve kept your hair short to flaunt a unique office style. Either way, you’ll want beard tools.

What You Need

Keep your beard and the skin beneath it healthy. Gibbons and Hill didn’t stay lazy with their beards, so build a grooming kit that caters to your sprouting bush’s needs. Start small and add to it as you learn how to grow your long, thick beard.

  • Decent scissors and beard trimmers
  • A strong comb
  • A nose hair trimmer
  • Some sustainable beard oils for top-class scents and treatment  
  • Leave-in beard conditioner
  • Wet shaving items like shaving soap, brushes and a safety razor

Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl, of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame, has improved his image tenfold since he started wearing the makings of his pandemic-style beard. The pre-bearded Grohl in Nirvana was a grunge pioneer, and nowt now the Foo Fighters vocalist, with patches of white within his facial hair, is among the most well-known male singers with beards.
 
Growing a pandemic beard like Grohl’s takes a lot of work. Depending on natural growth, let it grow for two to three months before you consider styling it. You should wear the beard relatively short, although its length is your choice. It must be neat, so do the work when you need to. Wash your facial hair twice or thrice weekly with beard shampoo while it grows, and kit yourself out with tools to shape and train it into your preferred style before you’re ready to groom.

What You Need

Maintain beard and skin health during the growth process. Be self-disciplined and focused to maintain your beard’s natural look. Train your facial hair to grow as you prefer by using products to help the process.
  • Beard shampoo and conditioner
  • High-quality beard oil
  • A regular razor for your upper cheeks and lower neck
  • A soft brush, along with a premium-quality beard balm and styling wax to moisten and train your hairs

Norman Blake

Master Grammy Award-winning folk musician Norman Blake was a fine advertisement for the chin beard, or goatee, on the release of his 1972 debut album. The album was a long time coming, with the artist already performing and recording with Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan for years. Blake’s signature look was a thin mustache and a long growth on his chin. 
 
Growing a goatee like Blake’s is a long process. The hairs on the chin take time to grow, so depending on your desired length, give it a few months before grooming. How you wear it is your choice. You could choose a slightly wider one like Blake or a thinner one similar to Serj Tankian of System of a Down. A mustache is optional, depending on choice.

What You Need

You have two choices — let the whole beard grow out or trim and shape it as it grows. Ready your beard tools for when it’s time to groom, then cut and shape it into your desired style.
  • Beard shampoo
  • Aftershave or cream
  • A beard trimmer or scissors
  • Quality beard oil
  • Moisturizer for the skin alongside the beard.
  • An eco-friendly mustache wax if you choose a mustache

Beards and Music: Together Forever

Whether on ZZ Top, Grohl or Blake, beards are a way of life for many musicians. Other great artists like George Harrison and Jim Morrison spent many bare-faced years before deciding beards were the answer. Facial hair doesn't make the artist, but it provides additional insight into many characters, past and present, in music.

Author Bio

Jack Shaw is the senior lifestyle of Modded and a grooming enthusiast. He has written extensively on beard growth, style and best grooming practices and has been featured on Innovation News Network, Tiny Buddha, Biometric Update and more. Through his writing, he explores topics of men’s health ties into every aspect of their lives.

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