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is it unprofessional to have a beard?

Beard acceptance at work has grown a lot. What used to seem too casual now fits right in. With more remote work and video calls, companies ease up on appearance standards - and beards are part of that new normal. Even industries known for a clean look now welcome a well-groomed beard, from banking to corporate management. The key is to know your workplace and what it expects.
close-up of a well-groomed beard with text overlays highlighting criteria for permissible beards including clean, trimmed and moisturised

Facial Hair Guidelines for Work

Before starting a new job, check if your workplace has any specific rules about beards. Some companies ask about your beard if you decide to grow one after being hired. But unless there’s a clear policy against it, a smart beard should not hold you back.

Different workplaces have different attitudes. Some demand strict grooming; others are more relaxed. It really depends on where you work and what you do.

Workplace-Specific Policies

CIA Symbol and collage of well groomed beard styles

Government Jobs and Beard Policies

Government roles often come with tighter rules. For example, White House Border Patrol agents must wait until they finish training before growing a beard. In fields like Recruitment or Public Affairs, certain uniforms require a clean look, and Honor Guards must stay clean-shaven. Even the CIA sets beard rules - your beard can't exceed half an inch or cover your lips, and it needs to be neatly trimmed along your jaw. The only exceptions are for religious or health reasons.
_Premier League trends, Yankees' clean-shaven policy, Olympic boxing's beard ban. Grooming rules in sports

Sports and Beards

Sports stars influence everything from sneakers to hairstyles, but when it comes to beards, they follow team rules. Baseball made headlines in February 2025 when the Yankees ditched their 49-year beard ban! Olympic boxers, however, still can't join the beard club.The IOC say officials need to easily spot cuts and injuries to decide when to stop fights or call for medical help. Makes sense, even if it means we'll never know which fighters could have rocked the most intimidating facial hair in the ring.
Speech bubbles above man: 'Have you sent that email yet, Philip' response: not yet

The Office Beard Scene

Think twice before unleashing your inner Viking at work. Your epic beard might look great on Instagram, but in investment banking, a refined style speaks louder. Imagine typing reports while your flowing beard tickles the keyboard, or trying to keep your cool after a chin-dunk into the soup at the team lunch. In client-facing roles, a more restrained look usually works best - unless you’re known as 'that beard guy from accounting.' When it comes to business, your ideas should steal the spotlight, not your mane
collage of famous bearded billionaires

Bearded Billionaires Club

For proof that facial hair and fortune can go hand in hand, look at the bearded billionaire club -Tech titan Larry Ellison, telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, chocolate king Giovanni Ferrero, and hedge fund whiz Jim Simons. Their impressive looks and bank accounts remind us that a beard is a statement, not a setback. So next time someone suggests shaving for success, just point them to these trailblazers.
(image credit)
a Collage of male-dominated jobs like landscaping, auto mechanics, and construction, some with bearded workers

Jobs Where Beards Are Welcome

At many manual jobs, a full beard is often celebrated. Construction sites, landscaping crews, moving teams, welding shops, and auto repair garages value a rugged beard over a clean-shaven look. In these fields, your skills with tools matter more than how smooth your face is. A hearty beard becomes part of the unofficial uniform - a sign of hard work and real grit.

Make Your Beard Work-Appropriate

Professional man with a well-groomed beard and controlled mustache in a work setting, symbolizing the basics of a neat beard

Beard basics form the foundation

If your workplace welcomes facial hair, start with these essentials. Aim for fullness over patchiness—sometimes a shorter style beats sparse hair islands. Keep your beard's edges trimmed, especially around your neck and cheeks, for a clean silhouette. And please, control that mustache! Nobody wants to see it sampling your coffee before you do. A well-shaped beard shows you take your appearance as seriously as your quarterly targets.
Close-up of a well-groomed beard with icons of beard oil, a comb, and a subtle coffee cup, symbolizing daily beard maintenance.

Daily Beard Maintenance

Your beard needs regular care. A few drops of beard oil prevents the dreaded "beardruff" that turns dark suits into snow globes during meetings. Wash your facial hair regularly—unless you're aiming to catalog your lunch choices for the week. Finally, make friends with a good comb or brush. A tangled mess can undermine even the sharpest suit faster than accidentally hitting "reply all" on office gossip.
Four-panel collage showing different beard styles: a full beard for Startup Steve, a neat short beard for Corporate Carl, stubble for Three-Day Trevor, and a seasonal beard for Seasonal Sam, representing diverse office personas.

Beard Personalities at Work

Every office has its beard archetypes. "Startup Steve" sports a full beard screaming "creative yet reliable," while "Corporate Carl" keeps his short and precise like his spreadsheets. "Three-Day Trevor" maintains perpetual stubble so perfect you wonder if he measures it hourly. And don't forget "Seasonal Sam," whose facial hair mysteriously appears each winter and vanishes come summer, making colleagues wonder if he's secretly a beard werewolf.

Special Considerations

Collage of diverse bearded men with religious symbols representing different faiths and cultures.

Beards of Faith

Many guys wear beards as powerful symbols of their faith and culture. Sikhs, Muslims, some Jewish traditions, and various cultures celebrate facial hair as something sacred. Most workplaces recognize this and make accommodations. If your beard is part of your religious practice, employers in many countries can't legally force you to shave it off.
Bearded man in work safety gear with a subtle conversation bubble icon, symbolizing a discussion about keeping his beard safe while meeting workplace safety requirements.

Safety First, Beards Second?

Safety can occasionally complicate things, though. If your job involves machinery that might grab that facial hair (ouch!) or requires respirators needing a seal against your skin, you might need to chat with your employer about workable solutions. Most places will happily meet you halfway with alternatives that respect both your beliefs and your wellbeing.
Well-dressed man with a neat beard in a professional setting, symbolizing the balance between personal style and job interview expectations.

The Beard Interview Question

Should you shave for a job interview if you normally have a beard? It's a tricky decision. Some career advisors say go clean-shaven for the interview and regrow your beard after you land the job; others suggest staying true to yourself from day one. If you choose to keep your beard, make sure it looks sharp: trim, clean, and shape it well. First impressions matter, and you want your skills and experience to shine, not your facial hair.

Changing Times, Changing Rules

Facial hair has come a long way in the professional world. Today, a smart, well-groomed beard is seen as a mark of confidence and style, even in fields that once demanded a clean-shaven look. Whether you're in banking, hospitality, or another industry, keeping your beard in top shape can be a real asset.

It all comes down to knowing your workplace culture and treating your beard with care. A refined beard can boost your image and leave a lasting impression.

Share your experiences in the comments below - your insights might just help someone else elevate their look.
Had to shave for work? Don't panic. Our guide to surviving the post-beard transition will help you keep your confidence even when your face feels naked.

4 comments on “Is It Unprofessional To Have A Beard?”

  1. I’ve never had a beard myself, but I’ve often wondered how much appearance still impacts professional perception in today’s workplace. It seems like views around facial hair vary widely depending on industry, company culture, and even geographic location. Do you think biases against beards are fading, or do they still subtly influence hiring or promotion decisions? I’ve noticed some colleagues with beards are perceived as more authoritative, while others get seen as too casual, so it’s definitely not one-size-fits-all. I’d be interested to know if grooming style or beard length plays a role in how “professional” someone is perceived.

    Reply

    1. To Slavisa:
      Good question, Slavisa. The bias is fading, but it still depends on the industry and how someone presents themselves. A short, shaped beard usually reads as professional anywhere, while a longer one works best when it’s neat and intentional. It’s less about length now and more about how you maintain it.

      The MaleSuave Team

      Reply

  2. You are the first person to introduce me to the phrase, " Sparse hair islands". I'll have to remember that one lol. I think most employers are more accepting of beards and mustaches these days. Kind of like how a lot of employers are relaxing their rules regarding exposure of tattoos in the workplace I think beards and long beards are gaining acceptance. I used to work in hospitals and I worked during covid along side coworkers with long beards and I don't recall it being an issue where I last worked. For example I remember seeing a coworker putting a disposable hair cap over his beard and one on his head when entering isolation rooms and I've seen that as well on the male dietary staff. So I believe kind of like the hair on your head as long as your beard is kept clean and presentable its accepted more these days. Interesting read.

    Reply

    1. Hey Melissa,
      "Sparse hair islands" is a classic! Glad that one stuck with you.
      You're right about workplaces relaxing. The tattoo acceptance and beard acceptance seem to be moving together - what mattered 20 years ago doesn't hold the same weight now. Your COVID hospital experience is a good example - beards weren't the issue, hygiene and safety protocols were. As long as you can work around it properly, most places don't care anymore.
      The key really is keeping it clean and maintained. A messy beard will always look unprofessional, just like messy hair would.
      Thanks for reading!

      The MaleSuave Team

      Reply

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