8 Halloween Costumes for Men With Beards
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If you’ve spent months growing a beard, the last thing you want is a costume that asks you to shave it. Good news: some of the best costumes ever are bearded ones.
These eight need a beard, look better with one, or turn yours into the whole joke. Short, long or somewhere in between, there’s one here that fits.
Jump to a Costume
1. Viking
The most natural fit for a big beard. A Viking with a braided beard looks like he means it.
How to do it: Braid the beard or add two small braids with clear elastics and wooden beads. Fur cape, belted tunic, leather bracers and boots. Black war paint across the eyes if you want it fierce.
Worth buying: a set of Viking beard beads.
2. Lumberjack
Beard, flannel, done. It’s the easiest bearded costume there is, and nobody will mistake it for anything else.
How to do it: Red buffalo-check flannel, jeans, suspenders, work boots and a knit beanie. Carry an inflatable axe. Roll the sleeves and leave a little sawdust on the shoulders.
Worth buying: an inflatable axe.
Full guide: our lumberjack costume guide
3. Pirate Captain
A scruffy beard makes a pirate look like he’s been at sea for months. Add a few beads and it’s a captain.
How to do it: Loose white shirt, dark vest, sash at the waist, boots and a tricorn hat. Twist small braids or beads into the beard. Smudge dark eyeshadow under the eyes for the salt-and-sun look.
Worth buying: a tricorn hat.
4. Wizard
Long beard plus a pointy hat equals instant wizard. Gray or not, a real beard beats the itchy fake ones.
How to do it: Long gray or navy robe, a pointed hat with stars, a staff (a broom handle wrapped in twine works) and a leather book. If your beard’s dark, a little white hair spray ages it up.
Worth buying: a wizard hat and robe.
Full guide: our wizard costume guide
5. Werewolf
A beard blends straight into werewolf fur, so you need a lot less makeup than everyone else.
How to do it: Torn flannel and jeans, then brown and black eyeshadow blended up from the beard over the cheeks and forehead. Add pointed ears, fangs and clawed gloves. Mess up your hair as much as it goes.
Worth buying: clawed werewolf gloves.
6. Garden Gnome
A funny one, and it’s great with a group. Bearded guys make the most convincing gnomes.
How to do it: Tall red pointed hat, blue shirt, brown belt and pants or overalls, and boots. Rosy cheeks with blush. Carry a small shovel or a fishing pole.
Worth buying: a red gnome hat.
Full guide: our garden gnome costume guide
7. Abraham Lincoln
The chin-strap beard is the most famous in American history. If you can shave the mustache, this one’s easy.
How to do it: Black suit or frock coat, a white shirt with a black bow tie, and a stovepipe hat. Shave the mustache and keep the chin beard. Carry a copy of the Gettysburg Address.
Worth buying: a stovepipe hat.
8. Old Sea Captain
The fisherman look: yellow rain gear, a pipe and a big beard. It’s a great choice if your beard is going gray.
How to do it: Yellow raincoat or a navy peacoat, a cable-knit sweater, a captain’s hat or knit watch cap, rubber boots and a corncob pipe. Carry a fishing net or a stuffed fish.
Worth buying: a captain’s hat.
How to Style Your Beard for a Costume
Temporary color goes a long way. White or gray hair spray turns a dark beard into a wizard’s, and it washes out with shampoo.
Braids and beads add instant character. Clear elastics and wooden or metal beads make a Viking or pirate beard look intentional.
Keep makeup out of the beard unless it’s the werewolf. Face paint gets stuck in beard hair and takes forever to wash out.
Short on time? Our 10 last-minute Halloween costumes all come together tonight, or browse the full costume encyclopedia from A to Z.
Beard Costume FAQ
What costumes go with a beard?
A Viking, lumberjack, pirate captain, wizard, werewolf, garden gnome, Abraham Lincoln or an old sea captain.
What’s the easiest costume for a man with a beard?
A lumberjack. Flannel, jeans, boots and a beanie, and your beard does the rest.
What costume works for a short beard?
A pirate captain, a werewolf or a lumberjack. None of them need a long beard to read right.
What’s a funny costume for a bearded guy?
A garden gnome. It’s even better if your whole group goes as gnomes.
Free: The Last-Minute Costume Cheat Sheet
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