Ducktail Beards - How-To Style Guide

When we say ducktail beard it probably doesn’t evoke images of extreme masculinity. But if that’s the case, then that just means that you’ve never seen a Ducktail beard in all of its beardy glory.

Don’t worry, ducktail beards won’t have old-timers throwing bread to you in the park. Instead, they’ll probably evoke images of Vikings and leave you confused with GOT references.

The name is a giveaway, but a ducktail beard is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a beard that resembles the sleek and well-groomed tail of a duck. Ducktail beards aren’t for the faint hearted. In beard circles, they’re one of the most challenging to grow and to groom (we can help with that part). Not only that, but you’ll also need a decent amount of facial hair before you can even begin to think about styling.

How long does a beard need to be for a Ducktail beard?

If you’re starting from scratch, growing the foundations for a Ducktail beard can take some time. We recommend a length of 7-10 cm as a starting point. You can, of course, go much longer, but we’ll say that you’ll need at least 7-10cm of beard (from your chin) to start grooming your beard into a ducktail style.

For most of us, beard hair grows at a rate of 2-3 cm per month. So if you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need around three months to get your beard ready for duck tailing (yes, we’re making it a verb). If you’ve already got some decent facial hair or you’re blessed with relentless face follicles, then you could be able to grow it in a much shorter amount of time. If you’ve already got 7-10 cm of beard, then you could be duck tailing almost straight away with the right styling and the right products.

How to style a ducktail beard

Step 1: Length Check

As we’ve already lamented, you need a decent amount of facial hair before you can think about grooming and styling a ducktail beard. As a starting point, shoot for 7-10 cm of healthy beard before you start styling. If you begin styling when your beard is shorter than this, you’re likely to set yourself back and could even need to wait for things to grow in again before you can start to style.

Step 2: Trim and style

Alright. You’ve done the hard part. You’ve got 7-10 cm of glorious, healthy beard that’s ready to be styled. You’ve been doing your due diligence and using Jericho beard products to keep your facial hair healthy (we hope you have any way!). So now that your beard is healthy, let’s get going on styling.

Using your beard trimmer, start by trimming from the ear down towards the chin in a “V” shape. Picture a duck (or just Google images for inspiration) to get a sense of how the beard must come to a point that is shorter on the sides and longer towards the middle of the chin.

Step 3: Clean up and detail

Beard trimmers are great for styling. If you’re using a normal set of clippers, you’re going to struggle with detailing and cleaning up the stragglers around your lips and the sides of the beard. If you don’t have a beard trimmer (edit: we can’t recommend one enough – check out our 2 in 1 beard and hair trimmer here), then you’ll want to grab some scissors. The clean and detail stage is all about getting rid of stray hairs and giving your ducktail a more defined shape.

Step 4: Style

Trim – check.

Detail – check.

Style – let’s go.

Styling your ducktail beard means investing in some quality beard care products. And what do you know – you’re already in the right place. Our range of beard balms and beard butters are ideal for styling your ducktail beard. While our beard oils and beard shampoos are non-negotiable for keeping it looking healthy.  

We can’t say it enough – beard maintenance is the key to looking your best. Styling is great, don't get us wrong. But it’s all about the maintenance (more detailed below) for keeping your beard looking healthy and attractive.

How to maintain your ducktail beard

Alright, you’ve styled, and you’ve groomed your beard into one handsome ducktail. Job done? Not quite, it’s now about keeping your beard healthy and maintaining sleek and healthy facial hair.

Basic ducktail beard maintenance routine

• Rinse your beard daily
• Wash your beard 1-3 times per week
• Use quality products for maintenance and styling
• Use a beard brush to get rid of loose beard hairs
• Keep trimming – regular trimming keeps your beard growing and healthy

There’s nothing worse than a dry beard. Not only is it uncomfortable and itchy, it’s also unattractive. Having a beard is one thing. Having a well-maintained beard is another thing altogether.

Keep it simple. Use the right products, style with care, and enjoy your ducktail beard – it’s one of our favourite beard styles.