Drake spent the first half of his career clean-shaven. If you look at his early Degrassi days or even the So Far Gone and Take Care era, there is barely any facial hair visible. Then, gradually, the beard appeared. And once it filled in, it became as much a part of his image as the OVO owl.
The drake beard is one of the most discussed celebrity beards in men’s grooming. It sparked conversations about beard transplants, grooming routines, and whether the beard is real or enhanced. Regardless of the backstory, the result is a sharp, well-maintained beard that millions of men have tried to replicate.
In this post, I’m breaking down the drake beard in full. What the style actually is, how it evolved, whether the transplant rumors hold up, and exactly how to grow and shape one yourself.
What Is the Drake Beard?
The drake beard is a lined-up, medium-density full beard kept at a short to medium length, typically between 5 and 12mm. The cheek line is sharp and defined. The neckline is clean. The beard connects to a fade haircut through the sideburns. The mustache connects to the beard at the corners of the mouth.
The drake beard style name does not have a single official term. It falls closest to a short boxed beard or a lined-up full beard. What sets it apart from a standard short beard is the precision of the edges. Every border on the drake beard is razor-sharp. The cheek line follows a straight or very slightly curved path from the sideburn to the corner of the mouth. The neckline is carved clean. This level of edge work is what gives the drake beard its signature look.
Breaking Down the Drake Beard Style
a) Length and Density
The drake beard length sits at 5 to 12mm depending on the era and the event. At press appearances and music videos, the beard is usually at its shortest, around 5 to 8mm. In paparazzi photos and off-duty shots, it grows closer to 10 to 12mm. The length never extends past the short beard range. Drake does not wear a medium or long beard.
The density is even across the cheeks, chin, and jawline. The hair grows close together with no visible gaps or patches. This consistent coverage is a key reason the beard looks so clean at short lengths. Thin or patchy growth would be visible at 5 to 8mm, but Drake’s beard fills in completely across the entire face.
b) Cheek Line and Neckline
The drake beard cheek line is one of the sharpest in celebrity grooming. It runs in a straight or very slightly curved line from the sideburn area down to the corner of the mouth. The line is cut with a straight razor or a precision trimmer, and no stray hairs exist above it. This hard cheek line is the single most defining feature of the drake beard style.
The neckline is equally precise. It follows the jawline and sits about one finger-width above the Adam’s apple. The border is clean and sharp, with no hair below the line. The area between the neckline and the beard is faded slightly to avoid a blunt cutoff.
c) Fade Connection
The drake beard fade is a critical part of the overall look. Drake typically wears a low to mid fade or a buzz cut, and the beard connects to the haircut through a blended sideburn transition. The fade moves from the hair into the beard without a hard line or gap. This creates a continuous gradient from the top of the head down through the jawline.
The sideburn area is where the barber blends the two. The clipper lever technique feathers the fade into the beard density so the shift from short hair to beard happens gradually. Without this blend, the drake beard looks disconnected from the haircut.
d) Mustache Style
Drake’s mustache is trimmed close to the upper lip and connects to the beard at the mouth corners. It is not overgrown or styled outward. The mustache matches the beard length exactly, creating a uniform surface across the entire face. The mustache blends into the beard without a gap or step down in length.
e) Color and Texture
Drake’s beard hair is black with a tight curl pattern typical of Afro-textured facial hair. The curls sit close to the face, which adds visual density even at short lengths. The tight texture means the beard holds its shape well after trimming and does not puff outward or become wispy. This curl pattern is a natural advantage for maintaining the clean, dense appearance the drake beard is known for.
Drake Beard Timeline: When Did Drake Grow a Beard?
Drake was clean-shaven or had light stubble throughout his early career. The Degrassi era and the first few album cycles showed minimal facial hair. The beard started appearing in a noticeable way around 2015 to 2016, during the Views and More Life era. By this point, Drake was regularly seen with a lined-up short beard in public appearances and music videos.
Between 2018 and 2021, the drake beard became fully established. The Scorpion and Certified Lover Boy era showed the beard at its most consistent: sharp edges, even density, and always paired with a fade. The drake beard 2023 and drake beard 2025 versions maintain the same core style with minor length variations depending on the context.
The timeline is relevant because the shift from patchy or absent facial hair to a full, dense beard over a relatively short period is what fueled the transplant rumors.
Drake Beard Transplant: Real or Fake?
The drake beard transplant debate has been ongoing since the beard first appeared in its full, dense form. During his early career, Drake showed little to no beard growth. Within a few years, the beard filled in across the entire face with consistent density. This rapid change raised questions about whether the drake beard is natural growth or the result of a follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure.
Drake has not publicly confirmed or denied a beard transplant. Some grooming and dermatology commentators have pointed to the even distribution, the sharp hairline, and the speed of the transformation as indicators of a transplant. Others argue that many men experience a significant increase in beard density between their mid-twenties and early thirties as testosterone levels and DHT sensitivity change.
The drake beard fake and drake beard wig claims that surface online periodically are largely based on a 2022 viral video where a piece of Drake’s beard appeared to come loose during a performance. Drake addressed the incident on social media, attributing it to lint. No confirmed evidence of a wig or prosthetic has been verified.
Whether natural or transplanted, the style itself is achievable by men with full beard coverage. A transplant only affects density. The shape, edges, and grooming are all replicable through trimming and barber work.
How to Get a Drake Beard
Growing a drake beard requires even density across the cheeks, chin, and jawline. Here is the step-by-step process.
- Step 1: Grow it out for 2 to 3 weeks. Let the beard grow without trimming to see your natural coverage pattern. You need consistent growth across the cheeks, chin, and jawline. If your cheeks are patchy, you may need to adapt the style.
- Step 2: Trim to even length. Set your trimmer to 8mm or 10mm and trim the entire beard evenly. The drake beard length sits in this range for most appearances. Use a shorter guard of 5 to 6mm if you want the cleaner, press-appearance version.
- Step 3: Cut the cheek line. This is the most important step. Use a precision trimmer or straight razor to carve a sharp cheek line from the sideburn to the corner of the mouth. The line should be straight or very slightly curved. Remove every hair above this line. This hard cheek line is what separates the drake beard from a regular short beard.
- Step 4: Define the neckline. Place two fingers above the Adam’s apple and shave everything below that point. Use a straight razor or precision trimmer to cut a clean, sharp border that follows the jawline.
- Step 5: Blend the sideburns into the fade. If you wear a fade haircut, ask your barber to blend the sideburns into the beard. The drake beard fade transition should be gradual with no gap between the haircut and the facial hair. This step usually requires a barber and a clipper lever technique.
- Step 6: Trim the mustache flush. Trim the mustache to match the beard length exactly. Keep it close to the upper lip without going over it. The mustache should connect to the beard at the corners of the mouth with no gap.
- Step 7: Apply product and brush. Use beard oil to add softness and a slight sheen. Brush downward with a short boar bristle brush to flatten the hair and distribute the oil. For Afro-textured beard hair, a small amount of beard butter helps control the curl pattern and keep the surface smooth.
What Does Drake Use on His Beard?
Drake has not publicly shared a detailed beard grooming routine. Based on the appearance and texture of the beard in photos and videos, grooming professionals have suggested a few likely products.
A beard oil with a light hold is likely used daily to maintain the soft sheen visible in most of his appearances. A beard butter or light balm is probable for controlling the curl pattern and keeping the surface flat. The sharp edges suggest regular use of a precision trimmer or T-liner, likely a BaByliss or Andis Slimline Pro. The fade blend requires a standard barber clipper with an adjustable lever.
A boar bristle brush or a short wave brush is likely part of the routine. These brushes flatten Afro-textured beard hair and train it to lie against the face, which is how the drake beard maintains that smooth, dense appearance without looking puffy.
What Face Shape Suits the Drake Beard?
Drake has a round to oval face shape. The sharp cheek line and defined neckline add angularity to the lower face, which is why the style works so well on him. The beard creates the illusion of a more defined jawline by framing the jaw with hard edges.
Round faces benefit the most from the drake beard because the sharp lines add structure that the natural jawline lacks. Oval faces suit the style well because the proportions are already balanced. Square faces can wear it, but the hard cheek line may make the face appear overly angular. Softening the cheek line to a slight curve fixes this. Long faces should keep the length at 5 to 8mm to avoid adding weight to the lower face.
Can You Get a Drake Beard with Different Hair Types?
Drake’s beard texture is tightly curled Afro-textured hair. Men with the same hair type will find this style the easiest to replicate because the curl pattern naturally creates density and holds its shape close to the face.
Men with straight or wavy beard hair can achieve the same shape and edges, but the visual density will look different. Straight hair lies flatter and may appear thinner at the same length. Growing the beard to 10 to 12mm compensates for this by adding more visible coverage. The cheek line and neckline shaping work the same way regardless of hair type.
Men with patchy growth face the biggest challenge. The drake beard relies on consistent density across the entire face. If your cheeks are patchy, keeping the length at 5 to 6mm blends the gaps better than a longer length. If patches are too visible, focusing on the chin and jawline while keeping the cheeks at stubble length creates a modified version that captures the clean edges without exposing thin spots.
FAQs
What is the drake beard style called?
The drake beard style is closest to a short boxed beard or a lined-up full beard. There is no single official name for it. What defines it is the sharp cheek line, clean neckline, short to medium length, and fade connection through the sideburns.
When did drake grow a beard?
Drake started showing noticeable beard growth around 2015 to 2016 during the Views era. The beard became fully established and consistent between 2018 and 2021. Before that, Drake was clean-shaven or had light stubble throughout his early career.
Did drake get a beard transplant?
Drake has not confirmed or denied a beard transplant. The rapid shift from minimal facial hair to full, even density fueled speculation. Some dermatologists have suggested the pattern is consistent with an FUE transplant, while others argue that natural beard development in a man’s late twenties can explain the change.
Is drake’s beard fake?
Claims about the drake beard being fake are largely based on a 2022 viral video where something appeared to come loose from his beard during a performance. Drake said it was lint. No confirmed evidence of a fake beard, wig, or prosthetic has been verified.
What length is the drake beard?
The drake beard length ranges from 5 to 12mm depending on the occasion. Press appearances and music videos show the beard at its shortest, around 5 to 8mm. Casual and off-duty photos show it closer to 10 to 12mm.
How do I get a beard like drake?
Grow your beard for 2 to 3 weeks, then trim to 8 to 10mm. Carve a sharp cheek line from the sideburn to the mouth corner. Define the neckline one finger-width above the Adam’s apple. Blend the sideburns into your fade at the barber. Trim the mustache flush to the beard length. Apply beard oil and brush flat.
What does drake use on his beard?
Drake has not disclosed specific products. Based on the appearance, grooming professionals suggest a lightweight beard oil for sheen, a beard butter for curl control, a precision T-liner for edge work, and a short wave brush or boar bristle brush for flattening the hair.
How often should I trim a drake beard?
The drake beard needs a trim every 3 to 5 days to maintain the sharp edges and even length. The cheek line and neckline are the first areas to lose definition as hair grows. A full barber visit every 2 weeks keeps the fade connection and edge work precise.
Can I get a drake beard with patchy growth?
Partially. The drake beard relies on even density, so visible patches make the full style difficult to achieve. Keeping the beard at 5 to 6mm helps blend thin areas. If cheek coverage is too sparse, focusing the style on the chin and jawline while keeping the cheeks at stubble length creates a modified version with the same clean edges.
What fade pairs best with the drake beard?
A low fade or mid fade pairs best with the drake beard. The fade should blend into the sideburns without a hard line. Drake most commonly wears a low fade or a buzz cut, and the beard transition through the sideburns is always gradual. The drake beard fade connection is what ties the haircut and beard into one look.
Does the drake beard suit a round face?
Yes. The sharp cheek line and defined neckline add angular definition to a round face. Drake himself has a round to oval face shape, and the lined-up edges are what give his jawline a more structured appearance. The drake beard is one of the best beard styles for men with round faces who want to create the illusion of a stronger jaw.
Is the drake beard hard to maintain?
The drake beard is moderate to high maintenance. The sharp edges need touching up every 3 to 5 days, and the fade blend requires a barber visit every 2 weeks. The length is easy to manage with a trimmer, but the precision of the cheek line and neckline is what takes consistent effort. Men who are comfortable with a trimmer and straight razor can maintain most of it at home.
Why the Drake Beard Set the Standard for Lined-Up Beards
The drake beard became iconic because of its precision. Sharp cheek lines, a clean neckline, even density, and a fade that flows into the sideburns. Whether the density came naturally or from a transplant does not change the fact that the shape and maintenance are what make the style look the way it does.
If you have the coverage, the style comes down to two things: a good trimmer and consistent edge work. Keep the length between 5 and 12mm, carve a hard cheek line, clean the neckline, and blend the sideburns into your haircut. That combination is the entire drake beard formula. Browse more popular beard styles to compare options for your face shape.
