Every few months a client sits down and pulls up a PewDiePie screenshot—and which era they pick tells me exactly where they are in their own beard journey. Felix Kjellberg documented every phase of his facial hair on camera, from patchy disaster to full Viking to the refined style he wears now.
Here are the 10 styles that defined each chapter, with the trimmer settings and grooming breakdowns you need to replicate whichever phase fits your growth.
Key Takeaways
- PewDiePie’s current signature is a maintained full beard at 15-20mm—groomed edges, natural density, no sharp lines
- His beard took roughly 4 years to go from patchy to full—patience and consistent care made the difference
- The Viking-era beard (2018) was his boldest, pairing long growth with a buzz cut for maximum contrast
- For patchy growers: Felix’s 2016 era proves you don’t need full coverage to rock facial hair—embrace the texture
- Beard oil and a boar bristle brush are the two products that showed up in every phase after his stubble era
Who Is PewDiePie?
Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg revolutionized YouTube as PewDiePie, becoming the platform’s most subscribed individual creator for years. Starting in 2010 with g
PewDiePie’s Beard Evolution Timeline
PewDiePie’s facial hair transformation spans over a decade, documenting every awkward phase and triumphant growth spurt on camera. Unlike planned celebrity transformations, Felix’s beard grew organically alongside his content evolution.
From 2010’s baby-faced gamer to today’s distinguished creator, each phase tells a story. The progression shows that even patchy beginnings can lead to impressive results with patience and proper care.
Early YouTube Clean Shaven Era
From 2010 to 2012, PewDiePie maintained a completely clean-shaven look that matched his youthful energy and horror game content. This baby-faced period defined early “Bro Army” culture, with Felix looking barely out of his teens.
Daily shaving was evident in his consistent smooth appearance across hundreds of videos. The clean look emphasized his expressive reactions and wide-eyed responses to jump scares, becoming integral to his early brand identity.
2013 First Stubble Phase
Felix’s first facial hair appeared as light stubble during busy upload schedules in 2013. This barely-there scruff lasted 2-3 days of growth before being shaved, appearing sporadically throughout the year.
The blonde stubble was barely visible on camera but marked the beginning of his facial hair journey. Fans began noticing and commenting on the subtle change, though Felix seemed uncommitted to maintaining any consistent growth at this stage.
2016 Patchy Beard Beginnings
The infamous patchy beard phase emerged in 2016, with uneven growth particularly sparse on the cheeks. Felix openly joked about his struggling facial hair, calling it his “puberty beard” despite being in his mid-twenties.
The patches were most noticeable around the jawline, with better coverage on the chin and mustache. This honest documentation of awkward beard growth resonated with viewers experiencing similar challenges. He maintained this patchy look for several months, refusing to give up.
2017 Fuller Beard Development
By 2017, PewDiePie’s beard showed significant improvement with fuller cheek coverage and denser growth overall. The previous patches began filling in after roughly 8-10 weeks of committed growth.
He started using beard oil during this period, mentioning it in several videos. The mustache connected better with the chin area, creating a more cohesive look. This phase coincided with his content shift toward commentary and news, with the maturing beard matching his evolving creator persona.
2018 Viking Beard Phase
Peak beard achieved in 2018 when Felix embraced full Viking-inspired growth reaching 3-4 inches in length. The dramatic transformation included letting the neckline grow naturally and minimal trimming for maximum volume.
His Swedish heritage shined through this bold facial hair choice, earning comparisons to Norse warriors. The beard required daily brushing and regular oil application to manage the wild growth. This became his most iconic beard period, inspiring countless memes and fan art.
2019 Trimmed Professional Look
Following his wedding, PewDiePie opted for a refined, shorter beard maintaining about 1-2 inches of length. The cleaner lines included shaped cheeks and a defined neckline, professionally maintained every 2-3 weeks.
This polished style balanced maturity with manageability, suiting both casual videos and public appearances. He incorporated beard balm for better control and shape retention throughout the day. The trimmed look proved that shorter beards could be equally impressive when properly maintained.
2020 Quarantine Wild Growth
Lockdown saw Felix’s beard reach unprecedented wildness, growing untrimmed for several months. The quarantine beard extended past 4 inches with natural, unkempt edges that he embraced fully.
Videos from this period show varying stages of grooming, from completely natural to occasionally brushed. The freedom from regular maintenance resulted in his thickest growth ever documented. This phase resonated with viewers experiencing their own quarantine grooming experiments.
2021 Shaped Medium Beard
Post-quarantine brought a balanced medium-length beard combining fullness with deliberate shaping. Felix found his sweet spot at 2-3 inches, regularly maintaining the length while allowing natural thickness.
The beard featured subtle fade work on the cheeks and professional line-ups every few weeks. This style required weekly trimming to maintain shape without sacrificing volume. The medium length proved most versatile for his varied content and lifestyle.
Japan Era Refined Style
Moving to Japan influenced a more refined, culturally conscious beard style starting in 2022. Felix adapted his grooming to suit Japanese aesthetics, keeping edges extremely clean and length moderate.
The precision trimming reflects Japanese attention to detail, with perfectly maintained lines and consistent density. Regular professional grooming became evident in his vlogs from this period. The style maintains fullness while appearing intentional and well-kept rather than wild.
Not sure what your face shape is? Our Face Shape Detector figures it out in 4 quick questions.
Current Maintained Full Beard
Today’s PewDiePie rocks a full but controlled beard measuring approximately 2.5 inches with expert shaping. The current style balances his Viking phase volume with Japanese era refinement.
Weekly maintenance includes trimming strays, shaping the neckline, and applying quality beard products. The mustache is kept slightly shorter to avoid eating interference while maintaining proportion. This mature style represents the culmination of his decade-long beard journey, proving patience pays off.
How To Grow A PewDiePie Beard
Start with 3-4 months of committed growth without trimming to establish your base. PewDiePie’s success came from pushing through the awkward patchy phase that occurs around weeks 4-8. Apply beard oil daily from week 2 onward, focusing on the skin beneath to promote healthy growth.
Once you reach 1-2 inches, begin shaping the cheeks and neckline while maintaining length on the chin and jaw. Use a boar bristle brush daily to train hair direction and distribute natural oils. The key is patience—Felix’s best beard looks came after years of growth and experimentation.
Products For Felix’s Beard Style
Essential products include a quality beard oil with jojoba or argan base for daily moisture and growth promotion. Beard balm becomes crucial once length exceeds 1 inch, providing hold without stiffness. Invest in professional trimming scissors for precise maintenance between barber visits.
A wooden beard comb helps distribute products evenly while preventing static that cheaper plastic creates. For PewDiePie’s fuller styles, add a beard wash used 2-3 times weekly to prevent buildup without over-stripping natural oils. Consider vitamin supplements like biotin if struggling with patchy growth similar to Felix’s early attempts.
Trimmer Settings By PewDiePie Era
The question I get most when a client picks a PewDiePie reference photo: “What guard do I set my trimmer to?” Here’s the breakdown for each style era, based on what I’d set in the chair:
| Style Era | Guard / Length | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 First Stubble | #1 guard (3mm) | Electric trimmer |
| 2016 Patchy Beard | #3–4 guard (9–12mm) | Adjustable trimmer |
| 2017 Fuller Beard | #5–6 guard (15–18mm) | Trimmer + scissors for strays |
| 2018 Viking Phase | No guard—grow out (75–100mm) | Scissors + beard comb only |
| 2019 Professional Trim | #4–5 guard (12–15mm) | Trimmer + precision edger |
| 2021 Shaped Medium | #6–7 guard (18–22mm) | Adjustable trimmer |
| Japan Era Refined | #5 guard (15mm) | Precision trimmer |
| Current Full Beard | #6 guard (18–20mm) | Trimmer + scissors for shaping |
Start with a longer guard than you think you need—you can always go shorter, but you can’t put hair back on. For the Viking and quarantine eras, skip the trimmer entirely and let everything grow into a long beard for at least 3 months before touching it with scissors.
Which PewDiePie Beard Works For Your Face Shape
PewDiePie has an oval face with a slightly elongated jawline, which is why both short stubble and fuller beards look balanced on him.
Oval faces can pull off any PewDiePie era. The maintained full beard and the shaped medium beard are standouts because they add definition without disrupting natural balance.
Round faces should aim for his 2017 fuller beard or the current maintained style. Length at the chin creates vertical lines that slim a rounder face. Avoid the early stubble phases—they highlight width.
Square faces look best with the 2019 trimmed professional look or the Japan-era refined style. Slightly rounded beard edges soften strong angles without losing structure.
Oblong faces benefit from the shorter styles—the 2013 stubble or the 2016 patchy look. Fuller, longer beards add more length to an already elongated face, so keep it cropped.
FAQs: PewDiePie Beard Styles
When did PewDiePie start growing his beard?
PewDiePie’s first serious beard attempt began in 2016 with his patchy phase, though he experimented with stubble as early as 2013. The committed growth journey really started when he pushed through the awkward patches instead of shaving.
By 2017, he was seeing real progress with fuller coverage. His beard evolution has been uniquely documented across thousands of hours of content, making it one of the most well-documented beard journeys on the internet.
How long does it take to grow PewDiePie’s beard?
Achieving PewDiePie’s current full beard requires 4-6 months of dedicated growth for most men. His Viking phase beard took approximately 8-10 months to reach peak length and fullness.
The timeline varies based on genetics—Felix himself needed extra time initially due to patchy growth patterns. Factor in another 2-3 months for your beard to “mature” and fill in completely. Remember that Felix’s journey took years of trial and error to find his ideal length and style.
What beard products does PewDiePie use?
While PewDiePie hasn’t detailed his exact routine, he’s mentioned using beard oil regularly since 2017 and beard balm for styling longer lengths. Based on his beard’s appearance and behavior on camera, he likely uses a natural oil blend for daily conditioning and a medium-hold balm for control.
His Japan era refinement suggests professional-grade trimming tools and possibly Japanese grooming products. The key to his current style is consistent product use rather than any specific brand—quality basics applied daily yield better results than expensive products used sporadically.
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Khamis Maiouf is a professional barber who graduated from Hinckley College in England with a Level 3 qualification in hairdressing. With over 20 years of experience, he is an award-winning barber who has mentored numerous students and styled thousands of clients. A recognised expert featured on StyleCraze (20M+ readers).
Credentials: Level 3 Hairdressing (Hinckley College, UK) • 20+ Years Professional Experience • Featured Expert on StyleCraze • Founder of Book of Barbering