Wearing a mask helps stop the spread of COVID-19, but if you have facial hair your degree of protection is slashed. Wearing a mask over a beard just does not work, say experts, unless you take the necessary steps to ensure a good fit.

“Persons with beards are kidding themselves. Their masks cannot work as well as the ones that fit tight over their skin,” said Dr. Sten Vermund, M.D., a pediatrician and infectious disease expert as dean of Yale University’s School of Public Health who now sports a well-trimmed beard since COVID-19 changed his hirsute habits.

While shaving is your best option, there are steps you can take to keep your beard and still get some protection from your mask, according to Popular Science.

Trim your beard. Vermund adapted his beard to accommodate a mask that fits on his skin, not on facial hair. The fabric should sit on smooth, shaved skin, he said.

Buy a larger mask. If you are not working in a high-risk profession, sporting a mask that fits closely around the face and covers the nose and mouth should be fine, said Dr. Monica Ghandi, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco. Some masks are made of 4-way stretch fabric that can you help you stash your beard inside, says Popular Science.

Double up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has endorsed double-masking — wearing one mask on top of another — to protect against COVID-19. This may offer added protection for men with facial hair. According to WIRED, start with a disposable medical or N95 mask next to your face and then add a cloth mask on top. Make sure both masks cover your nose and mouth and there are no gaps along the edges.

Find a mask that ties to the back of your head and neck. According to Popular Science, when you have a beard, masks with ear loops may ride up your face and cover your eyes which can be dangerous. You can buy strap extenders for face masks to solve the problem if you still want to use your disposable masks with ear loops.

While wearing any mask is better than wearing no mask at all, experts such as Bryan Nelson, president of the World Beard and Moustache Association, have experimented with several styles. They have compiled a list of the best face masks for men with beards.