I
f you’re beginning to wonder how you’d look with a full beard or considering letting your facial hair grow out, you’re not alone. But remember, deciding to grow a beard doesn’t mean neglecting your grooming. When stepping out, it’s safe to aim to look like the star of the show by regularly trimming and tidying your beard, which might just mean doing a quick trim a couple of times a week.
Still unsure? Don’t worry—we’ve laid out a few simple steps to help you manage any style of facial hair easily at home, making it almost as straightforward as your daily shave.
Here is a guide on how to trim your beard yourself…
#1. Keep it clean and soft
A dry and dirty beard is clearly not something you want, and it can be particularly troublesome when you need to trim it. To avoid this, start by keeping your beard clean. Use a beard-specific shampoo to wash it as the skin on your face has different needs than your scalp. After shampooing, apply a conditioner to help soften the beard. This not only improves the health and appearance of your facial hair but also makes trimming much smoother and easier.
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#2. Comb it out
Once your beard is dry, comb it in the opposite direction of its natural growth. This technique helps the hairs to stand up straight, making them easier to trim evenly. Additionally, combing your beard this way can help you spot any uneven areas where the hairs are not the same length, allowing you to achieve a more uniform look when you trim. This method is a simple but effective way to ensure your beard looks well-groomed and tidy.
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#3. Trim
Start by using clippers to trim your beard to the length you prefer. It’s wise to begin with a larger guard size to avoid cutting it too short by mistake. If you want a simple, short look, keeping it even all around works well. However, if you’re aiming for a longer beard or want to shape it, you’ll need to do a bit more. But don’t worry, it’s not too complex.
There are many ways to style your beard, but one of the most flattering methods is to keep the hair longer around the chin and shorter on the sides of your face. You might use a number 3 setting on the clippers for the hair at your temples and a 4 or 5 setting for the goatee area. You can define the edges of your goatee by using the corners of your mouth as a guideline. For the mustache, which often grows thicker, try keeping it as short as the hair on your cheeks and temples for a balanced look.
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#4. About that mustache
After using clippers to trim your beard—consider moving them sideways across your face to avoid the guard snagging in your nostrils—you should focus on cleaning up the hair on your upper lip. Using a pair of beard or mustache scissors will work perfectly for this task. When deciding how much hair to trim off above your lip, it really depends on your personal preference. Some men like a clean gap above their lip while others might like a bit of the mustache hanging over. It’s best to start by trimming a little at a time and gradually trim more until you’re happy with how it looks.
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#5. Define your neckline
Trimming the neckline is often the most challenging part of beard grooming. If you get it wrong, it can significantly affect how your beard looks. Trimming too close to the jawbone might give the illusion of a double chin, even if you don’t have one. On the other hand, letting the beard extend too far down your neck can make it look unkempt, almost wild.
A good rule of thumb is to trim everything below your Adam’s apple. The exact spot to start can vary depending on your neck length, but generally, the Adam’s apple serves as a reliable point for the lowest part of your beard. From there, you should create a gentle “U” shape upwards toward your ears.
The beard should naturally follow your jawline and under the chin. After that, you can choose to either shave completely for a clean neckline or taper it for a softer look. Tapering involves gradually shortening the hair length with successively smaller guard settings. For instance, start with a guard that’s half the length of your beard (switch from a 4 to a 2), then trim about an inch from the bottom, angling away from your neck as you move upwards to avoid creating a blunt edge. Reduce the guard size again by half and trim up another half-inch using the same gradual technique. For the closest trim, use the clippers without any guard to refine the edge about a quarter inch up. This approach blends the beard into your neck skin more subtly, avoiding abrupt lines.
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#6. Finish with oil
Just as the hair on your head needs to stay hydrated to remain healthy, so does your beard. To wrap up your grooming routine, apply a quality beard oil to nourish and keep your facial hair looking great. Use a beard comb to evenly spread the oil throughout your beard and to style it neatly back into shape after trimming. Combing through will also help you spot any stray hairs you might have missed during the trim, allowing you to snip them off with scissors for a clean, well-maintained look. This extra step ensures your beard stays soft, shiny, and under control.
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Featured image: @scotchporter/Instagram
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