Maintaining a beard is a daily part of a guy’s life. Some prefer the full beard, some clean-shaven, while others want to trim it down to a size of their choice.
This article has been written for the latter category of people and discusses the steps involved in trimming a beard.
You no longer need to go to a barber and waste several dollars to trim your beard to the desired size. With this guide, you can style and trim any way you want by just following a few basic guidelines.
So, please keep on reading on how to trim a beard to perfection and try it by yourself.
We guarantee that you will be impressed with the results, as will those around you!
Table of Contents
How to Trim a Beard 101
Below, we highlighted and briefly described all the steps needed to perfectly and seamlessly trim your beard.
Step 1: Clean and Dry the Beard
When trimming the beard, the first and foremost step is to ensure that the hair is washed and dried.
Just like the hair on our heads, the beard also needs to be thoroughly washed and cleaned; otherwise, it will lose its shine and glow, leading to a lackluster beard.
The primary way to clean is to use oils and shampoos and then wash them accordingly, like the hair on the head.
Once washed, you should dry your beard with a towel. Before trimming the beard, dry it carefully and gently and do not apply more force than needed, as this may damage the follicles.
Step 2: Brush It and Prepare It
The next step is to brush and prepare the beard well. You can use a regular comb to brush it, or you could consider buying a specialized comb that has been made specifically for facial hair.
Brushing the beard gets it into shape and helps loosen any tangles. It also clears out dead skin and loose hair, leaving the rest of the beard smooth and well arranged.
Step 3: Start from the Neckline
The neckline is the place from where you should start trimming the beard. To locate the neckline with better precision, place your index finger on your Adam’s apple.
From there, trace the finger down to the point where the beard ends. Following the curve of the beard, go to the extreme region where it originates from.
That is essentially the start of the neckline and is the point where you should start trimming.
Step 4: Trim/Shave off below the Neckline
There will be some hair below the neckline, and you should trim it off to give a more uniform look.
If you want, you can also consider shaving the hair below the neckline, and it will be faster as well.
Step 5: Determine the Cheekline
It is a matter of personal choice, and unlike the neckline, you can be a bit more flexible in this region.
Basically, the cheek line starts from the ear lobe and runs in a straight line to the upper lip.
It is the part where the sizing is mainly done, and you can adjust the depth and volume of the cut.
If you are pleased with the amount of hair on the cheeks, then you can leave it as it is.
However, you may want to remove some hair from this region as well. In this case, if you are using a trimmer, make sure you use the right blade that can get you to that size,
For a fuller look, do not cut too much below the cheek line. If you are going for a more narrow look, then you could consider cutting below the cheek line to an extent.
Step 6: Take Care above the Cheekline
If you have not trimmed in a while, there is a chance that there is significant facial hair growth above the cheek line.
That is not really desirable, and it may also appear to look unprofessional in many settings.
Remove this extra hair like you removed the hair below the neckline. You are free to use a razor, shave it off, or use a trimmer and thin it down.
Step 7: Deal with the Mustache
You are almost done with your trimming session and will sport an amazing beard in no time. All that remains is the mustache, and this is quite easy to deal with.
To make it easier to trim and fashion, you should make sure the mustache is well combed and dry.
Brush it in one direction like you did with the beard. To trim the mustache, you can use a pair of scissors or a trimmer, depending on your desired level of accuracy.
Start with the sides of the mustache, especially the extreme ends. Note that if you have curly hair, the sides will be curly as well.
Please do not use a trimmer here; rather, use a pair of scissors to cut it off and size it. Work your way towards the entire length of the mustache.
For every cut you make, brush the hair to maintain direction and shape. Once it has reached the desired size, use a pair of scissors to remove the unwanted hair.
Step 8: Wash the Beard
You are almost good to go. All you need now is to wash off the beard and get rid of attached hairs.
Wash your face with warm water at first to allow the hair follicles to open up. Once you have used warm water, you can go over again with colder water and dry your beard with a clean towel.
Step 9: Apply Oil
Finally, your beard is trimmed and ready. But it would be best if you did not forget to maintain it. Once you have dried it, apply some beard oil.
This will help keep the beard smooth and prevent any discomfort you might feel on your skin.
Do not forget to check for any nicks or cuts, which may have accidentally resulted when shaving.
Some Useful Tips
Here, we will provide some useful tips to ensure you have a nice trimming experience without any mishaps.
• Pick a Well Lit Room
It would help if you did not trim your beard in dim light. Always pick a well-lit area to do so, even during the day.
If you are in the bathroom, turn on the lights. Also, use a clean mirror to monitor yourself because a smudged or dirty mirror will not give you a clear picture, and you may miss out on certain areas.
• Don’t Start with Trimmers
While trimmers are great, if it is your first time trimming your beard or if you are just growing one, stay off the trimmer for now.
They can be tough to handle, and you may end up trimming more than you wanted.
• Use Sanitized Tools
In the current situation, hygiene is a must. Never use someone else’s trimmer or scissors, even if it’s a family member.
Also, remember to dispose of razor blades properly and rub the scissors with disinfectant after you are done. Never share your trimmer, either.
Final Words
We hope you enjoyed this article on how to trim a beard. Trimming a beard is easy, and you can do all sorts of styles without fuss. Just remember what we discussed, and you are good to go!