How a Barber Really Trims Your Beard: Expert Tips Revealed

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Beards Are everywhere, yet similar to other grooming activities, they demand upkeep—and mastering how to trim your beard is an excellent beginning point. While you can go see a barber, if you're handling this yourself, here are some pointers to ensure you avoid making mistakes.

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"Many individuals opt for growing beards as a way to simplify their routine and eliminate the need for daily shaving," explains Brandon Faulk, a precise stylist. Church Barber But assuming that having a beard exempts you from grooming or trimming is incorrect. To achieve a fantastic, well-maintained beard, proper upkeep is essential. Following a consistent maintenance regimen allows you to sport a beard confidently while maintaining a neat and polished appearance.

Faulk highlights several typical blunders related to grooming, including excessive pruning, asymmetrical cutting, and improperly styled sideburns and necklines. Although we’ll provide guidance on steering clear of these pitfalls, maintaining uniformity will be essential for achieving an optimal appearance. “Regardless of whether you prefer stubble or a bushy beard, consistent upkeep and clipping are crucial,” Faulk emphasizes.

Let's explore the tools and follow a step-by-step guide to prepare, trim, and keep your lush beard well-maintained.

Looking for Something Specific?

• What Is Required for Trimming a Beard
• Ways to Shape Up Your Facial Hair
• Ways to Keep Your Beard Styled and Shaped
• About the Expert

What You Require for Trimming a beard

These selections are vital if you aim to expand your collection. beard kit ; freely combine elements to create your ideal set of tools, even if you're just starting out.

Clippers

A high-quality beard trimmer is crucial, however, if you're dedicated to maintaining your facial hair properly, it becomes even more important. clipper It could potentially be the smarter choice. "When it comes to reducing the bulk of a beard, a hair clipper turns out to be the superior option," according to Faulk. "Hair clippers typically include various guard attachments, but you have the option to enhance them with high-quality Wahl guards as well."

Professional 5-Star Series Shears/Clipper Set

$140.00, Amazon

Beard Scissors

High-quality beard scissors (or even regular tiny scissors to avoid cutting chunks from your lips) can neatly snip isolated whiskers and trim the mustache hairs resting above the upper lip.

"For accurate cutting of loose strands, Faulk recommends using Tweezerman scissors. These tools are also handy for grooming nasal hair due to their safety-rounded tips, which prevent accidental self-harm," he explains.

Facial Hair Scissors

$15.00, Amazon

Comb or Brush

A comb or brush aids in untangling and evenly distributing hair prior to cutting. According to Faulk, "The size of your beard will determine whether you should choose a compact beard comb, or perhaps invest in one designed for both facial and scalp hair." He adds, "While barbers often utilize specialized tools, a grooming brush can be quite effective for regular upkeep as well."

Park 339 Precision Cutting Comb

$12.00, Amazon

BRD2 Wild Boar Bristle BeardBrush

$38.00, Amazon

Razor / Trimmer

Faulk states, "A razor is designed for shaving, whereas a trimmer excels at detailed tasks like forming clean lines, grooming mustache hairs, and achieving precise shapes." He suggests using a trimmer for defining and refining borders and opting for either a razor or a foil shaver from brands like Babyliss for neatening the neck area and cheeklines. Faulk endorses Merkur razors when seeking quality tools; however, for added power, he advises considering a Babyliss Foil Shaver. When it comes to trimmers, his preferred choices include the Babyliss FX and Andis Slimline Pro models, both of which offer excellent performance.

32270 Slimline Pro GTX Cordless Beard Trimmer

$77.00, Amazon

LithiumFX Corded/Cordless Lithium-Powered Ergonomic Hair Clippers

$140.00, Amazon

Mk34c Double Edge Razor

$48.00, Amazon

FOILFX01 Wireless Single Foil Metal Shaver

$55.00, BaBylissPRO

Blow Dryer

A blow dryer is helpful for revealing stray hairs and smoothing down excessively long strands," explains Faulk. "Additionally, it aids in highlighting the form established during styling. At our salon, we utilize Dyson hairdryers; however, other readily available alternatives can accomplish the same task.

Supersonic Hair Dryer

$430.00, Amazon

Nano Titanium Blow Dryer

$95.00, Amazon

Ways to Shape Up Your Facial Hair

These are the main steps for maintaining your beard trim. To keep a specific length, follow this routine approximately once every week to ten days. Should you require additional assistance, an online guide can be quite helpful.

Step 1: Beard Prep

A neat beard signifies proper grooming. Begin by rinsing with a mild beard wash, or ideally, thoroughly cleanse your face prior to shaping it. As Faulk notes, "Thorough cleansing prepares both the skin and hairs, leading to a neater cut." Afterward, either gently towel-dry or allow it to fully air-dry since trimming when wet might result in excessive cutting. Subsequently, use a comb to untangle and establish an even texture.

"Use a hot comb or blow dryer to apply heat and then brush through to reveal the actual length of your beard," Faulk recommends. This process ensures there won’t be unexpected variations in length when the beard dries naturally.

Step 2: Take into Account the Contours

Neckline: Steer clear of cutting too close to the top; opt instead for a gentle arc roughly one to two fingers above the Adam’s apple, assuming you have one. Faulk offers this advice: "When establishing your starting neckline, look directly at yourself in the mirror rather than tilting your head backward. Tilt positioning alters the angle of your neck, resulting in an asymmetrical cut. Rather, maintain a level head position and employ a trimmer to make some reference points approximately an inch above the Adam’s apple. After setting these markers, you may lean your head back to smoothly join the guide lines."

Cheek Line : “The cheek line is where people make the most noticeable mistakes,” Faulk warns. “Your options are: 1. Rock a natural look without a hard line, or 2. Learn how to properly line up the cheek area.” To get it right, imagine an invisible line from the corner of your mouth to the middle of your ear. “Use your trimmer to create three guidelines along that line—top, middle, and bottom—then connect them by working downward. Once shaped, finalize the line with a razor. Pro tip: When establishing clean edges, gently press your tongue against your cheek to form a barrier. This helps avoid trimming too low.

Jawline/Sideburns: To attain a neat and organized appearance, focus on seamlessly connecting your jawline with the neckline. According to Faulk, this can be accomplished by becoming proficient with your clippers’ adjustable guards: "The crucial part is knowing how to utilize these guards for tapering the sides so they flow smoothly from the beard without leaving an abrupt edge."

Step 3: Begin Trimming

Begin with your clippers using a longer guard setting first and adjust to shorter lengths as necessary. "Initiate with a bigger guard attachment on your clippers to reduce bulk, then progressively switch to smaller sizes till you achieve the desired length," advises Faulk. "The barber clippers offer fine-tuned adjustments which enable better control and help produce a fade effect, ensuring that the hair is shorter at the top and gradually gets longer towards the bottom." He emphasizes that shaping and angling are crucial as they improve definition and suit your facial structure.

Step 4: Fine-Tuning with Shears

Remove loose strands of hair and cut the mustache slightly above your upper-lip outline. Modify the sides to ensure balance and gently define the beard following its inherent growth direction. "After mastering guard settings, accuracy becomes crucial," Faulk suggests. "For those inexperienced with grooming their facial hair, gradually start with manual trimming to prevent errors."

Step 5: Clean Up the Edges

To achieve sharp edges, employ a razor or a precision trimmer. Remove any excess hair from beneath the neckline to ensure a neat appearance and outline the cheek area properly. "Glide freely over the mustache, jawline, and chin to eliminate strays without diminishing the volume of your beard," advises Faulk. "Apply clippers fitted with guards moving in the direction of growth in sections where you wish to preserve thickness since cutting against the grain might lead to excessive thinning, particularly if your facial hair is dense."

Step 6: Hydrate and Arrange

Once trimming is complete, rewash your face to remove any loose hairs. “After a beard trim, a shower is usually the best move,” Faulk notes. “Once clean and dry, start with a hydrosol, like neroli water, as it’s soothing.” Next, apply a high-quality beard oil To maintain both facial hair and skin hydration while minimizing itching, consider using a beard balm for additional control or styling. "Shape your beard by brushing or combing it," Faulk suggests further. He also mentions, "For those with longer beards, applying warmth from a blow dryer during grooming can help outline the desired form."

Ways to Keep Your Beard Styled and Shaped

Regular maintenance is key to keeping your beard looking its best. Aim to trim it every one to two weeks to maintain its shape and keep it hydrated to prevent dryness and split ends. If your beard is sparser, Faulk advises patience: “Refrain from constantly trimming flyaways—you need to give it time to grow and develop.”

Irregular growth is yet another frequent issue. As Faulk points out, "While it may be trickier to manage, the most effective method to counteract this and encourage stronger, more uniform development is through regular brushing of your facial hair." Taking just a few moments each day for maintenance can significantly enhance how you look every day.

He similarly suggests visiting an expert regularly. "Observing how your barber molds it can provide you with a clearer understanding of how to take care of it on your own. Additionally, seeking recommendations face-to-face guarantees you receive guidance customized for your facial hair."

About the Expert

Brandon Faulk Brandon is a meticulous stylist and barber located in San Francisco, hailing from the Bay Area. Boasting five years of professional experience, he has received international training in traditional hairstyling and barbering methods, learning from distinguished experts such as Alessandro Barca at Hair in Motion, Alexi Michael, Menspire, and through Glassbox Education. Renowned for his precise approach, Brandon excels in delivering crisp, well-defined hairstyles and beard styles. He also maintains a full beard, demonstrating his proficiency in comprehensive grooming practices.