Beards are ubiquitous, but like grooming-related ones, they require maintenance. Certainly you can visit the barber, but if you have problems in your own hands, we have some tips to ensure you don't ruin yourself.
“Some people grow their beards because of simplicity and avoid daily shaving,” says Brandon Falk, a precision stylist at the church's Barber. “But it's a mistake to think of a beard releasing you from grooming and trimming missions. If you want a beard that looks great, healthy, you have to take care of it.
Regarding common trimming errors, forks refer to several important issues, such as excessive trimming, uneven trimming, and poorly shaped cheeks and necklines. We will provide tips to avoid these issues, but consistency is the key to getting your best. “Regular maintenance and trimming is important whether you're stubble or want a full beard,” says Fork.
Dive into tools and step-by-step processes to prepare, trim, trim and maintain your rich whiskers.
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What you need to trim your beard
These picks are important if you are looking to build a whisker kit. Even if you're a beginner, just mix and match to make your own best arsenal.
A good whisker trimmer is essential, but if you are serious about whisker maintenance, a clipper might be a better investment. “The best trimmer for nesting your beard is actually a hair clipper,” says Fork. “They come with a complete set of guards, but they can also upgrade to a premium whirl one.”
A good pair of beard scissors (or small enough scissors to remove the lump of lips) cover the standalone beard and cut off the mustache hair that falls on top of the upper lip.
“Pinsezaman scissors are great to accurately cut out stray hair,” says Fork. “They also help trim the hairs on their nose, because they have round tips that protect you from accidentally hurting yourself.”
Combs and brushes help you mutter your hair before trimming, making it even and even. “Depending on the length of your beard, it might make sense to choose a small whisker comb or get a comb that works with both the beard and the hair on the head,” says Fork. “Barbers usually use professional combs, but the beard carving brush is also perfect for daily maintenance.”
Faulk recommends “razors are for shaving, and trimmers are for detailed work, to create sharp lines, trim the hair of the mustache and shape accurately.” He recommends a razor or foil shaver to create edges and sharpen the edges to cleanse the neckline and cheeks. “Merkur makes great razors. If you need power, I'll go to Babyliss foil shaver.” As for Trimmers, he chooses “Both Babyliss FX and Andis Slimline Pro – both excellent options.”
“A blow dryer helps to expose flyaways and straighten your overgrown hair,” says Fork. “It also helps to highlight the shapes you set while styling. I use a Dyson Broad Dryer, but other accessible options still get the job done.”
How to trim your beard
Here is the core steps for trimming your beard. If you want to maintain a certain length, run this general routine once every 7-10 days, and if you really need help, an online tutorial will do the trick.
A beautiful beard often produces trim beards. Start by washing with a gentle whisker shampoo. Better yet, ask for a complete facial cleansing before trimming. As Faulk says, “Full cleansing prepares your skin and hair and ensures smoother trim.” Once cleaned, let it dry completely, either dab the whiskers or trim a wet whisker, leading to excessive trimming. Next, create a uniform surface by chance.
“Apply heat with a hot comb or blow dryer and brush it to see the true length of your beard,” advises Fork. This step will help you avoid length surprises when your beard dries naturally.
Step 2: Consider the outline
Neckline: Do not trim too high. If you have, aim for a soft curve about 1-2 fingers wide on top of Adam's apple. Faulk's pro tip: “While looking straight into the mirror, creating the first neckline, changing the position of the neck without tilting the head back, leading to uneven cuts. Instead, keep a neutral head position and use a trimmer to create a guideline mark 1 inch above Adam's apple.
Cheek Line: “The cheek line is where people make the most notable mistakes,” warns Falk. “Your options are: 1. Shake the 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. “Using a trimmer, create three guidelines along that line (top, middle and bottom), work and connect it downwards. Once shaping, complete the line with a razor. This will not cut the trimmer or razor lower than intended.”
Jaw Line/Sideburn: Aim to fuse the jaw line with the neckline for a clean and structured look. To achieve this, Faulk emphasizes the importance of mastering an adjustable security guard for the Clipper. “It's important to understand how to use the guard to tapere the sideburn into the whisker area and not leave the tough line.”
Start with a clipper and the appropriate guard settings, always start with a long setting, and adjust it shorter as needed. “Using clippers, I start from large guards to Deburgh and gradually resign until I find the perfect length,” explains Faulk. “The barber's clipper can be tapered through fine tuning, allowing for more control and the ability to produce faded effects, shortening the whisker towards the top, and shape and angle are important, reinforcing definition and complementing the face.”
Step 4: Detailed work with scissors
Cut off the hair and arrange the mustache just above the line of your lips. Adjust the edges of symmetry and lightly shape the whiskers according to their natural growth patterns. “As you move beyond the guard, accuracy is important,” advises Fork. “If you're new to whisker maintenance, make it easier to trim the freehand to avoid mistakes.”
Step 5: Clean up the edges
For precise lines, use a razor or detail trimmer. Shave the neck hair underneath the neckline to give it a nice finish and define the cheek line. “The freehand around the mustache, chin and chin cleans the flyaway while filling the whiskers as much as possible,” suggests Fork. “Use grain guards in areas where you want to maintain density, especially if your beard is naturally thick, as trimming against the grain will remove hair.”
Step 6: Moisturizing and Style
Once trimming is complete, re-clean your face to remove loose hair. “After the beard trim, the shower is usually the best move,” notes Fork. “When clean and dry, you start with a water-like hydrosol from Neroli and start soothing.” Next, apply high-quality whisker oil to reduce itching while keeping the skin and whiskers moisturized. Use whisker balm for extra control or retention. “Cover your beard with a brush or shape. If you have a long beard, apply heat with a blow dryer while brushing to define the shape,” adds the fork.
How to maintain your whisker shape
Regular maintenance is key to keeping your whiskers looking the best. We aim to maintain its shape and trim it to prevent drying and spraying, maintain its shape and maintain hydration. If your beard is low, Faulk advises patience.
Uneven growth is another common concern. “It's difficult to control,” Faulk said. “However, the best way to compensate and stimulate healthier, even growth is to comb your beard regularly.” A few minutes of tidying can make a huge difference to your daily look.
He also recommends seeing professionals frequently. “Looking at how a barber shapes it gives you better ideas on how to keep it on your own.
About the experts
Brandon Falk is a San Francisco-based precision stylist and barber with roots in the Bay Area. With five years of experience, he is internationally trained in classic hairstyles and barber skills, studying under renowned experts such as Alessandro Barca of Hair in Motion, Alexi Micheal, Menspire and Glassbox Education. Known for his attention to detail, Brandon specializes in creating sharp, clean cuts and shapes, flaunting his expertise in both hair and whisker grooming, proudly wearing a full whisker.