If you really want to do your homework, measure your forehead, cheekbones, jawline, and find the distance between your crown and chin. The longest measurements will be an indicator of how your head and face are structured. [2] X Research source Zeroing in on the ideal beard style is largely a matter of knowing which features to highlight and which to draw attention away from. Regardless of your face shape, a beard can help balance out your nose, draw attention to your eyes, and make your chin look more defined.
A small amount of beard oil or a low-hold pomade will help you maintain your carefully-crafted beard shape throughout the day.
Your goal should be to sculpt a smooth, subtle curvature of the jawline. Be careful not to let your beard grow out too much on the sides, or it may push your face shape too far in the other direction.
Just because your facial hair isn’t thick and full all the way around doesn’t mean you can’t make what’s there work in your favor.
Daily combing is necessary to identify areas that need trimming, prevent tangles, and redistribute natural oils. Keeping your beard brushed out is also a useful way to create the appearance of added volume, since it gets the hairs fluffed up nicely.
Set the guard to about a 3 initially (which is usually somewhere around 9mm) and switch to a lower setting if you want to go shorter. That way, you can avoid accidentally shaving too much at once. [9] X Research source Beard trimmers offer a more customizable trimming experience because of their ability to cut hair to a consistent length with every pass, unlike scissors, which force you hack away at tufts piece by piece.
Most men’s facial hair tends to be thicker around the goatee, so starting with the cheeks helps ensure that your beard comes out even without having to go shorter on the sides than you’d like.
For extremely short hairstyles like buzz cuts and shiny bald domes, blend your sideburns until they disappear around the top of your ear. [12] X Research source Longer locks are a little simpler. Just keep your sideburns clean and neat, then leave everything above and below your ears as shaggy as you please.
If you’re having trouble finding the exact point, feel for the rigid lump in your windpipe, then slide your fingers up until they rest in the little groove at the top. Most stylists recommend that a beard should terminate about 1–1. 5 inches (2. 5–3. 8 cm) above the midpoint of your neck. [14] X Research source
Your neckline is every bit as important as the rest of your facial hair. A sloppy-looking neckbeard can sabotage an otherwise sophisticated style.
Be careful not to start your neckline too high up. A lower jaw that’s completely hairless can make your beard look like it lacks coverage. [17] X Research source
To prevent irritating razor burn, lather up with moisturizing shave gel and make your strokes with the grain, not against it. [18] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
A few passes with a blowdryer on a low heat setting can help speed up the drying time. Attempting to shape a wet, limp beard is risky because the hairs will draw up and change shape as they dry. [20] X Research source
Generally, it’s best not to let your beard climb any higher than the points of your cheeks. It may help to visualize a line running from the top of your mustache to your sideburns. When it comes time to manicure the top half of your beard, you’ll want to follow your natural contours rather than choosing an approximate stopping point like you did with your neckline.
Gently tease out longer sections with a comb to make them easier to clip. It’s perfectly acceptable to have a mustache or goatee that’s longer than the rest of your beard, as long as these sections are a consistent length.
