Maintaining a clean and well-defined beard is essential for keeping your beard looking sharp and well-groomed. No matter how rowdy your beard may get, a clean perimeter detailing around your facial hair makes all the difference!
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to line up your beard:
1. COMB
Start by combing your beard thoroughly to remove any tangles or knots. A wide-toothed comb is best for this step as it will help to gently detangle your beard without causing any breakage or damage to the hairs.
2. DETERMINE A BEARD SHAPE
Next, decide on the shape and length you want for your beard. This includes how high up you want your beard to come up on your cheeks, and how low you would want it to extend to your neck. A common technique is to draw an imaginary line from the bottom of your earlobes down to the center of your Adam's apple, and then follow this line to create a natural and symmetrical neckline. To some extent, the length of your beard has a say on how your beard starts and ends on your face and on your neck. For instance, if you keep your beard cropped closed to your face, you'd want to pay more attention to your beard neckline, making sure it matches up to the length of your beard. If you tend to keep your beard much longer - say, half way past your neck or longer - you have some leniency on how far your beard extends to your neckline, as your beard would be able to hide the neckline. In both cases, you'd want to follow your beard's natural hairline to determine how high up you want your beard to extend on your cheeks.
For more on how to determine the right beard shape for your face, check out our blog on How to Find The Right Beard Style!
3. TIME TO TRIM
Once you have a clear idea of the shape you want to achieve, it's time to start trimming. Use a pair of sharp scissors or a beard trimmer to carefully trim away any hairs that fall outside of your desired beard perimeter. Be sure to hold the scissors or trimmers vertically and use the tips to make precise cuts.
4. COMB AGAIN
After you have trimmed your beard, use your comb to evenly distribute the hair and check for any areas that may need further attention. It's always a good idea to comb your beard throughout the trimming and shaping process in order to avoid missing any stray hairs and tangles.
5. BEARD DETAILING & PERIMETERING
For a close shave, you would want to bring out the razor or tweezers to help tighten up you beard's perimeter. Using you beard's hairline as a guide, tweeze or shave off any loose hairs that stray away from your beard on your cheeks and on your neckline. Lining up your beard helps emphasize your desired beard shape and helps highlight or play down certain facial features. If you're feeling bold, feel free to use a straight razor to lineup your beard!
6. WASH & MOISTURIZE
Finally, wash and moisturize your beard to keep it clean and healthy! A beard wash will gently help to remove any excess dirt or oil, while a beard oil or balm can help to soften and nourish the hairs.
Lining up your beard may take some time and patience, but the end result will be a well-groomed and stylish beard that you can be proud of. Just be sure to take your time and be careful while trimming to avoid accidentally cutting off too much. The more you practise your perimeter work, you'll eventually be able to do it in you sleep! For more help on how to line up your beard, book an appointment with one of our barbers!