A well trimmed and groomed beard can be a great addition to your look. Your choice of style is limited only by your creativity - here are some general techniques and ideas you might want to consider.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Cleaning and Preparation
Step 1. Wash your beard thoroughly
It is important to start with a clean, dry beard. The beard generates oils like the hair on the head, so wash it well before cutting it.
Wash your beard with shampoo in the sink or shower, then pat dry with a towel. Avoid shampoos that dry out the skin
Step 2. Comb your beard
Combing your beard will remove the knots and make it easier to trim it.
- Following the direction of the hair, guide the comb through the hair growing on one side of the face. Start at the ear and go towards the chin.
- Do not add volume to the beard by combing it against the grain. You can always do this later with your hands.
Step 3. Start trimming your beard in front of a large mirror
Make sure you have everything you need: scissors or electric razor, comb, towel and all the products you want to use. You'll also need an electrical outlet close at hand if you want to use an electric razor.
A multi-angle or triple reflection mirror can be useful for seeing the most hidden areas
Step 4. Prepare a container for the cut hair to fall into
Clogging the sink is a great way to irritate those who live with you. Cleaning after shaving is difficult and frustrating. Avoid this annoying task by anticipating the problem.
- Use a small trash can to collect the trimmed hair.
- Use a sheet of newspaper or a towel to catch the hair.
- If you have a stable portable mirror, trim your beard outdoors. The clipped hair will simply be blown away by the wind!
Part 2 of 6: Trim the Beard with an Electric Razor
Step 1. Choose a guide
Most beard trimmers come with a lot of plastic guides. These guide combs ensure an even cut of the desired length - they will allow you to avoid cutting it too short.
- If you're not sure which guide is best, start with the longest comb. You can always use the shorter one later.
- Consult the instruction manual for details on the different guides and speeds of the beard trimmer.
- If you want to trim your beard completely, don't use guides.
Step 2. Turn on the razor and with gentle but firm pressure, shorten the beard on each side of the face with long fluid movements in the direction of the hair
- Maintain balance between both sides of the face always starting with the ears and working downwards.
- The guide should prevent the razor from irritating the skin or cutting too much hair.
Step 3. Trim the mustache and beard on the chin
Start under the nose and move to the corner of the mouth, then work your way up to the chin. Pay particular attention to hard-to-reach areas directly under the nose.
- Keep your mouth closed to avoid getting hair!
- Depending on the length of the beard, it may be easier to shorten the mustache separately with scissors.
Step 4. Finish shaving by defining the edges of the beard well
Take your guard off the trimmer and cut along the neck line to remove any remaining neck hair. Use the lower jaw as a border.
You can also use the foam and shave the neck, according to your preferences. Some people prefer a clear demarcation between their beard and shaved skin, while others prefer to leave a beard shadow on their neck as well
Part 3 of 6: Troubleshooting and Maintaining the Beard Trimmer
Step 1. Clean your electric beard trimmer
Most of these appliances come with a maintenance kit that contains a small brush. After each shave, remove excess hair from the blades and guides. This will ensure that the hair does not accumulate and enter the beard trimmer, where it can interfere with the motor.
If you don't have a brush available, you can use an old toothbrush or pipe cleaner
Step 2. Keep your beard trimmer sharp
Most of these appliances come with a small bottle of mineral lubricating oil. After a certain number of shaves, clean the blades with the brush, then apply a few drops of mineral oil to your teeth. Turn on the beard trimmer for about 20 seconds. This will allow the oil to spread over the blades, keeping them sharp and smooth.
If you don't have oil available, contact the manufacturer before replacing it with your own purchased oil - many oils you will have around your house will not be suitable for your beard trimmer and will degrade its performance
Step 3. Be prepared for the most common problems
A well-maintained beard trimmer shouldn't give you any problems. However, like all electrical devices, even beard trimmers may not work properly. Here are some of the most common complaints, followed by simple troubleshooting instructions:
- "My beard trimmer is making a very loud buzz." Many electric beard trimmers have a voltage regulator that looks like a screw on the side of the device. You can easily adjust it with the supplied tool or with a screwdriver. Experiment with adjusting the voltage until the noise stops. You do not run the risk of electrocution.
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"My beard trimmer can't cut my hair." The blades may not be sharp enough or the internal motor may have lost power. Make sure you clean and oil the blades regularly. If your trimmer is significantly slower, the problem may be in the engine, and it may be time to replace it. Consult the manufacturer for warranty information.
Alternatively, your hair may simply be too thick. Remove any stuck in the blades and try again with a shallower guide
- "My beard trimmer won't hold its charge." Over time, the batteries will deteriorate. Most manufacturers can replace them - contact them for more information.
- "My beard trimmer blades have curled." It is possible that the blades of a beard trimmer get out of alignment. Realigning them is not usually difficult, but it varies according to the make and model of your device. Fortunately, most manufacturers make guides available on the internet on how to realign blades and you will find many amateur guides as well.
Part 4 of 6: Shorten the Beard with Scissors
Step 1. Choose a sharp, clean pair of scissors, preferably a barber's one
Scissors are suitable for shortening the beard, but require a skilled hand for more precise operations, such as thinning or trimming.
- Make sure the scissors are not rusted and do not bark visible imperfections or irregularities on the blades that can pull or tear the hair.
- Do not use kitchen or garden scissors. They will be too big and bulky. You will risk cutting yourself.
Step 2. Use a comb as a guide
This way you will avoid cutting the hair too short. Try to imitate the way a barber collects hair in the comb and then cuts it.
- Comb the beard from ear to jaw, bringing excess hair forward.
- Trim the hair on the outside of the comb.
- Be careful in this step. Start by shortening the hair a little - it will be easy to trim it again, but impossible to correct a cut that is too short.
Step 3. Repeat on the other side of the face
Continue to trim the beard evenly until you reach the desired length.
Comb your beard again to make sure the cut is even
Step 4. Trim the mustache and beard on the chin
Comb the hair straight down. Cut all the hairs that come below the lip line with a straight line.
Step 5. Finish shaving by defining the edges of the beard well
Taking extra care, use scissors to trim as much hair on the neck as possible.
- If you can, use an electric razor for this step.
- If you are afraid, you can simply apply some lather and use a razor to completely shave the beard in this area. It will be much easier than doing it with scissors.
Part 5 of 6: Full Shave to Get Well Defined Lines (optional)
Step 1. Choose a style with well-defined lines
Many beard styles create a noticeable contrast with sharp, sharp lines between the end of the beard and the beginning of the exposed skin. Even if you don't want to impress anyone, you may still want to clean your beard from time to time. This process can be as simple as removing unwanted neck hair for a normal beard or as difficult as fine-tuning your sideburns to be identical! Whatever the case may be, decide what to do in advance - razors completely shave your hair, so mistakes can completely change your style.
There is no right way to shape your beard. However, the most used styles involve completely shaving the skin under the neck and on the cheeks to prevent a scruffy look. Decide which one is best for you
Step 2. Get a razor
In the past, a well-maintained razor was required to shave. Today, you will find plastic safety razors in all supermarkets. You can use whichever tool you prefer - safety razors are cheap, easy to use and comfortable, but some people prefer the elegance and precision of a classic snap-on razor.
Step 3. Prepare your beard for shaving
Your goal will be to make your beard warm and wet - it will be softer and easier to trim this way. This step leaves room for some variations. Here are the most common methods of preparation:
- Splash warm water on your face. If you have a soft beard (or if you are brave), no further preparation is needed, although it may be necessary to repeat the operation to keep it moist and warm.
- Use hot water and foam. This is the most common method. Sprinkle warm water on your face as before, then lather with shaving cream or oil on the areas you want to shave. If you have time, let the lather sit for a minute or two - shaving will be even more comfortable.
- Use a warm washcloth. If you have the time, this method can be very relaxing. Wrap a warm, wet towel around your head to cover your beard. Leave it until it has cooled down. Remove it, apply foam and shave.
- Many people like to shower before (or while) shaving because the shower offers a constant source of hot water. If you like this solution, consider investing in a small shower mirror for a closer shave.
Step 4. Make the first stroke one inch away from the beard line
Don't risk it - this way, you will have a chance to correct mistakes.
If you've used lather and can't see where you're shaving, you can peel some off with your fingers. A very thin layer of foam will also suffice
Step 5. Shave along the desired line
Use movements in different directions that are not painful and do not go against the grain - you can use movements parallel to the beard line for coarser cuts, while you can use movements perpendicular to the line to trim the beard with precision and fine-tune it.
Step 6. Repeat on the other side of the face
A mirror and good lighting are key - you'll need to be able to see all parts of your face clearly if you want a perfectly symmetrical shave.
Step 7. Remove any remaining foam and rinse your face with cold water
Cold water narrows pores and helps stop bleeding from small cuts.
Once you have washed your face, you may notice any small imperfections or spots you have overlooked. You'll usually be able to make the last few changes to your beard without having to reapply the lather
Part 6 of 6: Beard Styles and Variations
Step 1. Shave your beard chinstrap style
Remember the spirit of Abraham Lincoln by completely cutting off the mustache and leaving the rest of the beard.
- It's easy to get this beard with an electric beard trimmer. Follow the steps above to shorten it, then remove the mustache with the beard trimmer.
- Maintain your beard by regularly shaving your upper lip with a razor. If you can't do this, at least shave it as much as possible with the beard trimmer.
Step 2. Try the goatee
Shave your sideburns, leaving only a hard-looking goatee around your mouth.
- Imagine a line running from the sides of the nose to the corners of the lips and scrape all the hair between those lines and the ears, leaving the beard around the chin and mustache.
- Experiment with different lengths of sideburns, or, for a style called fu-manchi, remove the hair under the lower lip and chin.
Step 3. Test the sideburns
This style is essentially the opposite of the goatee, where you will leave the sideburns longer and shave the mustache, chin and beard on the neck.
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Try leaving the mustache to get a variation of the chinstrap beard.
Cut a Beard Step 27 Step 4. Adjust the beard very low to leave a veil of hair
Remove the trimmer guide or carefully trim most of the hair with scissors. Your goal will be to create an evenly very short beard. It will give you a rough and manly look.
This effect works best if your beard is dark (especially if you have fair skin)
Cut a Beard Step 28 Step 5. Flaunt the fly
The fly is that part of the beard that grows under the lower lip. This style is a favorite of jazz musicians and goes well with sunglasses. Completely shave the rest of your beard, save for a small inverted triangle of hair that runs from the lower lip to the top of the chin.
Try flies of different lengths. A short fly will barely be noticeable, while a longer one can create an aura of mystery
Cut a Beard Step 29 Step 6. Impress your friends with a pencil mustache
This mustache was made famous by director John Waters. Shave your beard and leave only the mustache. Shorten them with a trimmer with a very low guide. Then, with a razor, shave off the mustache hair except for the hair just above the upper lip. You'll start chasing girls down the street in no time!
Cut a Beard Step 30 Step 7. Experiment
Try out different styles and lengths. The beard grows back a lot.
If you want to completely shave your beard, take the opportunity to try a different style every hour. Eat lunch with a goatee and dinner with a mustache. You may find that you particularly like one of these styles
Advice
- Never cut wet hair with scissors or beard trimmers. Hair gets longer when wet, and once dry you may find that you have cut it too short.
- If you are just starting to grow your beard, wait about 4 weeks before you trim it for the first time.
- Keep shaving tools sharp and well preserved to avoid irritation.
- If you have an electric trimmer without guides, you can try using a comb as a makeshift guide. Carefully run the comb through your beard, using the trimmer to trim the excess.
- If the cut hair ends up in hard-to-reach places around the sink, try wrapping a finger in toilet paper and wetting it with warm water. Press your finger into the indentations and niches - the hairs should stick to your finger.
Warnings
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Although they are very useful for getting well-defined lines in the beard, razors (especially disposable safety razors) are not the most suitable solution for shaving the entire beard (particularly if it is full). They take longer than other methods, rinse frequently, and can get caught on the thickest parts of the beard, irritating or cutting the skin.
If possible, have scissors or an electric beard trimmer handy if you want to get a full shave. You will still be able to use your razor, but you should take advantage of these tools to shorten your beard as much as possible before you begin
- Be careful when using an electric beard trimmer in the water. Many are water resistant or waterproof, but even if they are, there is still a risk of electrocution.
