A complete, luxurious beard creates an immediate style statement. But if a perfect beard is not properly groomed, then the desired look can never be attained. This article enlightens a few simple strategies that will aid in figuring out the best ways to wear facial hair.
A beard shape that accentuates the facial features will aid in creating a masculine a look that’s both masculine and mature. Once a suitable style is selected, an individual can maintain it by trimming it to a neat length and periodically touching up areas like the sideburns, neckline, and cheeks.
Choose a Beard Type That Complements The Face Shape.
To have the biggest impact the beard needs to match the face shape. During the initial beard growth phases, an individual will have plenty of time to choose a beard shape that complements his face shape. Choosing the right beard type will not only allow you but also the beard to look better.
The pivotal thing a guy tries to achieve when shaping a beard is the symmetry. The visual appeal of the beard is directly linked to the face symmetry. A professional barber can assist an individual in identifying the face symmetry.
The following steps will help in determining a face shape or type at home:
- Take a look in the mirror and note the measure the forehead, cheekbones, jawline, and also calculate the distance between the crown and chin.
- The longest measurement helps in determining the face shape.
- The next step is to look at one’s facial features in the mirror and check if there is anything a person could highlight or draw attention from.
The below list helps in shaping the beard based on the face shape:
Round or square face shape:
These face symmetries look wider than the other face shapes. Hence one should shape the beard in a way that will make it look longer. It is generally recommended to keep the sideburns and the cheeks shorter and allow the hairs to grow gradually longer on the bottom of the chin.
Oblong, Rectangular, and Triangular Face Shape:
Men with these three face shapes should have a beard shape that adds some width to the head. This can be obtained by having thicker sideburns and cheeks and trimming the beard on the tip of the chin to make it shorter. Thicker sideburns will make the face look a bit wider.
Note: Do not allow the beard to grow out in excess because this will distort the face shape.
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Trimming the beard
A pivotal point in beard shaping is to prune the beard to maintain a well-groomed look. The following steps aid beginners as well as experienced men to trim their facial hair rightly.
#1: Comb out the beard.
Use a fine-toothed beard comb or small hairbrush with flexible bristles through the beard from the cheeks to chin. Stroke the hair away from the face, so that it stands up in a single direction. This will not only help in estimating the actual beard length but will also simplify the pruning procedure by refraining in making blunders.
Note:
- Regular combing aids in identifying the areas that require trimming, prevent tangles and also helps in redistribute natural oils.
- Keeping the beard brushed out is also a useful way to add on to the beard volume, since it aids in getting the hairs fluffed up.
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#2: Use a beard trimmer to control the beard shape.
By applying light pressure glide the head of the trimmer over the face slowly. For thinning out a bushy beard, trim upwards to cut straight across the hairs. For preserving the bulky beard, move the trimmer downward in the same direction as the natural hair lays.
Note:
- Initially set the guard to about a 3 that corresponds to somewhere around 9mm and later switch to a lower setting if for a shorter facial hair. This helps in avoiding excess hair removal at once.
- Beard trimmers offer a customizable trimming experience because they help in cutting the hair to a consistent length with every pass, unlike the scissors usage which forces one to hack away a bunch or collection of facial hair.
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#3: Work from the outside in.
Start by buzzing both cheeks until the desired balance between volume and tidiness is obtained. Once the sides look good, move the trimmer inward and go to the chin and mustache area. Double check for the fullness of both the sections and also check for the uniformity in both halves of the face.
Note: Many men tend to have a thicker beard around the goatee, hence starting with the cheeks helps in ensuring an even beard without having to go for a shorter look on the sides than expected.
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#4: Create a transition with the sideburns
Sideburns are tricky as they can be either treated as a
beard extension or the head hair. Assuming that the head and facial hair are approximately the same lengths, one can allow the top flow seamlessly into the underneath. If one is significantly longer than the other, try fading the sideburns using increasingly smaller guards to avoid a jarring difference.
Note:
- For short hairstyles like buzz cuts and shiny bald domes, it is advised to blend the sideburns until they disappear around the top of the ears.
- For longer locks keep the sideburns clean and neat and leave everything above and below the ears as shaggy as an individual desire.
Structuring the Neckline
The neckline can be structured as below:
#1: Place two fingers just above Adam’s apple.
The fingers need to be held sideways such that they lay across one’s throat. This is the sweet spot where an individual should begin the neckline. Just enough growth needs to be left beneath the jaw to ensure a natural transition without losing it get out of control.
Note:
- The Adam’s apple can be identified by feeling the rigid lump in the windpipe and sliding the fingers upwards until they rest in the little groove at the top.
- Stylists recommend that a beard should terminate about 1–1.5 inches above the neck’s midpoint.
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#2: Shave all the hair below the upper finger.
Observe the exact point or make a small mark with clippers to serve as a reference. Shear off the beard’s lower extremities so that it forms a straight clean line across.
Note: The neckline is very important as the rest of the beard. A sloppy-looking neckbeard can mask a sophisticated style.
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#3: Shape the neckline in a gentle curve from one ear to the other.
Picture an imaginary line running beneath the chin in a “U” shape. Use the clippers to chip off the remaining hair on both sides of Adam’s apple. When completed, the neckline will roughly resemble the shape of one’s jaw.
Note: Refrain from starting too high up of the neckline. A lower jaw that’s completely hairless can make the beard look to lack coverage.
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#4: Remove the remaining stubble with a manual razor.
Go back over the just buzzed area to cut the coarse hair down the skin. Not only will this leave the neckline looking pristine, it will also keep unwanted growth from returning quickly.
Note: Avoid irritating razor burns by lathering up with a moisturizing shave gel and make strokes with the grain.
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Maintain a neatly groomed beard
Once the beard is shaped, one needs going to maintain the look. The following pointers help in maintaining a beard.
#1: Pre-wash and dry the beard prior to shaping it.
Use a shampoo and conditioner that aids in cleaning and softening the facial hair regularly. Post showering, refrain from trimming or styling until the beard has fully dried and reassumed its original form as this is when it will not only be most manageable but will also have a little extra volume.
Note:
- A few passes with a low heat setting in a blow dryer can enhance the speed of drying.
- Refrain from attempting to shape the facial hair as this will not only draw up the hair but will also change the shape of the beard post drying.
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#2: Cheek line cleanup.
Glide the clippers along the upper perimeter of the beard to get rid of fuzzy overgrown edges. Ideally, the facial hair should have a uniform thickness from the top to the bottom instead of becoming sparse. This rule also applies to the jawline trimming.
Note:
- Generally, it’s better to avoid the beard grow higher than the points of one’s cheeks. This may help to visualize the line that runs from the top of the mustache to the sideburns.
- When it comes to manicure the top half of the beard, follow the natural contours over choosing an approximate stopping point.
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#3: Trim the stray hairs to an even length.
A pair of scissors will aid in snipping any scraggly or overly-long hair strands that have managed to escape the clippers. Tilt the head at different angles so that one can more easily visualize hairs that are sticking out. Each part of the beard should have a uniform length.
Note:
- Gently tease out longer hair sections with a comb to clip them without hassles.
- Having a long mustache or goatee is acceptable, as long as these sections have a consistent length.
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Hope these beard shaping tips and tools will allow a guy to grab control and make a lasting impression with his facial hair.