How to Style a Beard Part 1 Growing and Shaping the Beard

How to Style a Beard

So you’ve opted to put down the razor and join the bearded brotherhood. Letting your facial hair go wild isn’t enough, though. Styling a beard requires routine maintenance. You’ll need to mold the beard to suit your facial structure. Trimming the hairs keeps them under control, but washing, oiling, and brushing are also critical to making your beard be all that it can be. With a little effort, your glorious beard will stop admirers in their tracks.

Growing and Shaping the Beard (part-1)

1. Let your beard grow to the desired size.

Before you can style a beard, you have to give it time to grow. Leave it alone. Seriously, no trimming or shaving for at least a couple of weeks. It’ll look messy, but remember that your beard won’t look the same when it reaches full length. When starting clean-shaven, it takes at least two weeks to achieve short beard status. You can then begin trimming unless you want your beard to be longer. Every beard grows at a different rate and to different lengths. For some men, a full-length, the natural beard can take up to a year to grow.

2. Trim the edges until your beard is tidy.

Let the beard grow for about a month before you try trimming it. Pick up a beard trimmer to refine the edges but be careful! Remember that you’re removing very little hair here. Too much means a look you’d rather hide from friends. Even out the neckline at your Adam’s apple. Cut hairs above the natural line of your cheeks until your beard line forms a curve from ear to ear. 

3. Fade the hairs along your neck.

Trimmers with adjustable guards are needed to accomplish the fade. Start from your Adam’s apple with a low-number guard such as a two or three. Trim all the way up to where your neck meets your jaw. Switch to a one or two guard and shave up an inch (2.5 cm) from your Adam’s apple. The lower the guard number, the closer it cuts your hair. A one guard leaves behind less hair than a two guard, but using them next to one another creates a gradual fade. Anything below your Adam’s apple should be shaved. Carefully use a razor or remove the guard from your trimmer.

4. Trim the beard to maintain its shape.

Once you’ve established your look, all that’s left is maintaining it. Over time, it’ll grow and lose shape. When you notice this, trim the edges again and renew the fade. Trimmer guards make length maintenance simple. Find a guard that leaves you with the hair length you desire and stroke it downwards through your beard. Scissors are another option for shortening overgrown hairs.

Establish a routine of washing, oiling, and brushing your beard if you haven’t already. Your beard will thank you by being plush and pliable.

5. Visit a barber for advice and maintenance.

Getting the opinion of a professional never hurts in matters of the beard. In addition to giving you advice on what style works best for you, they’ll keep your beard in tip-top shape. Ask for a beard trimming every three to four weeks. If you ever doubt what you’re doing at home, your barber will also be happy to give you advice.

How to Style a Beard Part-2

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