How to Shape Your Beard Into Magnificence – As Advised by a Proper Barber

Growing a beard exactly the way you want can be tricky, as there are several factors at play when it comes to achieving your dream look. And regardless of how long, short, thick, or thin your beard can grow, you’ll still need to embark on regular beard maintenance to ensure your facial hair is healthy.

It takes effort to keep your beard looking magnificent, and styling your beard yourself doesn’t come easy to most. However, if you’re looking to take the do-it-yourself approach to shape and maintain your beard, this guide has got you covered. In this guide, we tell you everything you need to know about shaping your beard like a professional.

How to Shape Your Beard

Before we dig deeper, we want to stress one thing: It is important to remember that all beards are unique.

Every man is different when it comes to their personal combination of hair type, face shape, and jawline. While the final output of your ideal look may differ from person to person, these tips will give you a general guideline on how to style your beard like a pro.

If you’re ready to shape your beard yourself at home, following the steps below will help you do it correctly.

Pro Tip: Having the right set of tools will make the beard shaping process easier! Before you start, consider investing in some styling products including a beard trimmer, razor, beard brush, and beard balm. We’ll be recommending different beard products in each step below.

Step 1: Comb Your Beard

When shaping your beard, combing it should always be the first step. This will remove knots and tangles, organize the shape, and will give you a better idea of the exact length you are working with.

we advise using a comb instead of a brush here. While a brush is more suitable for styling your beard, a comb with a single layer of the teeth allows even distribution between the sections of your beard hair.

There are different types of combs for different sized beards. For longer beards, go with the comb that has longer teeth. For short beards, you have much more freedom. However, the ones made from wood will naturally help deter static electricity compared to those made of metal or plastic.

Comb for Longer Beards:

The Chicago Comb Model 7 Carbon Fiber Pick Comb is a great pick for longer beards.  The long carbon fiber teeth are strong enough to handle even the thickest beard.

Comb for Medium/Short Beards

The Myhsmooth Handmade Natural Green Sandalwood Beard Comb is a great choice for short-to-medium beards.  The wooden teeth are strong and will discourage static cling.

Step 2: Trim Your Beard Hair

Once you have combed your beard, you can start shaping it.  Begin by trimming your chin, and then blend the sides accordingly to give you your desired shape. If you have a short or medium length beard, you can use a large trimmer guard. However, these don’t work as well for longer beards, meaning you’ll have to go freehand. You could do this with beard scissors, or use trimmers carefully without the guard.

Once you trim to the desired length of your beard, it’s time to work on your beard fade. For this, use your trimmer and start from the chin, working your way up to the sides of the ear.

To trim the shape of your general beard, you’ll want to move the trimmer guard around to help you identify your desired shape. If you want a voluminous look, don’t trim too much here. If you’re looking for a tempered look, consider using a small guard and start blending your beard up the side.

It can be difficult to know which trimmer option is right for you. When investing in a trimmer, go for a model that has a variety of trimmer guard options, as this will allow you to have the desired length and shape of your beard.

Recommend Trimmer:

The Wahl Stainless Steel Beard Trimmer for Men is a great choice.  It is versatile with plenty of settings and, while a bit more expensive than other trimmers, is of very high quality.

Recommend Grooming Scissors:

The  Equinox Professional Razor Edge Series Barber Hair Cutting Scissors is a versatile and long-lasting choice.

Step 3: Define Your Neckline

Properly defining your neckline can be tricky, but we got you covered! In fact, we wrote a whole guide to working with your beard neckline.

To figure out where to start, tilt your head downward to define your neckline. Once you tilt, you’ll see a crease under your jaw. Place a finger on that crease and make an imaginary mark. That is your beard neckline.

Once you’ve identified your beard neckline, it’s time to trim along that edge with a razor of your choice. Make sure to clean shave the remaining parts of your neck to give a perfect shape to your beard neckline.

Defining your neckline will be easiest if you have a hand mirror handy. With this tool, you’ll be able to get a perfect angle and better see precise details.

Recommended Mirror:

The Soft N Style 2-Sided Mirror with Handle has two different levels of magnification and can be used in the shower.

Step 4: Define Your Cheek line

If you want a more bushy beard look, you don’t have to worry about the cheek line. But if you want your beard to look sharp, defining your cheek line will be essential.

To help you find the right shape, consider investing in a beard shape tool to find the perfect angle! A straight-edge razor comes in handy here, but be very careful while using it.  If you’re not familiar with how to use a straight-edge razor, then a trimmer is fine.

Recommended Straight Edge Razor:

We like the Professional Barber Straight Edge Razor Safety with Derby Blades.

Recommended Beard Edge Tool:

The BEARDCLASS Beard Shaping Tool is of good quality and will get the job done.

Step 5: Fade in Your Sideburns

Fading in your sideburns will help to ensure you have a consistent flow of hair from your head to your cheeks. Use a large trimmer guard for your long beard, and gradually shift to smaller guards as you trim higher and higher, up to the sideburns location.

Recommended Sideburn Trimmer:

The Wahl Clipper Groomsman Trimmer for Beard, Mustache is by the same company that we recommend above for their beard trimmer.  If you’re traveling and don’t want to carry a full beard trimmer set with all the options, then this will take care of your beard trimming needs in a pinch.

Step 6: Trim Your Mustache

Your mustache should work to complement your beard style and will require regular trimming to keep it in shape. To do this, start combing it with a fine-tooth comb. Next, trace the contour of your lip using a precision trimmer like the Wahl trimmer recommended above.  Trim the wing using a pair of scissors.

Recommended Fine Tooth Comb:

We like the Kent Handmade Fine-Tooth Folding Comb because it folds and can be easily carried in your pocket.

Step 7: Clean Up Unruly Hair

Once you’re all trimmed and have the desired shape of your beard, it’s time for the finishing touches.

At this point, you should stop to take a look at your beard. If you see any stray hair flying away in different directions, cut them down to their required size with the help of a trimmer or beard scissors. Trim and cut until your beard is looking uniform and tidy.

Step 8: Condition and Style Your Beard

Now that your beard has been neatly trimmed and is in your desired beard shape, it’s time for some beard grooming.

It’s important to make sure your beard hair is properly conditioned and styled. Use an exfoliating face wash, beard wash & beard softener to clean your beard.

This is great to do right after styling, but you should be using a beard shampoo and beard conditioner every other day to maintain its softness and cleanliness. This is especially important if you have a longer beard.

When washing your face and hair, don’t forget the sideburns! You can also soothe your cleanly shaven skin with an aftershave, closing pores to reduce irritation and ingrown hair problems.

Finish your cleaning with beard oil to keep your beard healthy and prevent itchiness. You can also use a beard balm or mustache wax to style your hair into its ideal shape.

Here are our recommendations for beard conditioning products.

Recommended Beard and Face Wash:

Cremo Mint Blend Beard and Face Wash

Our Recommended Beard and Scruff Softener:

Cremo Beard and Scruff Softener

Recommended Beard Oil:

V76 by Vaughn Beard Oil Hydrating Conditioning Formula for Men

Recommended Beard Balm:

Cremo Mint Blend Styling Beard Balm

Let’s Get Styling!

If you follow the steps above and use high-quality beard products, you should be able to style your beard by yourself with ease. However, there is nothing wrong with considering a professional’s help in styling your beard at regular intervals. Do whatever works best for you!

Have you trimmed and shaped your beard at home? Which tools have you used? Share your tricks and tools that help you in the comments!