How to Properly Trim Your Beard Like a Pro: The Ultimate Guide from A to Z

There are men who look their best with a wild, unkempt beard that goes in all directions. If you are completely happy with such a natural primal beard: good for you! However, for the majority of men, occasionally trimming the beard yourself (or having the beard trimmed) gives a neater, more attractive and practical result.

A wrong swipe with trimming can quickly undo a few weeks of your beard growth. Don’t want to shave your beard? Then make sure you don’t trim a bite out of your beard. If you want to be sure that you get a top result, minimize the risk of accidents and read up on it.

Most people know the difference between shaving and trimming, but we’ll explain it briefly anyway. When you trim, weave your hair a little shorter. Not ‘down to the skin’ like a razor does. If you trim your beard, you will have a nice groomed beard at the end. Are you going to shave? Then you don’t have a beard anymore.

If you know what you’re doing with trimming, you can enjoy a symmetrical and maintained beard and work towards your desired end result faster. Read the process step by step below.

What if you don’t have such a full beard?

Not every man is blessed with a coconut beard. Some men have a very heavy beard growth, but others have trouble growing a full beard. So what if you don’t have a full beard?

Trimming your beard is extremely important to your grooming routine. The dead ends of your beard are trimmed off and your beard itself looks neat again. Even if you can’t grow a full beard, trimming your beard is important.

Find out which areas of your face have more beard hairs than other areas. You can shave these spots a little shorter, because there is a little more hair. For example: If your cheeks have a lot of beard hairs and your chin a little less, try trimming your beard hairs on the cheek a little shorter because there is already a lot of hair here. On the spot of your goatee you can then leave it a little longer, so that you can grow the longer beard hairs over the empty spots.

Choose a beard model that suits your beard growth and lifestyle. Almost every man has beard spots that are a bit balder than the rest. Not very! Because just choose the model that suits your face and beard growth. If you have almost no beard growth on your cheeks, try a goatee or just a mustache. Determine which beard growth you have and which beard model you would find fat that suits your beard growth.

So if you have a heavy beard growth or if you can’t grow a full beard: Trim your beard and choose the beard model that suits you.

Beard Trimming Necessary Tools You Need To Trim Your Beard Properly

Whatever the mission and end goal, appropriate gear eliminates frustration.

Below we describe the specialist tools you’ll need to trim your beard and learn how to use them later in the guide.

Many use the beard comb to distribute your care products under your beard. My tip is: Use a quality beard comb that can style your beard. With the beard comb you can get your beard in one direction. If you have a light beard growth, choose a beard comb with little space between the comb teeth. If you have a heavy beard growth, you can go for a beard comb that has a little more space between each tooth of the comb.

A beard brush is basically something completely different from a beard comb. It is very useful to maintain your hair in perfect health. Due to the high density of the (wild boar) hairs on the brush, you can perfectly distribute your care products over your entire beard.

It manages to massage it while distributing the natural sebum, responsible for its hydration. Also, it is a great way to cleanse your beard by getting rid of different impurities. This way you can provide every beard hair with care with a beard brush.

The beard trimmer primarily allows you to trim your beard to a precise length. It has several combs or cutting guides that allow you to choose the height of the cut. In addition, it is very simple and quick to use while proving to be very effective.

Beard scissors are perfect for doing the finer work on your beard. You can remove large parts of your beard fairly quickly, but also very precisely cut a few beard hairs to the skin. The beard scissors will become your best friend for daily or twice-daily maintenance of your beard.

With very fine beards, such as a goatee or a short ducktail, you will eventually have to switch to the daily use of beard scissors.

To completely remove beard hair that you don’t want, you will have to shave. Especially with beards such as the ducktail, ring beard and goatee, you may want to completely rid other parts of your face of beard hair. Even with a fuller beard type, you may want to remove the hair along the edges for a sharp contrast. You need a good razor for this.

Make sure that you get good shaving soap at home right away. It may sound strange, but with a beard you need a better razor than without a beard. This is because the hair you remove is likely to be stronger and longer than the one who shaves every day.

Unless you are lucky enough to have a 3-sided mirror at home, having an additional mirror (a small mobile is sufficient) is practical for successfully seeing your beard from several angles, and in particular on the side. This is what makes it possible to draw the different lines well.

Every beard must be kept clean. If you use a normal shampoo for this, you will quickly notice that your skin dries out. Ordinary shampoo is too aggressive for facial skin. The beard itself will also absorb moisture from the skin, so it is important that you use a beard shampoo. This is milder, does not dry out the skin and also foams better in beard hair than regular shampoo.

Beard hair does not produce moisture on its own, but absorbs it in the form of oil from the skin. The longer your beard, the faster it dries out your skin. The consequences are often an itchy beard, redness and of course flakes. By feeding your beard daily with a few drops of beard oil, you keep your skin healthy and flake-free.

Not only your beard, but also the skin under and around your beard needs good care. Therefore, clean your face daily with a good facial cleanser that is suitable for men’s skin. Then apply a face cream that nourishes and protects your skin.

For most men, this combination of daily washing and rubbing is sufficient to maintain a healthy and well-groomed appearance. If you still suffer from flakes, a weekly facial scrub, also under the beard, can help.

Determine the trimmer desired length & style

Of course you want to have a plan and not just start. Fortunately, rasoirelectric provides inspiration in his blog about the beard trends of 2023. But to what length do you want to trim?

Trimming length:

• Sideburns: smaller than 0.1 mm
• Stubble: 0.1 to 3 mm
• Short beard: 3mm to 10mm
• Long beard: 10mm to 40+mm

Beard trimming: where to shave your beard?

Up to where you shave your beard depends very much on the desired beard style you go for. Where you shave your beard has a big influence on the final look of your beard. So think carefully about this.

Basically it works like this:

• Is the neckline too high? Then it looks like you only have hair on your jaws.
• Is the neckline too low? then you get a kind of neck beard

Tip: Turn your head slightly back and place your finger just above your Adam’s apple. This is the natural dividing line between your beard and your neck. Place your trimmer at this point and trim down from there.

Are you a novice groomer? Then consider purchasing a Beard Buddy beard comb. This smart pitcher indicates exactly where to shave.

Wet or dry shave?

Did you know that your beard hair is longer when it is wet? Therefore, do not trim your beard when it is wet. Chances are that your beard is shorter than you would have liked. For best results, wet your skin a little and let the beard dry. With wet skin, your pores remain open, which makes it easier to touch up your beard lines.

Beard trimming tips: important to know

Before we start with our step-by-step plan for trimming your beard and mustache, we have a few tips for the best results.

• Take your time: You’ve worked hard for your beard or mustache. Take the time to trim it: once trimmed, you can’t get it back for the time being. Avoid regrets by preparing properly, having a style or length in mind, and taking the time to trim your beard.
• Double-check the beard trimmer: Check which cap is on it and whether it matches the desired beard length.
• Trim in stages: Take is easy! If you plan to shave 5mm off, start with 2mm first and see how it goes from there. You may encounter bald spots. If you encounter this in time, you can still trim around it so that the long beard hair falls over it.
• Comb your hair into shape: Before you start trimming, first comb your beard into the desired model. This way you know better in which direction to trim.
• Take it easy: A trimmer has sharp blades. Therefore, always trim carefully, especially around your upper lip.

Good Quality Beard trimmer or clippers

A beard trimmer is a type of clipper that is specially intended for the face and for beard hair. Normal clippers usually have a bare blade designed to trim scalp hair very short. If there are already length settings, these usually do not go further than a few millimeters. The best clippers come with comb attachments and are hard and sharp enough to trim the beard as well.

Beard trimmers have a comb attachment that allows you to better adjust the length for the stubble or the short beard. The blades of the best beard trimmers are also harder and sharper. This is necessary because beard hair is a lot harder and thicker than scalp hair. With cheap clippers, the blades would quickly become dull, leading to pulling and irritation.

Beard oil or beard balm to care for beard hair

Now that you’re done touching up your beard, you can use this moment to get the use of grooming products into your routine. You’ve just showered before trimming, so your pores and beard hairs are all set to absorb the products. Give your beard the recovery of these products!

Grab your beard oil or beard balm. Spread it over your hand and apply the beard products to your beard.

On the pages for beard oil and for beard balm , enough tips have already been given why you should have these care products in your bedside table. Read through the articles if you don’t know why you should use these products yet!

A Quick & Safe Step By Step Guide: How To Trim Your Beard Properly

To properly trim your beard, just go gradually, and in stages. We start first with the sides, then trim the beard itself, in order to create a certain harmony. The first advice is also never to cut too much at once: start with small cuts (a few millimeters), wait until the next day, and see at that time if the beard needs another size. It allows you to avoid wasting several weeks of effort in one day!

While having a great beard trimmer is important, knowing how to use it is also essential. So we offer you a step-by-step guide to show you how you should do it.

Step 1: Clean Your Beard

The first step to trimming your beard properly doesn’t even require you to use your trimmer. Instead, the best way to start is to take a shower and carefully clean your beard. This allows you to do several things. For starters, it cleans out any excess dirt and debris, as well as body oil that may have been produced during the day or night.

All of its waste can easily get into your beard and cause problems when you try to trim it. Cleaning your beard before you start trimming it has another benefit, as it straightens the hairs so they can be caught more easily by the teeth of the trimmer.

Frizzy beard hairs will fold in on themselves and could be a problem for a trimmer. But those that have been straightened will be cut cleanly and efficiently. Finally, taking a hot shower and carefully cleaning your face is essential for the next step, during which you remove those from your neck and outline a good beard line.

After your shower, be sure to dry your beard carefully with a clean towel. While the hairs in your beard need to be cleaned and dried, you also don’t want your hairs to be soaked when you trim them. You should also be clear about which beard styles you prefer, and most importantly, which beard style you want to opt for.

Step 2: Clean Your Neck Line

Now you are going to take care of your neck line. Most men have a lot of hair on their neck and covers the Adam’s apple. This is normal, but it can make your beard look lazy or unkempt if not trimmed properly.

Some men prefer their neck to be perfectly clean shaven, without any trace of beard. Others will prefer a slight layered effect as their neck hair merges with their beard. It’s a stylistic preference and no choice is better than another.

But you should take a second to consider what your preference is before going any further. Once you know what you want, grab the trimmer and use it at its minimum length to get rid of the long hairs on your neck. Go slowly when mowing this area, as it is easy to go too far.

When you go too far in one section, you often have to trim the rest of your hair to match your neck hair and this can turn out a lot worse than you intended.

Cut a centimeter from the full length of your neck before peeking to see if you want to go any further. On the other hand, once you have decided, make sure that the line of the neck is uniform and goes even from one end of the jaw to the other.

If you want your neck to be clean shaven, you can do so after trimming your beard. You will use regular razors to do this instead of your trimmer. If you want, check out our guide to the best safety razors for men for some great options.

Step 3: Time to Trim The Cheek Line

Now is the time to use your new beard trimmer. Select your length to get started. It’s usually a combination of sliders located directly on the trimmer itself or by choosing a comb that you can slide onto the end of the trimmer head.

If you’ve never done this before, we recommend starting with a long length. This way, you can trim your beard longer than you want it to be and practice before finalizing your final look.

Going slow is important since you can’t go back after cutting. While it’s true that your beard will always grow back, it’s better to get it right the first time. Select your preferred length and get started.

Step 4: Select The Length You Prefer

You will start with the cheek line. The cheek line is the edge of your beard and marks the separation between your beard and the clean skin below your eyes and around your nose. You should take a moment to think about where you want your cheek line to be before you start mowing.

Once you’ve decided on the length you think is best, you can begin. Some men will look better with a beard that goes all the way to the top of the cheekbones while others prefer a cheek line closer to their lips and even closer to the jawline.

The choice is totally yours. If you can’t decide, we again recommend that you start slowly and only mow a little on each side before stopping and watching to determine if you want to continue.

Step 5: Trim Cheeks

Once you have defined your cheek line, you can start trimming your beard by placing the trimmer on your cheek line and sliding the device towards your jawline. Your trimmer should already be set to the optimal length or to a longer length if you are inexperienced.

It’s essential to go slow since the hair on your cheek tends to grow back more slowly than the hair above your upper lip and on your neck. It is at this point that style begins to play a significant role. Some men have full beards and want their cheeks to be fluffy.

But many other men want their hair to be a little shorter and finer on their cheeks than on their chin or above their lips.

A good length for this style is for the length at the cheeks to be about 2 millimeters shorter than at your beard. You can achieve this by choosing the correct length setting on your trimmer. Just remember the lengths you chose before changing zones!

Whatever your personal preferences, start by trimming your cheekbones and take a look at the result before moving on to the other parts of your face.

Step 6: Trim The Jawline

Now it’s time to move on to your jawline. Take the trimmer and slide it in the natural direction of the hair. This will help trap the hair in the clipper teeth and cut it more easily. You should use the clippers to follow your jaw line all the way.

Be sure to catch the hairs at the ends, as it is not uncommon for a few cheek hairs to escape the teeth of the trimmer. If necessary, you can use hairdressing scissors for those located at the end of your cheek.

Step 7: Clip Your Chin And Mouth

Now is the time to take care of your chin and mouth. If your hair there is the same length as your cheek hair, you don’t need to worry about changing the length settings. Simply run the trimmer around your mouth and make sure to go over the ends of your chin, a smaller version of the back of your cheeks.

Go over with the trimmer several times to make sure everything is the same length. If you want the ones on your mouth or chin to be a bit longer than the ones on the cheeks, change the trimmer settings accordingly and get to work.

Extra Step: Trim/Shave Mustache

Those of you who want to trim your mustache separately from other parts of your beard need to be extra careful during the entire process. Some men want their mustache to be significantly longer than the other parts of their beards.

In this case, you must have already trimmed the rest of your beard. But if you need to trim your mustache a bit more to get the ultimate look, you’ll want to have it combed out beforehand.

Be sure to comb your mustache downward. This way, you can check if it has longer hairs that could get tangled in your mouth. You can remove them with barber scissors or with your beard and mustache trimmer, as long as it is set to the appropriate length.

To be extra careful, it’s a good idea to trim your face, maintaining more length and testing out the perfect setting for your mustache.

Extra Step: Favorites Way

Many trimmers designed for beards have an option for sideburns, either in the form of a separate head or a slide-on attachment. These practical accessories are perfect for pairing your sideburns with the hairiness of your cheeks. This process is nothing special.

Simply comb your sideburns down, so they match your beard, then use the sliding trimmer to give your sideburns a rectangular or short shape that works just fine

Extra Step: Small Hairs

If you want to remove the small hairs, it is essential that you only focus on this part, since you have already removed the long hairs from your beard. This is because most beard trimmers can only remove your small hairs once you have removed the longer ones from your beard.

When you remove your fine hairs, your goal is to prepare your face for a close shave. The more small hairs you can remove, the easier your shave will be when using a regular razor or an electric razor on your face. It is important to remember that the blades of clippers are not necessarily as optimized, soft or skin-friendly as dedicated electric or conventional razors.

This means that it’s often a good idea to put some shaving cream on your face before trying to remove your fine hairs. Shaving cream will help protect your skin from irritation and it will allow the trimmer to cut small hairs more effectively.

Most high-end clippers have a blade that can remove enough small hairs that you don’t even have to use a regular razor afterwards. It all depends on what you want. You can also use your trimmer to trim your small hairs to make it look like you have a growing beard. This can allow you to maintain a “shaggy” appearance without having to shave a clean shave and wait for it to grow back.

Step 8: Shave The Neck With A Razor

Finally, after you’ve examined your beard and determined what you’ve done, it’s time to get the finishing touches. At this point, you can take a regular razor and shave your neck until it’s clean shaven.

Whether or not you’ve completed this extra task, you should take care to clean your mower and make sure to dry out any wet parts while you’re not using it. It’s also a good idea to plug it in as long as you think about it.

This ensures you always have battery power when you use it, even if your trimmer takes an extremely long time to charge.

Step 9: Don’t Neglect The Moisturizing

Although trimming your beard is less stressful on your skin than shaving, you still need to take care of your aftershave. This step is indeed very important and will ensure that your beard is well trimmed while taking care of your skin and helping it to recover from the passage of the blade. 

First of all, you must rinse your face well. This will not only rehydrate your skin and hair while cleansing your face and ridding it of bacteria, hair residue and impurities. In addition, you should also apply an aftershave product there. 

However, please pay attention to its composition and opt for a product that does not contain alcohol. This will only dry it out and make the beard itchy, which isn’t necessarily pleasant. 

Finally, remember to regularly clean your beard hair and apply beard oil. This will keep her looking vibrant and healthy.

The purpose of beard trimming

For men who have doubts about the merits of beard trimming, it is important to remember that contrary to what one might think, a beautiful beard is a groomed beard. Cutting it is not just shortening it: it is shaping it to highlight its strength and its best aspects while removing the hairs that do not contribute to this objective.

This is what allows all men to be almost on an equal footing, since a well-made size (that is to say in places where the hair is denser or less regular) makes it possible to have a beautiful beard, whether genetics has been advantageous or not!

You also have to think that trimming your beard has a social role: it allows you to keep a neat appearance. Whether in the context of professional life, especially for young adults starting a career, or in that of sentimental life, to succeed in remaining elegant and attractive, a trimmed beard is better seen, and more easily appreciated.

While it takes patience and dedication to grow a beard worthy of the name, it would be a shame to be seen as lazy and neglected!

Finally, it is important to note that if the advice provided here is suitable for all beards in general, it is however necessary to adapt them to each style: all beards do not necessarily require trimming in length, for example. Trimming your beard also means being able to express yourself, so don’t hesitate to adapt these tips to your own desires.

Frequently asked questions

Read which frequently asked questions are asked by other beard fans and discover our advice.

How can you trim a beard with clippers?

Trimming your beard with clippers is done freehand. If you’re trimming a stubble, it’s pretty easy. Set the clippers to the desired length setting and trim your beard evenly short to stubble. For the longer beard, you will have to keep your clippers at the right height. 

The use of a beard trimmer is therefore often a great solution for a short beard. Beard scissors can also do the finer work with greater precision.

How often should you trim a beard?

This is a personal preference. If you want to maintain a certain length of stubble, you can trim your beard every three to four days. For a short beard style, once a week is often enough. If you take good care of your beard with beard scissors, you could get by with even less trimming.

Why trim your beard?

If you don’t trim your beard in time, it will become tangled and untidy. A beard usually only goes one of two ways: either it makes you look manly and well-groomed, or not at all. Regularly trimming your beard is important to maintain that well-groomed appearance.

When should you trim your beard?

You should trim your beard if you think it looks too untidy. If this is your first time, wait at least a month, preferably two, before you start trimming. That way, the slower hairs also get the chance to grow long enough.

At what length can I trim my beard?

You can trim your beard in just a few millimeters. Trimming a stubble is easy and fast and also saves you in shaving costs. From there, your feet are the limit , you don’t want to trip over your beard of course.

In which direction should I trim my beard?

Trim against the direction of hair growth. This way the blades grab your beard hairs best and you work the fastest. The beard can often change direction, especially on the neck. Brushing and combing your beard regularly will keep all the hairs in line and make it easier to trim.