Make Your Neckline Resemble A “U”
If you are not carving your neckline the right way, don’t worry, it’s harder than it looks and easy to mess up if you don’t have a direction. However, there is a way to avoid cutting too much or end up having a neckbeard.
This easy-to-follow method consists in taking your index and middle finger and placing them together above Adam’s apple to determine where the beard’s bottom line is. That way, you can trace a line across the neck from that point to know when to stop trimming. You should also try to keep a U shape, so it aligns with your jawline.
Try To Fade Your Beard Into The Neckline
This technique is used by barbers all around the world, but it’s easier than you might think. Put a 1-guard on the clipper and close it all the way. Trim one inch of the beard for a soft contrast. This style looks really good in itself, but the goal is to make a seamless fade.
The second step of the technique is to take the guard off and trim halfway up into the guard-1 line for a fade. This method results in graduation between the bare neck and the beard. Just remember that this is useful for short beards. If yours is big and bushy, this is pointless.
Relax The Face While Shaving And Trimming
When most men shave their beards and mustaches, they tend to do a silly expression that tenses the whole face. This is actually making your job more difficult because everything aligns to that expression and not the normal “resting” position.
This is very important when trimming the mustache, which is really sensitive to the position change. While doing this part, you need to relax the face and use a comb to strengthen the mustache hairs. Always comb down to measure and upwards to cut. This way is the tidiest.
Beard Maintenance Equals Skincare
A lot of guys don’t pay attention to skincare, so they never realize that maintaining their beard healthy and nice is literally that. Keeping your beard under control is as important as keeping your skin moisturized and soft.
Therefore, you should always take care of your skin first before trimming or shaving. Firstly, be sure your skin is clean by washing with hot water and splashing cold water after. Then, you need to apply a pre-shaving cream or lotion to open up the pores. Finally, after shaving, you should apply a post-shaving lotion or gel.
Differentiate Beard Oil From Beard Balm
These two products have different functions and properties regarding beard maintenance. The oil is used mostly for health reasons: it acts as a moisturizer and a conditioning agent that helps stimulate growth and provides the necessary nutrients for both the hairs and the skin underneath.
On the other hand, the balm is typically used as a styling agent that adds volume to the beard. It can also act as a deodorant, eliminating any smells that might have got caught in the beard, and as a protective shield against environmental damage, like the sun or dry air.