How to Line Up Your Beard (Plus Styling Tips for Your Face Shape)

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Get a perfect neckline and sculpted cheeks with our expert guide
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A well-groomed beard has defined cheek lines and neck lines. Cheek lines run along each cheek bone, from the bottom of the sideburn to the edge of the mustache. Neck lines run from ear to ear, beneath the jaw bones and connecting in the center, right above your Adam’s apple. Sounds simple enough, but lining up your beard takes a little work! Read on to learn which points to start at and where the beard lines should run, you’ll be able to line everything up easily. We’ve even consulted professional barber Juan Sabino for trimming and grooming tips to keep your beard looking fresh and healthy.

Beard Line Up Quick Overview

To create your beard neckline, visualize a U-shaped line connecting your ears and crossing about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) above your Adam’s apple (about 2 fingers’ width). For your cheek lines, picture a line from the bottom of your sideburns to the corner of your mustache.

Section 1 of 3:

Shaving Your Neckline

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  1. Imagine a line that starts behind one ear (point A), curves down to the top of your neck (right below your jaw), then back up to the back of the opposite ear (point B). [1]
    • The ideal neckline extends down from the curve of the ear. [2]
    • If you have trouble visualizing the line, try drawing onto your beard it with a white eyeliner pencil or a barber’s pencil . [3]
  2. Place two fingers above your Adam’s apple, right below your chin. This will help you locate point C, the midpoint between point A and B. [4]
    • The midpoint is typically 1 to 1.5 in (2.5 to 3.8 cm) above the Adam’s apple, right between your head and neck.
    • Trimming your neckline higher than this might give you a “chinstrap” look instead of a full beard.
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  3. First, shave straight downward above your Adam’s apple to clean up the very center of your neckline. Then, starting at the freshly shaved midpoint, work outward (to the right or left) and start eliminating all of the hair below the jawline. Remember to follow the line that runs from point A to point B to avoid creating an overly rounded line (it should curve gently and slightly upward as it wraps around your neck). [5]
    • Aim to make both sides of your neckline as symmetrical as possible. Once you have one side cleaned up, repeat the exact same movements on the other side.
    • Styling tip: Use a handheld mirror along with your bathroom mirror to see how your neckline looks from the side (your profile) and make adjustments as needed to get the shape and symmetry you want.
  4. Imagine another line that goes straight down from your sideburn. It should start at the back edge of your sideburn (the part closest to your ear) and go straight down to meet your jawline to bisect the ear-to-ear line. Use the trimmers to round the intersection off on both sides. [6]
    • Styling tip: If you have a rounder face, leave the corners a bit sharper and more defined to create a stronger, straighter jawline. [7] If you have naturally angular features, rounding them off can soften your overall look.
  5. Try fading your neckline for a less defined, more natural look (optional). Grab your clippers and choose a guard one size down from your beard length (for example, if you trim your beard to a #4, put on a #3). Trim upward into your neckline about 1 inch (2.5 cm) to create a subtle grade. Then, switch guards to go another size down (to a #2, for example), and go over half of the space you just trimmed (about ½ inch (1.3 cm)). [8]
    • Repeat this process a third time, going down one more guard size and trimming half of the previous beard space (so about ¼ inch (0.6 cm) this time).
    • Continue this process until you’re at a #0 (or the bare teeth of the clipper) right at your neckline.
  6. To keep your neck line defined, clean up the lines every other day. If your hair grows very fast, you may even need to do this daily. For a more natural look, you can do it every three or four days.
    • Styling tip: If you’re growing a super long beard, you can stop trimming your neckline once your beard is big enough to cover it up. No one will see it anyway! [9]
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Section 2 of 3:

Sculpting Your Cheek Lines

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  1. This line should follow the natural line of your cheek. You want the line to be straight, starting at the bottom of the inside edge of your sideburn (point A) and ending at the edge of your mustache (point B). Identify specific points for A and B; don't generalize. [10]
    • Like with your neckline, use a white eyeliner pencil or barber’s pencil to draw the line if you have a hard time visualizing it.
    • Styling tip: If your cheek hair is thin or sparse, don’t worry too much about creating a clearly defined line. Just get rid of any stray hairs above your natural cheek line to preserve the bulk of your beard.
  2. For a clean and defined line, don’t use a guard for this. Carefully trim the hair above the visualized (or drawn) cheek line. Sabino recommends shaving downward and going with the grain of your hair. [11] Start at the sideburn (point A) and work your way down your face right next to your mustache (point B). [12]
  3. If you want a very defined and angular look, don’t worry about rounding off the transition points at your sideburn and mustache. For a softer, more natural line, round off the edges at the point where the beard meets your sideburn, and again at the point where it meets the edge of your mustache. [13]
    • Styling tip: Rounding the corners will help soften your face if you have naturally angular or sharp features. If you have a rounder face, keep the transition points sharper and more defined.
  4. Always do one cheek first, and then refer back to it as you’re working on the other cheek to make sure things are even. Avoid going back and forth from cheek to cheek, which can result in you trimming off too much of your beard or creating asymmetrical lines. Make the sides as even as you can, but don’t stress over absolute perfection. [14]
    • In general, symmetrical faces are perceived as highly attractive across many cultures. [15] So, the more symmetrical your cheek lines are, the more heads you might turn!
  5. If you want to keep your lines defined and sharp, you are probably going to have to do routine maintenance and clean up every other day. If your hair grows very fast, you may even need to do this daily. [16]
  6. While grooming your mustache is an art of its own, you might as well touch up your lip line while you’re defining your beard lines, too. Comb your mustache hair down and use a bare trimmer (no guard) or mustache scissors to clean up any hairs that hang over the lip line (the border where your lip skin and face skin meet). [18]
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Section 3 of 3:

Prepping Your Beard & Skin for Trimming

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  1. Sabino advises that starting with a clean, soft beard will help you achieve clean beard lines. Use a mild shampoo, then follow up with a conditioner made specifically for beard hair . [19] Rinse thoroughly and pat your face dry with a clean towel.
  2. Never trim a wet beard! Wet hair looks longer than dry hair, so if you start trimming while it’s still wet, it’s easy to trim off way too much. Let your beard air dry completely, or use a blow dryer on a low setting to dry the hair. [20]
    • If you have sensitive skin, skip the blow dryer. It can aggravate the skin beneath your beard.
  3. Comb through your beard with a wide-toothed comb . Gently detangle your beard hair thoroughly and comb the hair into its usual place. This gets everything organized before you start creating your beard lines and helps ensure clean, even results. [21]
  4. Shaving over clean, hydrated skin to prevent razor burn and bumps . Wash your face and neck with warm water and a gentle facial cleanser or exfoliant that won’t dry out or irritate your sensitive neck or cheek skin. This will clean and soften your skin and any stray beard hairs you’ll trim away (damp hairs swell slightly and bend less, meaning they’re less likely to curve into your skin and cause bumps). [22]
    • Always trim in the direction of your hair growth, whether you’re working on your neck or cheeks. Shaving the opposite way can lead to inflammation. [23]
    • After trimming, rinse your skin with cool water and apply a fragrance-free moisturizer or hydrating gel to prevent irritation.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.beards.org/neck.php
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVY_hvAkmSY
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/nbrMuYQED80?t=62
      4. ↑ https://livebearded.com/blogs/do-better/mastering-the-beard-neckline-avoid-neckbeard-disasters
      5. ↑ https://livebearded.com/blogs/do-better/mastering-the-beard-neckline-avoid-neckbeard-disasters
      6. ↑ https://www.beards.org/neck.php
      7. ↑ https://www.thegentlemansjournal.com/article/trim-beard-line-depending-face-shape/
      8. ↑ https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-fade-your-beard
      9. ↑ https://livebearded.com/blogs/do-better/mastering-the-beard-neckline-avoid-neckbeard-disasters
      1. ↑ https://www.beards.org/cheek.php
      2. ↑ Juan Sabino. Professional Barber. Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.
      3. ↑ https://www.beards.org/cheek.php
      4. ↑ https://www.beards.org/cheek.php
      5. ↑ https://www.beards.org/cheek.php
      6. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beastly-behavior/201907/why-are-symmetrical-faces-so-attractive
      7. ↑ https://www.beards.org/cheek.php
      8. ↑ Juan Sabino. Professional Barber. Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.
      9. ↑ https://livebearded.com/blogs/do-better/handlebar-mustache-trimming-and-style-advice-from-a-pro
      10. ↑ Juan Sabino. Professional Barber. Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.
      11. ↑ https://www.beards.org/grooming.php
      12. ↑ https://www.beards.org/grooming.php
      13. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/razor-bump-prevention
      14. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23583-razor-burn
      15. ↑ https://www.beards.org/cheek.php

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To line up your beard, you’ll need to make a straight cheek line and shave a clear neckline. First, imagine a straight line running from your sideburns to your mustache along your cheekbone. Then, trim the hair above the line with clippers. If you want the line to be very defined, round off the transition points at your sideburn and mustache. Otherwise, just round off the points where your beard ends for a more natural look. When it comes to your neckline, imagine a line running from one ear to the other. Find the mid-point on this line by placing 2 fingers just above your Adam’s apple. Shave downwards from your fingers with the trimmer. Work in both directions to get rid of all the hair below your jawline. Finally, trim a line running down the back of your sideburn closest to your ear to the bottom of your beard. For tips on how to wash and comb your beard before trimming it, keep reading!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Masta Sippa

        Jan 2, 2020

        "The only guide I could find that demonstrated how to shape the cheek line. Thank you!"
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