Having a great beard is something that many men strive to achieve. However, it’s one thing to have a beard, and another to know how to maintain it and keep it neatly shaped.

Neglecting to trim your beard’s edges can lead to that dreadful grooming DON’T – the neckbeard. A neckbeard can make you look sloppy and unkempt. To ensure your facial hair looks neat and stylish, you will need to know how to properly trim your beard neckline.

Trimming the beard neckline can be a difficult task for many men. In this article, we’ll show you how to achieve the perfect beard neckline trim with ease. We’ll also teach you how to find your neckline, prep the area, and go through the procedure like a pro!

Tools You’ll Need

It takes more than just your old clippers to get that sculpted beard neckline trim.

Here are some basic tools you’ll need to get started:

• Cleanser/beard wash
• Clippers/trimmers
• Brush or comb
• Razor (electric or manual)
• Shaving cream
• Beard bib (optional)
• Moisturizer or aftershave

Finding Your Beard Neckline

What is a beard neckline? Your beard neckline is described as the point where your neck meets the underside of your face. It’s known as the point where your facial hair stops and gives way to your neck.

It may seem like an obvious area to locate, however many men struggle to find their beard neckline. This can lead to trimming the beard neckline too high or too low. Either way, the result is an awkward looking beard.

Here’s how you can find your beard neckline on your own:

1. Locate your Adam’s apple and place two fingers above it – this is the bottom of your beard neckline.
2. Now that you’ve located the bottom of your beard neckline, you need to find the beard pivot. This is the angle right where your jaw makes a corner below your ear. This point is sharper and more defined in some men than it is in others.
3. Trace an imaginary line in a horseshoe curve connecting down and around to the spot above your Adam’s apple.

Pro tip: Use a three-way mirror to give a full view of the canvas. If you don’t have this, then a bathroom mirror and handheld mirror will do just fine.

Preparation For Trimming

Never skip on the prep work when it comes to trimming your beard neckline. You need to meticulously prepare your beard and the skin to give you the best results.

Follow these 3 steps: 

1. Wash and cleanse your beard thoroughly with warm water to soften and prepare your beard hairs.
2. Use a high-quality wash specifically made for your beards like the Clean Slate, our 2-in-1 purifying face wash and toner.
3. Detangle your beard. Use a brush or a beard comb to untangle hairs for a more even trim.

Trimming Your Neckline

Now is where the real fun starts. If you’ve done the preliminary part of the beard neckline trim process, then this can be an easy procedure.

Ready your tools and follow these steps:

1. Keep your chin up and use your fingers to stretch your neck skin for a smooth and easier beard neckline trim.
2. Use a beard trimmer (a hair trimmer will work just as well). If you are using a hair trimmer, set it 2 sizes lower than what you typically use for your beard.
3. To get a sharply defined outline for your neckline, work from your imagined neckline downward.
4. Then work bottom up, taking care to stop where you’ve already defined the line.
5. For a cleaner, more finished look, apply shaving foam or shaving oil on the rest of your neckline. Then, use a razor to shave in neat strokes with the natural grain of your hair.
6. Use a good shaving oil like Prime Cut to prevent you from getting razor bumps.
7. Use a new blade and always rinse between passes, taking care not to put a clogged razor to your neck at any time. Clogged razors can lead to ingrown hairs.
8. You can also use an electric razor instead of a razor, which helps to reduce bumps and ingrown hairs

Wet dry electric razors do a wonderful job. They are much smaller than traditional clippers and will give you the best control when carving out your beard outline.

Even if you’re only going for the stubble look, getting that nice angle around your neckline will make it look neater and more professional.

The Cleanup

Now that you’re done with the most important part of the process it’s time to bring it all together with the clean up.

Cleanup prevents bacteria from getting into any microscopic cuts you might have gotten while doing the trim. It’s a step you can’t afford to skip.

Follow these 2 steps: 

1. Wash the area with cool water to soothe the skin, removing any stray hairs and shaving residue. It’s also suggested to use a mild cleanser like Clean Slate to properly get rid of residue.
2. Use a clean towel and pat the area dry and then hydrate the skin with a good moisturizer. Try Saving Face, our Age Defense Moisturizer + Aftershave.And you’re all done! It’s time to admire the finished look and maybe take a selfie or two – you’ve certainly earned it.

Repairing A Beard Neckline That’s Too High

Even if you’ve followed these guidelines you might still have ended up trimming your beard neckline too high – yikes! Or perhaps the damage has already been done before reading this blog.

Don’t worry – all hope is not lost. You can still do damage control and possibly rectify the situation.

Here are 3 methods to repair a beard neckline that’s too high:

1. Let it grow. For many men this can be anywhere from a week, but for others it might take longer. While you wait, you can use a beard oil like Prime Cut to stimulate healthy hair growth in these regions.
2. Trim down the rest of your facial hair to match your botched beard neckline. This option can be very effective especially if you have shorter beard hair and you can’t cover up your mistake.
3. If all else fails, perhaps it’s a sign for you to try out a new beard style. Beard styles like goatees stop right at the jawline making the need of having a carved and sculpted beard neckline obsolete.

Conclusion

Keeping your beard neckline trim and tidy will give you that nicely defined jawline that makes heads turn in the best way. Plus, a well-trimmed beard neckline will make your entire beard look fuller from side angles.

Remember that anything worth doing, is worth doing well. This includes maintaining a well-groomed and sculpted beard. Here at JESSE JIMZ, we’re all about helping you uplevel your grooming game

Your beard trimming kit won’t be complete without these products:

• Clean Slate – A sulfate-free face wash and toner that deep cleans the face and beard without over-drying.
• Prime Cut – A beard and shave oil to condition hair and skin with natural oils and nourishing extracts.
• Saving Face – A moisturizer and aftershave to help hydrate and moisturize your skin after every shave.

Shop our shave and beard essentials here.