1. Beware the Clippers

When it comes to beard maintenance and trimming, sometimes what you shouldn't do is just as important as what you should do. So our "how to trim a long beard" advice starts with this: avoid the clippers.

Most men try to copy the grooming techniques used by their barber, and that means reaching for the clippers. But your barber is a professional who knows what he is doing. If you end up moving too quickly or slipping, you could ruin the look of your long beard in only half a second.

That's why we recommend using beard shears at first and developing a reliable trimming technique. As you gain more experience, you can work your way up to using clippers with efficiency and proficiency.

2. Keep It Clean

Want to make trimming your beard nice and easy? Then you need to make sure your beard is healthy and clean. If you haven't already done so, it's important to pick out a good beard shampoo and conditioner and make these part of your daily routine.

You might think you can just use the shampoo and conditioner that is already kicking around your shower. However, the cleaning products designed for the hair on your head weren't designed for the hair on your face. If you want to make your beard look good while making it easier to trim, then you need to use specialized shampoos and conditioners.

In addition to helping your beard look its best, these products may reduce how often you feel the need to trim your beard. That's because the right cleaning products can remove much of the frizziness and dirt that makes your beard look like it needs trimming in the first place.

3. Oil and Comb

Here's another bear maintenance technique that is important to the trimming process: using beard oil and a beard comb.

Combing the beard before trimming is very important. Doing this ensures that your hair is moving in a single direction, which is especially important (and difficult) if you have naturally curly hair.

Combing also removes any tangles from your beard. These tangles are annoying and painful enough on their own. But they can also disrupt the trimming process if you don't comb them out ahead of time.

Why use beard oil before trimming? Simple: your goal is to trim your hair in its natural state. If you normally use oil in your beard, doing so before trimming will help your beard look and feel more natural before you start removing hair.

To get hair in its natural state, you also need to let it dry first. Don't rush to trim right after a shower because you could easily cut off too much or too little hair!

4. Use Your Jaw As a Guide

How should your beard look after you trim it? There is no "right" answer to this because everyone has different personal preferences. Generally, though, you can use your jaw as a guide.

Long beards look best when they follow the shape of your jaw. You can then make it heavier/fuller near the front. This gives the appearance that it's longer near your chin and shorter near your sideburns.

This is another reason to avoid using clippers unless you have a lot of experience. Clippers are designed to trim to a universal length, and it can be difficult for an inexperienced person to achieve the right length for different sections using clippers. But beard shears can help you tailor the length of your beard to your exact preferences along every inch.

6. Regular Trimming

So, you've successfully trimmed your beard. That means you can wait a long time before doing it again, right? Wrong!

Ideally, you should trim your beard every two weeks. This helps you to maintain the look you want from week to week and month to month.

As an added benefit, future trimmings won't be as time-consuming as the first one. After you get used to the process and find the best trimming tools, you'll be amazed at how fast the trimming process will go.

7. Professional Help

Our last bit of advice is also the simplest: don't be afraid to learn from the professionals.

For example, you don't have to quit going to the barber for a trim right away. But while you're there, pay close attention to what he does. And don't be afraid to ask questions about his technique and his recommendations for beard care products.

Eventually, you'll master trimming and be able to take care of everything on your own. Until that happens, though, don't be afraid to learn while the master does his thing!

How to Trim a Long Beard: The Right Gear

Now you know how to trim a long beard. But do you know who can help you take care of that beard?

We specialize in high-performance solutions for beard, shaving, body, skincare, and more. To see what we can do for your own bushy beard, contact us today!