Keeping Your Beard Line Up Sharp Between Trims

A fresh beard line up frames your whole face. The trouble is that stray growth creeps back within days. A little upkeep at home keeps the shape your barber gave you looking deliberate rather than overgrown.

Do not chase the line too high

The most common mistake is tidying the cheek and neck line yourself and taking a little more off each time. A week later the line has crept up your face and the beard looks thin. Clean only the obvious strays and leave the actual shape to the barber.

The neckline rule

Find the point about two finger widths above your Adam's apple. That is roughly where a natural neckline sits. Tidy below that point and leave everything above it alone, so the beard keeps its fullness under the jaw.

Keep it healthy

• Wash it a few times a week so it stays soft and clean, not dry and itchy.
• Use a little beard oil to condition the hair and the skin underneath.
• Comb it through to train the direction and spot stray hairs before they spread.

When to come back in

Every two to three weeks is about right for a proper line up, sooner if you like the edges crisp. That keeps the shape strong without you ever having to reach for the trimmers.