Home Lifestyle 9 Things Every Guy Needs to Know About Trimming, Shaving, or Growing Facial Hair – But Probably Doesn’t · Primer

9 Things Every Guy Needs to Know About Trimming, Shaving, or Growing Facial Hair – But Probably Doesn’t · Primer

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9 Things Every Guy Needs to Know About Trimming, Shaving, or Growing Facial Hair – But Probably Doesn’t · Primer

9 issues I had to study facial hair the onerous approach.

Thanks to Brio for partnering with us and providing Primer readers a free Zero Blade attachment ($25) with their Beardscape buy.

Shaving and caring for facial hair is rather a lot like doing our taxes: It is a type of issues we’ve to do however we’re by no means actually educated on how to do it. A few of us might need been fortunate to get some preliminary directions from a father determine, however even then, in case your facial hair progress or fashion is any completely different from his, you have had to determine it out for your self.

What on the floor looks as if it needs to be easy – hair on face too lengthy, make shorter – truly has fairly a little bit of nuance.

1. Don’t Belief Your Rest room Lighting Alone

Take my phrase for it: If you happen to do all of your grooming in the identical rest room, in entrance of the identical mirror, with the identical lighting daily, you is probably not getting the total image.

About 10 years in the past, I used to be chilling with one in all my closest pals at dwelling and he politely advised me I had a hair rising out the aspect of my nostril, coincidentally (and completely timed) with our dialog about our frustrations with the LA relationship scene. Not out of my nostril – out the aspect of my nostril. I went to the toilet, and even doing that factor the place I’m inches from the mirror, I couldn’t see what the heck he was speaking about.

illustration of a hair growing out of the side of man's nose
I did not even know hair might develop on the aspect of noses

I pulled out my cellular phone flash gentle and moved it throughout my face, and certain sufficient, there it was, a hair that should have been a 3rd of an inch lengthy simply straight up rising out the aspect of my nostril. Its size made clear it had been there for a while and I might by no means see it as a result of it simply occurred to fall on this awkward blind spot that my rest room arrange brought about.

To get a greater image of what’s happening, particularly for probably embarrassing stuff you’d choose to keep away from like nostril and ear hair, but additionally for catching beard strays, sometimes give your face a sweep with lighting that breaks up your regular perspective.

2. Obtain a Naturally Rounded Higher Cheek Line by Pulling Your Cheek Up Then Shave a Straight Line

an illustration showing a man twice, on the left with his beard shaved in a straight line up his cheek, on the right with a natural rounded cheek line

Your face isn’t flat, and neither ought to the highest of your cheek line. An higher beard cheek line that has a pure contour permits you to neaten up your facial hair look with out wanting such as you simply squared off the bushes with a hedge trimmer. The trick to cleansing up your cheeks whereas giving it a pure look lies in a easy however efficient method:

  • Begin by pulling the pores and skin of your cheek upward
  • Then, along with your pores and skin nonetheless taut, shave or trim in a straight line the place you need your cheek line to be.
  • The magic occurs once you launch your pores and skin; the straight line you have simply created will naturally undertake a barely rounded look that follows the pure form of your face.
man pulling up on his cheek skin and shaving his cheek line

This technique does extra than simply create a visually pleasing line; it additionally helps in defining the cheekbones and framing your face in a approach that enhances your facial construction.

3. Lower Into Your Mustache, Don’t Lower It Straight Throughout

illustration of a man's mustache, on the left it is cut straight across looking awkardly, on the right it has a more natural edge where the hairs are not the same length

Whereas a lot of facial hair grooming comes down to bettering presentation, trimming the ends of your mustache hairs is a extra sensible, “GET OUT OF MY MOUTH” operation.

It’s straightforward to consider it the identical approach you do your sideburns or the best way the barber trims the underside of your hair in your neck: Straight throughout with the trimmer.

mustache trimming tip

But for a extra pure edge, deal with the mustache extra like bangs as a substitute, and minimize into the ends of the hairs along with your trimmer or scissors to scale back size in a extra natural approach as a substitute of giving your ‘stache the equal of a bowl minimize.

4. My Most well-liked Straightforward Clear Up Method

a paper towel in the bottom of the sink before shaving for easy clean up

The clear up is without doubt one of the most annoying elements of shaving and trimming. Whether or not you are dwelling with a companion, roommates, or merely cherish a clear rest room like an grownup, these tiny hairs appear to have a expertise for locating their approach into each nook and cranny, clinging stubbornly to sinks and counter tops.

One factor I’ve discovered that makes issues simpler when utilizing a trimmer is to place a moist paper towel within the backside of the sink. The moist floor acts like a magnet for facial hair clippings, making them stick to the towel moderately than flying off into the unknown.

There are additionally devoted sink covers for these inclined, however they appear sort of costly for what are primarily the identical as rest room seat covers. For males with routines coping with much more density, a devoted product like the assorted beard bibs accessible, whereas wanting foolish, supply a bigger and reusable answer.


brio beardscape v2 trimmer with 2 double sided guards and charging stand
Brio Bearscape V2

When it comes to what actually issues in a trimmer, there are just a few non-negotiables: it wants sufficient energy to glide via your hair with out snagging and pulling, blades sharp sufficient to reduce the variety of passes you could have to make, development that forestalls it from getting too scorching in your face and in your hand, and maybe most crucially, a battery that will not betray you by dying midway via a trim, which all the time appears to be proper earlier than a giant occasion.

Frustratingly, nearly any trimmer you come throughout domestically is not going to have any of that.

Ceramic blades, like these on the Beardscape V2, are a rarity on the planet of trimmers, the place metallic blades are customary. The benefit of ceramic over metallic is important: they keep sharper for longer, resist warmth build-up, and are quieter throughout operation.

close up of ceramic blades on beard trimmer

That is in stark distinction to the extra frequent metallic blades, which may uninteresting faster, get uncomfortably scorching with extended use, and infrequently create extra noise. The usage of ceramic blades within the Beardscape V2 ensures a trimming expertise that’s not solely extra comfy but additionally extra environment friendly, decreasing the necessity for a number of passes over the identical space and thereby lessening the chance of pores and skin irritation.

close up of brio beardscape screen which indicates cutting length, rpm, and battery in minutes

Shopping for a trimmer comes down to investing in a software which you could depend on for years, and the Beardscape V2 is exactly that. It is what you improve to once you’re bored with burning via plastic-y, off-the-shelf trimmers that share the identical motor as the electrical toothbrush within the subsequent aisle and as a substitute are prepared for a severe software designed with longevity and efficiency in thoughts. Its distinctive options set it aside from the extra generally accessible trimmers that may supply a decrease upfront price however fall quick in sturdiness and effectivity. The Beardscape V2 is a software that not solely meets your grooming wants right now however continues to carry out for years to come.

Brio is providing Primer readers a free Zero Blade attachment price $25 with the acquisition of a Bearscape.


5. Nail The place Your Beard Hair Ought to Cease On Your Neck Each Time With This Information

Extra so than how to develop facial hair, or selecting which fashion to go together with, or what merchandise to use, it looks as if absolutely the one factor most males are by no means taught and isn’t inherently apparent is: The place in your neck ought to your beard or scruff cease?

Go too low and also you begin wanting like a werewolf. Go too excessive and also you run the chance of drawing consideration to the underside of your chin, like this TV present poster I got here throughout within the grocery retailer:

Left: A beard shaved too excessive on the neck Proper: Photoshopped to present how leaving the hair in your chin attracts the attention up

Right here’s a simple information to get it proper:

  • Your facial hair mustn’t lengthen handed or under the again nook of your jaw. The hair ought to wrap round the nook, however not lengthen additional.
  • From there, use your comb (or eyeball it when you’re adventurous) to visualize a line from the nook of your jaw to simply above your Adam’s apple.
Illustrated guide on how to find the appropriate neckline for a beard. Two side profile drawings of a man with a beard are featured. The top image shows a dotted line marking the start of the neckline on the far side of the jaw corner. The bottom image shows an orange line curving from the start point around the neck to end above the Adam's apple. Text instructions accompany each step. The background is a watercolor wash in blue and white. The logo of 'Primer' is at the top

Adjusting the road barely primarily based in your facial construction can additional optimize your beard’s look. For these with rounder faces, a barely increased line can elongate the face, whereas people with longer faces would possibly profit from a decrease line to add fullness.

For males who lack an outlined separation between their jaw line and their neck, my suggestion can be to observe the identical information however taper the hair under the jaw line to create the phantasm of contour.

The secret is to be certain that the top level enhances your pure options, moderately than adhering rigidly to a one-size-fits-all strategy.

Holding your shavers, trimmers, and razors clear isn’t only for professionals and the OCD amongst us: It’s a important a part of avoiding pores and skin irritations and infections. Each time you shave or trim, your instruments come into contact with micro organism that may proliferate if left unchecked.

A easy and efficient technique is to use isopropyl alcohol. After every use, take a second to wipe down your razors or trimmer blades and some other non-electric elements with a fabric dampened with alcohol. This kills off micro organism and retains your instruments in prepared situation. For electrical trimmers, refer to the producer’s directions for protected cleansing practices, as direct software of liquids can harm some fashions.

bathroom counter with a tray with rubbing alcohol, safety razor, and small mister bottle

→ Professional-tip: Put your answer in a small mister bottle in order that cleansing is a breeze

For guys with a clear shave, utilizing isopropyl alcohol on the blades can sanitize and assist displace water. Substitute razor cartridges or blades usually – at the least each 5-7 shaves for many males. Uninteresting blades are more durable to hold bacteria-free.

Whether or not it is sticking with what his father used or grabbing no matter was accessible when he first wanted one, it is easy for a man to simply sort of fall into utilizing a selected grooming software, not realizing that some work higher for sure males than others.

It needs to be primarily based on the sort and elegance of your facial hair – in addition to your desire for an expertise or comfort.

illustration of a rotary shaver

Electrical Rotary Shaver:

  • Greatest for shut shaves slicing via curly or thicker facial hair
  • Method: round, rotating motions
  • Course: small circles throughout the face to catch and minimize hairs rising in numerous instructions
illustration of beard trimmer head

Beard Trimmer:

  • Greatest for trimming numerous lengths of facial hair from stubble to beard upkeep
  • Method: use with or with out guards for desired size
  • Course: frivolously go towards the grain
safety razor illustration

Security Razor:

  • Greatest for a detailed and exact shave
  • Method: use quick, straight strokes
  • Course: with the grain of the hair progress
illustration of a straight razor

Straight Razor:

  • Greatest for knowledgeable customers in search of a detailed shave
  • Method: cautious, easy strokes
  • Course: holding the razor edge at a 30 diploma angle to your pores and skin and going with the grain on the primary move, optionally available throughout or towards the grain on subsequent passes
illustration of a cartridge razor

Cartridge Razor:

  • Greatest for comfort and fast shaves
  • Method: gentle stress with longer, regular strokes
  • Course: with the grain for the primary move, optionally available throughout or towards the grain for nearer shaves
illustration of an electric foil shaver

Electrical Foil Shaver:

  • Greatest for clear shaves with much less pores and skin irritation
  • Method: lengthy, straight strokes
  • Course: over the face within the course of hair progress

8. Wash Your Face Earlier than Trimming or Shaving to Reduce The Likelihood of Zits, Ingrown Hairs, and many others.

There’s a cause nurses wash the floor of the pores and skin earlier than a surgeon will get began with the scalpel: The pores and skin is dwelling to loads of issues that may trigger issues in the event that they get inside an incision.

While you shave or trim with out first cleaning, you are not simply slicing hair. You are probably dragging micro organism throughout your pores and skin, inviting it into tiny nicks or infected pores, which may lead to zits, ingrown hairs, or worse. A pre-grooming wash with heat water and a mild cleanser does extra than simply rinse away these micro organism; it additionally softens your facial hair and opens your pores, setting the stage for a smoother, cleaner minimize.

Simply because we’re not making an attempt to minimize our selves when shaving and trimming doesn’t imply it’s not an inherent truth of facial hair upkeep.

9. Do not Endlessly Lower Flyaways, Use Hairspray on a Comb

Earlier than you frustratingly take scissors to that lone beard hair that insists on going its personal approach, regardless of how a lot you sweep it, there is a easy but efficient trick that may carry them into line: utilizing hairspray on a comb.

Spritz a fine-toothed comb with no matter hairspray you could have round, in a roundabout way onto your beard. This permits for a extra managed software, guaranteeing you do not find yourself with a stiff or sticky beard. Then, gently run the comb via your beard, specializing in the areas with flyaways. The hairspray helps maintain the hair in place with out weighing it down, with out having to always cope with the now shorter fly away because it grows again.

What are your shaving, grooming, and facial hair ideas you had to work out the onerous approach? Hold the listing going within the feedback.


 Primer readers get a free Zero Blade attachment once they order a Beardscape 2! Thanks to Brio for supporting Primer’s mission.

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