How to Trim a Beard Neckline

Guys, it’s 2018, chinstraps are out and definitely not okay.

This guide on how to trim a beard neckline will give a few easy reference points on how to properly trim a beard in relation to the neck, face, chin and jaw.  Follow these reference points, and I promise it will keep you from looking like you’re still trying to emulate boy bands from the 2000s.

The beard neckline is tough.  Too high, and it looks like a sheet of ham punctuated by a hairy breadstick.  Too low, or not at all, and your beard looks untamed, unkempt, uncomfortable and itchy as hell.

So, how do you know where to trim or shave?

Step 1.

Put your pointer finger and middle finger together.

Step 2.

Find your Adam’s apple

Step 3.

Put your middle finger on the tip of your Adam’s apple, parallel to the ground.  The top of your pointer finger is the natural neckline and reference point.

Step 4.

Make a line the width of your razor at the top of your pointer finger (red line in pictures) and shave downward.  This is now your physical reference point.

Step 5.

Starting from the middle reference point and moving outward, continue the path of the red line, shaving downward and ensuring that you stay below the jaw-line.  Now, do the same on the other side.

Step 6.

Round out the corners where the red and yellow line meet.  The yellow line represents the outer edge of the sideburns.

Congratulations.  You have just avoided the chinstrap and ham sheet.  You are now on your way to maintaining, or creating a rugged, luscious beard.

According to the Rugged Fellows Guide, there are a couple alternatives to the “two finger” method listed above for how to trim a beard neckline.

Alternative Method 1, the “Double Chin”:

Dip your chin down to your neck, making a double chin.  There will be two folds, one not so deep, and a deep one between your neck and chin.  DO NOT shave and follow the line from the “not so deep” fold, this will result in a catastrophic chin strap.

Instead, follow the deep natural line made between the neck and chin.  This will produce the same effect as the red and yellow lines above.

Alternative Method 2, the “Big Burger”:

Tilt your head up and open your mouth as wide as you can, like you are taking a bite out of a massive, juicy, medium-rare burger.  The area under your jawbone will create another natural guide, which you can follow with your razor or trimmer.  Start with the center point though, above the Adam’s apple, to get a good reference and move outward from there.

Hope this guide for how to trim a beard neckline helps.  I know I could have used something like it a couple years ago when I became victim to the accidental chinstrap by shaving a little too much off.

Struggle with acne, dark circles, oily skin, ingrown hairs, uneven skin tone, or a bad complexion?  Do you worry that your skin tone will hurt your chances on your next date or hamper your next big, important event?  Check out The Ultimate Guide to Concealer for Men & A Wingman for Your Face: CC Cream Tinted Face Moisturizer for Men, and learn how I fixed an embarrassing complexion with simple tinted moisturizer and concealer.

In need of a new beard trimmer?  Check out the complete buying guide at Best Beard Trimmer in 2018 With Guide before your next purchase to ensure you are getting exactly what you need.

Still looking for other useful articles?  Check out our Men’s Guide to Cologne Types, an article explaining the differences between eau de parfum, and eau de toilette, so you know which to buy for your next cologne purchase.

Thanks for reading,

Chris