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another beard thread

U

uethanian

Mar 11, 2007
1,070
4
#1
it's that time again. i've been working on a full beard for maybe a month now, up until this point i've been very careful to shape both the neck and cheek-line. i don't know if it's just me, but this process takes forever...i think i have problems visualizing symmetry. anyway i was wondering, whoever among ye has a beard, if you shape your cheek-line or let it grow naturally.

i've already heard some differing views on this. in the past i've tried not shaping the cheek while growing but it looked unkempt...but given enough time, i end up shaving the whole thing off because i try to shape the cheek and mess up and my OCD just won't have it. perhaps a natural cheek looks better as beard length increases? thoughts on this please
 
#3
Leave the cheekline alone, and the neck as well. If you have a four-chin or five-chin, that will be best. If you have but one chin, you can afford a little jaw-line definition, but too close and you will look like you are wearing a mask.

I myself have a borderline 3 chin...extra large tongue or somethin, I guess...;) and I gradually let the jawline grow downwards on the neck as it gains fullness....it gives a bit of depth to the shape... do you perhaps have a lady friend that could assist?

If not, and this will sound stupid, but works excellent, get an eyebrow pencil, and DRAW the jawline or any other shape to visually establish whatever symetry you desire before you start shaving it in....you gotta wash yer face afterwards anyway, so...there ya go.
 
#5
I started mine around the same time you did. It's not beautiful yet by any means but my wife likes it and it makes me look pretty gosh darn tough. I'm just letting it grow like fungus, all natural with no trimming or squaring off. Whatever grows is what grows. The last time I grew a beard I trimmed it up and kept it nice but I felt like a 50 year old dad going to the office every morning, (no offense to any 50 year old dads or office workers.) I have a pretty long goatee to go along with the beard that's growing. I'm looking pretty good right now, IMO at least, but I know my family's going to look at me like the unabomber when we have my son's 3 year old birthday party later today.
 
#11
It depends on what kind of beard you want to have. If it's a close trimmed "chuck norris" beard, you'll want to trim the neckline and probably clean up the cheekline. If you're trying to look scary, then let it go and don't clean up anything.

I used to only clean up the neckline, but a year ago my wife bought me a "manscaping kit" like this one, and with that it's easier to trim the upper part of the cheekline without carving unintentional goofy shapes into your beard, so now I do both. I still like using a razor to cut the neckline in, though. The kit wasn't expensive, and I got used to it pretty quickly. The reason she wanted me to have it is that it got on her nerves when the moustache hairs would start to creep over the upper lip; apparently it itched or tickled or annoyed her in some way. This kit has a little micro shaver that can help take care of this issue that's easy to use, so now we're both happy. :)
 
#14
Definitely do the neckline. Neck beards are lame (UNLESS- that is all you have- baby's but face and a full blown neck beard- that would friggin rule).

I just barely touch up the cheekline enough to give it a more or less straight edge.
 
#19
so it seems like the majority are for the natural look...i'll give it a couple weeks maybe and see how it turns out. for sure i'll have to do some kind of length trimming up top just because of how high it goes (like 1/2" beneath my eye).
 
#20
Absentia said:
I don;t know if that's completely awesome of hideous, your facial hair is blowing my mind.

I saved today, why? Because my hair is brown and for some cruel joke of the genetic hillbilly stew I was brewed in my beard comes in bright orange, but this picture has inspired me.
Click to expand...

Me too, but I'm kinda proud of my red beard, I tell myself I'm decedent of vikings.. Nice vikings not raping ones
 

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