How to Trim a Beard with Scissors or Clippers to Get the Cleanest Cut

You've done it. You successfully grew out a sublime beard that Zeus himself would be envious of. The long hours of patient body, skin and hair care paid off. However, one wrong swipe with the scissors or razor can lead you from beard glory to beard disaster. Luckily, learning how to trim a beard doesn't have to be hard.

We here at Zeus Beard have your back. We put together some tips to answer how to trim a beard in different scenarios you may experience.

Technology failing and you're down an electric razor? Here's how to trim a beard with scissors.

 

There comes a time in every bearded man's life when the electric razor is just not an option but either is not shaving. Whether you're asking how to trim a beard with scissors because your electric razor called it quits or you just don't have it with you, here's how to handle it.

1. TAKE A SHOWER.

 

Start with a nice shower that is neither too hot nor too cold to make sure the water is easy on your facial hair. Use shampoo to clean your beard and conditioner to moisturize the strands, which will make them easier to work with.

 The Zeus Beard wash set (8 fl oz each / $34 for set) works great to cleanse your beard and make it manageable.

Unlike drugstore products, the shampoo won't dry your beard out and the conditioner acts as a softener.

This set is also tailored to your fragrance preference and is available in Verbena Lime, Sandalwood and Vanilla Rum.

  

2. COMB IT OUT.

 

A scraggly beard is going to be pretty hard to cut evenly, especially with scissors. That's why it's important to brush through your wild strands.

The best technique is to brush against the grain, or the way the hair grows. This will make it easier to see unevenness and where you should trim.

 

The Zeus Beard Natural Horn Wide Tooth Beard Comb in Leather Sheath ($21) helps to detangle, close cuticles and is great for dense beards.

The Zeus Pear Wood 100% Boar Bristle Beard Brush with Brush Bag ($25) is great for pushing your hairs up against the grain.

  

3. TRIM YOUR DRY BEARD.

Learning how to trim your beard with scissors is easiest when your beard is dry. Now comes the hard part, actually cutting the hairs.

To get the best results, comb down your facial hair and pull it to the side until the point on your strands where you want to trim. This point will work as the guideline for how much to cut on each section of your beard. Continue through all the sections until your beard is trimmed fully.

The Zeus Beard And Mustache Grooming Kit by Dovo ($89) contains beard and mustache scissors in stainless steel that have a matte finish. Furthermore, the scissors are made by Dovo in Germany.

In addition, the kit comes with a beard and mustache combo comb and brush and a leather carrying case.

 

When scissors aren't your only option, here's how to trim a beard with clippers.

In many ways, trimming your beard with clippers is much easier than fumbling with small scissors. However, you don't have to completely cut scissors out of the equation because they are good for going through your beard after you use an electric razor to create a more natural finish.

It's important to repeat steps one and two from the scissors steps above to make sure that your beard is clean, moisturized and tangle free before trimming with your electric razor.

With numbered length settings, an electric razor makes it easy to keep the cut of your beard uniform. Typically, the best length setting to trim your beard is between three and five.

The most natural look comes from fading your beard into your neckline. However, if a clean line is more your style, cutting your beard at the point where your Adam's apple starts will help elongate your neck.

 
The Zeus Edge Up Beard Shaping Template Tool ($9) is a great guideline for how to trim a beard with the perfect chin and neckline cut.

The tapered edged device uses combs to hook onto the right angles of your face to hold the cleanest line while you trim.

The tool is also transparent, making it easier to see where you are cutting.

 

After you master how to trim a beard, it's important to moisturize.

Your job doesn't end at cutting away the loose ends. It's also important to go over your hard work with a beard oil or beard balm to regain moisture that may have been stripped away from cutting your facial hair.

Using a beard balm will help to moisturize while taming your strands into a sculpted shape. On the other hand, a beard oil will help to soften your beard while maintaining its natural shape.