Alright grooms, you’ll be thinking about getting your facial hair in order before the big day. And because not all beards are created equal, we’re here, not unlike your future in-laws from now on, with some friendly advice. In preparation for the most well-documented day of your life, here’s our guide to a proper beard-trim.
By Rachel Spedding
-
1 Don't blame the tools
A big old beard may hide the skin underneath, but you can’t go forgetting it’s there. Regular exfoliation will eliminate dead skin cells, and as facial hair wicks moisture from the skin, moisturiser will ensure your face stays soft, ready for that ‘I now pronounce you’ pucker. If you’re dabbling with new skincare, make sure to test it out prior to the week of the wedding to avoid any unwelcome irritation (a month before is your best bet). Or, for the freshest skin going, a facial is the ultimate fix up. As our third most popular male treatment, a salon trip could be the dark horse contender when planning that stag.
-
2 Style it out
There’s no need to go clean-shaven in the name of nuptials if it’s not your usual style. We say just wear your beard as you normally would for your wedding day. Get to know the tools (if you don’t already), for carefully coiffing to your favoured beardiness: clippers are best for longer hair, while trimmers work with thinner blades for finer hair. Bear face shape in mind when sorting your style – if your jawline is strong, an all-over beard clipped close to the face will round it out a little, if you’re aiming to elongate, emphasise the chin with thicker hair in this area – think goatee.
-
3 Keep it conditioned
Since it’s soon to star in a lot of photographs, let’s get that beard looking luscious. It’s easily neglected, but if you nurture it like the hair on your head, you can’t go wrong. Yes, we’re talking shampoo and conditioner, but bypass the Herbal Essence in favour of beard-specific products. Instead of a conditioner, lots of guys like to opt for a beard oil – not least because they are as kind to the skin under the face barnet as they are to the hair itself. Aesop does a nice one. So does Tom Ford if you want to splash out. It’s your wedding, after all.
-
4 Alright, we're going in
Brush the hairs upward with a beard brush to spot any rogues that are inconsistent in length (these you can control with scissors), then arm your hand with the clippers – it’s time. It’s a good idea to get going with a bigger guard on your clippers, to avoid any accidental slip ups and to achieve an even length all round. For a more defined shape, use a longer guard on the chin area, then switch to shorter blades for the cheeks (yes, you should do your cheeks). As to the neckline: thin it out and blend it into the beard. A harsh neckline line is a difficult one to pull off (even though George Michael managed it).
-
5 Timing your trim
In case you haven’t cracked it yet, it’s worth working out ahead of time what your ideal re-growth is. Regular trims will keep it growing (remember, split ends are a thing for chin hair too), so kickstart the sculpting a few months prior if extra length is the goal. We implore you – don’t leave it ’til the morning of, or your ‘something new’ will be a plaster. Do the trim for the day before, or for a real hit of relaxation and pro finish head to the barbers. Just talk through your preferred style, and they’ll take the hard work out your hands, literally. Our beard trim bookings were up by 101% last year, so get with it grooms. A quick comb through, and slick of beard oil on the big day, and that town hall won’t know what’s hit it.
With Treatwell, you can book beauty online at all your favourite salons – simple, hassle-free, and you can do it on the go. Discover amazing salons in your area.