For men of all ages, beards and scruff are all the rage. What started as a trend for young hipsters, facial hair is now growing on the faces of the everyday man. However, the majority of gents could use a helping hand with keeping their beards/scruff office presentable and tidy. If this rings a bell about your male clients, read on.

As a men’s groomer, I’m often hired to trim beards and create scruff or design goatees for photo shoots. Over the years, I’ve learned a few sure fire tips and tricks to ensure beard perfection.

1.  Begin with a clean, dry beard; and brush the beard downwards with a boar brush.

2.  Take a moment and decide on a shape and length of the beard/scruff. If you are having trouble creating a shape, use a white pencil to block out areas to see different perspectives.

3.  Use a trimmer designed for beards (I recommend Conair For Men Twin Trim Trimmer for at home use and the Wahl Sterling Definitions Trimmer for salon use), and start with a guard one size longer than you need – you can always go back in with a shorter guard. Begin at the bottom of the beard and gently work upwards in small scooping motions. Move the trimmer in various directions and angles to get every hair. The area around the mouth and chin has the strongest hair growth, so spend extra time on those areas.

4.  For trimming sideburns and the lip/mouth area or for creating sharper lines, use the trimmer without a guard. For tough beards, use a wet shave to create edging and lines.

 Remember, beards and scruff should be trimmed every few days to look tidy and maintain their shape.

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