How to grow and trim a long beard

Growing any big beard style takes time and patience. Mother Nature won’t get to work overnight, so perseverance is key to achieving the big beard of your dreams. Wondering how long a beard takes to grow? Genetics, testosterone levels and lifestyle choices all have a part to play. The average growth rate for hair is around half an inch per month, so a full beard could take anything from three months to a year, depending on what kind of style you want. Eating a balanced diet, exercising, getting enough sleep and good beard care can help your beard grow faster, thicker and longer. However, the best tip for how to grow a long beard might just be patience. Don’t give up too soon.

Most people use products such as moisturisers to replenish their skin, and facial hair requires similar care and attention. Beard hair is subject to damage from environmental factors just like your skin. You can make growing a full beard easier by making beard oil your new best friend. Although oiling your beard regularly won't accelerate the rate at which it grows, conditioning your long beard can help prevent breakage, making it appear thicker and healthier than without. Massage in beard oil every day to keep your facial hair soft, conditioned and naturally shiny.

Daily grooming is essential to growing and maintaining a long beard that's striking for all the right reasons – especially if you’re trying to grow a bold and big beard style. A quality beard comb or beard brush can work wonders to help you look at your best during the tricky growing phase. Even when shaving and trimming your beard is off the cards, you'll still want to make sure it looks well groomed. Invest in a quality boar bristle beard brush and keep it with you to prevent your full beard from knotting or becoming matted during the day.

When growing a full beard, remember that it's a journey. You may have to suffer your facial hair looking a little patchy or wild for a while until you get your desired look. Once you have enough hair to cover your face, it will start to grow out in volume. Using a beard trimmer while your facial hair grows may sound counterproductive, but proper maintenance will keep your long beard orderly and give it an enviable shape. Try using the Braun Series 9 shaving machine to tidy up the beard edges and ensure clean, even lines across your face.

If you're growing a long beard or a full beard, good hygiene and cleanliness is really important. Most people shampoo and condition the hair on their head daily, so washing your beard at least three times a week should become an essential part of your grooming routine. Using a tailored beard shampoo is advisable, as some formulas can strip your beard of its natural oils and cause the hair to become dry, wiry and brittle. This can result in dreaded split ends or bald patches. Exfoliating regularly and using beard shampoo will help lock moisture into the hair follicles, which will then stop your beard from becoming dry or itchy.

A good beard comb usually has two functions: wide teeth to glide through the thicker parts of your beard, and smaller teeth to tame your moustache. Brush your long beard in the direction you want it to grow, which will help tame any stray hairs. Start from your neckline and work towards your jawline and chin, then move onto your cheeks, separating all the hairs so they lay flat on top of each other. Once you've brushed your beard into the style you want, finally fan your moustache out and away from your mouth.

Figuring out how to trim a long beard in a way that suits you is essential to ensuring it keeps looking good. First, take beard scissors and snip away any longer straggly hairs. This is particularly important for full beard styles, which can easily get out of hand. Even if you have a long beard, you'll want to keep the hair between your neckline and Adam's apple neat and short with an electric shaver. To locate the midpoint of your full beard, place two fingers above your Adam's apple and tilt your head back. Clip everything below this imaginary line, following the curve up to your ears. The best beard trimmers for long beards have multiple attachments to help you prune your neckline and cheeks into the shape you want.

If you're growing or maintaining a full beard, having the right tools to hand is essential. No tool is more important than your long beard trimmer. Finding the best device for you can feel like a daunting task at first, but the key is to select one that's especially designed for long beards. These kits have multiple trimmers, blades and comb attachments that make styling your facial hair easy.

Defining your sideburns and cheek line is really important to achieving a striking full beard look. These finishing touches can take you from scruffy to sophisticated in a matter of minutes. A softer, natural look requires less upkeep and can make your beard and face look bigger. A neater, more defined cheek line can help you create the illusion of strong facial angles and edges. Start by creating a line from your sideburn to the corner of your mouth. If your face is round, contour a straight cheek line to provide definition. If your face is long or angular, a curved beard cheek line can soften the contours of your face, giving you a friendlier appearance.

Whether you want a soft or defined long beard, your moustache will require some precise upkeep. Simply comb your moustache hair over your lip and trim with scissors or a beard trimmer. You may find that you need to clip and maintain your moustache more frequently than the rest of your facial hair. If you'd like to make a statement, try trimming the moustache so that it’s a bit shorter than the beard. You can even curl it up with some beard wax for dramatic effect. The result will be the perfect companion to your long beard style.

Not all beards are created equal, and it is important to work out the shape that suits you best. You can trim the lines of your beard to balance out your facial features, or throw the rulebook out the window and go for a style that makes a real statement. In terms of general advice on how to shape a long beard, you’ll find that thicker, fuller facial hair can help fill out a thin face. The reverse is also true – a long beard that’s clearly defined at the jawline can help slim a fuller face. Muttonchops can balance out a long face. Faded sideburns and a sharp outline create a smart impression, while a natural ‘woodsman’ style is great for making a bold impact.

Quality scissors are a key part of every beard-owners kit. It may seem old fashioned compared to a top-of-the-range long beard trimmer, but scissors are a useful additional tool for those looking to maintain a natural look, and for those looking to prune every last stray hair into place. Whether your beard is close-trimmed or bushy, don't overdo it with the scissors. Make quick, light cuts at the tips to ensure it stays big and beautiful.

While trimming your long beard regularly is important, adequate aftercare is also vital to keep your facial hair looking its best. Make sure you keep your newly pruned beard healthy by replenishing moisture after each trim. Work in a few drops of beard oil and massage into the entire area to help stimulate hair growth. For a heroic-looking beard, invest in some beard cream, wax or balm to keep your style polished and tidy all day long.

How often you trim your beard comes down to personal preference, but to maintain good shape and thickness, try to trim it every five days. If you have a full beard style with more detail, you may find trimming every other day works best. Whenever you trim your beard, make sure you are not in a rush or mistakes may happen. Most people find it easier to shape their facial hair in the evening after a shower or bath, when they're more relaxed.