How to Trim a Neck Beard: Mastering the Perfect Beard Neckline

When we talk about beard styles, we focus on the cheeks, chin, and mustache. But where we draw the borders of the beard determines if our faces look symmetrical and even or just plain weird. Taking a beard neckline too high is one of the cardinal mistakes of beard grooming – you end up looking like George Lucus at the Oscars. 

The term “neckbeard” is something of a pejorative online. You’ll hear it said to men who may be a little socially awkward and prone to neglecting their hygiene. Think Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons or the guy in the chair from South Park’s “Make Love, Not Warcraft” episode. 

We’re not here to slur anyone. But we do believe in solid beardcraft and good hygiene – that means your neckbeard has got to go! Finding the perfect beard neckline can be tricky, however. We’re here to help. Read on for expert advice.  

In this guide:

• What is a Neckbeard?
• Where Should My Beard Neckline Be?
• Avoid a Beard Neckline That’s Too High
• Beard Styles and Face Shape
• How to Trim a Neckbeard
• Look After Your Beard

Let’s put the slurs to one side: what exactly is a neckbeard? Well, the term should be fairly self-explanatory. It’s a beard that extends down the neck, becoming unruly, ungroomed, and unpleasant. Ignoring this zone will leave you looking shabby and dishevelled – the line between bearded hunk and crazy Wildman runs around your neck.

The real question isn’t what a neckbeard is. It’s where the dividing line between neckbeards and regular beards is.

Men have spent far too long debating where their neckline should be. We’ve got a simple rule of thumb: tilt your head downwards; where your neck crease meets the underside of your jaw is roughly where it’s located. Of course, every man’s anatomy is slightly different. 

Another good rule is that it’s around two fingers above the Adam’s apple. It then extends around your neck in a semi-circle, coming into line with the angle of your jaw. 

One final trick is to take your hands. Put them under your chin so that the angle of your jaw rests between the first and second knuckles. Your fingers should meet just in front of your jaw. Everything your hands cover should be bearded, and everything that’s uncovered should be trimmed. 

If you’re new to beardcraft, the classic mistake is to think you should follow the natural edges of the jawline when trimming your beard. Wrong! Just Google some pictures of men who’ve fallen into this trap. Tell me this looks good – it doesn’t. Worse, when you laugh or eat, your neck skin moves up into your face. The last thing you want is a bouncing beard line.

Do the sensible thing: let your beard end where it should – far below your jawline.

Another reason to avoid a high neckline is that it can make your beard look unnatural and forced. Your beard should flow naturally, complementing your facial structure. Cutting it off abruptly just wasn’t what nature intended. Trimming too high creates a harsh contrast between your beard and neck. 

When trimming your neckbeard, consider what style you’re trying to achieve. Your face shape determines the kind of jawline you have and the beard style you should grow. If you’re growing a goatee, for example, letting it grow into your chin veers too close to Guy Fieri territory. 

Follow this face shape guide:

• Oval Face. Since most beard styles suit an oval face, keep your neckline low and natural. A full beard can be trimmed just above the Adam’s apple, maintaining a clean look without cutting too high.
• Square Face. To soften your strong jawline, trim your neckline below the jaw, curving gently towards the corners. This helps to balance the sharpness of your features and avoid making the angles of your face too prominent.
• Round Face. Trimming your neckline lower and keeping your beard fuller towards the chin can help elongate your face. Avoid trimming too close to the jawline, as this can make your face appear rounder.
• Rectangular or Long Face. If your face is longer, avoid trimming the neckline too high. Keeping the beard fuller on the sides and lower towards the neck will add width and help balance the length of your face.
• Heart-Shaped Face. For heart-shaped faces, a lower neckline works best. Allow the beard to grow fuller around the chin to balance out a narrower lower face, and avoid trimming too high to maintain that balance.

Don’t start trimming your neckbeard without the right toolkit. You’ll need:

• An Electric Trimmer. Forget about using a classic razor – you just don’t get the control you need. Electric trimmers are powerful enough to get into close spaces without losing control. It also causes less stress to the skin.
• Tweezers. Ingrown hairs are stubborn to shave. Pull these out using a pair of tweezers. 
• Beard Brush. We advise using a boar’s hair beard brush to comb your beard before grooming.
• Beard Shampoo. Avoid putting harsh soap and chemicals on your face and beard. Use a gentle beard shampoo to clean your beard before trimming. 

Set up your equipment in a bright, well-lit room. You want to get a good look at the underside of your chin with access to a sizeable mirror. When you’re ready, follow these steps:

1. Wash Your Face

Always start with a clean canvas. Give your neckbeard a thorough wash using your regular beard shampoo and warm water. Doing so helps open up the pores and soften the hair. It’s the best strategy for getting the closest shave. 

Pat your beard dry using a towel.

2. Define the Neckline

Next comes the hard part. Use a white eyeliner pencil or even a water-based felt tip to lightly mark your neckline. Take your time. Look from every angle to ensure you’re happy with the chosen line. Remember, it should begin around 1-2 fingers above the Adam’s apple, extending round to the angle of the jaw (or a little below it). 

A word of caution: never trim directly from this line unless you’re experienced with your beard. It’s best to start below the neckline and work up to it. You can always shave a bit more off, but it’ll take you weeks to regrow what you’ve just shaved. 

3. Remove the Bulk

This step is optional. Depending on how well-groomed your beard is, you may want to remove a little bit of the bulk from under your chin. You’re not digging in with the trimmer to define your neckline. You’re simply tidying up where you’re going to be working. Just keep your final beard style in mind if you choose to take the weight out of your beard. Look back at the face shape section if you’ve forgotten the right style for your face. 

4. Trim

Now comes the moment of truth. Start around a centimeter or more below your neckline. Remove all the hair below this line. Look in the mirror to see if you like this result. If it’s still too low, go back and trim a little more, moving up a few millimeters. After a few rounds of this, you should achieve the desired result. 

Going forward, it’ll be a lot easier to replicate. You’ll have the outline of your previous attempt to work from. Plus, if you’re regular with your grooming, you shouldn’t be faced with a fuzzy neckline again. 

5. Tidy Up

The last step is the simplest. Give your now non-existent neckbeard a good splash of water to wash away any hair. If there’s any lingering hair, trim them or use tweezers for ingrown hairs. 

Finish off with your standard beardcraft routine. We advise applying a healthy dose of beard oil, massaging it into your beard, and using your boar’s hair beard brush to get an even application. 

The next question is usually, how often should you shave your neckbeard? Well, there’s no set rule. It should be often enough that it stays looking tidy without shaving so much that you cause ingrown hairs, irritation, or breakouts.

We recommend using beard oil to keep the skin and hair nourished, moisturized, and soft. Here at Beard Sorcery, we’ve got a wizard’s cupboard of beard oils, balms, creams, and shampoos. 

Ready to give your beard the care it deserves? Explore our premium range at Beard Sorcery and find the perfect products to keep your beard looking its best. Shop now and transform your grooming routine!