Month: December 2024

Like a fresh taper on any haircut, the beard fade is a flourish that really elevates your grooming game. It takes a small strip of real estate around the perimeter of your beard (usually the neckline, but sometimes the cheek lines and sideburns, too), and announces to the world that you take pride in your appearance. And while most guys rely on their barber for this kind of handiwork, it’s quite the flex if you know how to fade a beard at home by yourself.

That said, beard fading does require steady hands, serious focus, and the right products. It’s not exactly an entry-level task, either, so patience is key. That said, the skill is perfectly achievable at home, and easier than you may think.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, I would put fading your own beard at a 7 or 8,” says Dale Grinstead-Mayle, owner and barber at Goodfellow’s Tonsorial Parlor, with barbershops in White Salmon, WA, and Columbus, OH.

So: not amateur hour, but not strictly only for pros. Here, Grinstead-Mayle takes us through the 101s of beard fading, so you, too, can master the beard fade in the privacy of your own bathroom—and relish the relief for your wallet.

Related: Best Beard Trimmer Selects of 2024 to Shape Facial Hair

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How to Fade a Beard: Dos and Don’ts

Best Beard Trimmer, Clipper, and Comb to Fade Your Beard

Many guys at home will be using a standard beard trimmer. While that may suffice, it’s even better if you have some professional-grade hair clippers—ideally with an adjustable lever, Grinstead-Maybe says. Either way, you’ll want guard attachments, ranging from #0.5 (1/16″ or 1.5mm) to #4 (1/2″ or 12.5mm).

Andis 12660 Professional Master Corded/Cordless Hair Trimmer

For a barbershop-favorite device, look to the Andis 12660 Professional Master Corded/Cordless Hair Trimmer. The clipper’s adjustable carbon steel blade provides a close, exacting cut.

Bevel Pro All-in-One Clipper and Trimmer

For a somewhat larger investment, we love the Bevel Pro All-in-One Clipper and Trimmer. The cordless device features a snazzy LED display and Electronic and Leverless Power Fade gap adjustments just using the button (though Grinstead-Mayle personally prefers an actual lever). Bonus: The clipper from the Black-owned Bevel is ideal for men with coarser and curly hair, and was designed with Black men in mind. That said, this will work great on any guy’s beard.

Hatteker Hair Clipper Cordless Hair Trimmer

For a low-cost, high-value device, check out Hatteker Hair Clipper Cordless Hair Trimmer. The cordless kit contains not just a hair clipper, but also a nose trimmer and a T-blade for beard and mustache trimming, touch-ups, body grooming, and detailing. The IPX7 waterproof rating means easy cleaning of the whole kit in the sink.

Panasonic MultiShape

If you want a customizable piece, Panasonic MultiShape is up for the task, too, and targets both your beard and your hair. It’s one simple device to which you can add on any assortment of attachments, depending on the exact kit you build. Just make sure the package you choose can trim between the lengths noted above.

Rocky Mountain Barber Company Beard Comb

You’ll also want a beard comb at the ready. Grinstead-Mayle likes ones made of sandalwood, but you can also use a regular fine-tooth comb. Rocky Mountain Barber Company Beard Comb checks both boxes. 

Honest Amish Classic Beard Oil

Suvorna Beard Scissors

Invest in a good beard oil (see a list of our favorite beard oils here) “to get the wild hairs to pop out during grooming” and some high-quality trimming shears for any blending as well as finishing touches (we like Suvorna Beard Scissors).

Related: Best Beard Oil Options of 2024 to Refine Your Facial Hair

How to Hold a Beard Trimmer

How you hold the trimmer really comes down to the direction of your hair’s growth. “Remember, going against the grain of the hair is to remove bulk. Going with the grain is to blend,” Grinstead-Mayle says. “Going sideways does a little of both.” Above all, go slowly, and you’ll bring the degree of difficulty down a few notches.

Step-by-Step Beard Fade Process

Remember, you’re not working with a large area here; fading a beard line isn’t like fading the backside of a fresh buzzcut. Instead, you’ll only be going in an inch at most. 

1. Start with the longer clipper guards and work your way back toward the shortest guard and the actual perimeter of the beard neckline. So, if your entire beard is, say, half an inch (which in terms of clipping guards, is a #4 length), you can trim on a #3 an inch past the beard neckline. 
2. Then, trim on a #2 and cover half of the same area that you went in on with the #3. 
3. Do it again with the #1 (halving the area of the #2).
4. Lastly with a #0.5, clean up the perimeter. Envision it graduating downwards, but not over a long distance since you want to maintain the semblance of a full beard. If your beard is extremely long, you can get your barber’s own take on whether or not a fade will do you any favors (depending on if the beard covers it up). At the very least, you could fade your beard from the cheeks and sideburns up.

How to Shape a Beard Neckline

Hopefully you’re already well-tuned to drawing a neckline each time you clean up your beard at home. This is the same point from which you’ll start a beard fade. If you want a reminder, though, follow Grinstead-Mayle’s neckline tip: 

1. Set a line just under the corner of your jawbone, under your ear. 
2. Then, set the line just above your Adam’s apple, by putting your middle and index finger together and placing them horizontally with your middle finger on the Adam’s apple. The top of the index finger is where to place the line. 
3. Next, connect the line from your jawbone to the line above your Adam’s apple.

How to Fade Your Cheek Beard

Fading the cheeks is effectively the same as the neckline, says Grinstead-Mayle. 

1. “Create your guide from the corner of where your beard curves in from your sideburn and connect it to the corner of your mouth or just above.” Even if you have a thin or patchy beard in this part of the face, you should follow your natural growth line, he adds. 
2. Pay attention to how you hold the clippers here: “Going with the grain of the hair (usually clippers pointed downward with a guard) is best for cleaning up the cheeks,” he says.

Beard Fade Maintenance

Just like with head fades, you should plan for routine cleanups every two to three weeks to keep your beard fade fresh. This may vary based on how long your beard is or how quickly it grows (shorter beards will naturally benefit from more frequent cleanups).

And while you’ve now got the know-how to do a beard fade yourself, we’d be remiss not to advise checking in with a barber for a more tailored tutorial—one that fits your precise face, beard, and growth goals. Trust us: A good barber will always have the best ideas and technique suggestions about how to make your beard look its best. You might even find that it makes sense to pay for some tidying with each haircut. Or at the very least, they can set you on the path for success. “Once they set it, you can maintain the fade while at home, in between those visits,” Grinstead-Mayle says. 

When a Beard Fade Is (or Isn’t) Right for You

Beard fading suits most types of beards, whether long and short, but might not be as effective in patchy beards or on guys with long, narrow faces.

“Fading or tapering will elongate your features even more,” Grinstead-Mayle notes. “This elongation or narrowing tends to pull a person’s facial features downward, so if you have a naturally oblong face, it can make you look gaunt or perpetually exhausted, and can even age you.”

There’s a variety of beard fade styles, too. You can do a low fade, which is shorter and low-maintenance, or a high fade with your beard that’s longer and more voluminous.

Hey, nobody is going to question the freshness of an unfaded beard neckline anyway, so don’t stress if you’ve got a naturally longer mug. 

As for those with oval, round, diamond, and square faces, a beard fade may be just the right thing to upgrade your look. Not only does a beard fade show you care about your grooming regimen, but it also frames your face and offers a more seamless overall look, from your hair to your sideburns to your beard.

Why You Should Trust Me

I’ve been a grooming journalist for nearly 11 years, over half of those spent with Men’s Journal. My work also appears in GQ, Forbes, Robb Report, SPY, and many more. I’m the guy who tests thousands of products a year for the benefit of readers. I like to think I’ve got a capable take on the best grooming products worth your time and money.

Related: How to Fix Your Patchy Beard, According to the Experts