How to Taper Your Beard Like a Barber
A good beard can change the whole look, and a tapered beard does it without trying too hard. It looks clean, sharp, and well put together, while still keeping that natural beard character. That is probably why so many men go for it. The shape is easy on the eyes, works with different haircuts, and gives the beard a more polished finish.
This guide covers how to taper a beard properly, how to choose the right style for your face shape, and some of the best tapered beard looks to copy.
How to Taper a Beard the Right Way
Fast forward to my own tapered beard journey. I started by seeking some advice from my trusted barber, who was more than happy to help me achieve that sweet taper.
As he worked his magic on my facial hair, I could see the transformation unfold before my eyes. The whole experience was genuinely eye-opening.
Now, let me share some insider tips for all the beard lovers looking to jump on the tapered beard bandwagon.
Required Tools
The required supplies are:
- Wide-toothed comb
- Trimmer
- Razor
- Scissors
- Beard oil
Once the tools are ready, the procedure starts.
1. Know Your Angles
First, know your angles. You do not want to end up with a sloppy taper that throws off your whole look. Before you trim anything, study the way your beard grows and decide where the fuller part should sit.
2. Invest in Quality Clippers
Second, invest in a solid pair of clippers. Your beard deserves the best, after all. Get a high-quality set with multiple guard lengths so you can create a smooth transition instead of a rough one.
A beard comb and a pair of trimming scissors are also clutch for detailing and fine-tuning your outline.
3. Define the Neckline and Cheek Line
Shape your neckline by trimming the hair below your jawline and creating a natural curve that extends from one ear to the other. For the cheek line, carve a clean edge by removing any stray hairs above the main beard line.
4. Begin Tapering
Choose a longer guard and start trimming the beard around the jawline. As you move upward toward the cheekbones, gradually switch to shorter guards to build a smooth length transition.
5. Blend and Refine
Use the clippers without a guard to blend any harsh lines between the different lengths. For a more natural finish, grab your trimming scissors and snip away any uneven hairs.
6. Detail Your Mustache
Trim your mustache to match the overall style of your tapered beard. Use scissors to carefully shape it and remove any hairs that creep over your upper lip line.
7. Do Not Be Afraid to Experiment
Finally, do not be afraid to experiment. You never know what sharp style you might discover when you let your creativity run wild.
Here are the highlights of the procedure:
- Comb out the beard to identify any straggly hairs
- Work out the knots toward the outer perimeter of the beard
- Trim carefully, keeping in mind that going too close can take off more than you planned
- Trim slowly, ensuring the sideburn hair graduates longer as it reaches the bottom of the beard
Quick Step-by-Step Guide to Follow While Tapering Your Beard
That covers the core concept of tapering. The beard runs shorter at the top and builds length toward the bottom. From there, use a razor to clean up the cheek line, neckline, and line them up sharp.
Finish with scissors to even out any straggly hairs, and trim the mustache if needed.
Choosing the Right Tapered Beard Style
Different beard styles can accentuate or balance certain facial features. A long tapered beard, for instance, can help elongate a round face, while a short tapered beard can balance a longer one. Choose a style that complements your unique face shape.
Your personal style is another factor worth considering. Whether you lean toward a bold, dramatic look or something more understated, select a beard style that genuinely reflects your personality.
Check out these tapered beard styles curated just for you. Dare to experiment and find the look that makes your whole appearance click.
Top 21 Tapered Beards to Get Inspired
Here are some great examples of tapered beard styles.
1. Classic Tapered Full Beard With Pompadour
This is a textbook example of beard tapering done right. The hair at the sideburns starts short and gradually builds to its fullest length at the chin. The cheek line is carved clean and sharp, the neckline is well-defined, and the overall outline has that polished, barbershop-finished look.
If you want a benchmark for how a proper taper should flow, this is it.
2. Mid Fade With Tapered Short Full Beard
Both fading and tapering techniques are working together in this style. There is a seamless fade between the hair and the beard, with the temple-to-beard blend sitting right at the mid fade level.
You can also think of this as a combo of a fade haircut with a beard, where the hair graduates down from the hard part and the beard tapers from the cheekbones to the chin. The result is a tight, cohesive look from hairline to neckline.
3. Tapered Short Boxed Beard With Comb-Over Taper
Pairing a tapered comb-over hairstyle with a beard creates a compact, unified look that upgrades your entire front profile. The short boxed beard keeps the sides tight while the chin carries the fullness, and the tapered haircut echoes that same graduation above.
It all works together in a way that genuinely sets you apart.
4. Tapered Medium Full Beard With Side-Swept Hair
A tapered beard is, at its core, a shaped version of a full beard. Without solid density and length to work with, there is nothing to taper. The right beard shaping here complements the natural fullness beautifully.
So skip the unkempt natural beard look and put in the work to taper it. The difference in polish is immediate.
5. Full White Tapered Garibaldi With Thick Mustache
This long, voluminous white beard is a statement on its own, and the thick mustache keeps it from going full wilderness. The tapering along the edges is what separates this from an untamed natural beard.
Trimming the loose hairs along the perimeter gives the whole thing a much cleaner, more distinguished look. Silver never looked so sharp.
6. Tapered Short Full Beard With Buzz Cut
A good tapered beard is a versatile style that pairs well with different haircuts for many occasions. If you are not a fan of long hair but want something to complement your buzz cut, a tapered short full beard is a solid way to do it.
7. Ginger Full Beard With Carved Cheek Line and High Fade
A tapered beard with a high fade haircut can highlight an oblong face shape by framing its core features. Here, a full beard accentuates the cheekbones by covering the sides of the face, along with neat carved cheek lines that keep the whole look sharp and polished.
8. Salt and Pepper Circle Beard With Soul Patch
If you cannot grow out a full beard, a circle beard can center your facial features and add more symmetry. Some light stubble across the jaw creates a shadow that sharpens your jawline nicely.
9. Coily Faded Beard With High Skin Fade Hairstyle
A tapered beard does not just look great with straight or wavy hair. It works beautifully with coily hair as well. This style uses a sideburn fade so the beard transitions from light stubble up to a thick, coily full beard at the chin.
The high skin fade draws attention to your facial structure while keeping the overall look clean and sharp.
10. Medium Stubble Beard With Faux Hawk Hairstyle
If you have a round face, a beard style that gives it an angular look is exactly what you need. This tapered medium stubble beard is complemented by a faux hawk haircut. It covers the sides and chin, framing your facial structure to give it a more masculine, defined appeal.
11. Dark Heavy Stubble Beard With Disconnected Goatee and High Fade
This style creates a striking contrast between a platinum blonde high fade and a tapered dark heavy stubble beard. With a neatly trimmed neckline and a clean beard outline where the jawline ends, the whole look stays crisp. Growing out the mustache adds a balanced, complete finish.
12. Dense Curly Full Beard With Tapered Edges and Braids
Growing out your hair does not mean you have to keep a shorter beard. A longer one can look just as good. This curly beard style features a thick, dense full beard with tapered edges, and the coarse, wavy beard texture contrasts beautifully with the tightly knit braids up top.
13. Tapered Chin Strap With Soul Patch and Light Stubble
You do not need thick facial hair to rock a tapered beard. This chin strap features light stubble running along the jawline, with a soul patch to give the look a bit of symmetry and focus.
14. Long Natural Full Beard With High Skin Fade
For faces with strong, defined features, a long natural full beard paired with a high skin fade is a superb way to showcase them. This style features a salt and pepper long beard with neatly trimmed cheek lines and a full mustache to anchor the whole look.
15. Short Boxed Beard With Faded Cheek Taper and Fringe Haircut
Fringe hairstyles soften an angular face shape nicely, and a tapered beard pairs with them perfectly. This one carries more fullness along the jawline, with a faded cheek taper up toward the cheekbones and an extended mustache to tie it together.
16. Short Boxed Beard With Mustache and Wavy Mid-Length Hair
Here, a short boxed beard with a clean neckline cleanup pairs with wavy mid-length hair for a combination that highlights your facial features without overpowering them.
17. Ducktail Beard With Light Stubble Cheek Taper and Trimmed Mustache
The ducktail beard can elongate your facial structure while accentuating your jawline. Rather than growing a full beard on the sides, a light stubble cheek taper keeps things lean and masculine. The trimmed mustache adds a sophisticated, polished finish.
18. Auburn Medium Full Beard With Thick Mustache and Bald Head
This tapered medium full beard has a uniform, well-sculpted shape, making it a great choice if you grow a straight beard without waves or kinks. The thick mustache and full beard volume complement a bald head beautifully, giving the face strong definition and presence.
19. Gray Short Beard With Mustache and Crew Cut
A clean crew cut pairs well with a tapered beard, and this gray short beard proves it. Neatly trimmed cheek lines and a clean neckline give it a sharp, well-groomed finish, while the thick mustache balances the minimalist haircut perfectly.
20. Short Full Beard With High Skin Fade and Tapered Cheek Line
Pulling off a clean short full beard is not as simple as it looks, especially when you want it sharp rather than scruffy. This style features a carved cheek line, no sideburns, and a tapered edge that gives the whole look a uniform, polished finish.
Just stay on top of trimming along the cheeks and keep those strays in check.
21. Coily Full Beard With Carved Cheek Line on Bald Head
A long, well-maintained beard and a bald head are a genuinely powerful combination, since all that fullness draws the eye exactly where you want it.
This coily full beard sits close to Garibaldi territory, tapered from the bottom to accentuate the facial structure, with a sharp carved cheek line and a neatly trimmed mustache to keep everything tight.
FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions about tapered beards to help you on your journey to discovering the perfect style.
1. How often should I trim my tapered beard?
The frequency of trimming your tapered beard depends on your specific style and how quickly your facial hair grows. Generally, a touch-up every one to two weeks should keep your tapered beard looking fresh.
2. Can I achieve a tapered beard style at home?
Absolutely. With some practice and the right tools, you can maintain your tapered beard at home. Invest in a quality set of clippers and a beard comb, and do not be afraid to experiment with different guard lengths and angles until you find your perfect style.
3. Is a tapered beard suitable for all face shapes?
A tapered beard can be customized to suit just about any face shape. By adjusting the length and angle of the taper, you can sculpt a style that genuinely flatters your unique features.
So, to all the beard enthusiasts out there, give the tapered beard a shot. You might just find it is the missing piece to your whole style puzzle. And even if it turns out not to be your thing, at least you will have a great story to tell.
Till next time, keep your beard game strong and your confidence stronger.
There is no greater rule for maintaining a full beard than mastering the taper, the fade, and the perfect neckline and cheek line. Nail all three, and you will absolutely own the room.
