Hey guys, I like a bald head and I like a full beard, the problem is that I don't totally like how I look when the two are combined.
The problem is the sideburn area, I initially didn't know how far up to let it go so I just stick on a pair of sunglasses when I am shaving my head and I follow the line where the glasses sit on my ears.
The problem is that it leaves a really sharp line at the top of my sideburns and I don't like the harsh transition from bald scalp to beard like this guy:
http://beardsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Beard-with-Bald-Head.jpgI find it quite frustrating and it usually results in me either shaving the beard to a goatee or off completely or else letting my scalp hair grow out which is not a look I'm particularly fond of either with the thinning on top but at least it blends better with the sideburns and beard.
I'd really like some advice on this, I know I could probably go to a barber who would be able to taper/fade the beard sideburns so that there is a nice transition from the bald scalp to the beard hair but I shave my head every other day and don't want to be running to the barber regularly. I need a solution that I can maintain myself at home.
Thanks in advance for any advice you guys can offer.
I used to have the same 'problem' when I started shaving my head. My solution is to shave the beard at the top where it joins the bald skin at a slight angle sloping down from top of ear to where I clear the cheek hair. You might be able to tell from my pic. It makes a softer transition.
This is how it currently looks, I've recently trimmed the entire beard with the grain using a #1.5(4mm blade) but I intend to let it grow for a few weeks now.
I cut mine at an angle. I attached an edited photo of you to show you just put the blade at top of ear to wear the beard grows. You can adjust how far down, like this;
I use the straight cut like yours, I only drop it down by about 1/2 inch lower, so the that top is before the hair starts to flare out over the ear. I see a lot of guys with the tapered top, and some go mid ear or lower. I have tried them all, and I like the square cut because I find it easier to maintain and looks just a good to me.
I like what Invaray did... And Slybeard's idea would look good too. I also think you could keep the height like it is but trim the back part straight up, removing just the part that is curving toward your ear.
I have a full beard right now. I keep it trimmed fairly tightly and angle the top just like Invaray's. The tip of my beard ends right where the ear is attached to the side of my face.
I usually follow Slybeard's method of blocking it when I do it myself. I also like the way my barber tapers/blends the sideburns when I visit him once a month for a trim.
Just use a small guard (#2) for the top 1/2 inch or so, then use the next larger guard (#3) for the next 1/2 inch, and so on.