Solving my bald bearded issue

[KJK1LL3R]

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.jpg

I 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.

 

[nuts]

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.

[KJK1LL3R]

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.

[AJ Q-Ball]

It looks good like that.

[invaray]

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;

[slybeard]

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.

[slymyke]

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.

[Semi-Sly]

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.

[Sir Harry]

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.

[KJK1LL3R]

If possible I prefer to go with the square cut as I find it easier to maintain as slybeard has said. If I was to try to angle the ends of the beard as shown in the example picture by invaray, I would struggle to get each side to look the same where at least with the square cut method I can use a pair of sunglasses whilst shaving to ensure each side is uniform.

The problem I have with the square cut is the sharpness and harshness of the line at the top of the square cut, so I'd like some advice on on to fade/taper it without having to go to a barber all the time. I have Oster 76 hair clippers with all of these blades (http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjgyWDE0MTA=/$(KGrHqF,!k8FC4G!6+M8BQwfCNU4R!~~60_57.JPG)But I'm unsure of exactly what lengths to use and how to tape the sideburns myself.

Ideally I would like a beard that gets progressively longer the further down my face it goes.
This guy would be my ideal example:
http://blog.trashness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ethandesu-@-the-red-chamber-ethan-armoury-beard-bald-cigar.jpg
http://himys.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/120730_Materialist_2135-Edit.jpg
http://31.media.tumblr.com/6534b20214fd87f4e490b681e49bb6f8/tumblr_n9juiiRrmm1qfbji5o1_1280.jpg
   

[slybeard]

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.