Intricate beards

Factual Questions
1

Inspired by this thread in Comment on Cecil’s columns, here’s a question.

How do people (I’m thinking Craig David, Brian Harvey from E17… er, sorry, can’t think of any US examples right now) manage to shave their beards into such tiny thin strips along the jawline, around the chin area etc?

Not that I have any intention of doing so, but as somebody who has enough trouble getting two sideburns the same length, I’ve always been slightly in awe of folks that can perform this elaborate facial topiary. One little slip and you’d have to start over.

Is some kind of special razor required? (Maybe you could make your own by cutting a 5mm-wide gap into a normal blade…) Or maybe they have some kind of beard template that they stick on their face and shave around? :slight_smile:

Any Dopers have one of these beards? Tell me - how do you do it?!

2

my guess is someone does it for them

3

Practice. Plus, it doesn’t require much hair, so if you slip and have to shave it off, you’re ready to try again in a week or two.

4

p.s. my son does this (age 15). He’s got a different shape of facial adornment every few days…

5

I tried, but it was terrible. The maintenance is tricky and I’d scrap it if it isn’t symmetrical. I used both a trimmer and a razor. But I’m pretty sure guys like Craig David get it done by a barber or their stylists.

6

We practice.

And I use a straight razor. Makes it easy to get the even lines.