Well-kempt sideburns can accentuate the lines of your cheeks and jaws, but properly maintaining them isn't as easy as it seems.It can be difficult to choose the right look with styles ranging from classic, straight sideburns to crisp, defined points.It is possible to tame your sideburns with a good trimmer, a steady hand, and a bit of patience.
Step 1: Your sideburns should be in the direction your hair grows.
Attach your sideburns with a fine-toothed comb.Follow the hair's growth.Sideburn hair angles slightly toward the ears are what some people prefer.The best view of your sideburns' length, thickness, and evenness comes from combing before cutting.Running a comb through your hair will make it easier to trim it.
Step 2: Pick a guard that matches the hair length.
Start by shortening your sideburns to the same length as the hair above.If you don't know which guard to use, try a higher numbered one.It is better to start with a higher number than a lower one.Guards usually have hair lengths marked on them.To determine the length of the hair surrounding you, you can use a ruler.Clipper guards are usually snapped onto the end of the clippers.
Step 3: To blend your sideburns evenly, clip from the bottom up.
Put the guard against the back of your cheek when you turn on the clippers.The guard's teeth should be below your sideburn.Once the teeth are close to the top of your ear, angle the trimmer away from your face.Make sure you don't miss any stray hairs by repeating this maneuver 2 or 3 times.If you have a long hair, pull the trimmer away if it's in line with your ear canal.To trim into sideburns, you will need to take a few extra steps.
Step 4: If you want to fade the bottoms of your sideburns, use a lower numbered guard.
If you want to shorten your sideburns or make them shorter than the rest of your hair, you should switch to the next lowest numbered clipper guard.Stop in line with or above your ear canal if you make the same upward motion gliding.The upper portion of your sideburns above the ear canal will blend into the hair around it, while the lower portion will be thinner.To make a seamless transition between hair lengths, angle the clippers away slowly.You can create multiple lines for a gradual fade.Divide your sideburns into thirds, and thin each third with the lowest guard.
Step 5: To trim your sideburns, use your fingers.
The mirror has your head level and chin parallel to the floor.Place your index fingers against the sideburns where you want them to end.If you want to keep track of where to cut, choose features on your face that line up with your sideburn length.The use of your ears as markers may seem obvious, but most people have different ears.Sideburns may end up being slightly different lengths if you trim them to your earlobes.If your face is round, keep your sideburns in line with your ears.If you have an oval face, you should trim your sideburns to balance them out.
Step 6: Without a guard, shape the bottom edges and sides.
To define the bottom, place the guardless trimmer against the sideburn.Pull the clippers downward to create the bottom edge.The bottoms of your sideburns should be parallel to the ground for a classic look.If you want to accentuate the lines of your face, try angling them downward.To shape your sideburns, trim stray hairs along the sides.Hold the tops of your ears away from your head and pull your skin taut to reach the spots between your sideburns and ears.
Step 7: If you have a lineup, clean up the sidelines.
A lineup is a haircut in which the hair is sharply defined into straight sidelines at the temples and curved, C-shaped arches that frame the browline.Define the straight edges of your hair by using a guardless razor.You can trim and fade the hair around your temples and neck if your hair is starting to grow out.Slowly lower numbered guards are used to taper your cut.For instance, trim hair around the temples to around 2 inches above the ear at #2, and then switch to #1 for hair below that line.If you want to blur out fade lines, angle the clippers so that the bottom third of the blade doesn't touch your head.Don't worry about fading, just shape your lineup and sideburns.
Step 8: You can create arches from the sidelines.
You can shape your hair and sideburns with a guardless trimmer.The C-cut arch curves back from above your browline toward your ear.If you can see where the barber cut your hair, you should trim it.If you want to make sure you don't make a mistake, remove hair bit by bit.Your sideburn should be shaped from above your eyebrow to a defined curve.To keep your cut even, look in the mirror and hold your head level.If you want to see the sides and back of your head, you should use a wall mirror and a hand mirror.
Step 9: Sideburns should be shaped into thinner lines.
If you can see your barber's lines, then follow them to shape your sideburns.The back of your upper cheek is where the C-cut should be.To shape your sideburn into a line that is thinner as it runs down toward your jaw, trim the hair on both sides.Don't make a mistake by removing hair little by little.To clip the hair around your ears, use a detail trimmer or attachment.
Step 10: Your sideburns should be in line with your earlobes.
Hold your head level, look in the mirror, and use your index fingers to mark where you want your sideburns to end.Pick features on your face that line up with your desired edges, then trim the bottoms of your sideburns.If you don't know how long you want your sideburns to be, cut them in line with your earlobes.If you want them to be shorter, trim them by 2 inch above the earlobe.You may need to trim on each side after adjusting the sideburn's length.
Step 11: The hair around your ears should be touched up.
After you have shaped your sideburns into points, you should keep the top of your ear away from your head.Define the curve that runs around your ears.Touch up your hair around the back of your ears and neck.
Step 12: Where your ear meets your head is where you should cut your hair.
A fine-toothed comb can be used to create a part with your ear.If you have long hair, pull it behind your ear and then brush it downward toward your face.The hair below your ear is what you will trim into a sideburn.
Step 13: You can trim your sideburns with clippers.
The right guard size depends on your desired length, but using a #3 or 4%, or 8 to 2%, is a good start.As you thin out your sideburn with the trimmer, hold the hair above your ear.If you want to angle the trimmer away from your face, you have to press it to the bottom of the sideburn.It is a good idea to stop before you get to the part.
Step 14: If you want a faded look, switch to a #2 or #3 guard for the bottom half.
If you want your sideburns to be shorter, fit your clippers with a guard 1 size lower than the one you used first.The trimmer should be passed over the lower half or third of the sideburn.If you want to try a more dramatic look, you could trim your sideburns completely or gradually fade them from #2 to #1.
Step 15: Cut your hair with guardless clippers.
If you have a beard, blend the bottom edges of your sideburns into it.Between your sideburns and ears, you should clean up stray hair.