It's All About Length

Pictured: Chris Pine photographed by Nino Munoz for the June/July issue of Out

Dan, 29, from Philadelphia, PA, asks:

"How do you achieve the perfect, even length for facial hair?"

Unlike most grown men, I haven't been blessed with a full stubble. Even at 26, I'm still desperately trying to develop a decent five o'clock shadow, so for this one I turned to Allan Peterkin, beard grooming expert and author of The Bearded Gentleman:

"Men really need a baseline level of care that transcends facial hair," Allan says. "Bearded or not, men need to care for their skin by cleansing and moisturizing. I'd recommend using a cleanser like the Dove Men+Care Hydrate+ Face Wash, followed by a light-weight moisturizer like the Dove Men+Care Hydrate+ Face lotion with SPF 15. Once you have the basics down you can better maintain and care for your facial hair.

"A great way to keep your facial hair in check is to 'shape' it in order to give it a cleaner and sharper look. When shaving, use a shave gel that moisturizes your skin and shave outside the natural growth, but not with too much precision that it eliminates the natural look. Use pictures of yourself as a reference and create visual parameters. Keep that in mind when shaving the perimeter on the upper cheek and at the neckline. You can also use your finger to make a boundary for the upper and lower part of your beard. Use short strokes, keeping the surrounding skin taut.

"Trimming facial hair is also key to maintaining a well-groomed look. An electric trimmer like the Gillette Fusion ProGlide Styler is helpful, as it has a variety of adjustable attachments that you can choose from to trim the hairs to a specific length. But a pair of simple barber scissors will also do the trick! Uneven or rough areas, or loose hairs can be refined once the initial shaping is complete.

"Lastly, be sure to apply a non-irritant, like Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm, to relieve any irritation and soothe the skin -- it's also a super beard conditioner!"

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