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How Often Should You Trim Your Beard?

How often should you trim your beard? It’s one of those important questions guys ask me all the time. And my answer is always the same: it depends.

Because we all have beards that grow in different patterns, directions, and speeds, there is no “one size fits all” answer. But you know I have your back.

So, I’m going to break it all down for you, so you have all the information you need to have the beard of your dreams.

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How Often Should You Trim Your Beard When Growing It Out?

All of us fellas want that thick, full beard that’s healthy, shiny, and looks great, right? Well, to achieve that, you’ve got to grow it out. 

So, you want to know how often you should trim your beard when it’s growing out?

I recommend every six to eight weeks. You don’t want to stunt your beard’s growth, so giving a good six-to-eight-week-break between trims is the perfect amount of time.

It allows your beard to keep its length while still growing at a healthy pace. Trimming your beard every six to eight weeks while growing it out, also trains it to grow in the best direction (always downward).

It’s also the perfect amount of time that allows your beard to grow back thicker and fuller before the next trim.

How Often Should You Trim a Short Beard?

The fellas with short beards have to trim it a lot more often than guys growing theirs out. If you have a short beard, I recommend trimming it every two weeks.

This is the perfect amount of time to maintain your beard and keep it looking great while also being healthy. Shorter beards need to be trimmed a lot more often than longer beards to keep it looking neat.

If you’re not caring for your beard when it’s short, it becomes noticeable and can throw off your whole swag. 

So, if you’re rocking a neat, full-face beard, get the clippers and trim it every two weeks. That’s the perfect amount of time when wondering how often you should trim your beard. 

If a messier, “just rolled out of bed” look is what you’re going for, then you can push it to every three weeks, but I would definitely not go longer than that.

How Long Should You Let Your Beard Grow Before Trimming It?

Two months is the perfect amount of time to let your beard grow before trimming it. This should give you at least an inch, which is the perfect length to start trimming.

Giving your beard eight weeks to grow before trimming it, allows it to get into its growing pattern and get even.

Our beards grow at different speeds and patterns, but this is the usual length and timeframe a beard needs to grow out to before trimming it.

Does Trimming Your Beard Help It Grow?

Yes! Trimming your beard does help it grow––faster and thicker. Sounds crazy, right?

But check this out.

When you trim your beard, you are cutting off dead hair and split ends. And that’s a good thing.  

Dead hair and split ends can cause patches in your beard and even curl over which leads to ingrown hairs.

And that’s why it’s important to trim your beard. An untrimmed beard doesn’t only look messy, it actually slows your beard growth and causes shedding and breakage.

Does Trimming Your Beard Make It Grow Thicker?

Not necessarily. But trimming your beard can give it a thicker, fuller look.

As your beard grows out, the ends split and thin out. So, when you trim your beard, you’re cutting it down to where there’s more bulk and volume. That makes your beard look thicker––especially when you add your lineup.

But trimming will have a positive effect on your beard and help it grow when you add it to your beard care routine. It will help your beard stay healthy.

And cutting off the dead hair and split ends is paramount for allowing new, healthy hair to grow.

Andrew Phillip Kennedy is a men's style & grooming specialist who has spent years testing his knowledge in the real world on himself to land jobs, get girls, and improve his life overall. Andrew's advice is regarded as the some of the most well-researched and well-grounded in the game. For the perfect combination of men's grooming theory and real world results, you'll want to follow Andrew.