How to style a faded beard

If you’re looking for smart facial hair that’s still pretty edgy, a faded beard style is a great solution. But what exactly is a faded beard, and how can you get the look? We’ve got the insider intel you need, including long and short faded beard styles, as well as step-by-step instructions showing you how to fade your beard at home.

What is a faded beard?

 

A fade beard, also known as a blended beard, is a style where the short hair on your sideburns is blended into the longer hair on your cheeks and chin. This creates a gradual transition in length from top to bottom.

This short-to-long gradation is a popular option for men with short hair, as a shaved head or buzz cut fade with beard blends seamlessly from scalp to chin. It’s also popular with men rocking a pompadour or slick back. Basically, whatever your hairstyle, you can pair it with a fade.

What faded beard styles are there?

 

Not all fades are made equal. You can opt for different styles to match your length, creating a unique look that works with your hair and face shape. Let’s take a look at some different faded beard styles:

 

• Skin fade beard: The standard for beards is a skin fade. Low-maintenance and easy to achieve, your beard blends seamlessly into the skin fade of your hair for a seamless transition between the two. It’s effortlessly cool. 
  
  
• Low fade beard: When it comes to short, faded beard styles, this is a popular choice. The fade begins lower on the face, keeping your upper and lower cheeks smooth, for hair that covers only a few centimetres above your jawline and fades quickly into the skin. It’s clean and sharp, providing a professional look, and is great for concealing patchy facial hair.
  
  
• High fade beard: This covers much more of your face than a low fade beard. The hair can reach the underside of your cheeks and upper lip line for a fuller look. If you’re searching for faded long beard styles, this is a great choice that’ll give you plenty of hair to work with.
  
  

Not sure which is right for you? Play around with different styles until you find the look that fills you with confidence. 

How to fade beard hair: step by step

 

It’s much easier to create a blended beard when you have a shaver that can easily trim different hair lengths, like the Philips OneBlade. From sophisticated stubble to a perfectly trimmed fade and beard, this hybrid tool can handle any length and style you throw at it.

 

1. Grow a beard

You’ll need long enough facial hair to work with, so your first step is to grow your facial hair to your preferred chin length. If you struggle with slow growth, look into potential solutions, like minoxidil, for a fuller beard.¹ Keep your hair washed and oiled as you grow to help avoid any discomfort. Freshen up and comb through right before you trim.

 

2. Trim your sideburns

Start at the top with the shortest section of your beard. Consider how your hairstyle transitions into your sideburns – for a buzz cut fade with beard, you’ll be aiming for a smooth continuation of that fade, with a narrower margin between different lengths. The OneBlade has stubble combs for trimming to 1mm, 3mm and 5mm, and the OneBlade Pro has over a dozen length options, all the way to 10mm, so you have plenty of choice.

Top tip: start with a longer comb while you’re getting used to the technique – you can always go shorter.

 

3. Work your way towards your chin

Select a longer length comb as you trim your facial hair on your cheeks down towards the hair around and on your chin. Go slowly and carefully. Gradually lengthen so you get a smooth, continuous fade.

 

4. Neaten up your beard
If you’ve opted for a short beard fade, you’ll now shape to your desired length. If a longer beard fade style has taken your fancy, then trim your hair to a longer length. Create a sharp edge along your jawline and remove any fuzz on your neck below that line. With the versatile Philips OneBlade, you only need one tool to trim to any length you want across your fade.

Faded beard maintenance tips

 

When it comes to trimming your long or short beard fade, it’s worth refreshing your memory on how to shave properly. Up to 57% of men can experience irritation after hair removal, making this a must if you want to avoid shaving rash and avoid shaving cuts.²

Start by washing your beard and face daily with quality products to help it stay supple and soft, and follow these tips for faded beard maintenance:

 

• Apply a pre-shave oil or lotion
• Use clean, sharp blades
• Trim or shave with the grain
• Do not press too hard
• Rinse the blade frequently
• Avoid going over the same spot repeatedly
• Go slowly and gently to avoid cuts
• Use correct trimming and shaving techniques with a quality shaver like the OneBlade

Using a sharp blade is one of the most important things to remember with a fade and beard – for any beard style. Sign up to the handy subscription service for blades for your OneBlade and you’ll always have the tools you need at your disposal when it’s time to trim short or long beard fade styles.

 

All you need to do now is choose your favourite look, from faded long beard styles to short cropped fades. Have your OneBlade handy and get shaping.