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(Video) How To Trim Your Side Burns Without Looking Cock-Eyed

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Trimming sideburns can be a frustrating experience, even if you have a single blade to trim with.  That’s usually because you inevitably change either the position of your head or the position of the razor, resulting in an off-center, uneven trim.  Here is one way to have better success with trimming your sideburns.
It may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to keep sideburns trim and even is to simply look at yourself in a mirror straight-on.  Try not to turn your head or raise your head up and down.  Trust yourself to see the area with your mind’s eye after you get your first look.  Then line up the side of your razor’s head so it’s straight on with the mirror too. From there take a single stroke, straight down.  Relather the area and starting from well below the edge take short strokes, creeping upward to clean up any ragged edge.
This same technique can be used with other facial hair such as gotees or chinstraps.  Take a single stroke to get the general area then use short strokes to creep toward the area to clean it up.

Trim Them ‘Burns!

Author

Shave tutor and co-founder of sharpologist. I have been advocating old-school shaving for over 20 years and have been featured in major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Lifehacker. Also check out my content on Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!View Author posts

5 thoughts on “(Video) How To Trim Your Side Burns Without Looking Cock-Eyed”

  1. I’ve often found the fastest and most effective way to evenly trim sideburns is to find a landmark on your ears, and do the same on both sides. Hope that helps!
    Thanks so much for all your videos and info. I just bought my first DE razor. A 1964 Gillette TTO my buddy found at a local antique store. Looking forward to driving this sports car tonight.

  2. I find it helps to have 4-7 shots of bourbon before the trim. The sideburns will more crooked than ever but you won’t care! mmmmmmm, shave humor.

  3. Ted Pettinicchi (TAP119 on B & B)

    I use the structures on my ears as landmarks to the trim levels and I do check by looking straight on in the mirror.

  4. Fantastic! Both my goatee and sideburns have been the most troublesome spots for me since I started DE wetshaving a year ago. I’m looking forward to putting the described technique to use over the next evenings.

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