Primer on Sideburns

By Meieli Sawyer Detoni

July 1, 2007

Sideburn Shapes

Sideburns can be worn in a lot of different lengths, including ones reaching mid-ear level, earlobe height, or all the way down to the chin or jaw. You can also shape your sideburns into different thicknesses, from very thin to thick and angled.

How do you know what sideburns look good on you? Your first step is to consider your haircut. If you have shorter hair, it’s usually expected that your sideburns will be shorter as well. Longer hairstyles allow for longer sideburns, and usually a more casual appearance.

Consider your face shape. Your sideburns can be worn a bit longer if you have a long chin, which will make everything look comfortably in proportion. With a longer haircut and a longer neck-edge, your face shape can look much more even. Shorter sideburns look very good on those with a weak chin, and are best paired with a shorter neck-edge on a haircut.

Trim Your Sideburns

Trimming your sideburns will be a lot easier with the right tools, so buy the best sideburn trimmer that you can afford. One good all-around trimmer to try is the Wahl Stylique Edger and Trimmer, which features compact blades that can really work fine lines and details.

To shave your sideburns, follow these steps:

1. Comb your sideburns out in the direction of the hair growth.
2. Verify that the trimmer attachment is on.
3. Now hold your trimmer vertically. Make sure that the front of the trimmer is facing you, and then trim your sideburns in a downward motion.

Additional Tips

Have you found the perfect shape for your sideburns, but you’re just not sure how to keep them looking as good as they do straight out of the barber shop? Keep your sideburns looking great with these tips:

If you use your ears as a guide, be careful. Always measure your sideburns against each other and not against the distance from each earlobe. The human body isn’t exactly symmetrical, so to avoid looking like you’re wearing a crooked wig, measure them separately.

Avoid cutting your sideburns off completely near the top of your natural hairline. It’s not exactly the best look. Always have at least a bit of sideburns.

Invest in a personal sideburn trimmer if you tend to cut yours too high. Trimmers have a guard that prevents hacking off half a sideburn, so you can do regular maintenance without stress.