How To Trim Sideburns Like a Barber

Two weeks after a fresh haircut, you notice your sideburns have gone fuzzy. You grab the trimmer and take a little off the left, then a little off the right, then the left again. A few rounds later, your sideburns are way too short, and you're stuck waiting for them to grow out again.

Those few inches of hair connect your haircut to your beard or bare cheeks, so their length and shape can change how your whole face looks. But where should sideburns end, anyway? We're here to answer that question and show you how to trim sideburns at home.

How Should Sideburns Look? 5 Styles to Find Your Perfect Pair

Deciding how your sideburns should look is a personal choice. The general rule of thumb for sideburns is mid-ear; lower offers a bolder look, and higher supplies a cleaner one. But whatever length you choose, both sides should end at the same height with a clean bottom edge. Here are five types of sideburns worth exploring.

Classic Sideburns

Classic sideburns end at mid-ear and keep the same width from top to bottom, finished with a straight bottom edge. Think of them like a white T-shirt; they go with almost any haircut, with or without a beard. If you're unsure where to start, look no further.

Short Sideburns

Short sideburns stop around the top of the tragus, the small flap of cartilage in front of your ear canal. The higher line keeps the sides of your face clean and pairs well with a bald fade. However, growth shows quickly at that height, so plan for more frequent touch-ups.

Long Sideburns

Long sideburns run past the earlobe toward the jawline. The widest, thickest version is called mutton chops. At this length, width matters as much as length: Keep them thick for the full retro effect, or go narrow to stay subtle.

Tapered Sideburns

Tapered sideburns get gradually shorter toward the bottom, blending into your haircut instead of ending in a hard line. Barbers build the taper with clippers. You can keep it up at home with a guard. Fade your beard the same way, shorter at the sideburns and longer at the chin, for a uniform look.

Connected Sideburns

Connected sideburns run straight into your beard or mustache. It's the oldest style here. Union general Ambrose Burnside grew his whiskers from his ears into his mustache, and the look got so famous that "burnsides" became its name, later flipped to "sideburns." For a retro take today, keep the sideburn and beard the same length where they meet, and shape your cheek line so the connection looks deliberate.

How To Match Your Sideburns to Your Face Shape

Barbers match sideburns to face shape with one simple rule: The longer your sideburns, the longer and slimmer your face looks. Not sure which face shape you have? Pull your hair back, take a selfie looking straight ahead, and trace the outline of your face. Then, find your row below:

Face shape	Recommended sideburn style	Why they work
Oval	Classic, tapered	Oval faces already look balanced, so mid-ear keeps them that way without adding length.
Round	Long, kept narrow	Longer, slimmer sideburns add vertical lines and angles. Short or bushy ones add fullness.
Square	Long, kept thin	Sideburns that reach the bottom of the ear can help narrow a strong, wide jawline.
Oblong or long	Short, classic	Shorter sideburns avoid adding length, and a little extra width balances a narrow face.
Diamond or heart-shaped	Classic, connected	Mid-ear sideburns trimmed close to the skin avoid adding width at the cheekbones. A connected beard can balance a narrow chin.

How To Trim Sideburns in 5 Steps

Trimming sideburns evenly at home comes down to five steps. Here's how to do each one.

Wash, dry, and comb your sideburns

Wash your sideburns with a bar of soap, a mild facial cleanser, or a small amount of shampoo to remove excess oil, sweat, and product buildup. Rinse thoroughly, then pat dry with a clean towel. Avoiding aggressive rubbing, which can lead to frizz. Let your hair dry completely before trimming. Wet hair stretches and can look longer than it actually is, meaning a line that looks right when damp may end up too short.

Once dry, use a fine-tooth comb to brush your sideburns straight down toward your jawline so the hairs lie flat. Set up good lighting in front of you, and keep a handheld mirror nearby so you can check the sides as you go.

Choose your length and guard

Decide where your sideburns should end using the styles and face shapes above. Most sideburn trimmers come with guard attachments ranging from #0 to #8 that correspond to specific hair lengths. A size #1 or #2 guard will give you short and tight sideburns. If you have curly or wavy hair, stick with a #3 or #4 guard to maintain length. For longer sideburns, you may want to trim with scissors and a comb for finer control.

Trim the bulk

Move the trimmer upward (against the grain) in slow, short strokes. This makes the hairs stand up so the guard catches every stray and leaves a uniform length. If you spot uneven or patchy areas, drop down one guard size and go over both sideburns again. To keep up a taper, switch to a shorter guard for the bottom third and blend it into the longer hair above. Give each side the same number of passes, then comb them down.

Shape the bottom and outer edges

Take the guard off for this part. A crisp line needs a sharp blade, so if your trimmer has started to tug, swap in a fresh blade first. Look straight ahead and pick a fixed point, like the top of the tragus for short sideburns or mid-ear for classic ones. Set the blade horizontally there and move it downward to clear everything below the line. Never cut upward into the sideburn without the guard on, or you risk catching the skin.

A straight horizontal line is the classic finish. For a sharper look, angle the trimmer slightly to follow your jawline. Then, shave the area below with shave butter and a safety razor. With a beard or connected sideburns, skip the bottom line and just keep the outer edge in line with your cheek line.

Check both sides for symmetry

Use the handheld mirror to check each side in profile for anything you missed. Then, face the mirror straight on and place an index finger under each sideburn to compare length. If one side is lower, trim it up to match, one small pass at a time. Stop as soon as they match, even if both end up a bit longer than planned. That's how you avoid accidentally making them too short.

How To Maintain Trimmed Sideburns

Tidy sideburns can keep a haircut looking fresh for weeks. The following habits keep yours dialed in between barber visits:

• Touch up on your own schedule. Hair grows at a different pace for everyone, so there's no fixed rule. A quick cleanup every week or two usually does the job. Check the edges in the mirror whenever you shave, and trim as soon as they start to blur.
• Keep them clean and combed. Wash your sideburns whenever you wash your face. A bar of soap handles skin and facial hair in one go, the old-fashioned way. Shampoo and face wash also work well. Afterward, comb your sideburns straight down so they dry in the direction they grow.
• Finish with a post-shave routine. Any time you shave below the line, follow up with a post-shave balm to soothe your skin and leave it feeling hydrated and refreshed.

Keep Your Sideburns Sharp Between Barber Visits With Dr. Squatch

Great sideburns don't require a weekly trip to the barber. Pick a length that suits your face, trim a little at a time, and stay on top of quick touch-ups. That's enough to keep them balanced until your next cut.

Dr. Squatch has your at-home kit covered. Our Easy Glide Shave Butter gives your razor a smooth pass when you clean up below the line, and our Soothing Post Shave keeps your skin feeling refreshed. Both come in masculine scents, like Pine Tar, Fresh Falls, and Coconut Castaway, so your whole routine smells the same. Browse the Dr. Squatch shave collection to build your setup.