Comb your beard in the direction of its growth to tame stray hairs, then attach a 3-to-6-millimeter stubble guide or guard to your beard trimmer, or adjust the guard to this length. Evenly trim the entire surface of the beard, pointing the blade toward you and working in smooth, overlapping strokes that follow the lay of your beard. As a general rule of thumb, progress from the sideburns to the chin, starting from each side and working toward the center.

Remove the guard or guide from your electric razor and point the blades downward along the edges of your beard to define its shape. Start under your chin, following your jawline, then define the upper edges of the beard by eliminating any hairs that stray onto your upper cheeks. Detail hard-to-reach areas, such as the border of your mouth, with a mini foil shaver for even more precise definition.

Use moderate pressure to apply a rotary shaver in a consistent circular motion to the areas outside of your beard -- chiefly your neck and cheeks. If necessary, keep your neck free of unkempt hairs by doing a close shave against the grain using a razor blade and shaving cream with warm -- not hot -- water. This works especially well if you have a well-defined, square jawline. Consider a lower beard line if you have a rounder chin.

Massage about six to eight drops of beard oil into your beard. Then, rub a small dab of facial moisturizer into your skin, focusing on the clean-shaven neck area. Repeat this process of trimming and maintenance every day or every other day.

Apply a gentlemen's hair conditioner or beard wash to your beard while you're in the shower, just as you would a regular hair conditioner. Even short beards can get bristly and itchy -- regular washing helps to keep your beard soft, healthy and comfortable.