I mostly wear my beard long and unrestrained, but sometimes you just need to keep it a little bit under control for the practicalities of day to day work!
My thanks to all the long bearded folks on here that pass on tips about beard care and the occasional idea about beard knots and braiding.
And I'm not just talking about growing the beard.
For a long time I didn't have the confidence to do a lot of my own trimming and styling, and even though there is a lot more that some could suggest I do, at this stage I'm pretty happy with it.
FYI - I have always been nervous about keeping the 'sideburn' area under control. Slowly I am feeling more confident in the tapering of the beard length up high, to blend in with the longer portions from mouth level and below.
If you've been on the fence about doing your own styling and trims, just go for it - slow steps, lots of thought, small adjustments, and have a go!
I'm in two minds about whether to lose some length and tidy up the bottom, or to just continue to let it grow. Any thoughts you'd like to share would be appreciated.