I have an oval face also, and people prefer me with a beard, especially since I let the cheeklines go natural. I can’t say for sure without a photo, but I suspect the Osama Bin Laden remark may just be a slur against beards in general whether you look like him or not.

If your natural cheekline is symmetrical and evenly dense on both sides, it will probably look its best if left alone, whatever its contour is.

If the contour of your natural cheekline is not to your liking, or your job (or your status as a student) depends on pleasing customers, clients, and administrators whose touchy points of insecurity in matters of personal appearance vary widely, then straighten it, but as little as necessary. I recommend against carving into it.

If the cheekline is not symmetrical and/or not evenly dense on both sides, shape it into symmetry, but only as little as necessary.

%Thanks for the advice on trimming my neckline. How could I keep my neckline feeling cooler during the upcoming summer heat without trimming that part of my beard?

Wulffpaul on Jeff F’s Beard Board gives instructions for shaving a low-enough and symmetrical neckline by feel, no mirror necessary.

It’s also not bad to grow the chin and under-jaw hairs out at least as far as the plane of the neckline, like ginger-bearded Steven, brown-bearded Jason, and I do. That gives a smooth, downward sweep in the side views (spade-shaped in a civilized way when grown past the shaved neckline).

Jumping in early, I’m in favor of encouraging natural cheeklines unless they are grossly asymmetric. A filled-in circlebeard with a skinny, too-squared-off jaw strap doesn’t look right. I’m even in favor of letting the mustache grow as full as possible in order to balance the proprtions of a full beard.

So true! As I read this one face popped into my head – George Lucas!