How to groom/trim a beard?

[Big_Tex]

Hey guys...I am new to the beard game. I started growing one the first week in July, and have a pretty wicked specimen if I do say so myself. Trouble is, I don't know much about how to keep it groomed. It seems..."bushy" i guess is the word. Got hairs sticking out wildly at all angles. I have been trimming it with some regular hair clippers at 1/2", thinking that keeping it at a uniform length would help (except the chin area...I'm letting it grow), but it does not. Combing it sort of helps, but there are still a bunch of hairs poking out.

Also, where do sideburns end and beard begin? How do I blend my beard with the hair on my head (I have a close-shaved head...zero guard)?

Trying to grow a beard similar in style to Leonidas from "300" (don't laugh, you know it is an epic beard).

[Dennard]

I use an electric trimmer to keep the length where I want it. My trimmer came with a small comb that I use on my beard daily. Some people use a mustache wax or beard wax to keep problem hairs in place. I keep my hair very short. My barber cuts it with a pair of clippers so he does the work for me of blending the beard in with the hair. In between, I start trimming my beard about even with my eyes/the top of my ears. Hope this helps.

[RSC]

I use an electric trimmer and keeping a steady hand, just graze or skim the surface to catch the hairs that stick out. For me, since not all the hairs are the same, this gives a more uniform appearance than going for a uniform length.