The length and thickness of your beard might not matter as much as you believe when it comes to maintenance, whether it is long or short, sparse or bushy. All types and sizes of beards require some maintenance to keep them looking and feeling their best. Having stated that your #BEARDGOALS will determine how much maintenance you need to do. The speed and texture of your hair development, which differs from person to person due to genetics, age, and general health, are additional crucial factors.
Unbelievably, growing a beard is the most straightforward step towards having a great, remarkable beard. Simply exercise patience. A large development and something approximating a full beard needs an additional two weeks after the pattern of hair growth is visible. However, great-looking facial hair cannot be achieved without regular beard maintenance. Sadly, the majority of men are not aware of proper beard care. Because of this, some guys start growing a beard, wait patiently until it is a respectable length, and then shave it off because it looks bad.
You will need to include beard maintenance in your daily agenda. The cost of maintaining your beard will generally entail visits to the barber and a few purchases of beard products including brushes, oils, shampoos, and moisturizers. There may seem to be a lot of information here. And you might think, “Is maintaining a beard routine really worth the effort?”‘. The answer is yes. The outcomes will be astounding with just a little bit of dedication.
While it is true that not all guys have the ability to grow thick, full beards, many could nonetheless display impressive facial hair with the right care. Continue reading to learn how to maintain a healthy beard.
Do not overwash
When it comes to shampooing your beard, gentleness is essential. Be gentle with your skin and beard by using a mild beard shampoo or beard wash, try not to wash your beard too often, and avoid overly aggressive cleaning. Washing too frequently or harshly will dry out your beard and the skin underneath it, which can cause irritation and itching.
Consider your skin type
When it comes to beard care, let your skin type be your guide. In other words, if you have oily skin, you might wash your face and beard more frequently, whereas if you have pretty dry skin, you might wash them less frequently.
Considering your skin type when selecting products is also beneficial. If you have sensitive skin, for instance, you can choose fragrance-free cosmetics. Beard oil and other oil-based skin care products should be avoided if you have acne.
Trim your beard regularly
Even if the beard of your dreams is a big, bushy, Gandalf-like beard, you will benefit from routine trimming.
Pruning benefits you by:
- preserve the length and shape of your beard
- keep track of split ends to maintain a healthy beard
- keep your beard under control
- Many people who wear beards want to retain their mustache over the lip, which calls for routine trimming
Otherwise, depending on your hair’s growth rate and where you are in the process, you should decide how often to trim your beard and how much to remove. If you are aiming to grow out your beard, as a general rule, trim it every 4 weeks. Aim to trim every 7 to 10 days to maintain your length. Consider obtaining a professional beard cut and then imitating the lines for your subsequent home trim if you need some direction on shaping and trimming.
Show your neckline some love
Most likely, your facial hair extends past your collarbone. While the location of your neckline is entirely up to you, most barbers agree that it should be around two fingers above your Adam’s apple, if you have one, or where your neck and face meet.
Even if you want to grow out your beard, shaving below the neckline keeps your beard appearing neat and prevents a neckbeard, therefore it’s an essential step in the process.
Applying shaving cream, gel, or oil and shaving with the grain rather than against it will pamper the delicate skin in this area. For the least amount of irritation and ingrown hairs, always use a sharp blade.
Choose the right tools
You might want to think about spending money on high-quality gear if you intend to grow a beard for a long time. Having said that, maintaining your beard does not have to cost a fortune. There is no requirement to buy each and every beard accessory available.
Take care of your tools
Keeping your grooming supplies clean and in good functioning order prevents the accumulation of hair, dead skin cells, and bacteria.
The best course of action is usually to adhere to the care instructions that came with your tools. Additionally, bear in mind these general pointers:
- Before storing, give razors a thorough rinse and dry
- Every five to seven shavings, or if the blade seems dull or broken, replace the razor blade
- After use, remove any extra hair from your clippers
- Beard combs and brushes should be thoroughly rinsed, then they should be dried fully by air before being stored
- Delete razors or clippers that are broken or rusted
- Keep your tools in a spot that’s clean and dry
Do opt for helpful products
Because growing and keeping a healthy, luxuriant beard is a huge business, you have a tonne of options when it comes to products.
The most popular beard products, along with some information on how they can be helpful, are listed below:
- Beard wash, beard soap, or beard shampoo. These products are usually milder than soaps, shampoos, and washes meant for the body because they are made expressly for washing beards and with facial skin in mind.
- Shave cream. Beard oil helps to hydrate and soften your beard, which can be especially helpful for short or scraggly beards.
- Beard oil. Longer beard growth? A beard balm can be substituted for oil. Longer, bushier, or curlier beards can be shaped and tamed by balm’s thicker, waxier texture, which functions almost like a leave-in conditioner.
- Mustache wax. Mustache wax can help you create and maintain an attractive shape for your mustache if you want to have some fun with it. Additionally, it aids with taming bushy stragglers.
Do not use hair products
Should you pick a cleanser designed specifically for beards? No, not always. Remember though, not all males’ beard skin produces as much oil as their scalp skin. Shampoos for hair may be excessively abrasive, which can dry out and irritate your skin. These shampoos frequently have harsh soaps in them that are made to remove oils and hair products.
You will get the finest results from a beard wash with less soap and lots of nourishing chemicals. Beard hair can withstand a good amount of conditioning ingredients after a wash because it is almost twice as thick as head hair. When compared to purchasing a separate shampoo and conditioner to achieve the same outcome, a beard 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner will be more convenient and cost-effective.
Do not squeeze your ingrown hairs
Even though it can be tempting, picking ingrown hair in your beard or on the trimmed edge of your cheeks or neck will only cause an infection. By shaving off the hair, you are exposing the hair follicle to microorganisms, which can soon become infected and could possibly result in facial scars. Although the temptation may be strong, most ingrown hairs will go away on their own if they are left alone.
As usual, prevention is preferable to treatment. Regular washing and exfoliation with a soft brush to eliminate dead skin buildup will assist if you get ingrown hairs.
Brush your hair
No matter how long your beard is, it is best to brush it once daily. Both for health and styling, brushing has several benefits. It helps you shape your beard into the look you desire and spreads items like beard oil evenly throughout the hair. And yes, it is possible to get dandruff in your beard; brushing will assist you do so rapidly.
The most often used beard brushes are typically made of boar bristle. This kind of bristle is non-static and kind to beard hair. Bristles made of nylon are generally less expensive yet still effective. Without pulling or harming the hair, wood combs and some plastic combs can also perform well for styling and detangling it. Metal combs, on the other hand, can be troublesome, particularly towards the edges where hair can grasp and tear as the comb is drawn through.
Do not Neglect Your Sideburns
Yes, this site is about beards, but sideburns are just as important. They must be controlled; if you allow them to get too rambunctious, your face will broaden. For instance, if you maintain a thick beard and short sideburns, the sideburns should taper between the two lengths. As you approach towards the bulk of the beard, keep them shorter at the top of the ear and gradually longer. While you might be able to trim the majority of your beard yourself, you might want to get your sideburns trimmed by a barber. Sideburns must be tapered, which is a technique that should only be performed by someone with experience.
Do not forget to check the skin under your beard
Shaving and other grooming activities can lead to wounds and irritation, which allow germs to enter the circulation and raise the risk of infection. Routinely examine for wounds and sores on the skin beneath your beard.
It never hurts to keep additional skin issues like acne or irritation in mind while you’re doing it. Before your symptoms worsen, you may adjust your grooming regimen and products by spotting possible problems early on.
Conclusion
Dedicated to maintaining a beard? Just keep in mind that a little upkeep may go a long way in assisting you in developing and maintaining a luscious, healthy beard. You may find a beard care routine that works for you by experimenting as there is no one right way to maintain a beard.