Okay so you have some facial hair, now you can just sit back and enjoy your manliness right? Not quite, now is the time to develop a maintenance routine to care for and style your beard hairs. In fact, beard grooming should start as soon as you decide to put down your razor.
Beards come in all shapes, sizes, and thicknesses. It’s a guarantee you are going to encounter some beard itch, beardruff, or an uneven, patchy beard at some point along your journey. Luckily, a dose of patience and a consistent grooming routine can help you keep your beard looking its best.
Steps in A Beard Care Routine
We have outlined the most important grooming steps and products we recommend introducing into your care routine. Don’t worry if all of these don’t fit into your schedule or budget. Caring for your beard is all about experimenting with different techniques and products to find what works best with your beard and lifestyle.
Beard Grooming in The Shower
Clean and Condition
It might seem easy to grab your hair shampoo or regular soap to clean your whiskers but choosing a wash designed for your delicate facial skin is important. Alternate between lathering with beard wash, rinsing with water, and conditioning with beard softener to find the weekly routine that cleans and hydrates your beard and the skin underneath. Most men need to wash their beards about 2-3 times a week.
Properly Dry
Hopping out of the shower without drying off your beard can add a lot of tension to your follicles. If you are short on time, grab a towel and pat the hairs gently until they are about 70% dry. Blow drying your beard is also a quick and effective way dry your strands. Make sure to keep the heat moving 6 inches away from your hair on the lowest setting to prevent damage.
Beard Grooming in The Mirror
Moisturize
The key to a soft, hydrated beard is beard oil daily. Applying 2-3 drops after a shower will keep your hair and skin moisturized and healthy. The longer your beard gets, the more drops of oil your hair will need. Beard Balm’s waxier consistency can also help your hairs lock in moisture and stay styled all day long. Read up on the differences between beard oil vs beard balm to know how to use each one in your routine.
Direct and Detangle
As soon as your facial hair starts to grow, grab your beard brush to direct and train your hair to lay the way you want. Brushing also distributes natural oils and exfoliates the skin underneath preventing ingrown hairs and training strays to lay flat. Once your beard gets a bit of length, you will want to introduce a beard comb as well to detangle and prevent knots that can damage your hair.
Trim and Shape
It is best to wait about 4-6 weeks before trimming or shaping your facial hair. Waiting will allow your hair to fill in and give you a better idea of its growth patterns and overall shape. After that, you can trim as often as needed to maintain the length and style you are rocking. Try to trim your beard when your hairs are dry instead of wet to avoid any accidents.
Planning out your beard goals before cleaning up your lines and length will give you the best success. Make sure to educate yourself on your face shape, hair type, and growth patterns before picking a beard shape. You want your beard to accentuate your best features and soften your harsher ones. For your first few trims, you might want to consult your local barber before picking up your trimmer or beard shears.
Style and Tame
Trimming can give you the length and shape you want but styling can give you those clean details that bring your look together. For some men with particularly curly or thick facial hair, using heat to straighten or style their beards can give them more control. Strong hold products like beard balm can be very helpful to wrangle fly-away hairs that want to stick straight out. It is also great for adding that extra curl or definition to your mustache.
Final Thoughts
Now that you are an expert on caring for your beard, let’s not forget the importance of knowing how to grow one. Learning how to grow a beard faster and naturally is not just about choosing the right products. Factors like diet, exercise, and genetics also play important roles. If your beard hairs don’t grow in strong, maintenance can only do so much to repair them. Focus on starting healthy, making healthy choices, and keeping your hair healthy.
