Beard Care Tips
Beards are symbols of manhood or quirky fashion statements for men. There are as many reasons for growing a beard as there are different types of beards.Whether it’s a need to put up an attitude, to look like a cowboy or add a new quirk to how you look, a beard can speak volumes in itself. Not a lot of people can pull it off, and carrying a beard can differentiate you from the others who can only make do with their clothes.
However, while a beard is a great fashion accessory, it takes lots of care and attention to grow one that you can be proud of. When done right, a beard allows you to look rough, gruff and distinguished but when done wrong, a beard can look extremely unsightly.
In this Beard Care Article we’ll be guiding you through the entire process of growing a healthy, eye catching beard and covering:
- The tools and products you’ll need to properly grow your beard
- Tips for properly using a beard trimmer
- Tips for keeping your beard clean
- Tips for keeping your beard neat
- The benefits of using beard oil
So, read on to learn everything you need to know about growing this ultimate symbol of manliness.
The Tools You Should Have If You Want To Grow A Beard
Like your head hair, beard hair has its own set of cleansers, oil and tools. There are shampoos and conditioners designed specifically for beards, and an industry of beard oil already caters to a large and ever growing market or barbers, trimmers and beard enthusiasts. If you’re reading this, you probably are a newbie at growing a beard or a seasoned veteran. In either case, it pays to know the right tools for handiwork with your newest fashion accessory: your beard.
Before you attempt to use tools on your beard, make sure you are not stressed, anxious, fearful or under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Set aside a whole day in which you are completely relaxed.
1. Mirror
You would know how you should look to the rest of the world outside, and who would bother to shave without a mirror? Unless you want to end up looking electrocuted, make sure you see yourself before you put that shaving tool anywhere near your face. You might be comfortable with a handheld mirror that can show the angles of your beard in closer angles or you could use the larger mirror in your bathroom. Choose the right shape and size that you feel convenient about.
2. Razor
This is the most basic tool for shaving your beard. It can help you start over with a clean slate by removing hair down to the end of the follicle above your skin, allowing moisturizer to seep in for the growth of healthier hair. However, this is not the tools for precision trimming and shaping the beard.
3. Shaving Cream
Allowing your razor blade to come in contact with your skin can cause irritation and itchiness, and may even inflame sensitive skin. A good shaving cream has anti-inflammatory properties that help your razor glide seamlessly across your facial skin without causing pain. Avoid the alcohol-based varieties of shaving cream as these can further inflame the facial area.
4. Scissors
If you want to shape your beard or cut out small patches without going too deep the way a razor would, you can use scissors along with a small bathroom mirror. It is never advisable to use anything less than salon standard scissors made specifically to cut hair as it is made and treated to be hypoallergenic and easy on the skin.
5. Beard Trimmer
If you’re a beard enthusiast or you simply want to keep your beard looking good, consider purchasing a beard trimmer to give your beard the shape and style it deserves. Beard trimmers allow for precision cutting around difficult angles and utilize accessories and settings for different lengths.
Besides using the right tools, good beard care begins with the food you eat and your facial care regimen. Eat food that is rich in Vitamin A as this contains nutrients directly related to hair growth, allowing for healthy and robust hair that shines through with elegance. Wash your beard gently with shampoos and conditioners designed specifically for beards and remove dirt trapped within carefully. You can also look into beard oil to give your beard the right amount of moisture and protect it from toxins.
You do not need to be a barber or salon enthusiast to develop the skills needed to handle facial care tools. You only need to have confidence in your demeanor with regards to your beard and use this concept to style it correctly. Once you get the hang of it, you can even vary the style of your beard as you get experienced to trim and shape it without professional help and guidance. Online and even in your neighborhood, there are beard clubs where beard enthusiasts gather to share their love of beards and precious information. Who knows, you might even find yourself in a beard contest. But if you just want to create your own style for yourself and grow a beard you can be proud of in social gatherings, you can make do with proper trimming and the right tools. A beard is a statement of both manhood and individuality as it shows how much you’ve grown and experience and also how you like to tough it out.
5 Important Tips For Using A Beard Trimmer
Your beard is not just there for show as a symbol of manliness and hardihood, it also speaks of patience, persistence and dedication. It takes about 4 to 6 months to grow enough of a beard to shape, during which you have to endure bouts of itchiness and having it appear coarse and untamed. Rewards come in the form of psychic benefits and a manly sense of fashion about oneself. Not everyone can carry and sport a beard and it speaks of a certain quirk in your personality, as it appeals to the need to feel different yet cherished.
However, if you find that maintaining a beard is turning into a chore as you go about your scissors, oil and shampoo all the time, you might want to start saving yourself some effort. Acquiring a beard trimmer can save you all the headaches of having to literally cut corners in front of your bathroom mirror. Trimmers allow for precision as you can cut just as close as you want to and even shape your beard in the most intricate patterns. There are as many beard trimmers available in the market as there are types of beards in the world, each with its own functions and specifications.
To make your shopping experience less complicated than taking care of your beard, here are five important points for using a beard trimmer:
1. Is It Cordless And Rechargeable?
Unless you’re a barber, you might find handling a corded beard trimmer too cumbersome for your purposes. Wriggling a cord in a wet place like a bathroom can open you to the risk of electrical shock. There are rechargeable beard trimmers available in which the lead can be removed from the power supply. Others can be operated with batteries and this would be a good option with travellers. Trimming and moving around becomes easier and it won’t be so hard to do delicate hand motions that might compromise your beard.
2. Is It Lightweight?
A heavy beard trimmer speaks of old technology and unwieldiness, it would be hard to move around for those times when you need to slowly trim and keep your style. Unless you have the muscle mass of a bouncer, you should pick a beard trimmer that moves around in your hand the way a kitchen utensil would.
3. Do You Have The Skill?
A beard trimmer might be more convenient than using scissors, yet is never pays to be lazy about proper trimming. Make sure your muscle memory retains all the skills you gained trimming with scissors and simply reapply this with a beard trimmer. It cuts through different angles faster and more evenly, yet one slip can make an awkward cut across your beard.
4. Is It Well Constructed And Durable?
Consider your beard as an investment, and you get what you pay for. If you purchase a trimmer of low quality, it will probably conk out sooner and even irritate your skin. Trimmer blades should be made of carbon and not stainless steel. The casing should not be made of synthetics that can cause skin irritation.
5. Does It Come With Accessories?
The accessories that come with your purchase are just as important as the beard trimmer itself. There should be three to four detachable combs for you to be able to pick the desired length of your beard. A vacuum would also help you clear out facial hair as you trim, which may cause itchiness as it gets stuck in the beard. Certain brands are designed with speed selection and are waterproof. Check for the warranty of the product, a year at the very least. Lastly, do your internet research on which brands cater to your specific needs.
If you are able to spend a little more than you should for your beard trimmer, don’t worry. You’re purchasing a fashion accessory, not a power tool. Think of the social rewards in store for you as you walk about with a fresher, better trimmed beard than before. Go beyond the scissors and razors and take your facial care to the next step. Do you want your beard to look sophisticated and refined or rough and rugged? With this kind of fashion statement, you can go both ways.
5 Tips For Keeping Your Beard Clean
While sporting a beard is an aged-old expression of freedom, it also entails almost the same level of commitment you would give a tattoo. Just like your front lawn or fingernails, beards require daily upkeep and trimming. If you just let it grow loose, you will definitely end up with a rough and bristly beard devoid of any endearing qualities. It becomes harder to hold your girlfriend or wife closer if your beard is coarse and spindly to the touch.
Treat your beard just like other delicate parts of your body to get the look and feel of rugged manhood or refinement and class. Here are five tips for keeping your beard clean:
1. Use Shampoo And Conditioner Regularly
Just like the hair on your head, your beard should never be washed with bar soap used for the rest of your body as you’ll end up with a wiry beard with dry skin underneath. Apply a moisturizing shampoo twice a week to prevent your bear from getting brittle. Use a heavy-duty conditioner as beard hairs are thicker than hair on any other part of the body. Leave it there for a few minutes before you wash it off. Wash your beard thoroughly to get rid of the food bits that were trapped there since your last meal.
2. Apply Natural Or Beard Oils
As shampoo removes sebaceous and natural oils from your facial hair, you need to replenish it and hydrate the skin beneath. There are natural oils such as olive and lavender oil or standard beard oil available in the market to keep your beard shiny and soft. Contrary to popular belief, beard oils do not help your hair grow or facilitate the growth of new hair. By keeping skin moisturized beneath the beard, beard oil allows better blood flow and nutrient transport, which results in healthier and less wiry facial hair.
3. Don’t Dry Your Beard Like The Rest Of Your Skin
If you wipe your bear forcefully after a bath or face wash, you’ll get a beard that lacks shine and appears wiry. Handle your beard like the hair on your head and simply pat it dry. Don’t even think about using a hair drier on your beard as this will only sap the moisture of the skin below, encouraging the growth of wiry and rough facial hair. If you are going for a soft and long beard, use a comb to style it properly and draw water out.
4. Select The Right Tools
In order to style your beard properly, you will need to be patient enough to wait a month or two and let it grow despite it getting itchy. Once you have a full grown beard to work with, you can style it to complement your clothing and demeanor. The delicate work begins by choosing the grooming tools needed, which basically consist of a pair of sharp scissors and a beard trimmer. Trim your beard every month to remove split ends and every week if you like keeping it short.
5. Shave Properly
It takes a good amount of skill to not nick the skin around your beard when using a razor. Always shave in the direction opposite hair growth to remove as much hair as closely as possible. Use shaving cream to keep the skin soft while shaving and reduce the abrasiveness of the razor. Shaving stimulates and facilitates the growth of new hair which feels softer to the touch.
If you want to go the extra mile for your beard, employ the services of a barber. Have your beard trimmed and shaven while observing his techniques: the angles he cuts through, the types of facial care products he uses and his choice of tools. Ask him how to go about beard care to add to the knowledge you can take home. Once you know enough and can go beyond trimming, you can restyle your beard every two months or so. Carry it like you would carry your clothes: with finesse and grace.
How To Keep Your Beard Neat
With beards, staying neat is mostly a matter of proper growing and grooming. A tidy beard adds allure to the sophisticated gentleman who stands out from the boys. If you want to keep it that way, don’t allow your beard to grow out like a garden patch full of weeds. Few things are as ugly as a scraggly beard allowed to turn loose, making you look lazy with no sense of style or fashion. At the very least, a beard should be presentable. At the most, you can style it in a variety of ways to complement your bearing and clothing.
Here are a few suggestions on keeping your beard neat:
1. Consider Starting Afresh
Sometimes it is better to do away with a messy and lanky beard that wasn’t properly taken care of from the start. If your current beard is in this condition, moisturize your facial skin then take a complete and careful shave. New hairs growing from well-treated skin stand a better chance of looking healthy and shiny later on.
2. Clean It Properly
Use shampoos and conditioners made specifically for beard care. Be sure to scrub gently and firmly as dirt usually gets trapped within the hairs of your beard. You wouldn’t want your date to notice the bread crumbs from your breakfast this morning hanging like room dust within your bread.
3. Groom It Right
Do not wipe a wet beard hard with your towel as this will cause the hairs to turn rough. Pat it gently to dry it up. Use a thin comb to draw out water and give it an angle, whether straight or otherwise. Do not attempt to trim a wet beard as wet hair appears longer and you might trim a bit more of your beard than you should, ruining a few months effort of growing it for shaping.
4. Choose The Right Tools
Don’t use your office scissors to trim your beard. Purchase a pair of salon scissors assure an easy trim and will less likely cause irritation to sensitive skin. Beard trimmers feature different settings and accessories for the most discerning beard enthusiast and allow for different styles.
5. Use Beard Oil
Facial washes and cleansers, the external environment and cold weather can take a toll on your facial skin, most especially the areas in the bread that trap dirt and heat. If the skin in this area is not properly hydrated, hair will turn rough and brittle along with dry skin. Beard oil moisturizes the skin beneath the beard and gives beard hair added luster and shine, keeping it fresh. People who buy oil specifically for their beards are also seen as serious enthusiasts.
6. Seek Expert Service And Advice
Try a full shave with facial care at your nearest salon to pick up new tips and tricks on taking care of your beard. You can benefit from the barber’s experience by asking him about how it is with other customers’ beards, which are the best and affordable brands for trimmers and oils and the effects of certain foods on hair growth. You can also ask a dermatologist or medical professional regarding how your beard corresponds and acts with you particular skin type and genetics.
If you keep it neat diligently, your beard will give you the style that’s been missing in how you carry yourself. Your social circles and luck with the opposite sex will change for the better and you can work and party in a different light. Beards imply a seriousness in people that makes them look stern, and stern goes well with either cowboy, gentleman, or refined socialite. Sex appeal is just a shave, a trim and an oil away. All the month of diligence will pay off handsomely, and you can start growing your beard today.
The Benefits Of Using Beard Oil
Who doesn’t use shampoo and conditioner for their hair on a daily basis? Keeping hair soft, shiny and silky is a priority for good health and your sense of propriety and fashion. If you like sporting a beard, it is crucial to give it the same amount of care and attention as you would give the hair on top of your head. It seems strange to use shampoo and conditioner for so little hair, but if you want your beard to resonate with character and style, you should try using beard oil.
Specifically designed for the beard, beard oil keeps it soft to the touch and light to carry it around, giving it a certain luster. Cold weather and a windy environment can cause your beard to grow brittle and break easily, making your beard hair uneven and rough.
Beard oils are loaded with many essential oils that add nutrients and vitality to your beard. Among these are lime, rosemary, bay and lavender, which also contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to safeguard your facial skin against toxins and bacteria. Sesame seed oils and jojoba are two primary components in beard oil as these simulate the oil secreted by the sebaceous glands of our skin. Coconut oil can penetrate individual hair fibers to stave off hygral fatigue, or thirst within the hair follicles of the beard. Use beard oil with grapeseed or almond oils if you do not want your skin to feel oily and slimy as these are easily absorbed.
Although it is coarser than head hair, the beard can absorb pure oils without the aid of hair conditioner.
Here are a few benefits of using beard oil:
1. Smoother And Cooler Skin Beneath The Beard
As hairs grow out of follicles it takes a little of the skin of the epidermis around it, causing redness and irritation. This is also why the skin around the beard feels itchy while it is still short and stubbly. Beard hair also wicks moisture away from the beard while the external environment causes facial skin to become dry. Beard oil contains natural moisturizing oils that hydrate the skin around facial hair, keeping it cool and less prone to itchiness.
2. Even Your Beard Smells Good
Certain natural oils are considered as manly scents like vanilla, citrus, tobacco and cedarwood. As your beard is just half an inch away from your nostrils, you can easily imagine you’re in the woods and add to your rugged allure. Even if you do not use cologne, you can hold your partner close and be confident about your scent.
3. It Is A Good Follow-Up After Facial Wash
Most facial cleansers and washes will strip the skin around your beard of its moisture and leave it dry. Beard oil acts as a filler and keeps your facial skin hydrated, making your beard look alive, colorful and healthy.
How exactly do you use beard oil? Just put a few drops in the palm of your hand and spread it across your beard evenly, massaging it gently enough to reach the base of the hair and the skin underneath. Don’t worry about it feeling greasy as beard oils give a comfortable wet sheen that keeps you looking good and fresh. Just don’t ruffle your beard to get it all in, as rough handling will still leave you with a wiry beard.
If you feel that beard oil is just another added expense to your skin care regimen that you can do away with, consider the fact that beard oils are not too expensive and you can always use basic natural oils from herbal shops. You can even go through the internet for beard oil recipes that are just good or even better than those in the market. Find or create an oil best suited to your particular beard’s needs as different beard oils will have different effects. It probably won’t cost you a lot to invest in the grace, elegance and overall good looks afforded by a beard, which may get you more affection and attention than the shirt on your back. Beard oil will make you look good, smell good, and feel good in your own skin.
